Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or aperatures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

Site of WW2 concrete roadblocks. Constructed 1940-1, Now destroyed {1}. Stop-lines included permanent and moveable road barriers. The most substantial works were formed from square or cylindrical concrete blocks entwined with barbed wire and fitted with explosives. Moveable obstacles consisted of horizontal or vertical bars or poles of steel, set between concrete blocks. Bent steel girders could also be slotted into sockets cut into the road surface. Modern road improvements are removing evidence for both, but some of the original blocks or apertures have been observed in-situ. Cylindrical blocks have been used to line private roads or placed on river banks to combat erosion {Defence of Britain Handbook 1985}.

This former gardener's cottage once lay within the walled garden of the Barber Surgeon's Hall (HER 498). It is first shown on Corbridge's map of 1723. Its lower courses were constructed of rough unmortared sandstone. It was rebuilt, probably in 18th century with brick at first storey level. Welsh slate roof with brick chimneys. Sash windows, mostly renewed. In 1698 Celia Fiennes wrote of the Hall "a pretty garden walled in, full of flowers and greenes in potts and in the borders". The Barber Surgeons Hall was demolished in 1847 to make way for the railway bridge, but the gardener's cottage survives and has been restored and is home to a firm of accountants. Note that the listed building description describes this building as a former Sinclair's Cooperage with outbuildings to west. More research required. Occupied in 2013 by GW Robinson.

Farm building (3 sided courtyard) shown but not labelled on the c.1820 plan of the Backworth Estate. The 1844 Tithe plan of Backworth shows that East Farm extended to 150 acres, one rod and seven perches. The tenant at that time was John Unwin, who also held High Farm and Castle Hills Farm. By the 1851 census the farm was held by James Unwin . The earliest plans show the farm buildings in a single range along the roadside. The steading was rebuilt by the Duke of Northumberland in the 1840s. The farmhouse stood on the street frontage at the west end of the site with the farmyard to the east. The buildings around the yard were used as sheds and stables with a barn in the middle of the range. In 1879 there was an open gin-shed on the north side of the north range. The house and western stable survived into the 21st century much as shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. The western and northern ranges around the yard had been removed and a large modern steel-framed yard stood in their place. The eastern stable also survived. The western building was of coursed rubblestone with dressed sandstone quoins and openings and a slate roof. It had big segmental-arched cart openings, double doors and stable doors. The eastern building was of rubblestone, open-fronted with a blocked up window in its east wall. It had been considerably reduced in size, the upper walls were rebuilt and the roof replaced. Site now a residential development - unclear if any part of the farm still survives.

The building of the Pandon Dene Bridge (HER 5768) opened up new land for building. John Dobson designed villas on the west side of the Dene at Picton Place (see HER 1875) and on the east on either side of New Bridge Street semi-detached villas and terraced houses of some architectural quality were built. Ridley Villas, a row of 18 grand houses, were built on land leased from Sir Matthew White Ridley. They probably date from 1823 when Dobson was advertising sites for villas on the north side of New Bridge Street. They may be to Dobson's design. These, along with Dobson's own house, are the sole survivors of this rash of development. A plan of 1854 survives in the Archives for a kitchen extension to the rear of No. 5 Ridley Villas belonging to Mr Sewell. Later plans from 1866 to 1951 catalogue a series of alterations to these properties including the construction of bay windows and alterations to buildings in the gardens (Back Ridley Villas). The plans show a gradual change in use of some of these properties from residential with gardens to commercial with the addition of stores, stables, sheds and warehouses. No. 18 Ridley Villas has a basement - it is assumed that the other properties were cellared as well. By the late C19 Ridley Villas was increasingly used as business premises as the well-to-do moved out to the suburbs. A TB Hospital was opened in Nos. 1 and 2 Ridley Villas in 1913. In its first year the hospital dealt with 958 cases. There were 529 deaths from TB that year. By 1963 with around 2140 patients, there were only 13 deaths. As TB declined, the hospital came to be used as a general medical unit until its closure in 1972. In 1927 plans by Newcombe and Newcombe were approved to convert two of the houses into the Newcastle Dispensary, which had outgrown its purpose-built building in Nelson Street. The Dispensary was an outpatient service for the poor. Eventually it was absorbed into the NHS. Seven villas (101- 113 New Bridge Street) were demolished in 2010 ahead of the construction of new student accommodation. The original 97 and 99 (NBS) were demolished in the earlier 20th century. An historic buildings recording took place prior to demolition. The recording also incorporated 101 & 109 Back New Bridge Street {6}. A watching brief was also maintained during groundworks at the site in February 2010. This revealed a well underlying the party wall between 113 and 115 NBS (HER 16584). Archaeological evaluation on the site also in 2010 revealed that the site appeared to have been undeveloped prior to the construction of Ridley Villas.