Bewick House

Bewick House is an office building of 1884, originally designed by Austin and Johnson for the Tyne Improvement Commission. Three floors were added in 1911 by W.H. Wood. It now serves as offices for the Port of Tyne Authority.

The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar on a pink granite plinth, with a roof of plain tiles. It comprises a four-storey central section flanked by five-storey wings, with attics above. The fenestration is arranged in a 2:3:2 bay pattern. A double door is set within a hollow-chamfered reveal, topped by a pulvinated frieze and a fanlight with an ornamental iron grille. The ground floor is rusticated. Ground floor windows have bracketed sills and keyed voussoirs, highlighted by a Greek-key band. The projecting wings feature first-floor windows within pedimented Gibbs surrounds. The arcaded central bays incorporate a balcony with panelled soffits to the round-headed windows. A dentilled cornice runs above the first floor. The central third floor has an Ionic colonnade and balustrade, flanked by windows within lugged architraves. Most windows are sash windows, except for the arcaded leaded lights. Cartouches displaying the arms of the constituent authorities are situated under a deep, bracketed top cornice. Three central dormers are topped by lugged architraves and pediments. The wings have similar windows on the fourth floor, set beneath dentilled cornices and high, hipped roofs, each with a dormer framed by an Ionic surround. Prominent, corniced ashlar chimneys add to the building's appearance.