History Fenham

1 history

1.1 fenham hall

1.1.1 st mary s college


1.2 fenham barracks
1.3 modern developments

history

fenham part of manor of elswick in barony of bolam until lands passed ownership of knights templar in 1185. following suppression of templars in 1307 manor of fenham transferred knights hospitaller in 1313. in intervening years recorded coal mines on site leased town s corporation.

fenham hall

fenham hall has origins in 14th century. surrendered hospitallers crown @ reformation, granted riddell family before being acquired (along of surrounding land) ords in 1695. present building begun john ord in 1744; following death following year continued brother william. hall expanded , rebuilt on subsequent decades, , shows various stages of architectural development; interior gutted fire in 1908. (three years earlier hall had been purchased ).

st mary s college

fenham hall: extension west leonard stokes (1907, st mary s college).

in 1905 fenham hall purchased society of sacred heart house secondary school , teacher training college: st mary s. hall accommodated convent , dormitories; further buildings added school , lecture rooms. training college closed in 1984, sacred heart catholic high school remains. since closure of st mary s college hall , associated buildings have served student accommodation newcastle university.

fenham barracks


fenham barracks: surviving blocks of 1804 (officers quarters , officers mess); student accommodation.

fenham barracks built in 1804-06 james johnson , john saunders (architects @ barrack department of war office) on 11-acre portion of town moor leased newcastle freemen. ten years earlier, lord mayor of newcastle had written home secretary expressing local fears of sedition in wake of french revolution. barracks housed units of cavalry , artillery (capable of being deployed locally, overseas during napoleonic wars). two-storey barrack blocks accommodated men upstairs , horses below.

in 1870s site expanded north, addition of hospital , other amenities, in wake of cardwell reforms (which saw fenham designated regimental depot of both northumberland fusilers , durham light infantry). several of old barracks blocks demolished in 1930s. there further (almost comprehensive) demolition in 1970s, when northern part of site redeveloped freemen provide industrial units, headquarters national blood transfusion service , new bbc broadcasting centre (for bbc radio newcastle , bbc north); proceeds of sale fund maintenance of town moor. part of site remains in military hands , serves headquarters local army reserve units.

modern developments

the church of st james , st basil on fenham hall drive

in 1895 benwell , fenham urban district created; in 1904 area incorporated newcastle upon tyne.

fenham did not become residential area until 20th century. housing built on large scale when tram lines extended central station via barrack road. further expansion facilitated development of trolley buses , bus links westerhope.

during 1930s, period of significant residential development , expansion, 2 churches opened in fenham: arts & crafts church of st james , st basil (architect: e. e. lofting) consecrated on 6 june 1931, having been funded sir james knott in memory of sons, james , basil, killed in first world war; modernist holy cross church (architect: henry hicks) consecrated on holy cross day 1936, having been funded local landowner john reginald blackett-ord.