Engine Shed. Built between the mid-late 19th century. Demolished between 1950-1970.

North Eastern Railway Works

Steel Works

Brandling Junction Station, station and offices. The earliest published plan depicting the Oakwellgate Station in any detail is Oliver 1844. This shows that three lines came from the west - one leading to the station terminus buildings and another to a long narrow structure on the west side of the raised mound, possibly an engine shed. The third line is shown continuing east and entering the Park Iron Works. Two tracks approached the station from the east, one serving the Station terminus and the other leading onto the incline. The 1st edition Ordnance Survey shows the station in use as a Goods depot, the terminus buildings and engine shed apparently enlarged and 13 sidings. The Park Iron Works were still supplied by rail, reduced to a short spur line connected to the outer of the two lines across the coal drops by a turntable. Forty years later (OS 2) the terminus building had been demolished and the number of sidings increased to 15; the spur to the Park iron Works had disappeared, perhaps because the manufacturing complex was now served by its own internal railway system. Subsequently there was no significant change to the layout of the Goods depot until it was dismantled and replaced by Jenning's scrapyard {2}. The Gateshead depot of the Brandling Junction Railway was situated on a high artificial mound east of Oakwellgate. The original intention had been to build the depot at a lower level on the same site, but the decision to carry the branch line from Redheugh Quay across Gateshead on a viaduct instead of a tunnel, necessitated a change in the plans for the depot. The level of the mound had to be raised from 12 feet to 32 feet, most of the filling material being cinders from the nearby Hawk's works. The mound was surrounded on three sides by a brick and masonry retaining wall, that on the north side having 12 arched recesses which were intended to be let as warehouses; a further arch, of larger size, was formed over an inclined plane leading down to a coal drop on Gateshead Quay. A broad inclined carriageway led up from Oakwellgate to the north-west corner of the depot, and at the same corner was "a sort of tower which encloses a spacious staircase intended for those who arrive on foot". This wooden staircase cost £515 15s 10d (Felling station (SMR 1013) cost £175!). In addition to the passenger terminus of the B.J.R. there was room in the depot area for a carriage shed, warehouse, and engine repair shed. The Oakwellgate depot was not used for passenger traffic for many years. The local trains may possibly have been diverted to the new station of the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway at Greenesfield, which was opened in 1844, and both stations were soon superseded by yet another new one situated on the southern approach viaduct to the High Level Bridge {3}.

A ropery is clearly shown on Oliver's 1830 map. It later becomes the site of a soap factory. This was established by Stoddart and Co in 1795 and was soon owned solely by a former partner Anthony Hood. In 1799 Hood introduced a rope-making machine, which had been patented by William Chapman in 1798. This technological innovation eventually superseded the earlier ropewalks and marked the beginning of the growth of ropemaking in Gateshead.

Holzapfel's Paint Works

Portland Cement Works are built on the site of an engine and shipbuilding yard.

A number of buidings are shown on this site, labled South Shore, on a map of 1747 and Hutton's 1772 map. There were three 18th century glasshouses in this vivinity and the connection between them in unclear - Salt Meadows Bottle House, South Shore Flint Glasshouse and Tyne Glass Works. The earliest predecessor of these works was probably the Salt Meadows Bottle-house, first mentioned in 1753, as being let by Joseph Liddell in 1753 to a partnership including James King. In 1758 the other leading bottle-makers of Newcastle wanted the works closed down so paid James King £50 a year for the rest of the lease. The bottle house is not listed as working in 1772. A more immediate precedessor of the Tyne Glass Works was the "South Shore Flint Glasshouse" built by Joshua Henzell and partners before 1786. In that year Henzell became bankrupt and in 1788 the glasshouse was offered for sale. The works were owned by Ilderton and Barker by 1795. They made bottles. Messrs John Barber and John and Francis Banner trading as the Tyne Glass Company took over the "Glasshouse situated near Newcastle" in circa 1795, presumably this glasshouse. In 1796 John Barber became bankrupt. The name survived however, as a directory of 1801 gives the name Shutts and Co, the Tyne Glass Manufactory, Gateshead. "Tyne Glass Works [C. Attwood]" is shown on Woods Plan of Newcastle of 1827. Attwood went on to run the adjacent chemical works (HER 3519). A building still appears on this site on Oliver's 1832 map and is named as a glass factory on Oliver's 1844 map. The site undergoes other changes of use see cross referenced records. Closed circa 1840.

Pottery marked on Oliver 1844 map, becomes subsumed into Tyne Alkali works.

Sunbeam Lamp Works {1}. This was part of the Victoria Engineering Works (SMR 5095). The Sunbeam Electric Lamp Company was formed in 1880. They mostly made steam turbo-dynamos for use on ships for electric lighting. Charles Parsons joined the Victoria Works in 1884 and developed his steam turbine in this building. The Sunbeam Lamp Works incorporated Park House, an 18th century mansion. It burnt down in 1891 {2}.