Architectural and Historical Assessment Tynemouth Library Building No’s 35 and 36 Front Street, Tyn

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Architectural and Historical Assessment Tynemouth Library Building No’s 35 and 36 Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4DZ

Compiled by M. Toolan and D. White RIBA Architect, May 2021. mtln@hotmail.co.uk Please Note :- Research on the building has been restricted due to many archive sources not being available because of Covid restrictions. No access was gained to the building.

Contents 1. Location of the building 2. Existing status 3. Proposed listing description 4. Summary of research 5. Historical research 6. Chronology of occupations 7. Architectural appraisal of the current building 8. Dating the building 9. Contribution made by the building to its setting (NPP, 189) Page 1 of 21

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10. Conservation Area status

1.

Location of the building.

No’s 35 and 36 Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4DZ, Tynemouth Library.

Site of the building denoted as a red dot.

Building circled.

Google Map - Tynemouth Castle and Priory on the right. The Library building is circled in red.

2. Existing status The current building has five bays, three storeys, plus basement, with gabled roof to the front. To the rear are a twostorey extension, the width of the building, plus a single storey further extension, an adjacent single storey to the west, used a s a retail unit, terminating in an electricity sub-station.

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3. Proposed listing description           

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Town house.

Five bays.

Three storeys plus basement.

Early 18th century.

Welsh slate gabled roof.

English Garden Wall Bond brick to the first floor and English Bond to the second floor.

Brick string course to the first and second floor.

Half soldier, flat brick lintels to the first and second floor.

Box sash windows exposed and flush to the façade, indicating original early frames, though sashes are later replacements.

Original fenestration, despite ground floor alterations.

Massive original brick chimney to the rear.

Originally seven bays, with hipped roof and garden to the front, a two-storey extension to the rear west was built in the 1760’s.

By the 1850’s the building was used as a Temperance hotel, the extension was raised to three storeys and the hip to the east became gabled.

In the Victorian era into the early 20th century, the building was used for commercial purposes, including a bakery and tricycle depot, the building then being divided internally and the ground floor rendered in the 1930’s.

A war-time canteen was preceded by the arrival of Tynemouth library in 1953.

The two west bays were demolished in late 1950’s due to war damage.

Interior has original fire-places on the first and second floors.

Rationale for listing 1. Many original early 18th century features still original to the façade (there may indeed be more if access could be gained to the building).

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2. Group value listing – the building has inherent architectural features and history contributing to the heritage context of Front Street, a Conservation Area.

3. Given its age, its position in close proximity to an Scheduled Ancient Monument and its multi-faceted uses over three centuries, it is part of the social fabric and civic status of an historic village.

4. The listed buildings adjacent (Nos 53 and 53A) to No 36 have a similar history to this building. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1300061 They share a similar date of construction, early to mid-18th century, they are brick built, have the same brick bond, the same string courses, have been significantly altered on the ground floor (similar to No 36), though unlike No 36, these buildings have lost their original fenestration. They were both probably originally one building and have been divided in to two separate dwellings, which is comparable to No 36 to a point, as No 36 is currently one building.

No 36 was a more significant building when it was constructed due to its size (seven bays as opposed to three bays) and possibly status (front garden) and yet this building is not listed.

4. Summary of research 

This building was probably built in the early 18 th century, c. 1720, evidenced by the brick string courses and flush box sashes. It was a seven bay, three storey building, with a basement. It had hipped rooves, indicating a single, non-extended, dwelling, with a garden to the front.

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There was an extension to the rear west side c. 1760.

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Alteration was made to this extension in the 1860’s, increasing the height to three storeys, the roof still hipped to the west side and now gabled to the east.

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The main building seems to have remained relatively unaltered from 1720 to the 1860’s.

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It was at this point the building became a temperance hotel until 1886. It was then used for commercial purposes as a bakery and cycle depot/tailors until the beginning of WW2, when the bakery became a lowcost canteen.

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There were three front door openings during this period. The electricity substation to the rear was built in the 1920’s. The alteration to the ground floor façade occurred c. 1930’s when one door-way was filled in and the brick was rendered.

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Nos 53 & 53A Front Street (mid-18th century) https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/listentry/1300061 also have significantly altered ground floors, which for these buildings has altered the fenestration, probably earlier shop fronts and later remodelled. Both houses were probably one dwelling, yet Nos 53 and 53A are listed.

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The current library opened in 1953 and a few years later the two west bays were demolished, probably due to war damage. A single storey retail unit was built in its place.

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The existing building has five bays, three storeys and basement.

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The front elevation fenestration appears original, the brick-work (Garden Wall Bond and English Bond) and the string course is original and the box frame to the sashes are still flush to the façade, indicating they may still be original, as is the significant chimney stack to the rear east of the building.

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The interior is unknown however, members of the Tynemouth Photographic Society which occupied the two upper floors until 2020, recall original stone and cast iron fire-places and the staircase still in place.

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How would the current building would look if the two west bays were restored (basic re-imaging)?

5. Historical Research Front Street has been the main road leading to the Priory, once the most important in the country, since medieval times. The location of the current building is in the heart of this historical thoroughfare.

Map from the 1580’s.

The left image, looking south, with the Castle and Priory to the left.

The right image has been inverted, looking north, with the Priory to the east, in order to give consistency to the maps which follow. The current library building location is circled. This medieval street plan is very similar to the current plan and in particular the narrow street (now called Silver Street) to the east of the library building site.

1664 Map of Tynemouth, Front Street shown to the west of the Castle and Priory.

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1720 Map. The area of the current building circled. There is evidence of the street layout (Front Street and Silver Street) which is consistent again with today’s layout and the narrow street is evident to the east side of the library building site.

1772 J Fryer’s Map of the Lower Tyne

The building is an ‘L’ shape, with a left return, down what is now Silver Street.

1826 Map by John Woods, Plan of the Towns of North Shields and Tynemouth

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The ‘library building is still denoted as an ‘L’ shaped building, an extensive façade building with a dog leg left return, as in the 1772 map. No further detail noted.

1826 John Rook, Survey for Duke of Northumberland

The map Legend denotes this hatch pattern on the roof, as being three storeys high. The building is again ‘L’ shaped, as in the map of 1772, though due to the detail, we have more of an idea of the proportions. The left return appears more as a rear extension to the main building and the roof hatching (according to the map legend) shows it was not three storeys, like the main building, it was in fact, two storeys, perhaps indicating it was not original to the building and was added pre-1826.

If this extension was added pre 1826 then given that the map of 1772 shows the same shaped building, it would be reasonable to assume that that this extension may have been added pre-1772. It is unlikely a building with hipped Page 7 of 21

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rooves on either side would have been constructed at the same time with an extension. The conclusion would therefore be that this extension may have been added some years after the original building was constructed. How long before is an estimate, however, the architectural features detailed in the subsequent section, dating the building to the early 18th century, seem entirely plausible.

This deduction would signify the building was constructed early 18th century (c.1720) and an extension added in the next 50 years but pre1772.

Referring to the John Rook map of 1826, the building clearly shows a hipped roof with a garden, possibly divided into three sections in the front.

This ‘L’ shape, with three storeys can be seen in this 1927 photo below, though now there has been a third storey added to the rear extension.

By 1851, there was an advert in the Newcastle Courant for the opening of a school at No 36. In the Trade Directory of 1851, there is reference to a Temperance hotel.

1863 Ordnance Survey Map

There appears to be a division of the building, 4/3 or 5/2 bay split, with perhaps two entrances at the front with canopies.

The building is now recorded as a Temperance Hotel. There are recordings in the Trade Directory of the Temperance Hotel from 1851 to 1886.

It may well have been opened by the Wesleyans, (who along with the Methodists advocated and campaigned during this period for temperance) who built the impressive Congregational Church next door, to the right in 1870 (See below), subsequently known as No 36 Front Street, Tynemouth, instead of the library building at No 36.

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This image shows No 35 (Tynemouth Library Building) to the left.

The drawing details the two string brick courses and the same fenestration, though the window heads are different.

The drawing depicts wedge brick rubbers instead of what we see today as a soldier course.

It seems unlikely that subsequent to this drawing that all three floors of window heads would have been changed, particularly when the building adjoining No 34 and town houses adjacent use the same motif (soldier course window head).

The artist may have used artistic license, since it would make the building appear more refined.

The other difference compared to 1826, is that the building is not hipped, which means the roof was altered between 1826 and 1870, if this is accurate The Trade Directory refers to No 35, as a Marine Boarding house in 1871, presumably for sailors, from North Shields.

Fifteen years later in 1886, it refers to the Temperance Hotel and Wesleyan Chapel, at No 35. (This maybe a contradiction in the listing since the Wesleyan Congregational Church was built in 1870 as previously noted). The Marine Boarding House and Temperance Hotel may be one of the same.

These types of temperance hotel were common from the 1850’s to the 1920’s.

In 1895 the Trade Directory refers to No 35 as a tricycle depot (the first front steering tricycle was invented in 1881).

Ref. the 1863 Map above, there is still an area at the front of the building for a garden or paved area, as depicted in the map of 1826. There appear to be canopy entrances to both buildings, similar to photo of c. 1900 on below on the left.

The tinted photo on the right is from 1910 and shows a colour division of the building.

This may be the point at which the building became two separate address numbers, Nos 35 and 36, though it may have occurred when the hotel ceased trading in 1886.

There does not appear to be any front elevation changes.

1894 Ordnance Survey Map

There does not appear to be any division in the building on this map 31 years later, though this may be simply due to this map is less detailed.

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This indicated brown shaded area on the building is the 1826 foot-print super-imposed on the 1894 map. It is the same shape, so the photo of 1905, below, is a reasonable indication that the building in 1826 was the size foot-print, though the return, as mentioned previously with the third floor, was a later addition.

In 1909, the Trade Directory refers to a cycle (not tricycle) depot at No 35 until 1924 and at No 36 a new business, a confectioner, still recorded as such until 1941.

The cycle depot at No 35 is replaced by a tailor in 1928, still referenced in 1941.

1918 Ordnance Survey Map

1905 Photo

Again the foot-print in 1918 is the same as previous maps. The division of the building is evident.

Shown in this photograph is the entrance to the ‘Priory Bakery’ and recorded in 1920 in the Trade Directory at No 36 as a confectioner.

20’s Photo 1927 Photo

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In the 1928 there is a tailor recorded at No 35, the confectioner (Priory Bakery) at No 36. Note in the photo on the right, at the rear, the electricity sub-station is highlighted, appearing for the first time.

Post 1941 Photo and 1940’s Photo.

Here in the photo on the left, we see the Priory Restaurant. This operated from 1941 to 1949, managed by Tynemouth Council for the Ministry of Food. The ground floor has now been rendered, between the last photo of 1927 and the 1941 photo above, so we say it was probably done in the 1930’s. The fenestration is symmetrical with the first floor, with window lintel bases and mouldings around the window openings. Only one entrance remains, which is now the entrance to the existing library building.

There are still seven bays, with a shop on left hand corner and Priory Restaurant as mentioned above.

1954 Ordnance Survey

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1959 July 21st

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This map shows a different division in the property. This does not reflect the division shown in earlier maps and photos. The previous division was four bays on the left and three bays on the right. If this map is accurate this division looks more like 2 bays on the left and five on the right.

This is the first reference to the library, which corresponds with the date we know the library was first opened (1953).

There were still seven bays at this point and this drawing seems to demonstrate perhaps that the two bays mentioned above are in some way separate to the rest of the building. Only a year later, the photo below from 1955 depicts the last two bays in the process of demolition.

It may be that the map of 1954 is indicating that the first two bays were damaged or in a state of significant disrepair.

It is feasible to assume therefore that the building received damage in the war, only ten years earlier.

1955 Photo Two left bays in the process of de-construction.

This would be when the hipped roof on the west side disappears, the reinforcing of the gable wall on Silver Street was constructed and the retail unit of a single storey was built.

1950’s Front elevation drawing Borough Surveyor There are two entrances, from the right, on the corner of the building (one of the two bays soon to be demolished) and on the third bay, where the existing entrance is currently.

6. Chronology of Occupations Page 12 of 21

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1720 - Estimated date of construction - On going research when Covid restrictions are lifted.

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1850’s to 1886 - Temperance Hotel - Reference - Ordnance Survey Map of 1863. There are references to the hotel in the Trade Directory up until 1886. The building was then divided into Nos 35 and 36 Front Street.

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1886 to 1940 - There was a baker/confectioner at No 36 for 54 years.

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1895 to 1927 - A cycle shop operated at No 35 for 32 years.

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1928 to at least 1940 - A tailor’s shop occupied No 35.

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1940 to 1949 - The Ministry of Food opened a canteen/restaurant for subsidized meals, called the Priory Restaurant, at No 36.

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1953 - The ground floor now housed Tynemouth Library for the first time, until February 2020

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1959 - Tynemouth Photographic Society occupied the first and second floor until February 2020. There were 5 bays according to senior members when the society rented the floors. The bays were taken down c. 1959 onwards.

7. An Architectural Appraisal of the Current Building, Nos 35 & 36 Front Street, Tynemouth NE304DZ. a. Brick bond i. First floor

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ii. Second floor -

English Garden Wall Bond English Bond

English Garden Wall bond (BCT: Garden Wall Bonds (iasri.res.in)) was used mainly for walls of one brick thick, commonly garden walls and usually not beyond two meters in height.

In this instance it is probable that the choice of this bond for first two floors was based on the pattern being more attractive than the bond used since the late 17 th century, English Bond.

The English Garden Wall Bond would have therefore been used as the outer skin of the first two floors and the third and final floor, which would be much less visible from street level, the standard brick bond was chosen, for strength. b. String course Horizontal two course raised band located at first floor level.

This detail is common to several buildings on Front Street. On the south side opposite the library.

No. 52 (c.1770). https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1025372 53 & 53A (mid C18) https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1300061 54 (late C18) https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1355022 Page 13 of 21

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There is a further example at No. 60, although the majority of buildings westward have stone sill bands, usually a later feature.

c. Window Heads All of the Library’s windows have very simple soldier course lintels above them - with bricks turned on edge.

On the houses opposite, the same soldier course lintel details can be seen, but only above the top storey windows, beneath the eaves line.

It occurs at the top or near to top of the wall, with perhaps only one course of brickwork over it, so less likely to pose a problem, structurally.

It’s an important distinction to make, as the lower storey windows, instead, have a brick flat arch, which can structurally support the weight of the brickwork above the window.

The top storey windows of 53A, and 54 - opposite the Library - have the same window head lintel detail. d. Fenestration This is more than likely the original fenestration. The symmetry of all three floors would support this and indeed the queen closer bricks are evidence of an intentional opening (see photo below), signifying the building was built Page 14 of 21

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originally with the full seven bays and not added to in later periods. The ground floor, though rendered is symmetrical with the above window openings and is evident in the early photographs shown above, c.1900.

e. Windows The sash frames are almost flush to the facade of the building. The box frame is neither recessed from the façade nor rebated into the brick work and so the entire box frame is visible.

Following the Great Fire of London in 1666 two Building Acts were later imposed to improve fire safety since exposed sash boxes were seen as a fire risk. In 1709, the first sash window building regulation was enforced in the City of London which required new build properties to have recessed windows frames, i.e., set-back four inches (recessed back) from the façade.

Whilst this regulation was not enforced immediately outside of London, flush window frames nationally are commonly pre-1740.

An additional supplementary law was then introduced in 1774 which required these recessed box frames to be rebated into the brick-work as well as setting them back from the building façade, thereby hiding most of the box frame within the brick work, as a further fire prevention precaution.

The actual window box frames themselves in the library building may well be original. The sashes are replacements, which is common as the original Georgian windows would probably have had six over six square windows and no horns, as large pane manufacture did not arrive until 1838, creating larger and heavier panes, so the sash was strengthened with the addition of the horns.

Georgian buildings did not have sash windows with these horns.

If these box frames were replacements, they would have been replaced as a like for like. It is unlikely a box recessed frame and sash would be replaced with a flush exposed box frame.

This would be a further indicator as to the early age of the building, c. 1720. f.

Roof

The 1826 map shows a hipped roof plan. The property we see now has a gabled end roof. The 1950’s Borough Surveyor drawing shows a hipped roof, so it is reasonable to assume that the building lost its hipped roof on the west when the two bays were taken down. The east hip was lost much earlier.

There is no photographic evidence from the early 1900’s of the east hip. The roof is of welsh slate currently and so it is possible that when this building material was available, (since the original roofing material would probably have been clay pantiles, from the early 1800’s), (the railway arrived in Tynemouth in 1839), the roof was re-modelled in the early Victorian period, from the 1840’s, to include a gable at the east end.

We may conclude that the west hip was changed by 1870 (see Wesleyan Church drawing), so it would be reasonable to assume that the roof line was changed from 1839 to 1870. g. Chimney to rear Such a large single stack on one side at the rear (see photo highlighted below) may demonstrate a single dwelling house, rather than a multiple occupancy. This stack is still in place.

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Photo 1927

Additional information.

The building has a basement of the size of the original building foot-print, which in 1957 housed bakery equipment, according to current members of the photographic society, who left the building after approximately 60 years occupying the top two floors in 2020.

1826 Map of the building foot-print super-imposed on a google map.

8. Dating the building a. Brick string course - This feature was used in the 1600’s through to the mid C18. b. Flush box sash windows are usually pre-1740. c. Fryer’s map of 1772 has the identical building foot-print of the 1826 John Rook map, which is highly detailed, signifying the building existed in 1772. d. We know from the 1826 map that the west rear extension was only two storeys not three, like the rest of the building, indicating it was a later addition. Given that this extension is still evident in the 1772 map, it would be reasonable to assume that the extension pre-dates 1772.

An extension that is pre 1772, brick string courses which dates the building from early to mid C18 and flush box sash windows which date it to pre 1750, then an estimate of the age of the building at early C18 is not unreasonable.

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9. Contribution made by the building to its setting (NPP, 189) Google Earth 2010 – View to the east

The building is in the heart of the Conservation Area (Tynemouth Conservation Area Management Strategy, Supplementary Planning Document 2014).

It is situated in direct line of sight of the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Tynemouth Priory and Castle (SAM 25165), once the richest priory in England.

To the immediate west are unlisted buildings from perhaps as early as the late 17th century to late 18th century Google Earth 2010 – View of the listed buildings adjacent to the south.

English Heritage 2004 Tynemouth, An Archaeological Assessment and Strategy. This map denotes Tynemouth listed buildings (red) and ancient and scheduled monuments (green).

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Adjacent are 11 listed buildings, excepting one early 19 th century house are all mid to late 18 th century, including the ‘Bishop’s House’ built in 1780. These houses complement each other.

The brick bond used in these houses are: three English bond, five English Garden Wall Bond and one Flemish Bond (the library unusually has both English bonds).

Nos 53A and 54 have the same soldier course window lintels on the top floor and Nos 52, 53A, 54 and 60 share the same string course. These buildings share architectural history and have group value.

Both listed buildings on west of Front Street, Marsden House, No 9 (left photo), early 18 th century and No 14 (right photo), Holly House, late 18th century, still retail their front gardens.

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No 35/36 (the Library) is the only building on this straight stretch to the Priory to have had a garden on the map of 1826 (evidenced by the green shading on the right image).

Not even the Bishop’s House, No 47, built in 1780, (third building from the end on the south side of Front Street) had a garden and we may assume that this must have been one of the most important buildings on the thoroughfare in the 18th century.

This building must have been a building of note, perhaps an earlier house for the bishop, possibly glebe or was it the residence for the Governor of the castle and priory?

It is speculation, though certainly it is one of the earliest and the largest houses in Tynemouth, seven bays and three storeys high, plus basement, a garden and in close proximity to the Priory.

Its retention of key architectural features to the front elevation, its group value in an 18 th century street scene, sharing common period motifs with neighbouring buildings and the scale of the original building, infers historical importance, all of which should offer a strong case for listed building protection.

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10. Conservation Area status Tynemouth has been the subject of three heritage assessments. The first two were community led (2003 and 2010) and a more legally binding SPD 2014.

Tynemouth VCS (northtyneside.gov.uk) Microsoft Word - Tynemouth CACA draft.doc (northtyneside.gov.uk) Tynemouth Village Conservation Area Management Strategy Supplementary Planning Document_0.pdf (northtyneside.gov.uk) Below are excerpts from the 2010 document, followed by the 2014 SPD, with high-lighted comments contextualising the Tynemouth Library building (red text).

Tynemouth Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal April 2010 7.7.1 Demolition Outside conservation areas, buildings that are not statutorily listed can be demolished without approval under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). Within conservation areas, the demolition of unlisted buildings requires conservation area consent.

Applications for consent to totally or substantially demolish any building within a conservation area must be made to North Tyneside Council or, on appeal or call-in, to the Secretary of State. Procedures are basically the same as for listed building consent applications.

Generally, there is a presumption in favour of retaining buildings that make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the conservation area.

5.4 Architectural Qualities 5.4.1 Form, Height and Scale The Village Core Sub- Area has the dominant built form of two or three storey terraces with pitched roofs. Buildings are mostly two or three bays wide, but there are some five bay buildings (for example, 9 Front Street and Turks Head Hotel).

Nos 35 and 36 currently has five bays and was originally seven bays, plus a basement. This would indicate high status and therefore importance to the context of the architectural history of the village.

Few buildings are symmetrical. Many use attic space as an additional storey. Most buildings are grouped in organic strings often with a lively, varied ridge line, either because development steps down the lie of the land, or because actual building heights vary. This simple, traditional built form is inherently attractive.

5.4.7 Roofs, Gables and Dormers Many roofs in the conservation area are unaltered and are important architectural features that enliven the character of the area considerably. Many other roofs, however, have been unsympathetically altered. Traditional dual pitch roofs without hips are the basis for much of the buildings in the Village Core Sub- Area.

Nos 35 & 36 was a double hipped building making it very unusual for Front Street, again suggesting it was a significant structure in its day, which stood out.

7.8 Unlisted Buildings in A Conservation Area • Is the building the work of a particular architect of regional or local note? Unconfirmed.

• Has it qualities of age, style, materials or any other characteristics that reflect those of at least a substantial number of the buildings in the conservation area?

Yes. It dates to early 18th century, as most of this part of Front Street is mid to early 18 th century. It shares numerous architectural features with its neighbours (brick bond, string courses, three storeys, flush boxed sash window frames).

• Does it relate by age, materials, or in any other historically significant way to adjacent listed buildings, and contribute positively to their setting?

Yes. See above.

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• Does it individually, or as part of a group, serve as a reminder of the gradual development of the settlement in which it stands, or of an earlier phase of growth?

Yes. Front Street was re-modelled in the early to late 18 th century. This building was pre-eminent due to its size and stature during this growth phase of the village.

• Does it have significant historic association with established features such as the road layout, burgage plots, a town park or a landscape feature?

Yes. Front Street dates back over 1,000 years and this east section has not changed from its medieval layout. The building is in direct line of sight of the Ancient and Scheduled Monument of Tynemouth Priory and Castle.

• Does the building have landmark quality, or contribute to the quality of recognisable spaces, including exteriors or open spaces with a complex of public buildings?

Yes. Despite losing two bays, it is one of only two buildings which have three storeys and five bays on Front Street.

• Does it reflect the traditional functional character of, or former uses within, the area?

Yes. • Has it significant historic associations with local people or past events?

Yes. It has been adapted since the mid-Victorian period to a Temperance Hotel, a tri-cycle depot, a bakery and wartime canteen, demonstrating the layers of historical context of the requirements of the village residents.

• Does its use contribute to the character or appearance of the conservation area?

Yes. It was a village library until 2020 and can continue to be so, if re-furbished sympathetically.

• If a structure associated with a designed landscape within the conservation area, such as a significant wall, terracing or a minor garden building, is it of identifiable importance to the historic design?

Yes. North Tyneside Council believes any one of these characteristics could provide the basis for considering that a building makes a positive contribution to the special interest of a conservation area, provided that its historic form and values have not been seriously eroded by unsympathetic alteration.

There have certainly been alterations, not least losing two bays and the ground floor rendering, however, the building is of historic importance, being the only one of its kind – 7 bays and three storeys, plus garden, making it unique in the village, which may well signify an important commission (to be researched).

The façade of the two upper floors is original and dates to c.1720. Nos 53 & 53A Front Street (mid C18) have undergone first floor re-modelling and a division in to two houses and yet are listed https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1300061.

This building is not listed, not on the local register and is now the subject of a demolition proposal.

2015 Tynemouth Conservation Area Management Strategy The project was initiated by the Elected Mayor in August 2013 following a request from the Tynemouth Village Association to create a community-led conservation area management strategy.

This is in view of the previously adopted community-led Character Statement (2003) and Character Appraisal (2010) being more descriptive in nature and limited in their strength in the planning process.

It was considered that a “stronger” document was required and thus, a management strategy for Tynemouth Village was necessary. 

A community-led Character Statement was adopted in July 2003.

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A Character Appraisal produced by the Council was adopted in April 2010.

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These previous documents laid the foundation for the proposals contained in this Strategy, and continue to be a valuable resource.

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