Benwell Dene House

Benwell Dene House was the home of Thomas Hodgkin, a partner in the Newcastle bank of Hodgkin, Barnet, Pease, Spence & Company. The bank was one of the largest financial institutions on Tyneside. Lloyds Bank took it over in 1903.

The prestigious architect, Alfred Waterhouse, designed the house. He was extremely successful, and designed many domestic properties and commercial buildings. His larger projects included Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London.

The lodge in front of the house, its bay window facing onto Benwell Lane, is also Grade II listed.

Hodgkin sold the house to the Royal Victoria School for the Blind in 1893. The School closed in 1985, due to legislation which integrated special groups within mainstream education.

On selling the property, Hodgkin gave six acres of the estate to the council. This land became the upper part of Hodgkin Park, to the north of Armstrong Road. His wife opened the park to the public in 1899.




 


At the time of writing (March 2021), the property is the Grainger House Hotel. Allan Court Care Home is in the grounds, to the south of the hotel.

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