Located on the main street opposite the Police Station. It was originally a
boy's boarding school, attended by the first Lord Armstrong. It then became a
girl's boarding school. It is now a private house.
Buildings
The six Aged Miners Homes off Broom lane and standing near the site of Southfield farm were built in memory of Peter Lee, the Durham Miners' leader and opened on January 27th 1940. The homes were built at a cost of £2,300 and miners at the colliery had contributed a penny a week to the scheme since the mine opened. Bill Kelly, checkweighman and secretary to the miners lodge, was presented with a gold watch, for his contribution, to the successful outcome of the scheme by Mr J. Hook, chairman of the committee. Priestman Collieries Ltd donated the land and an ongoing allowance of 6 tons of coal a year to each of the tenants. Mr William Whiteley, MP for Blaydon and chairman of the Durham Aged Mine Workers Association presided over the meeting and presented the keys to the first tenants. A luncheon was laid on at Watergate Welfare Hall and later on tea for guests and members of the scheme. The colliery at this time employed 850 men and boys.
Beech House
Located on the main street opposite the Police Station. It was originally a
boy's boarding school, attended by the first Lord Armstrong. It then became a
girl's boarding school. It is now a private house.
Dockendale Hall
This 16th Century building is of historical and architectural interest.
Originally described with ivy clad walls, trees and a well kept garden enclosed
by a low wall. Originally the holding of the Earl of Darlington who sold the estate to Sir
Thomas Liddell of Ravensworth (the title of Ravensworth dates back to 1747).
Rumour has it that Oliver Cromwell stayed there for two days during his march
in 1648 to Edinburgh to make a treaty with the Marquis of Argyle. In the 19th Century local farmer John Meek occupied the Hall. He cultivated
the surrounding fields until his death in 1840. His family grave can be found in
the south of the churchyard. In 1841 the residents were the Taylor family who made several
alterations. Mr A Campbell was another owner - his sons had various activities in the
Village - one raised pedigree cattle - though unsuccessfully. The Bank then took over the estate and it was sold to Cannon Phelps who made
further alterations. After his death in 1948 his widow sold the Hall to the
Church. The Catholic Church Authority rebuilt the stables and it became the Church of
St Mary's Dockendale. The Hall is now converted into flats.
Miners' Houses (Priestman Colliery)
Axwell Park Colliery was sunk in 1839. It was a man-riding shaft. Men went
down the shaft at Whickham and the coal was brought to the surface at Swalwell.
It was owned by Lord Ravensworth and worked by Mr Snowball.
In 1889 it was taken over by Hannington with Mr Rutherford as Manager.
Only one row of dwelling was built at that time for the workers. It was a row
of flats ground floor and first floor. It was called Railway Row - later to be
renamed as Thomas Street. More homes were needed for the workers and the land surrounding the Pit Head
was built on in 1899. Thomas Street was converted to two bedroom houses and
other similar properties were built namely, William, George and James Street. At
the same time Eleanor and Edith Cottages were built - later renamed Eleanor and
Edith Terrace on Whickham Bank. The houses were two bedrooms upstairs with living room downstairs and a walk
in pantry. Outside in the back yard was a toilet and coalhouse. The houses were originally lit by oil or candles.
Electric light was installed and switched on in the Pit Houses on 29 April
1903. The houses have been updated with many having kitchen and bathroom extensions
and central heating installed.
Salisbury House
In its early days circa 1700 it was a Manor House and stood by itself outside
the Village on the Fells. The Village stopped at The Cross - where coal wains crossed the Front Street
going down Coalway Lane to the Staiths on the Tyne. The Cross is where Lang
Jacks monument now stands. At the early part of the century locals knew it as Fiddlers Hall because
every night an elderly gentleman played a violin at an upstairs window. Although the exact age of the house is not known due to incomplete deeds it
is thought to be about 1653. It is now a four-bedroom house but it originally had six chimneys and flues.
Various people have lived in the house including a dressmaker who made most
of the wedding dresses for local weddings.
Priestmans company built 146 colliery houses at Broom Lane, to house their workman, many of whom came from Chester Moor and Waldridge Fell where Priestmans had other collieries.
Whickham House
The entrance to the House was opposite the Bay Horse. The Leaton family was one of the earliest residents - their daughter Ann was baptised in 1714. The last member of the Leaton family living in the House was George Thomas Leaton Blenkinsop who died in 1864. Several families lived in the House until 1937 when the owner Mr J Wilkinson sold the House and the ten-acre grounds to the Urban District Council for £7,000. With Mr Wilkinson's interests in horses and hunting he changed the name from Whickham House to "The Chase". The House was used during the 1939-45 War by the Fire Service, later falling into a state of disrepair and being demolished in 1960. The area to this day is known as "Chase Park".
The Windmill
The Windmill in King George's Field (Chase Park) is thought to have stood for
at least 300 years. It is made of coursed squared sandstone. The mound surrounds the Mill to a
height of 5 feet from ground level. Although it bears the date 1567 the style of
the carving is inconsistent with that date and must have been added later.
It is referred to as a 'Tower Mill' and is the only mill still standing in
the Gateshead area. It has also been referred to as a 'Palatine Windmill'.
When the Scots invaded Northumberland and Durham in 1640 the English were
defeated at the Battle of Stella Haughs (Newburn). This happened at Harvest time
and the crops were destroyed, the people fled, and the upper millstones were
broken and buried by order. The Mill was in use until 1835. The Miller at that time was Isaac
Baty. In the Summer of 1979 the members of the Whickham Local History Society and
some of their friends carried out excavation work inside the Mill under the
supervision of Miss Barbara Harbottle County Archaeologist. At that time suggestions on the future use of the Mill was to either declare
it as a local history centre for the Whickham area or to use the ground floor of
the building as a refreshment kiosk - neither suggestion was developed and the
Mill still stands in the park today.l novel "Devil Water".