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Ancestry UK

Gateshead Day Industrial School, Gateshead, County Durham

In 1880, the Gateshead School Board opened a Day Industrial School in a 'very handsome and commodious building' constructed for the purpose at Half Moon Lane, Windmill Hills, Gateshead. The establishment, whose location provoked considerable local opposition, had accommodation for up to 200 children, aged 7 to 14 years. There was also a cottage for the caretaker and his wife. The School was officially certified for operation on September 30th, 1880, and opened its doors on November 1st. The superintendent was Miss Mary J. McQuaker, with Mr and Mrs John Steer appointed as labour-master and matron.

In 1884, with the School only using about half of the capacity of the large building, the Board decided that it should change places with the rather less grand premises of the adjacent upper grade school whose location is sometimes referred to as Freeman's Terrace. The two schools, following the excahnge of premises, are shown on the 1896 map below.

Gateshead Day Industrial School site, c.1896.

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the south, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the south, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the west, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the west, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the south-east, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the east, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

Former Gateshead Day Industrial School, from the north-east, 2020. © Peter Higginbotham

The School was formally closed on April 18th, 1895. The building later became a Church Army Home but was demolished in the 1970s. The School's original premises became council offices and, in more recent times, were occupied as a hotel and as a care home. In 2020, the property was standing empty.

Records

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  • None identfied at present — any information welcome.

Bibliography

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Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.