One of Newcastle's finest residential buildings, Jesmond Dene House is full of architectural bravura, historical detail and an intriguing cast list. The original Georgian house, designed by John Dobson - responsible for many of Newcastle's handsome streets - was bought in 1871 by Captain Andrew Noble, a partner in Lord Armstrong's Tyneside-based shipbuilding and armaments business. As this empire grew, and Armstrong took a back seat, Noble needed a grander house for business entertaining. He commissioned Norman Shaw (Cragside, New Scotland Yard), and local architect Frank Rich, to double the size of the house adding a west wing, billiard room, Gothic porch, Great Hall and a fleet of bedrooms. The panelling, plasterwork,  stone carvings, exuberant chimneys and stained glass date from this time.                                                 

Details  

• Jesmond Dene House, originally known as Black Dene House, was designed by the eminent Newcastle architect John Dobson and built in the Gothic style in 1822 for Newcastle physician, Thomas Emerson Headlam.

• The land on which it stands was formerly known as Coat Haugh, part of the Manor of Jesmond, dating from the 13^th century.

• Headlam was born in Gateshead and was appointed to Newcastle Infirmary in 1805, retiring in 1840. He was leader of the Whig party and Mayor of Newcastle in 1837 and 1857. Headlam was president of the College of Medicine, for five years president of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society and a substantial land owner.

• The first plan of the house, dating from 1840, shows a large square central block with centrally placed wings north and south.

• The 1^st edition of the Ordnance Survey of 1857-8 shows a more complex building, indicating that an extension had already been built during Headlam’s occupancy.

• Headlam died in 1864 and the property was subsequently rented out for five years to professional men working in Newcastle.

• Captain Andrew Noble, a business partner of Lord Armstrong, purchased the property in 1871.

• In 1871 and 1875, alterations to the house were carried out by architect Norman Shaw, which included polygonal bays and other extensions. Billiard and dining rooms were added in 1885.

• Local architect F.W. Rich designed further alterations in 1897, doubling the area of the house. Additional rooms were linked to the original house and basements added, with bedroom suites at first floor level.

• From the early 1900s, the house hosted many international business meetings through the Armstrong/Noble connection. In 1905 the Japanese minister stayed for the launch of the battleship ‘Kashima’, and six years later Japanese hero Admiral Togo and his party, were guests.

• Following the death of Andrew Noble in 1913, his family continued to live at Jesmond Dene House until 1930.

• Newcastle City Council then acquired the property with 13,357 acres of adjoining land as an extension for Jesmond Dene Public Park at a cost of £11,000 plus £200 legal fees and stamp duty.

• As no firm decision was made as to its use, the property was once again rented out, this time to the Rev. Wilson of Gosforth, as a secretarial college.

• With the growing crisis in Europe, the house was requisitioned and became the Air Raid Precautions Headquarters in 1938. A grant of £1,980 was approved for a staff air raid shelter, which included providing extra rooms and vaulted underground tunnels.

• Between 1939 -45, Jesmond Dene House remained as a Civil Defence establishment for the storage of equipment, training and as a local police HQ.

• The Civil Defence quit the property, which had escaped bombing, in 1944, after which time it briefly became a seminary.

• In 1952, when other plans for the property had been scrapped, the city architect planned a conversion, which enabled the house to become a residential school for girls with special needs. The alterations were completed in time for occupation in 1954.

• The building then had a variety of uses but has stood empty, falling into disrepair in recent years.