Appeal to protect old mansion
It would be horrendous if the Benton House location became a building site John Matthews
THE families who made their fortunes from the mines, shipyards and factories of Tyneside predictably preferred to not live in close proximity to the source of their wealth.
They retreated to the then semi-rural but handily-placed locations like Benwell village, Low Fell and Benton, where they built their impressively large villas.
Now a call has gone out to protect one of the mansions, which has been put up for sale.
Benton Manor House, just inside what is now North Tyneside, originally dates from the 18th century and was built in the Georgian style.
It is attributed to architect William Newton, who designed Newcastle Assembly Rooms and St Ann’s church between the Ouseburn and the Newcastle riverfront.
Several of Benton’s big houses have been lost, including Winston House and Graham House in the 1990s.
John Matthews, chairman of the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, has alerted local councillors and North Tyneside Council officials to the importance of Benton House, which sits in a conservation area,
Mr Matthews, who grew up in Forest Hall and lives in Benton, said: “I have contacted Benton councillors and North Tyneside Council to make sure that they are aware of the building’s historical importance to the local community.
“Benton and Forest Hall were once dotted with these big houses which were part of the area’s fascinating past. It would be horrendous if the Benton House location became a building site.”
The Tyneside committee of the society will now monitor the situation.
Mr Matthews, who has studied the history of the Longbenton houses, said that the listed Benton House was owned by the wealthy Bigge family until 1831. Three generations of the family served as High Sheriff of Northumberland.
William Bigge, who died in 1758, owned the manor of Little Benton and collieries at Little Benton, Heddon on the Wall, and East and West Heddon.
Benton House was also home to the Smith family, who owned Smith’s Dock shipyard in North and Shields. They later leased the building to the new Benton Park Golf Club.
In 1908 the building became the golf club house, with its parkland transformed into the golf course.
In 1939 the land was bought by compulsory purchase order and the Fairways housing estate was built.
The house became Benton Conservative Club in 1949 and the 18th hole of the golf course served as a bowling green.
Mr Matthews said that the setting of the house is also important to the area.
“It remains a small, peaceful oasis within the urban environment and you can still see that the grandeur of the building remains.,” he said.
Other surviving “manor houses” in the area include The Manor House, also dating from the 18th century, in Front Street in Longbenton. It was converted into social housing in the 1980s.
North House, also 18th century, at the junction of Front Street and Coach Lane, was owned by Newcastle University and was sub divided into apartments.