Byker Neighbourhood Estate Office

The Byker Neighbourhood Estate Office, originally a former undertakers' shop that also catered for weddings, was built around 1899 and later extended around 1990. The original structure is made of brown brick, while the addition is rendered, and both sections have slate roofs, with the original part featuring a chimney stack. The building is two storeys high and includes timber sash windows, with the original shop front still intact and timber doors.

This site is historically significant as it was where architect Ralph Erskine established his office in July 1969, where he reassessed proposals for the area made by the Housing Architect's Department the previous year. His findings were published in 1970. The shop later functioned as a 'drop-in' centre for residents to view plans and gather information about the redevelopment of their neighbourhood. Notably, architect Vernon Gracie and others lived on the first floor to ensure a constant presence in the community. The idea of having an architect live on site and hold council meetings and consultations with community members was innovative in the late 1960s and early 1970s and played a crucial role in the Byker concept.