Clifford'S Fort Trinity House Almshouses And Boundary Stone Attached

TYNEMOUTH UNION ROAD (east side, off) NZ 3668 SW 15/134 Clifford's Fort (No. 54) Trinity House Almshouses and boundary stone attached. G.V. II Lighthouse, later almshouse. 1727 lighthouse; raised 1775; converted to almshouses 1830; for Trinity House, Newcastle upon Tyne. Brick of varying bonds with quoins at right; ground floor rendered; painted sandstone ashlar right return; sandstone rubble lower courses on left return. Welsh slate roof. 3 storeys, 8 irregular bays. Ground floor: rendered lintel to door in fifth bay, flat arches to windows. Elliptical brick arches to windows on upper floors. Some windows bricked up, some with sashes burnt or removed. Inserted double loading doors in first floor. Deep moulded brick first floor string; moulded brick brackets to second floor band. 3 commemorative panels, eroded, on first and second floors, one latter dated 1775. Sundial on second floor, right of centre. Hipped roof without chimneys. Historical note: Trinity House, Newcastle, was granted permission to build leading lights at Shields by Henry VIII. This is the earliest survivor of buildings begun in 1539; it became redundant on completion of the new low light (q.v.) in 1808. Sources: Trinity House MSS. Boundary stone attached to left return: sandstone block inscribed WD/BS/No7 about 12 cm. above ground. Almshouse empty and derelict at time of survey.

Listing NGR: NZ3630968482