Photographs Of Newcastle: Fenham

Fenham is an area of the west-end of Newcastle upon Tyne. It lies to the west of the city centre, and is bounded on the north and east by the Town Moor. To the south lies Benwell, West Denton lies to the west, Blakelaw and Cowgate to the north, and Arthur's Hill and Spital Tongues to the east. Until 1974 it was in Northumberland.

Fenham grew up as a separate township from Newcastle, lying on the western outskirts of the city. Much of the land originally belonged to religious charitable institutions, and there are covenant restrictions on the building of any licensed premises.

Fenham was part of the manor of Elswick in the Barony of Bolam until the lands were passed into the ownership of the Knights Templar in 1185. Following the suppression of the Templars in 1307 the manor of Fenham was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller in 1313. In the intervening years it is recorded that coal mines on the site were leased to the town's Corporation. Fenham was formerly a township in the parish of Newcastle-St. Andrew, in 1866 Fenham became a separate civil parish, on 1 April 1914 the parish was abolished to form Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1911 the parish had a population of 1049.

Fenham did not become a residential area until the 20th century. Housing was built on a large scale when tram lines were extended from Central Station via Barrack Road. Further expansion was facilitated by the development of trolley buses and bus links to Westerhope. The Fenham Estates Company undertook residential development and by 1914 both sides Of Fenham Hall Drive had been built up; building continued in Wingrove Avenue, Wingrove Road and Wingrove Gardens up to 1920.

The majority of house building up to 1940 was by private builders. City corporation building occurred after 1920 when there was a sale of Blackett-Ord lands and funding became available to purchase and develop areas around Silver Lonnen. During the 1930s, a period of significant residential development and expansion, two churches opened in Fenham: the Arts and Crafts Church of St James and St Basil (architect: E. E. Lofting) was consecrated on 6 June 1931, having been funded by Sir James Knott in memory of his sons, James and Basil, killed in the First World War; the modernist Holy Cross Church (architect: Henry Hicks) was consecrated on Holy Cross Day 1936, having been funded by local landowner John Reginald Blackett-Ord.

Text adapted courtesy of Wikipedia.

6th April 206

Brighton Grove.

Bishops Avenue.

West Chare.

Wingrove Avenue.

When we were kids the first rule of the Green Cross Code was to find a safe place to cross the road. I do wonder what we teach kids now especially considering the inane size and speed of vehicles.

Wingrove Road.

19th August 2023

Studley Terrace/Wingrove Road.

19th June 2022

Wellington Street.

6th February 2017

Diana Street, Sikh Temple.

Diana Street/Douglas Terrace, Formerly The Kings Arms (The Cuckoo).

11th October 2011

Wingrove Road.

Wingrove Road, Robert Stewart Memorial United Reformed Church.

22nd March 2008

West Gate Community College.

West Road, Former Plaza Cinema.

West Road, Fox and Hounds pub.

12th February 2008

Fenham Hall Drive, St. James' & St. Basil's Church.

Two Ball Lonnen.

I've forgot where this was taken!

Fenham Hall Drive.

Fenham Hall Drive, Fenham Library.

Fenham Hall Drive, Fenham Pool.

More information:

See my other photos around Fenham:

2 comments:

herbwormwood said...: Some excellent photos of Fenham!
I've posted a few recently at my blog,
https://herbwormwoodsblog.wordpress.com/; 8 May 2017 at 14:03
Newcastle Photos said...: Thanks, these photos are almost 10 years old now. Seriously due a revisit sometime soon. Is that where you live?

I'll check out your blog.; 17 May 2017 at 06:26