Bensham Grove Community Centre

1. BENSHAM ROAD 5099 Bensham Grove (Community Centre) NZ 2560 NZ 26SW 1&6/107

II

1. Early C19 with mid and late C19 alterations. Coursed stone with ashlar dressings. Fairly low pitched Welsh slate roof, with three corniced stone chimney stacks. Moulded eaves cornice and frieze; cill bands. Two storeys, six windows. Quoins to angles and windows, two original sashes, the rest modern. Doric prostyle porch in third bay, later canted and square bays to right. Later brick right extension with stone dressings. Half-octagonal ended conservatory to left. On entrance front, a two-bay entrance wing dated 1875. Some original windows on rear elevation. Some good late C19 stained glass windows with floral panels and figures in Burne-Jones style; and some arts-and-crafts metalwork to doors.

Bensham Grove is chiefly notable as the home of Robert Spence Watson (1837-1911), the most notable citizen of Gateshead. He was secretary of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society, co-founder of many educational institutions including the Gateshead High School and the Newcastle College of Science (now the University of Newcastle upon Tyne). He was, for more than two decades, secretary of the Newcastle Liberal Association and, although he never stood for Parliament, was appointed a Privy Councillor. He was perhaps best known for pioneer work in arbitration of industrial disputes.

Listing NGR: NZ2466162001