123-636: Sheriff Hill is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear , England. It lies on the B1296 road 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Gateshead , 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Newcastle upon Tyne and 12 miles (19 km) north of the historic city of Durham . According to the 2001 UK census it had a population of 5,051. Historically part of Gateshead Fell in County Durham , Sheriff Hill
246-415: A 38–bed isolation hospital at what is today Queen Elizabeth Avenue. The first building was completed in 1878 and others were added later. The 4-acre (1.6 ha) site was enclosed by a large stone wall tipped with barbed wire and broken glass, and by 1903 the hospital comprised a main block with an administrative building in the centre with a ward block on each side, another three-ward block, a porter's lodge,
369-607: A community cafe promoting healthy eating (the 'T–Junction'), a gymnasium, indoor sports hall, outdoor Five-a-side football pitches and a meeting place for resident groups. The project has education provision for young children as a registered day–care provider and it also offers adult education and training. The project hosts the 'Carnival on the Hill/Deckham Festival'; a collaborative enterprise between Route 26, Gateshead Council and Home Group which offers free activities, such as go-karting and children's soft play, against
492-571: A dedication by the Rector of Gateshead. Situated on Glynwood Gardens and Southend Road, the schools were later merged; Glynwood School survives as the sole educational establishment in Sheriff Hill. As of 2010, the school is larger than average and the proportion of children entitled to and claiming free school meals is well above the UK average. The pupils at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are taught subjects from
615-672: A major rail freight yard serving the North East. Gateshead Quayside, once dominated by industry, has benefited from significant investment and gentrification in the past decade. It is now home to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Gateshead . The area is also an important retail hub, with the largest shopping centre in the European Union , and second largest in Europe as
738-401: A member of United Methodist Free Churches , is located at the junction of Kells Lane and Sheriff's Highway and is shown on the 1939 ordnance survey maps. It is a modern, brick building of semi-circular design. While the original settlement at Sheriff Hill developed through the growth of industry in the area, the suburb today is predominantly residential with no significant industry. The suburb
861-509: A member of the Housing Committee which built council housing at Sheriff Hill. Hodkin Park was locally listed by Gateshead Council in 2004 in recognition of its significance to the local community. At the northern end of Sheriff's Highway there is a dene , shown as the "Quarry Plantation" on Ordnance Survey maps of 1858. In 2005, Gateshead Council carried out maintenance work on the dene, including
984-404: A prayer service on Mondays and a children's group on Wednesdays. Two more buildings were locally listed as places of special interest by Gateshead Council. These are Carr Hill Clinic at Carr Hill Road/Ilford Place and St Mark's Methodist Church at Shipcote Terrace. Deckham has several public houses. The Plough Inn on Old Durham Road and is evidenced on the ordnance survey map in 1862 where it
1107-555: A state of deterioration, and despite a report describing recent housing development on the east side of Old Durham Road as "poorly handled and unsightly", the area remains "interesting and lively". By contrast, the central and eastern areas of Deckham are affected by a more marked decline. At the western edge there are stone remnants of an old, rural settlement, but the remainder, grouped around Edgeware and Kingston Roads, consists of bland, repetitive social housing arranged on long, curved streets which combine to create an environment which
1230-425: A steam disinfecting building, a laundry and a mortuary. The hospital had a maximum capacity of 78 patients, who were tended by two resident doctors and 10 nurses. During the period 1918 to 1939, the isolation hospital remained the sole medical provision in Sheriff Hill. Faced with an increase in population, Gateshead Council decided that a new general hospital should be built. In March 1938, preliminary work started on
1353-407: A stimulating and engaging curriculum and the nursery provision was good overall. The primary provision was praised for providing a safe and engaging learning environment in which children are able to progress to a level broadly comparable with children nationally and where pupils are extremely well behaved. In all inspection categories, the primary provision was judged good. South Street Primary
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#17328510750131476-567: A tract of Tyneside flats was built on the west side of the Old Durham Road and many streets in the area, such as Chandos Street, Shipcote Terrace, Raby Street and Northborne Street, are evidenced, along with an unnamed school. By 1919, some rural scenes could still be enjoyed but the fields were "rapidly encroached upon" in the 1920s and 1930s and replaced with more terraced housing at Caris Street, Fullerton Place and Methuen Street and large tracts of council houses . By this time, Deckham Hall
1599-697: A whole, the MetroCentre , situated adjacent to the A1 trunk road. Further retail, and a significant number of engineering companies are located in the Team Valley Trading Estate, which at one time was the largest industrial estate in Europe. Gateshead is home to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Gateshead . The Anthony Gormley structure, the Angel of the North (the largest free standing sculpture in
1722-424: Is "housing and little else". Much of this housing is in poor condition, some is in "crumbling disrepair" and requires substantial investment. Old Durham Road has developed into the focal point of the neighbourhood and is the sole commercial area, with small, independent shops running along the western end of the road backing onto the streets from Inskip Terrace and Shipcote Terrace. Whilst many retail units are in
1845-488: Is Bill Quay Community Farm, east of the borough. Offering a rural experience within an urban setting, it provides an important educational tool for local schools. The 2001 census stated that the borough's predominant religion was 80.25% Christian . Other statistics found 10.94% of no religion , 6.94 unstated, 0.82% Jewish and 0.60% Muslim . The 2011 census , stated that the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
1968-583: Is Glynwood Primary School. The suburb also contains the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – the largest hospital in Gateshead, a small dene and a small park. The principal landmark is St John the Evangelist Church , one of three Grade II listed buildings in the area and one of two remaining churches. The southern end of Sheriff's Highway – the main road through the suburb,
2091-491: Is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear , England. It includes Gateshead , Rowlands Gill , Whickham , Blaydon , Ryton , Felling , Birtley , Pelaw , Dunston and Low Fell . The borough forms part of the Tyneside conurbation , centred on Newcastle upon Tyne . At the 2021 census, the borough had a population of 196,154. It is bordered by the local authority areas of Newcastle upon Tyne to
2214-510: Is a council ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. It is approximately 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi) in area and has a population of 9,228. It is represented by three councillors. In June 2012, they were Brian Coates, Martin Gannon and Bernadette Oliphant. Deckham is part of the Westminster parliamentary constituency of Gateshead Central and Whickham . It was previously in
2337-724: Is a large venue facility called the Caedmon Hall. Gateshead has an association football team, Gateshead F.C. , who play in the English National League . They play at the Gateshead International Stadium , which also hosts athletics . The following people have received the Freedom of the Borough of Gateshead: In addition, freedom was granted to 72 Engineer Regiment on 9 July 2011. Deckham Deckham
2460-501: Is a residential suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear , England. It is bordered by Gateshead town centre to the north, Sheriff Hill to the south, Felling and Carr Hill to the east and Shipcote to the west. It lies on the B1296 , the route of the old Great North Road , 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Gateshead town centre, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 13 miles (21 km) north of
2583-709: Is above average for the Metropolitan borough of Gateshead , but below average for the town of Gateshead which Deckham forms a part of. Deckham is situated to the east of Gateshead town centre. It is also split into three sub districts, Central Deckham, Mount Pleasant and Carr Hill . Deckham has three buildings listed by English Heritage . They are 33 and 35 Fife Street and the Church of St George. The flats at 33 and 35 Fife Street, in Mount Pleasant, are Grade II Listed buildings . Described by English Heritage as "perhaps
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#17328510750132706-457: Is anonymous, claustrophobic and disorientating. One source describes the environment as one where "eyesores become landmarks (lock–up workshops on Kingston Road), any slight change in materials becomes significant (system–built housing on Kingston Road), and any attempt to do something different becomes a relief (a corner garden on Mayfair Gardens)". The net result is that, in Deckham today: There
2829-626: Is based at the Civic Centre on Regent Street, which was purpose-built for the council and was completed in 1987. Prior to 1987 the council had been based at the Town Hall on West Street, which had been completed in 1870 for the old Gateshead Borough Council. In national government the borough contains four parliamentary constituencies, Blaydon and Consett , Gateshead Central and Whickham , Jarrow and Gateshead East and Washington and Gateshead South . The Gateshead Central and Whickham constituency
2952-480: Is built in sandstone and remains in very good condition. Access to the bell tower is by spiral staircase and the staircase and bells are in good order. Of particular note is the church organ; a Father Willis built organ which has been described as "an utter gem" and "exceptional". Deckham's other church is the Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, a plain, stone building located in a prominent position on
3075-499: Is co-ordinated by the local authority , Gateshead Council, which provides refuse collections, which became fortnightly in March 2012. Sheriff Hill's distribution network operator for electricity is Northern Powergrid . Northumbrian Water supplies drinking water, which is sourced from Kielder Reservoir , and also has responsibility for waste water services. Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
3198-624: Is crossed by the B1296 Old Durham Road, a commuter road and route of the Great North Road before it was diverted through Low Fell on the route of the A167 . Journey time by car or bus to Gateshead town centre is approximately 5 minutes, and 10–12 minutes into the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. Deckham is in a " metro corridor " so that it is broadly equidistant from Gateshead Metro station and Gateshead Stadium Metro station . Deckham
3321-474: Is in a safe Labour seat. Mearns' success in 2010 followed of Sharon Hodgson, who in the 2005 UK General Election polled over 60% of the votes cast whilst in 2001, Joyce Quin was returned with a majority of 53.3%. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 , Deckham has a population of 9,228– 51.5% of the population are female, slightly above the national average, whilst 48.5% are male. Only 2% of
3444-459: Is more than 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, making it the highest point in Gateshead. Until the 19th century, Sheriff Hill was part of Gateshead Fell, a "windswept, barren and treacherous heath" that took its name from the town of Gateshead and the fell or common land contiguous with it. In 1068, Malcolm III of Scotland marched across the Scottish border to challenge the authority of William
3567-599: Is on a major bus route into Gateshead; and Old Durham Road is a "bus priority route". The suburb is served by several bus services, such as the Cityrider 56 which continues into Sunderland , the 57 which terminates at Wardley and the East Gateshead Rider 58. It is also part of the 51/52 network. Services to MetroCentre and Chester-le-Street also run through and stop in the area. Buses serving Deckham are operated by Go North East and Gateshead Central Taxis under
3690-526: Is one independent school in the borough, Chase school in Whickham . Further independent schools can be found in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Tynedale. Gateshead town itself has a further education college, Gateshead College , and a leading Jewish higher education institution, Beth Midrash Lemoroth — Jewish Teachers Training College. Gateshead has a variety of landscapes, urban and industrial areas include
3813-695: Is provided by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is a National Health Service (NHS) hospital administered by the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. The area is served by an ambulance station adjacent to the hospital on Old Durham Road and ambulance services are provided by the North East Ambulance Service . Public transport services are co-ordinated by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Waste management
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3936-418: Is represented by Sharon Hodgson (Labour). Gateshead has hosted two major political conferences. The first of these was Labour's spring conference, ahead of the 2005 general election . The Conservatives also held a conference at the Sage Gateshead in March 2008. The Conservatives do not have any councillors in Gateshead and at the time only had one MP in the whole of the north east region. That conference
4059-449: Is shown as 'Speed the Plough'. The Shakespeare Inn is on Split Crow Road and Mount Pleasant Working Mans Club is described by one official document as "intrusive" though it hosts several local housing discussion groups. The Deckham Inn at the junction of Split Crow Road and Old Durham Road, was closed in the early 21st century and an application to demolish it to make way for residential flats
4182-472: Is something of a sense of isolation in parts of Deckham, especially further up the hill as development densities drop, commercial and social facilities disappear and activity levels on the street fall away. Around the Old Durham Road the surviving mix of small shops and meeting places generate some impression of communal spirit, but the poor condition of many properties and the dominance of the public realm by traffic serve to stunt it. Unlike Sheriff Hill, Deckham
4305-456: Is the highest point in the borough. In 1829, the view of Newcastle and the River Tyne from the hill was said to be "uncommonly grand" and it inspired local artist Thomas Miles Richardson to paint his first notable picture, "View of Newcastle from Gateshead Fell" in 1816. In spite of the extensive rebuilding in the 20th century, the natural topography still affords panoramic views, particularly to
4428-463: Is the only one wholly in Gateshead. Its MP, first elected in 2024, is Mark Ferguson ( Labour ). The Blaydon and Consett constituency covers the west of the borough and Birtley to the south, and has been represented since 2017 by Liz Twist , also for Labour. The Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency takes in the very eastern tip of the borough, including Pelaw . It is represented by Kate Osborne (Labour). The Washington and Gateshead South constituency
4551-614: Is the only school in Deckham. Some children of primary–school age, particularly those living in the east of Deckham, attend nearby Carr Hill Primary School instead. Deckham compares unfavourably with the wider Gateshead area in respect of adults with educational qualifications. 43% of adults have no educational qualifications, compared to 38.4% across the whole of Gateshead and the England average of 28.9%. Only 17% of adults have five or more GCSEs or equivalent at A*–C (compared to 36.9% across Gateshead and 47.6% nationally) whilst 6% of adults in
4674-446: Is thought to have lived at Deckham Hall. By the turn of the 20th century Deckham's rural aspect had changed. Whilst there remained large areas of grass and woodland between Deckham and Gateshead, there was a period of extensive building; several dozen dwellings were erected by 1895 in the Mount Pleasant area as Gateshead expanded southwards. A public house was built at the junction of Taylor Terrace and Split Crow Road. Two years later,
4797-486: The 2024 election the composition of the council was: The next election is due in May 2026. Since the last boundary changes in 2004 the council has comprised 66 councillors representing 22 wards , with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office. The wards are: The council
4920-598: The Gateshead East and Washington West constituency which was abolished by boundary changes before the 2010 UK General Election . For many years the MP was Joyce Quin , who retired on 11 April 2005 and was awarded a life peerage into the House of Lords on 13 June 2006 and is now Baroness Quin. The present MP Mark Ferguson , is a member of the Labour party. Deckham
5043-510: The National Curriculum and achievement is broadly inline with the national average. After inspecting the school in 2010, OFSTED found it to be a "good" school and praised it for the high quality of teaching and for generating a positive and caring learning environment for pupils. Hodkin Park, at Sheriff's Highway, is one of many small parks in Gateshead. It is named in honour of Alderman Daniel Hodkin, Gateshead's deputy mayor in 1920 and
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5166-553: The River Tyne to Gateshead and made its way up the steep road. The meeting place was initially at Chile Well but subsequently the procession came to "light and go into the house". The house was the Old Cannon public house, where drink was served at the sheriff's expense. When the judges arrived, the procession returned to Newcastle. In 1647, Gateshead Fell was surveyed and was found to consist of 1,300 acres (530 ha) of land. A number of small, isolated settlements had developed around
5289-680: The Sheriff's March ; an ancient, biannual procession first held in 1278. An inquisition at Tynemouth declared that the King of Scotland, the Archbishop of York , the Prior of Tynemouth , the Bishop of Durham and Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus should meet the justices before they entered Newcastle from the south. A procession was held before the meeting; on the appointed day the procession started in Newcastle, crossed
5412-410: The city of Durham . In 2011, Deckham had a population of 9,938. Deckham's history is sparsely documented but suggests that the settlement was established at the junction of Carr Hill Road and the Old Durham Road in the early 19th century alongside the estate of Deckham Hall, built several centuries earlier and inhabited at one time by Thomas Deckham. The village grew, and at the turn of the 20th century
5535-437: The 1974 reforms. From 1974 until 1986 the borough council was a lower-tier district authority, with Tyne and Wear County Council providing county-level services. The county council was abolished in 1986, since when the borough council has provided both district-level and county-level services, as the old county borough of Gateshead had done prior to 1974. Some functions are provided across Tyne and Wear by joint committees with
5658-539: The Church of St George, is a Grade II listed building , and community facilities are provided by Gateshead Older People's Assembly and the Elgin Centre in Carr Hill. Unlike Sheriff Hill, Carr Hill and Low Fell , Deckham's history is sparsely recorded. It indicates that, by the middle of the 19th century, there was a small settlement which was part of Gateshead Fell ; a wild and treacherous area of common land notable for
5781-503: The Conqueror. Malcolm, accompanied by native insurgents and foreign supporters, was met by William's men in the area of Sheriff Hill and was decisively beaten. In the 13th century, a road through Gateshead Fell became the main trade route between Durham and Newcastle and as its importance grew, two public houses – the Old Cannon and The Three Tuns, were built along with a small number of houses. The settlement's name derives from
5904-402: The England average of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F). The total annual rainfall is 643.1 millimetres (25.32 in), significantly lower than the national average for England of 838.7 millimetres (33.02 in). According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 , Sheriff Hill has a population of 5,051 – 53% of whom are female, slightly above the national average, and 47% are male. 2.5% of
6027-559: The High Fell council ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. The ward covers approximately 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi), has a population of 8,952, and is represented on Gateshead Council by three councillors. Sheriff Hill is represented in Parliament as part of the Gateshead constituency ; the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) is Labour representative Ian Mearns , who
6150-600: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the site of the isolation hospital; the foundations were laid in 1939 but the outbreak of World War II delayed the building work. The new hospital was opened by Queen Elizabeth , wife of King George VI , on 18 March 1948. It is the largest hospital in Gateshead and has since been expanded, most notably with the opening of the North East NHS Surgery Centre in 2008, which cost £13.3 million. According to official data, Sheriff Hill residents experience comparatively poor health; 13.7% of
6273-547: The Queens Head, listed in trade directories since 1848, (which was converted into a 14 bedroom property in 2016) and the Travellers Rest, which was once called the "Golden Quiot". Sheriff Hill Methodist Church plays an important social role in the community; it has hosted biannual jumble sales for many years and an annual Christmas Fayre is held at the church to mark the start of Christmas in Sheriff Hill. Part of Sheriff Hill
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#17328510750136396-459: The United Kingdom) is in Gateshead. This puts Gateshead at the forefront of the arts both regionally and nationally. The Shipley Art Gallery , housing outstanding collections of contemporary craft, studio ceramics, paintings and decorative art, is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on behalf of Gateshead Council. Gateshead is a library authority and within its Central Library
6519-527: The administration of Nexus . South Street Community Primary school at the northern end of Deckham in Cramer Street and caters for pupils in the 3–11 age range. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is well above the national average. In the most recent OFSTED inspection, the nursery provision was praised for enabling children who enter the school with skills below that expected of similarly–aged children nationwide to achieve well through
6642-541: The administration of Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive , known as "Nexus". Home Office policing in Sheriff Hill is provided by Northumbria Police ; the nearest police station is at High West Street, Gateshead. Statutory emergency fire and rescue service is provided by the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Sheriff Hill is served by the Gateshead East station on Dryden Road in Low Fell. Health provision
6765-433: The adult population are considered clinically obese , around 38% of adults smoke compared with the UK average of 25.9% of adults, and 37% of adults are binge drinkers . The average life expectancy for men is 77.9 years, the same as the UK average, but for women is 78 years; four years below the UK national average. In 1875, Sheriff Hill Board School was opened on Church Road. The school was open to pupils aged 5 to 14, and
6888-552: The area "the character of a small, rural farmstead". These developments did little to alleviate the unsanitary conditions and the chronic overcrowding in the village and across the borough. In light of these problems Gateshead Council, after having previously refused in 1911 and 1917, decided to purchase 65 acres (26 ha) of land in Carr Hill and Sheriff Hill under the Housing Act 1919 at a cost of £19,000 in February 1919. This led to
7011-618: The area and became a source of pride to local residents. In 1793, Sheriff Hill Colliery , or "Ellison Main Colliery", opened at the summit of Gateshead Fell on the boundary between Sheriff Hill and Low Fell. The colliery had two shafts – the Fanny and Isabella Pits – and provided employment for over 100 men and boys. In 1809, an Act ordered the enclosure of Gateshead Fell. Commissioners were appointed to settle claims and apportion Gateshead Fell accordingly. Plans were laid for
7134-521: The area, except those employed in the suburb's public houses, betting shops or fast-food outlets. Other small shops provide some local employment, but few are open for any length of time as they cannot compete with larger retailers elsewhere in Gateshead. Sheriff Hill was once the site of a lunatic asylum, which was opened in the 1830s and situated on Sour Milk Hill Lane. Sheriff Hill Lunatic Asylum tended 86 patients in 1844 and continued to attract admissions until its closure in 1860. Soon after, work began on
7257-407: The backdrop of a steel band . The second Deckham Festival was held on 3 September 2011 and attracted over one thousand visitors, including Mayor of Gateshead and BBC local weatherman Paul Mooney. Based in what was Deckham Village Hall, Gateshead Older People's Assembly is a charity working to provide opportunities for over 50s to improve their health and maintain their independence. The charity
7380-429: The borough, from Crawcrook to Rowlands Gill itself. The borough also contains one National Trust site, the expansive Gibside estate near Rowlands Gill, containing a stately home and a chapel , parts of its grounds have also been given SSSI status. Even in the more urban areas of the borough, in Gateshead itself and to the east, efforts have been made to maintain green spaces and wildlife sites. One such project
7503-435: The borough, from ancient meadows and woodland to local nature reserves. Notable features of Gateshead's countryside include Ryton Willows, found at Old Ryton Village on the banks of the Tyne at Ryton. Ryton Willows is 43 hectares of locally rare grassland and ponds located near to an affluent village with Georgian and Victorian houses. Because of this it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest . The Derwent Valley, in
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#17328510750137626-406: The borough, particularly in the centre and east, a number of towns and villages in the borough are popular with commuters and professionals who are employed in the service industry and well paid areas of the secondary sector such as engineering (which remains a major source of employment). Such commuter areas include Ryton, Rowlands Gill, Whickham and Low Fell. The borough is host to Tyne Yard ,
7749-468: The building of the first council housing estate in Gateshead. Alderman Hodkin laid the foundation stone on 27 October 1920; as work commenced the Alderman demonstrated the authority's concerns, telling the local newspaper that: "we can build houses, but we cannot build homes. Only the people themselves can do that and I hope that the spirit of 'esprit de corps' will prevail and this will be a model estate" Demand
7872-457: The building still stands, but has been converted to a Chinese Takeaway. The Three Tuns, which is listed in trade directories in 1778, was the social hub of Sheriff Hill in the 19th century and used by miners and quarrymen, who engaged in cock fighting and cuddy races – informal races between pit donkeys where bets were placed – on open ground in Kells Lane. In 1867 it
7995-599: The centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. − The nearest mainline railway station is Newcastle , 3 miles (4.8 km) away. The nearest airport is Newcastle Airport , 7.9 miles (12.7 km) away. Sheriff Hill is served by several bus services, including Waggonway 28, the Fab 56 which continues into Sunderland and the Fab 57, which terminates at the Ellen Wilkinson Estate and is part of the 93/94 Loop network. All buses serving Sheriff Hill are operated by Go North East under
8118-542: The centre provides "the key cluster" of community provisions for its residents. These facilities contribute to the regeneration of the suburb. The facilities are utilized by the Route 26 Community Project; a registered charity based at the centre which aims to work towards the betterment of lives in Deckham and neighbouring wards. The project works with Gateshead Council and the Gateshead Housing Company to provide
8241-587: The character of the suburb. Residents can enjoy striking views towards Newcastle upon Tyne and across the Team Valley . The settlement is governed locally by a Parliamentary Labour council and elects a Labour MP. Deckham is an area of social and economic deprivation, in the top ten per cent of such areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation . Housing stock is predominantly council housing and is, in many places, outdated and in need of modernisation. Whilst once
8364-564: The corner of Caris Street and Old Durham Road. Little is documented regarding this church, and the date of building is difficult to ascertain, though the Pentecostal movement in Britain dates to 1907 and the church was certified for the solemnising of marriages as recently as 21 October 1959. The Church is a member of the Assembly of God denomination of Pentecostalism and hold weekly Sunday worship,
8487-400: The criminality of the tinkers and hawkers who lived there. Ordnance survey mapping illustrates the sparsity of buildings in 1860; the area contained little except Deckham Hall, a few other dwellings and two public houses at the point where the old turnpike road branched off towards Carr's Hill. The two public houses were the 'Speed the Plough' and 'The Ship'. The Deckham Hall estate
8610-444: The curriculum focused upon " the three Rs " and included some other subjects such as needlework and biblical instruction. Attendance was compulsory but truancy was rife – such was the scale of the problem that prizes and awards were presented to encourage attendance. The school closed in 1947 and was replaced by Glynwood Primary School and Ennerdale Junior School, which were opened by Alderman Grant on 28 November 1953 after
8733-469: The east towards the coast and north as far as the Cheviot Hills , from several vantage points. Sheriff Hill, in common with much of the north east of England , has a temperate climate . The mean highest temperature is 12.8 °C (55.0 °F), which is slightly lower than the England average of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F). The mean lowest temperature, 7.2 °C (45.0 °F), is somewhat higher than
8856-672: The enclosure, Sheriff Hill was a rural settlement before becoming a village. In 1819, an explosion tore through the Sheriff Hill Colliery killing thirty-five people. Other industries were flourishing in the area; in 1823 "Heworth Windmill" or "Snowden's Mill", a gristmill worked by around thirty employees, was built and "Blue Quarries", a sandstone quarry, was opened in 1820 and provided employment for stonemasons, quarrymen and their apprentices. While not as extensive as Kell's Quarries at Windy Nook , Blue Quarries produced "Newcastle Grindstones" of excellent quality and world renown. By
8979-576: The formative settlement to grow. In 1740, John Warburton opened a pottery at Carr Hill which is credited with introducing white earthenware to Tyneside. Encouraged by Warburton's success, Paul Jackson established the Sheriff Hill Pottery in 1771 at the northern end of the turnpike road and by 1775 was advertising his earthenware in the Newcastle Journal . Jackson's pottery, which became a local centre of pottery production, attracted settlers to
9102-422: The last surviving example of an unspoilt, 2–flat dwelling of high quality but modest size", they were built in the latter part of the 19th century from sandstone ashlar and slate. The Church of St George is an Anglican church at the corner of Inskip Terrace and Durham Road built in 1896 by Stephen Piper of Newcastle. This "bold and remarkably simple" church consists of a nave , vestry , bell tower and porch,
9225-421: The mean percentage of the population claiming Jobseekers Allowance was 7%. This compares to Gateshead's 5% average over the same period. Youth unemployment is 10%, compared to Gateshead's 9%. Deckham, at latitude 54.95° N and longitude 1.59 ° W, lies less than 1 mile (1.6 km) south and east of Gateshead town centre between two main transport corridors; Sunderland Road to the east and Old Durham Road to
9348-429: The newly formed constituency of Washington and Sunderland West . Hodgson succeeded Joyce Quin , who retired on 11 April 2005. Sheriff Hill is 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Gateshead town centre and 255 miles (410 km) from London. The underlying geology is predominantly sandstone, grindstone and clay. At the southern end of the suburb the land reaches an elevation of over 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, which
9471-472: The north, Northumberland to the west, County Durham to the south, Sunderland to the south-east, and South Tyneside to the east. The council is a member of the North East Combined Authority . The town of Gateshead was an ancient borough , having been granted a charter in 1164 from Hugh Pudsey , the Bishop of Durham . The borough's functions were relatively limited until 1836, when it
9594-476: The original walls of locally quarried stone. It was listed on 13 January 1988. Additionally, Sheriff Hill has ten locally listed buildings. These are the Zion Methodist Chapel, six stone cottages at Sheriff's Highway, The Three Tuns and Old Cannon public houses, and houses at 13–14 Egremont Drive. The elevation of Sheriff Hill affords dramatic views of the surrounding landscape across the Team Valley to
9717-405: The other districts. The county of Tyne and Wear continues to exist as a ceremonial county for the purposes of lieutenancy, but has had no administrative functions since 1986. Since 1986, Gateshead Council has provided both district-level and county-level functions, with some services being provided through joint arrangements with the other Tyne and Wear councils. In 2024 a combined authority
9840-746: The population are from a Black or other Minority Ethnic Group (BME), compared to 9.1% of the national population. Of the BME group, 41% are from the Asian or Asian–British ethnic group. 18.9% of all households are single-parent households, the fifth highest proportion in Gateshead compared with the Gateshead average of 11.5% and the UK average of 9.5%. 32.1% of households have dependent children, compared with 29.5% nationally and 28.4% in Gateshead. The Index of Multiple Deprivation , which divides England into 32,482 areas and considers quality of life indicators to measure deprivation , splits Sheriff Hill into two areas, one of which
9963-655: The population are from a black or other minority ethnic group (BME), as opposed to 9.1% of the national population. Of the BME group, 35% are from the Asian or Asian–British ethnic group. Deckham has a high proportion of lone parent households at some 15% of all households. This is the third highest figure in Gateshead and compares with a borough average of 11.5%. Some 31% of households have dependent children, as opposed to 29.5% nationally and 28.4% in Gateshead. The Index of Multiple Deprivation , which divides England into 32,482 areas and measures quality of life to indicate deprivation , splits Deckham into halves and lists
10086-496: The population of the suburb. Sheriff Hill is now a residential suburb of Gateshead; in 1974 it was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972 , before which it was considered part of County Durham. It is bordered by Low Fell to the west, Deckham to the north, Beacon Lough to the south and Windy Nook and Carr Hill to the east. Sheriff Hill comprises part of
10209-605: The pruning of shrubbery and the installation of several sets of steps, to encourage residents to use the area. Sheriff Hill contains several public houses because of its origin as a mining village with a population of tinkers, and because before Durham Road through Low Fell was opened in 1827, Sodhouse Bank (now Sheriff's Highway) was the route to the Great North Road . The Old Cannon, at the northern end of Sheriff's Highway, has existed since medieval times and its present name has been used since 1782, and possibly earlier. In 2016,
10332-425: The requisition and construction of wells, quarries, drains, roads and watering places – including a well at Blue Quarries. New roads, today known as Blue Quarries Road, Church Road and Windy Nook Road, were built. The last allotment land disputes were settled in 1830 and Gateshead Fell was entirely enclosed, formally creating the villages of Sheriff Hill, Low Fell, Deckham, Carr Hill and Wrekenton. After
10455-403: The rest of the borough is unparished . Birtley was also a civil parish with a town council until it was abolished in 2006. The council has been under Labour majority control since the modern borough's creation in 1974. The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Gateshead. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 2002 have been: Following
10578-515: The road at modern-day Deckham , Wrekenton , Low Fell and Sheriff Hill. The few cottages and properties at Sheriff Hill were of such poor quality that in 1713, the total of ninety-one cottages returned only £8 9s 6d in rent. The rental rate declined over the years and eventually, poverty rates were so high that several tenants paid no rent. The houses were extremely unappealing; many were essentially mud huts – earth mounds carved into dwellings and roofed with sod . The length of
10701-477: The road that ran through Sheriff Hill was called Sodhouse Bank. By the middle of the 18th century, the area had become a wild and frightening place and when theologian John Wesley arrived in 1785, he found a "pathless waste of white". The road through Gateshead Fell was turnpiked by the Durham to Tyne Bridge Road Act in 1747. Although it had brought some early settlers to the area, the development of industry allowed
10824-465: The road, largely populated by an influx of tinkers, coalminers working at Sheriff Hill Colliery and workers at the local pottery, mill and sandstone quarry. By the turn of the 20th century these industries were in steep decline. The local authority built a large council estate at Sheriff Hill to alleviate dangerous overcrowding in Gateshead, effectively turning the area into a residential suburb. It ceased to be an independent village on 1 April 1974 when it
10947-539: The same proportion identify as Jewish . Just 0.05% identify as Hindu . All of these figures are below the national average. Of the remaining residents, 0.1% adhere to a religion other than those stated, 11.2% have "no religion" and 5.1% did not state any religion. There are two churches in the suburb today. The Anglican Church of St John is located in Church Road and the Sheriff Hill Methodist Church,
11070-506: The site of a coal mine, there is today no major employer in Deckham, which is considered a residential suburb of Gateshead . The main economic activity is in a commercial development on Old Durham Road. Deckham has a number of public houses, one of which, the Plough Inn, is more than 150 years old. The only education provision is at South Street primary school , which is a good school according to OFSTED . There are two churches, one of which,
11193-657: The sod cottages were torn down after enclosure, the remaining dwellings were in such poor condition that in 1883, Gateshead's Medical Health Officer described their standard as one of abject squalor. Some private housing estates were built in Sheriff Hill around 1900, including the Egremont Estate ;– a distinctive estate dating from around 1910 where the houses have flat roofs with steps leading to them as an architectural feature, and also at Sourmilk Hill, where there are some irregularly arranged vernacular houses built from locally quarried stone and slate which give
11316-524: The south/south west of the borough, offers panoramic views and pleasant walks. It was in the Derwent Valley, near Rowlands Gill, that the Northern Kites Project re-introduced red kites . This was part of a national project to introduce the birds, that were once so commonplace across the country, back into the wild. This scheme has proven to be a success, with birds being spotted across the west of
11439-484: The suburb have two or more A-Levels or equivalent compared with the England average of 28.2% and 18.6% across Gateshead. According to the 2001 UK census, 82.7% of residents in Sheriff Hill describe themselves as Christian . This is marginally higher than the regional average of 80.1% and substantially higher than the national average of 71.7%. The second most prevalent religion is Islam ; some 0.57% of residents identify as Muslim . Around 0.1% identify as Buddhist and
11562-407: The tower and spire, which rise to 148 feet (45 m). Coupled with the natural terrain of the land, the top of the spire reaches over 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, making it the highest point in the metropolitan borough and one of the highest churches in England; it is visible for several miles in all directions, making it a prominent landmark and sea mark . Field House on Windy Nook Road
11685-451: The town itself, Whickham and Blaydon in the west, with more semi-rural and rural locations in the west including Ryton and Rowlands Gill. Overall though, it is a fairly green area with over half of the borough being green belt or countryside . Most of this is located away from built up Tyneside to the south of the borough into Derwentside/Chester-le-Street and to the west into Tynedale. In total, there are over twenty countryside sites in
11808-541: The turn of the 20th century, the industries at Sheriff Hill were in decline. In the 1890s the Old Mill closed, as did Sheriff Hill Pottery in 1909. In the 1920s, Blue Quarries was filled in and Sheriff Hill Colliery, the longest surviving industrial operation, closed in 1926. The only surviving reminders of the suburb's industrial past are street names such as "Pottersway" and "Blue Quarries Road". The industries that had disappeared were replaced by tracts of housing. While most of
11931-545: The west and the Cheviot Hills to the north. Sheriff Hill is situated on the B1296 Old Durham Road, a wide and busy route that was formerly an alignment of the Great North Road, which was diverted through Low Fell. The section of Old Durham Road that traverses the suburb is called Sheriff's Highway. The journey time to Gateshead town centre by car or bus is approximately ten minutes, and approximately fifteen minutes to
12054-476: The west and the streets adjoining Hendon Road as far north as the Bankies open space at Mount Pleasant. In 1974 Deckham was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972 . Until its implementation, Deckham was part of County Durham. It is now bordered by settlements which are part of the metropolitan borough. These are Sheriff Hill to the south, Low Fell and Shipcote to
12177-455: The west, Gateshead to the north and Felling and Carr Hill to the east. Deckham has distinctive, steep topography which "shapes the character" of the suburb. Though the urbanisation of Gateshead has detracted from panoramic views that were once enjoyed by residents, the topography ensures that residents continue to have excellent views towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Team Valley. Deckham
12300-530: The west. The distance from Deckham to London is 255 miles (410 km). Deckham occupies an elevated position, especially at its north end which sits on a ridge, and some parts are steeply sloped– notably those which border Sheriff Hill to the south. In the urban expansion of Gateshead, Deckham was enveloped so that its exact boundaries are difficult to define. The estate had boundaries at Split Crow Road, Old Durham Road, Hendon Road and Carr Hill Road but documents indicate that Deckham stretches to Durham Road in
12423-581: The western half, along with Carr Hill and Sheriff Hill, in the top 10% of all deprived areas in England in 2012. The eastern half is in the top 5% of deprived areas. In 2011 however, the ethnic minority population increased rapidly. In 2001, 96.8% of Deckham's population were white British, this figure reduced to 92.3% white British in 2011. Also, the population increased massively too, from 7,886 in 2001 to 9,938 in 2011. 88.8% of adults in lone parent households with independent children were women. In 2011, 7.7% of Deckham's population were non-white British. This
12546-643: The whole metropolitan borough. There are 33 retail units concentrated on Old Durham Road, which provide some employment, though these are at the lower end of the spectrum and provide little choice. There is a good provision of hardware stores, fast–food outlets and hairdressers, a butcher's shop, a greengrocer and a supermarket, but there is no bakery, bank nor building society and the Post Office has closed. The retail units were domestic properties, so many are too small for retail purposes and around 20% are vacant. Deckham suffers from high levels of unemployment; in 2011
12669-476: Was 67.0% Christian, 0.9% Muslim, 1.5% Jewish, 23.9% were not religious and 5.7% of the population refused to state their religion. The area was once dependent on heavy industry such as steel making in the Derwent Valley and coal mining (across the borough). Shipbuilding on the Tyne was also a major source of employment. However, with the decline of these industries, Gateshead has attempted to re-invent itself. Although there are significant areas of deprivation in
12792-614: Was approved in 2004. After objections were raised planning approval was rescinded but it was demolished in 2011. There are no libraries in Deckham, though Gateshead Central Library, the largest library in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead , is nearby. Gateshead Leisure Centre in Shipcote and Saltwell Park are close by. The Elgin Centre is on Elgin Road at the south–east boundary between Deckham and Carr Hill. Whilst geographically outside Deckham,
12915-407: Was built in the 19th century in rubble stone and Welsh slate. It has been described as a remnant of Sheriff Hill's rural past and was listed on 13 January 1983. Thornlea on Church Road is one of the oldest buildings in the suburb. It is built in stone ashlar with a low hipped slate roof and the doorpiece has two intact Greek Ionic columns. Much of the original grounds have survived intact, as have
13038-406: Was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , as one of five metropolitan boroughs within the new county of Tyne and Wear. The borough covered the whole area of five former districts and part of a sixth, which were all abolished at the same time: Aside from Gateshead, the other districts had all been lower-tier district authorities subordinate to Durham County Council prior to
13161-413: Was designated a Conservation Area in 1999. The suburb has three Grade II listed buildings . The Church of St John was conceived in 1809 when an Enclosure Act decreed that a church be built on Gateshead Fell. The church was completed on 30 August 1825 at a cost of £2742. The church is a neat, plain, Gothic structure built from ashlar and slate, and was Grade II listed in 1950. The principal features are
13284-532: Was elected at the May 2010 general election with a majority of 12,549 votes over Liberal Democrat Frank Hindle. The swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats was 3.9%. Before May 2010, the area was part of the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency, which was abolished in that year's boundary changes . The MP for Gateshead East and Washington West from 2005 to 2010 was Sharon Hodgson , who campaigned in
13407-452: Was enveloped by urban spawl when neighbouring Gateshead absorbed its outlying villages and settlements. Deckham is largely distinguished from other areas by a commercial area on Old Durham Road which is the principal route through the suburb. Historically , Deckham was a village in County Durham and was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972 . Deckham has steep topography which has shaped
13530-539: Was established covering Gateshead, County Durham , Newcastle upon Tyne , North Tyneside , Northumberland , South Tyneside and Sunderland , called the North East Mayoral Combined Authority . It is chaired by the directly elected Mayor of the North East and oversees the delivery of certain strategic functions across the area. There is one civil parish in the borough at Lamesley, which forms an additional tier of local government for its area;
13653-757: Was established in 2002 and supports activities for older people in 18 of Gateshead's 22 wards. In Deckham, the charity runs a thriving wellness hub which welcomes hundreds of older people each week. In addition to a community garden and a large outdoor area dedicated to exercise groups, the charity offers the following activities for older people: ·Staying Steady falls prevention programme ·Dancercise ·Strength & Balance classes ·Never Too Old to Rock ·Tai Chi ·Cosy Crow Singing Group ·Deckham Social Group ·Pilates ·Ukulele Group ·Samba Percussion Group ·Art Group ·Reminiscence Group ·Craft Group ·Belly Dancing ·Tea Dance ·Zoom exercise classes and social activities Activities are open to all Gateshead residents aged 50+. The suburb
13776-407: Was high – there were 427 applicants for the first twenty eight houses built – and the council built further tracts of housing in a broad triangle between Sodhouse Bank, Ermine Crescent and The Avenue, although central government withdrew its promised funding. By 1936, most of the social housing available as of 2012 was in existence and provides accommodation to over half of
13899-508: Was in a state of disrepair and was notable to residents for its resemblance to a haunted house "because of its air of gloom and the strange echoes to be heard on windy nights". The hall was demolished in 1930 and more council houses were erected on the site. Since the intensive period of house building, little has changed. At the west end of the suburb, the Tyneside flats at Northborne Street and surrounding streets remain in situ and here there
14022-432: Was in the hands of Hopper, Hughes and Company in 1886. By December 1893 the colliery had been abandoned as being "not workable to a profit". In common with most suburbs of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, its economy is dominated by the economies of Newcastle–upon–Tyne and Gateshead town centre. This is reflected in terms of independent commercial space; retail floor space in the suburb totals 1% of that available in
14145-462: Was in the top five per cent of deprived areas in England in 2007. Sheriff Hill compares unfavourably with the wider Gateshead area in respect of adults with educational qualifications. 50.7% of adults in the suburb have no educational qualifications, compared with 38.4% across Gateshead and with the England average of 28.9%. 25.2% of adults have five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A* to C compared with 46.6% across England, and 11.5% of adults in
14268-430: Was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972 . Now part of the local council ward of High Fell, the suburb is economically disadvantaged compared with other areas of the borough and nationally, with high levels of unemployment. Sheriff Hill was the site of one of Gateshead's largest boarding schools but as of 2012, the only remaining educational establishment
14391-530: Was made a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. When elected county councils were created in 1889, Gateshead was considered large enough to provide its own county-level services, and so it was made a county borough , independent from the new Durham County Council , whilst remaining part of the geographical county of Durham . The modern borough of Gateshead
14514-504: Was not founded on heavy industry . It developed primarily for its ease of access to the turnpike road , the principle route between Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne which ran through it. There is evidence of coal mining; the Durham Mining Museum has a record for 'Deckham Hall Colliery'. Few records of the colliery survive, and it is difficult to ascertain when it opened, but the colliery was located 1.5 miles south from Newcastle and
14637-589: Was on the east side of Old Durham Road, 1.25 miles from the Tyne Bridge . It is evidenced in 1614 and belonged to Thomas Deckham, who died the same year and bequeathed it to his granddaughter with "three pounds for the bringing home of water" to the poor people of the area. It changed hands regularly between the families Wooler, James and Bowker, in the centuries after Deckham's death and varied in size whilst doing so. Alderman Benjamin Biggar, Mayor of Gateshead 1861–2,
14760-497: Was once considered affluent, but as of 2012, almost half of the working age population are economically inactive and less than half of households own a car. The area has than higher levels of unemployment in comparison with Gateshead and England: at Broadway, Pottersway and the Avenue, only 23.8% of adults have full-time employment and 10.09% have part-time jobs. Around 3.1% of the population are self-employed. Those in employment work outside
14883-464: Was seen as an attempt to connect to voters in the area. Gateshead has a number of schools across the borough at both primary and secondary level. Results are well above average, with a number of outstanding schools. Gateshead has amongst the best primary and secondary schools in the country overall. A range of schools are present in Gateshead, including Jewish , Roman Catholic , Church of England , Methodist , and non-religious state schools . There
15006-441: Was the scene of a reception to celebrate the passing of Lord Russell's Reform Act , and reform meetings and benefit societies were subsequently held there. In recent times it has hosted a number of niche events, including an international pie festival in 2010 and an international sausage festival in 2011. Both the Old Cannon and The Three Tuns were locally listed by Gateshead Council in 2004. Other public houses in Sheriff Hill include
15129-415: Was the site of a battle between William the Conqueror and Malcolm III of Scotland in 1068. A road was built through Gateshead Fell in the early 13th century, attracting some settlers. A procession of bishops, sheriffs and noblemen known as the Sheriff's March took place on the road in 1282, and continued biannually until the 1830s. By then, Gateshead Fell had been enclosed and a village had grown around
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