Photographs Of Newcastle: Gateshead Old Town Hall and Municipal Buildings

The foundation stone for the Old Town Hall was laid in 1868: a stand collapsed during the ceremony killing a member of the public. Construction work was delayed after preparatory work penetrated a coal seam leading to the collapse of nearby properties and the building was finally completed in 1870.

On the left return of the Town Hall, along Swinburne Street, are the municipal buildings which were built between 1873-1885.

A collection of some of the finest buildings in Gateshead looking a little worse for wear. I think the buildings are barely in use, if at all, which is never a good sign.

October 2024

Gateshead Town Hall and Police Station.

1868-70 by John Johnstone. Ashlar, Welsh slate roof. Substantial composition in neo-Romanesque style with errant details. Two storeys, two, three and two bays.

Central block taller and projecting, with bays framed in pilasters supporting heavy entablature with ornamental frieze and modillion cornice. Balustraded balcony over has corner pedestals with urns (some missing) central segmental pediment with allegorical figures and plinth with larger figure above.

Side sections have lower,hip ended roofs and simpler entablatures also resting on ilasters. Paired round arched first floor windows, those in centre in round arched recesses with oculi in heads. Ground floor paired segmental headed windows, banded pilasters and rusticated plinth.

Grade 2 Listed.

Source: Sitelines

Gateshead Town Hall Clock.

Borough Engineering Department (iii), Swinburne Street.

The former Post Office. 1873-5. Tooled stone with ashlar dressings, slate roof with corniced stone chimneys. Simple building with some classical detail. Three storeys (the top one seems to be an addition) five bays and three-bay West return to Swinburne Place.

Rusticated ground floor up to impost string of round-arched recesses framing round-headed windows and door at right. Moulded plinth. Pilasters rest on ground floor entablature, frame round-arched first floor windows with archivolts and key blocks, and support a cornice. Segment arched second floor windows in raised surrounds. All windows sashes. Moulded and modillioned eaves cornice.

Grade 2 Listed.

Source: Historic England.

Borough Engineering Department (ii), Swinburne Street.

The former Public Library. 1885 by John Johnstone. Ashlar in an extravagant neo- baroque style. Welsh slate roof. Two storeys and attic, five bays, the central bay projecting under a shaped, pedimented gable with round-arched attic windows.

Flanking broken serpentine pediments have round windows, urn finials and carved swags. Urns rest on parapet at ends and between gables. Heavy entablatures to both floors, resting on end pilasters and (on first floor) paired pilasters between windows. Carved friezes. Flat arched first floor windows, the central tripartite and breaking the pediment of the entrance, which rests on two heavy carved brackets. Ground floor openings round arched with archivolts, key stones with masks and impost string; nook shafts to door. Ground floor rusticated with sunk apron panels.

Grade 2 Listed.

Source: Historic England.

Borough Engineering Department (i), Swinburne Street.

The former Free Library. Circa 1880. Ashlar, classical style. Three storeys, three bays.

Plinth, rusticated ground floor to band on which rest four giant pilasters supporting plain entablature and pediment. Ground floor, elliptical arched wide central window (former doorway?) flanked by round arched windows. Plain sash windows those in the wider centre bay emphasized by architraves and a first floor pediment.

Grade 2 Listed.

Source: Historic England.

Borough Engineering Department (rear), Swinburne Place.

Former National Provincial Bank.

1871 possibly by John Gibson (architect to National Provincial Bank). Ashlar in Quasi-classical style. Two storeys, five bays on Swinburne Street. Three on left (East) return.

Rusticated pilasters support entablature, with heavy modillion cornice and frieze inscribed: NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK OF ENGLAND, ESTABLISHED AD 1733. Unusual pierced parapet above. Flat arched paired upper windows, round arched ground floor windows with architraves, key and impost blocks, all with bracketed cills. Two doorways in similar openings.

Grade 2 Listed.

Source: Historic England.