Westoe Villas

Westoe Villas, formerly known as Westoe Villa, dates from around 1830 and is a dignified early 19th-century villa constructed of red brick with stone window heads and a hipped slate roof. The building is two storeys high, featuring an ashlar plinth and eaves cornice, as well as rusticated stone quoins. The main south elevation consists of seven bays, with the five central bays projecting forward and ample space between them and the two outer bays. Most windows are sash style, except for the two outer first-floor windows, which have raised sills and have been re-glazed. There are continuous cills for the ground and first-floor windows, along with a floor band above the ground floor window heads, all of which extend around the entire building. A former central door has been converted into a window and is adorned with a projecting Roman Doric portico. The side elevation has two bays, while the north elevation facing Wood Terrace has undergone alterations, including the removal of the stone cornice, which was replaced with plain brick, and the insertion of several new windows. The original features include a tall semi-circular headed staircase window with 'gothick' tracery at the top, flanked by one sash window on the ground and first floors on either side. The site was acquired by Christopher Wood in 1828, and the house was built for the Wood family, who were brewers in South Shields.