Photographs Of Newcastle: Wallsend Civic Hall and Grounds

Wallsend Hall is located on The Green in Wallsend. The house was built in the early 19th century and had significant grounds. The Hall was originally owned by William Clark, then by his son-in-law, John Wright, both of whom served as Mayors of Wallsend. In 1897, Robert Richardson Dees, who owned the Hall at that time, donated 18 acres of the grounds for use as a public park for the growing population of Wallsend. The Hall was purchased by Sir George Burton Hunter in 1914. He donated the Hall and its remaining grounds to the Wallsend Corporation (council) in 1919. From the 1920's the Hall was used as a hospital; later named the Sir G.B. Hunter Memorial Hospital (aka 'Wallsend infirmary'). It originally included a maternity ward. In 1940, a Health Centre was built in the grounds close to the east side of the Hall, as part of the hospital.

During the Second World War the Hall temporarily served as quarters for the army. In the 1950s, part of the Hall changed use and was extended to create a Civic Hall with function rooms for use by the Council and for hire. After almost a century of use as a hospital, the NHS, which had been paying a peppercorn rent to the council, relocated services to a more central location. The building was once again known as Wallsend Hall and is currently used as a wedding, conference and events venue. It is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England. The grounds of the Hall remain a significant green space for Wallsend.

Description courtesy of Co-Curate.