These Victorian buildings which are now utilised by the community of Heaton as an adult education centre and a community centre were originally built as a school. There are several buildings on the site, all of red brick and of various designs. The buildings are plainly decorated, often with small details such as sandstone keystones and roof capping. On the south elevation of the single storey buildings at the south of the site, the windows are capped by arches of upended bricks, a feature repeated on the north façade of the tall buildings at the north of the area. Tyne & Wear Archives, Ref/No E.NC32

“North Heaton Council School was formally opened on 3 March 1904 with Infants, Junior and Senior Mixed Departments. The school was located on Tosson Terrace. In 1927 the school was reorganised. The Infants merged with the Juniors to form a single department and moved into the old Junior Department building, while their previous premises were taken over for use as a Technical School. As a result the School consisted of a Junior Mixed and Infants Department and a Senior Mixed Department. In 1932 the Senior Department was reorganised as a Senior Girls' Department, with the boys transferring to Chillingham Road Boys School.

Following the 1944 Education Act the Senior Girls Department was redesignated as North Heaton Secondary Modern School for Girls and then as North Heaton County Secondary School for Girls. The Junior and Infants Department closed in 1952 and its pupils were transferred to the new Ravenswood County Primary School. The Girls' School closed in 1967 and the building was taken over by Manor Park School. The majority of the pupils transferred to Benfield Comprehensive School.”

General observations

OS maps (see attached) indicate that the linked single and two storey buildings in the north west corner of the site post-date the main late-Victorian style school buildings, appearing at some point in the interwar period. This is reflected architecturally in features such as the flat segmental window arches with sandstone keystones. In contrast, the windows of the late-Victorian style buildings carry mostly round segmental brick arches and sandstone lintels when located under the eaves. LOCAL LIST

This well designed former furniture store situated on Shields Road is among Byker’s most attractive buildings. The five storey brick structure possesses a marvellous art deco style design. Today the ground level still contains a store, with the other four levels being in residential use. LOCAL LIST

Heaton Post Office on Heaton Road, the two Lloyds TSB properties and the National Provincial Bank on Shields Road are of important group value. Together the four buildings form important local landmarks. LOCAL LIST

This building was constructed to house the head office of the famous Newcastle firm, Ringtons Tea. The front of this six storey white stone building is quite distinctive, especially with its ornately sculptured gable. Although the building is no longer occupied by the company the large signage on the façade reading ‘Ringtons Limited Tea Merchants’, ‘Est. 1907’, and ‘Ringtons Ltd 1924’, still exists. The company was established in 1907 by Samuel Smith and William Titterington, and it is the ‘rington’ part of the latter name coupled with the ‘S’ from Smith that gave birth to the name. Today Ringtons are one of the largest tea producers in Britain. LOCAL LIST

The former National Provincial Bank on Shields Road has impressive ground floor decoration. The over hanging arched doorway is ornately decorated with carved wood and metal in a floral, scallop and dragon design. The word ‘BANK’ is embossed on the door corner. LOCAL LIST

Chillingham Road Primary School is a fine example of a red brick Victorian school. It was first opened in 1893, and consists of two main buildings within a school yard surrounded by a wall complete with original gateposts and decorative wrought iron gates. Impressive ornate chimneys today form the basis of the school’s badge. The school is associated with the author Jack Common, who attended the school from 1908. Common, a friend and correspondent of George Orwell, vividly describes his experiences at the school and in the North Tyneside area in his autobiographical novel Kiddar’s Luck. LOCAL LIST

Beavans is a high quality commercial building and contrasts with the new developments on Shields Road. The building reflects the prosperity of the area in the era in which it was built. It is Edwardian in origin and consists of brick and stone with original stain glass windows situated on its attractive upper level façade. The frontage also contains the original name plates ‘F. Beavan Ltd’, ‘Ironmongers’ and ‘Furnishers’. The company had a good standing in the community. The front part of the building could only be two storeys high because it was built above the tunnel for the NER Riverside Branch. LOCAL LIST

Anderson Jones Jewellers has a high quality curved glass shop front. It is two storeys tall, with the ground floor having a distinctive black framed glass front. The first floor brick face has been painted. The shop is an important remnant from when Shields Road was a thriving Victorian commercial centre. LOCAL LIST

This building, adjacent to St. Mark’s Church in Shields Road in Byker, has a good history and is culturally strong. At the base of the building a dedication stone laid by W. D. Cruddas reads ‘Donor of church vicarage and parochial buildings of this parish’ and is dated 28 June 1910. The two storey structure is mostly brick with sandstone decoration, and has a distinctive rooftop tower. LOCAL LIST

This building is a fine example of 1920s department store design. John Parrish opened his expanded store in 1921, which was later converted into student accommodation in 1996. The building possesses an elaborate white stone patterned frontage, complete with wreath and shield-style decoration, which are inscribed ‘JTP Ltd 1921’. LOCAL LIST