The Moorings

The Moorings is a house built in 1850, located at 16 Brightman Road in Tynemouth, North Shields. The building is constructed of brick with a stone plinth, rusticated quoins, and ashlar dressings. It has two storeys that are raised to three, featuring four windows. The entrance consists of a six-panelled door set beneath an oblong fanlight, which is recessed in an architrave located in the third bay. Above the door, there is a blind panel with the engraving "A PIONEER FOR TYNE IMPROVEMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS." The architrave of the door is inscribed with "18 MOORINGS 50."

The windows on the ground and first floors have bracketed architraves, and there is an eaves gutter cornice above the first floor. The third floor features a sill band and chamfered stone lintels over the windows. Brick pilasters with stone plinths and capitals support the stone gable copings. The building also has a brick dentilled eaves cornice and two brick chimneys that are panelled and topped with ashlar cornices.

The Moorings was the home of Chevalier Henry Anson Brightman, who was ennobled by the Emperor of Austria for his work in famine relief fundraising while serving as the Austro-Hungarian Consul. Brightman lived in North Shields from 1847 until his death in 1902. He played a significant role in establishing the Tyne Commission, which took control of the lower reaches of the River Tyne from Newcastle Corporation and deepened the channel to allow access for all vessels, thereby enhancing the prosperity of Tyneside. He also facilitated the establishment of a Custom House at North Shields, which increased trade in the area. At the time of the survey, the building was roofless.