Literary And Philosophical Society

The Literary and Philosophical Society is a private library and society rooms built in 1822 by John Green, with stone masonry by John Ions of Gateshead. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar in the Greek revival style and features three storeys and three bays beneath a pediment. It has moulded plinths and a rusticated ground floor, which is accessed by wide square stone steps leading to a double door set back behind fluted Ionic columns. The door and flanking aproned sashes are adorned with voussoirs. The first-floor sashes are framed in architraves, with cornices, the central one being bracketed, while the second-floor square sashes have projecting sills. All windows include glazing bars. The top entablature is decorated with triglyphs and guttae, and the ends of the building are set back, with the entablature continuing along.

An addition to the rear of the building, constructed in 1885 at right angles, is obscured by Bolbec Hall. The interior features extensive classical stucco ornamentation on the friezes, wrought-iron balconies, and a spiral staircase leading to the library gallery, along with low-domed roof lights that also have glazing bars. An extension at the rear, completed in 1888/9 by A.B. Gibson, has a similar interior style. The society's sculpture collection includes busts of Thomas Bewick from 1825 by Bailey, Rev. Turner from 1829 by Bailey, George Stephenson from 1832 by Moore, Robert Stephenson from 1855 by Wyon, and a statue of James Losh from 1836 by Lough.