Benwell Grange

West Newcastle Picture History Collection:
CC BY 2.0 licence
Benjamin Carr Lawton built Benwell Grange between 1860 and 1863. Lawton was a civil engineer who also built the Chester-le-Street viaduct for the North Eastern Railway.

Benwell Grange was home to a number of residents. George Angus, whose company specialised in leather, gutta percha and rubber, lived there from 1872 to 1877. The company merged with Dunlop in 1968.

The banker Ralph Brown was resident c.1878-97. John E McPherson, maker of Cluny whisky, lived there from 1897 to 1914.

From 1916 to 1920, the Joseph & Jane Cowen Training School for Maimed Soldiers and Sailors occupied the building. It provided housing for disabled armed forces personnel. They were also trained in a variety of trades.

The Royal Victoria School for the Blind purchased the building in 1920. Until 1954, it became a hostel for female trainees. The School already owned Benwell Dene House, less than half a kilometre away.

The building was demolished in 1968. North British Housing built flats on the site.

A mixture of housing association tenants, private rentals and owner-occupiers now live in the development.

Benwell Grange lies to the East, to the left of the entrance road. Benwell Close is to the right.


 


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