Sheriff Hill

Sheriff Hill
The Quarry Plantation, Sheriff Hill
Sheriff Hill  Sheriff Hill shown within Tyne and Wear
Population	5,051
OS grid reference	NZ265605
Metropolitan borough	Gateshead
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GATESHEAD
Postcode district	NE9
Dialling code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Gateshead (UK Parliament constituency)
List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear

Sheriff Hill is a settlement (formerly a village) situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England. It is bordered by the villages of High Fell and Deckham to the North, Beacon Lough to the South, Windy Nook and Carr Hill to the East and Low Fell to the West. The settlement lies on a major bus route 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Gateshead, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and 12 miles (19 km) north of the historic City of Durham. According to the 2001 UK census, the settlement had a population of 5,051.

For centuries little more than part of a windswept, barren and treacherous heath, the settlement at Sheriff Hill was initially established by a moderate influx of tinkers and miners in the 18th century. Considered a village in the historic county of Durham for almost as long as it has been inhabited in measurable numbers, it was formally incorporated into the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972 which took effect on 1 April 1974.

One of the more populous of the two dozen or so villages which now comprise the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Sheriff Hill has a long and rich history. The industrial revolution brought heavy industry to the settlement, so that Sheriff Hill was once the centre of pottery in Gateshead as well as the site of a large coal mine. One of several historic public houses in the settlement, Ye Olde Cannon, was the regular haunt of bishops and judges whose public processions to and from Sheriff Hill would ultimately provide the name of the settlement today.

Sheriff Hill has been transformed since its formative, industrial days. Now predominantly a residential suburb in the council ward of High Fell, it is home to Gateshead's largest hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as well as a small dene and one of Gateshead's many parks (Hodkin Park). The principal landmark in the settlement is St John the Evangelist Church; one of three Grade II listed buildings in the settlement and one of two remaining churches. Once the site of one of Gateshead's largest boarding schools, Sheriff Hill is now served by Glywood Primary School. The settlement is also a place of topographical significance; the southern most end of Sheriff's Highway, the major road in the settlement, reaches a height of over 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, making it the highest point in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.

History

Gateshead Fell

Main article: Gateshead Fell

Prior to 1800, Sheriff Hill was part of Gateshead Fell; itself a constituent part of the ancient County of Durham. Once described as a "windswept, barren and treacherous heath", by the middle of the 18th century, Gateshead Fell had become a place of considerable notoriety. When theologian John Wesley arrived in 1785, he found a "pathless waste of white". In 1809 an Act was finally obtained ordering the enclosure of Gateshead Fell. Commissioners were appointed to settle claims in land and to apportion Gateshead Fell accordingly. Plans were laid for the requisition and construction of wells, quarries, drains, roads, watering places and other essential requirements. New roads were to be built on what is now Blue Quarries Road, Church Road and Windy Nook Road. A well was also to be provided at Blue Quarries. Progress was slow, with the last allotment land disputes not settled until almost 1830, but by the time of completion, Gateshead Fell was at last enclosed and effectively consigned to history. The divisions of Gateshead Fell have remained more or less settled, so that the villages created by enclosure have survived, almost entirely intact, to the present day.

Sheriff's March

Main article: Sheriff's March (Sheriff Hill)

Medieval Britain operated under a strict feudal system. Allegiance and subservience to the Crown was required by all men and women at all times and on most occasions was demonstrated by the swearing of oaths. Once such occasion occurred twice a year, when the Sheriff of Northumberland met with the Crown Judges who came to Newcastle upon Tyne and sat on the Assizes to hear any legal matters which required their attention. To further emphasise the importance and solemnity of these visitations, a procession was to be held prior to the official meeting of the parties.

At an inquisition at Tynemouth in 1278, it was duly 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 arrange to meet with the justices prior to their entry into Newcastle, provided that they came through the county of Yorkshire first. On the appointed day, usually a Saturday, the procession of these learned men would take place, starting in Newcastle upon Tyne before crossing the River Tyne and passing into Gateshead. After a short refreshment break, the procession then made its way slowly up the old (and remarkably steep) turnpike road (now Old Durham Road/Sheriffs Highway) until all concerned parties came to the designated meeting place. This was initially established at Chile Well but latterly the procession came to "light and go into the house". The house in question was Ye Olde Cannon, located on the turnpike road at the crest of Gateshead Fell. This place was chosen because of the convenience of both the gentry of Northumberland and for the judges journeying from Durham and it was here that wine and punch were again served to the members of the procession at the expense of the Sheriffs who would wait here until the judges made their arrival. Once they had done so, all would return to Newcastle upon Tyne.

This procession took place, bi-annually, until 1826 when the procession was re-routed through Low Fell. It is as a direct result of the "Sheriff's March" that the area around Ye Olde Cannon and the old turnpike road became known as Sheriff Hill.

Sodhouse Bank/Sheriff's Highway

Sodhouse Bank circa 1920

The major road in the settlement is Sheriff's Highway, which forms part of the B1296 or the old Great North Road.

Sheriff's Highway is a direct descendant of the old turnpike road which ran along the exact same route. The turnpike road was an essential trade route between the historic city of Durham and the rapidly developing city of Newcastle upon Tyne, itself flourishing as the industrial revolution began to take hold. As the importance of the turnpike road increased, a small number of settlers and at least two public houses sprang forth and established themselves alongside it.

The road was, for many years, known as Sodhouse Bank, because the dwelling-houses on the road were largely made of mud and sod. Built on turf by tinkers, these were initially inhabited by a combination of the tinkers themselves and a sizeable mining community. These dwellings were known as 'sodhuts' and were extremely squalid so that most were demolished in 1886 after local councillors decreed that they were no longer fit for human habitation.

The route of Sodhouse Bank remains but is now called Sheriff's Highway. Sheriff's Highway today is a "wide and bustling road" which is notable for the "spectacular long views over Gateshead, Newcastle and beyond" as well as the steepness of its slope northward towards Wrekenton.

Governance

Gateshead Council, High Fell- 2010 Local Elections
Candidate Name	Political Party	Number of Votes	% of Votes Cast
Doreen Davison	Labour	2,123	63.9%
Ann McCarthy	Liberal Democrats	609	18.3%
Dennis W Stokoe	Conservative	340	10.2%
Ronald Fairlamb	British National Party	252	7.6%

Sheriff Hill is part of the High Fell ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. This ward is approximately 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) in area and has a population of 8,952. The High Fell ward is represented by three councillors. In March 2011, these were Malcolm Graham, Jean Lee and Doreen Davidson. The 2010 council election turnout was 50.5%, an improvement on the lowly 27.7% turnout at the 2008 election which was achieved in spite the introduction of postal voting in an attempt to increase voter turnout. The British National Party polled over 10% of the vote in 2008, but their vote fell to 7.6% by 2010.

Sheriff Hill is now part of the Westminster parliamentary constituency of Gateshead. It had previously formed part of the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency which was abolished by boundary changes prior to the 2010 UK General Election. For many years the MP for the area was Joyce Quin, who retired on 11 April 2005 and was later awarded a life peerage into the House of Lords on 13 June 2006 and is now Baroness Quin.

The present incumbent is Ian Mearns MP, who lives in nearby Saltwell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Mearns was selected by the party in March 2010 to contest the newly formed Gateshead seat in place of David Clelland, formerly the Labour MP for the now defunct constituency of Tyne Bridge who stepped down in January 2010. Formerly the deputy leader of Gateshead Council and a long time Councillor for the Saltwell ward, Mearns replaced former incumbent Sharon Hodgson MP, who successfully campaigned for election in the newly formed constituency of Washington and Sunderland West. In the 2010 UK General Election, Mearns was elected with a majority of 12,549 votes over the second placed candidate, Frank Hindle. The swing from the Labour party to the Liberal Democrats was 3.9%.

Sheriff Hill is part of one of the safest Labour parliamentary seats in the United Kingdom. Mearns' success in 2010 followed the return of Sharon Hodgson in the 2005 UK General Election after she had polled over 60% of the total votes cast whilst in 2001, Joyce Quin was returned to parliament with a majority of 53.3%

Geography and topography

Sheriff Hill lies 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the centre of Gateshead town centre on an "historic route from Durham to the north". which lies 254.5 miles (409.6 km) from London. The land upon which the settlement is built contains predominantly sandstone, grindstone and clay. After the enclosure of Gateshead Fell, Sheriff Hill began as a rural settlement before latterly becoming a village. Following the large urban expansion of Gateshead, Sheriff Hill was enveloped so that "now it is surrounded by suburban Gateshead, which has developed in dense form around it with little visual delineation" and in 1974 the village was formerly incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972. Until the implementation of that Act, Sheriff Hill was considered part of County Durham. It is now bordered by a number of settlements which also now form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. These are Low Fell to the west, Deckham to the north, Beacon Lough to the south and Windy Nook and Carr Hill to the east

The settlement benefits from "striking topography". The natural lie of the land means that Sheriff Hill is the highest point in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead and this allows for views of considerable beauty. In 1829, it was noted that "the view of Newcastle and the Tyne from the hill is uncommonly grand" and it so moved local artist Thomas Miles Richardson Sr. that it inspired "his first remarkable picture"; View of Newcastle from Gateshead Fell, in 1816. The spire at St John's Church, once completed, became a visible landmark for miles in all directions which "gives an aspect of comfort and civilisation to the district". At the corner of what is now Church Road, McKenzie noted "from its lofty position, it commands one of the finest and most extensive views in the North of England. It embraces the whole line of the Tyne, the beautiful vale of Ravensworth, the city of Durham, and the German Ocean both to the North and to the East"

In spite of the extensive rebuilding of the settlement and the surrounding areas since the middle of the nineteenth century, residents of Sheriff Hill are still able to enjoy "awe inspiring" views of the surrounding locale so that, according to one official report:

"Sheriff Hill enjoys an elevated position on one of the highest points in the vicinity, commanding dramatic views of the surrounding area as far as the Cheviot Hills in the north, and across the Team Valley to the west. The views into and out of the area are therefore of crucial importance...This can be seen particularly at Church Road, Sourmilk Hill and Egremont Drive, where it is possible to view a panorama to the north or west... At the crossroads between Sheriff’s Highway and Church/Windy Nook Roads, the land to the north falls away, creating one of the key panoramic views covering Gateshead, Newcastle and beyond..."

• 

  View looking west from Church Road. Team Valley Trading Estate dominates the foreground with Marley Hill and Lobley Hill beyond

• 

  View into Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland from Egremont Drive

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  View from the Causeway, Sheriff Hill towards the MetroCentre and the rural surrounds of Newcastle Airport

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  The land falls away from Egremont Drive and reveals the River Tyne, western Newcastle and the Cheviot Hills

Demography

Sheriff Hill compared
	Sheriff Hill	Gateshead	England
Total population	5,051	191,151	49,138,831
White	97.5%	98.4%	90.9%
BME	2.5%	1.6%	4.6%
Aged 0–19	29.2%	24.2%	26.32%
Aged 65+	16.8%	17.3%	15.9%
Male	47%	48.3%	48.7%
Female	53%	51.7%	51.3%

According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, Sheriff Hill has a population of 5,051- 53% of the population are female, slightly above the national average, whilst 47% are male. Only 2.5% of 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 in the settlement, 41% are from the Asian or Asian-British ethnic group. Sheriff Hill has a high proportion of lone parent households at some 18.9% of all households in the settlement. This is the fifth highest figure in Gateshead and compares with a Gateshead average of 11.5% and a national average of 9.5%. Some 32.1% 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 indicators to indicate deprivation, splits Sheriff Hill into two areas; one of which is listed in the top five percent of all deprived areas in England in 2007.

Sheriff Hill compares unfavourably with the wider Gateshead area in respect of adults with educational qualifications. Some 50.7% of adults in the settlement have no educational qualifications, compared to 38.4% across the whole of Gateshead and the England average of 28.9%. Only 25.2% of adults have five or more GCSEs or equivalent at A*-C (compared to 46.6% nationally) whilst 11.5% of adults in the settlement have two or more A-Levels (or equivalent).

Economy

Heavy industry (1750-1925)

Main article: Sheriff Hill Colliery

Sheriff Hill was once a place of heavy industry, playing a pivotal role in both potting and coal mining on Tyneside. Indeed, the geological abundance of grindstone and coal, and the ability to mine both, were the predominant reason for the birth of the settlement.

A surviving reference to Sheriff Hill's potting heritage at 124 Sheriffs Highway.

The history of potting in Gateshead is still the subject of considerable research and speculation, but there can be little doubt that Sheriff Hill was "an epicentre" of the pottery industry in the town. Sheriff Hill, and its neighbour Carr Hill, have been described as "the main centres" of potting during the 17th and 18th centuries. This was due in no small part to the decisions of John Warburton to relocate his manufacturing operations to Newcastle and to base his main factory in Carr Hill in 1740. Warburton is credited with introducing white earthenware into the area and it is thought that the Old Brown Jug public house in Carr Hill is so named in reference to the rich potting history of that area. Apparently buoyed by the success of Warburton, Paul Jackson established the Sheriff Hill Pottery in 1771 at the corner of Pottery Lane (now Pottersway) and Sodhouse Bank. In 1775, an advertisement in the local newspaper, The Journal, declared:

"P. Jackson, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, having brought his different kind of Earthen Ware to great perfection, hopes for Encouragement from his Friends. He sells wholesale and retail at his manufactory on Gateshead Commons, adjoining the turnpike road and near the Two-mile stone, and at his shop on the Quay, cream coloured enameled, fine black, gilded, spotted and brown Earthen Ware; also large Ware, as Milk, Cream, Butter and Beef Pots and Washing Mugs. Hawkers from Northumberland and Cumberland may be supplied at his shop"

Members of the Jackson family were partners in the business until 1837 when Thomas Patterson took over. By 1839 there were 50 employees, many of whom lived in a row of cottages adjoining the Old Cannon Inn. The pottery still operated at the turn of the twentieth century and was a considerable source of local pride, as one resident recalled:

"When we were not playing games by ourselves, we watched men digging clay from a cavity in a hillock and the potters at their wheels…I remember the satisfactory feeling which swept through the lower end of the village near the pottery when the kiln was drawn, and the ware in it was pronounced good..."

This pottery closed in 1909 and the buildings were demolished in the 1920s to make way for council houses. Potter's Field, now the site of Hodkin Park, survived as a reminder of Sheriff Hill's potting heritage until the 1940s, whilst Pottery Lane is still today called 'Pottersway'.

The proud workforce pose for a photograph at Fanny Pit, Sheriff Hill in 1921. Photograph taken from Gateshead Council public archive.

Tyneside has a rich coal mining heritage and Sheriff Hill is no different in this regard. Sheriff Hill Colliery (alternatively referred to as 'Ellison Main Colliery') was situated at the summit of Gateshead Fell (now the boundary between Sheriff Hill and Low Fell) and which opened in 1793. Sheriff Hill Colliery operated two main shafts- Fanny Pit and Isabella Pit, the former of which was the deeper of the two. Mining during the 18th and19th centuries was notoriously difficult and often resulted in disasters causing numerous fatalities. Sheriff Hill Colliery suffered a number of such incidents. On 19 July 1819 an explosion caused the deaths of thirty-five men. The Colliery closed in 1926 and never re-opened.

Gateshead has been a centre of the milling industry for centuries. Indeed, the Boldon Book documents the presence of windmills in the area as early as 1189. Whilst many of the mills fell into disuse during the 19th century, the Old Mill, also known as Heworth Windmill or Snowden's Mill, was built in 1823 in Sheriff Hill and continued to operate for several decades before finally closing just prior to the turn of the 20th century. Using wind power to mill corn, the Old Mill provided employment to dozens of local workers as well as providing stables, a granary and a shop for the usage of members of the community. Situated on what now is Queen Elizabeth Avenue, the mill stood dormant for over seventy years and survived long after all of the other industrial mills in Gateshead had been demolished. It stood as a monument to Sheriff Hill's milling heritage until 1964, when it was finally demolished.

A surviving reference to stone quarrying at Sheriff Hill: the street sign indicating today's Blue Quarries Road

Located immediately opposite the Old Mill, Blue Quarries was one of many similar quarries scattered throughout Gateshead and provided some employment for the smattering of experienced stonemasons, quarrymen and their apprentices in Sheriff Hill. During the 19th century, quarries in Gateshead concerned themselves primarily with grindstones which could be used in the building of new dwelling-houses and Blue Quarries would have been no different in this regard. Quarrymen were notoriously difficult employees. They were infrequent in the payment of rent owed and were prolific spoilers of land through waste and rubbish. They were also extremely difficult to contain as a workforce, with one employer baldy stating that "if you do not make a publicke [sic] example of some of those fellowes [sic] they'll ride on your shoulders as long as you live". Few were ever employed in Gateshead; during 1839, a boom period of quarrying, only seventy five were employed in total in the whole of Gateshead. By the turn of the 20th century, the quarries were becoming gradually less active and, one by one, they were discontinued. Those that did survive occupied themselves with the cutting and shaping of sandstone, which had replaced grindstone as the brick of choice in the home building industry. The quarrymen remained a source of intrigue for local children. One noted that "We watched the stonemasons at the quarry squaring off and smoothing sandstone blocks. The men wore fustian trousers tied with string below the knee". It is not known when Blue Quarries ceased operations, but there is little evidence of it in Sheriff Hill today, as the area is now part of a housing estate. One major reference however remains for posterity— the road from Sheriffs Highway leading to The Causeway was named Blue Quarries Road and remains so called today.

Residential suburb (1926-present day)

Although the general layout of the settlement has changed very little since the middle of the 19th century, the character of the settlement has "changed radically" so that, save a handful of small indications (mostly street names such as Pottersway and Blue Quarries Road), all remnants of the settlement's industrial past have been expunged. Today, Sheriff Hill is essentially a residential suburb. There is no major employer in the settlement and the settlement has higher than average (compared to both Gateshead and England as a whole) levels of unemployment: in the area of Broadway, Pottersway and The Avenue, only 23.8% of adults here have full time employment and another 10.09% have part-time jobs. Around 3.1% of the population of the settlement are self employed. Those who do hold positions of employment tend to travel to either Gateshead or Newcastle, save the small number of residents who hold employment at one of the settlement's public houses, betting shops or take-aways. There are small, local shops which also provide a limited number of employment opportunities, but few of these are open for any length of time as they "struggle to compete with the lower prices and convenience of the supermarkets located in central Gateshead, the MetroCentre and Team Valley".

Housing

Prior to enclosure, the few cottages and properties which were available in Sheriff Hill were so poor that in 1713 a total of only ninety-one cottages returned the paltry sum of £8 9s 6d in rent. This rental rate actually declined in the preceding years, with poverty rates so high that several tenants simply paid no rent at all. The houses themselves were "scruffy and unappealing". Most were essentially mud huts; earth mounds carved into dwellings and roofed with either turf or, in the majority of cases, sod. It is for this reason that the expanse of the turnpike road which ran directly through Sheriff Hill became known as Sodhouse Bank. The vast majority of these cottages were torn down after enclosure but the standard of housing remained "one of abject squalor".

Social housing

In 1911 an offer to build Sutton Dwellings was made to Gateshead Council and was staunchly rebuffed and in 1917 Parliament made a further proposal which was again rejected. However, a Gateshead Council survey concluded in 1919 that "overcrowding was at dangerous levels, that landlords were scrimping on repairs and improvements" and that housing levels "were effectively unsustainable in light of the rapid population growth". When in February 1919 the Town Improvement Committee recommended the purchase of 214 acres (0.87 km²; 0.334 sq mi) of land between Dryden Road at Low Fell and Carr Hill under the Housing Act 1919, the Council finally yielded and purchased 65 acres (0.26 km²; 0.102 sq mi) of land in Carr Hill and Sheriff Hill at the cost of £19,000.

The result was the first council estate in Gateshead. Alderman Hodkin laid the foundation stone on 27 October 1920 at the site directly opposite Kells Lane on the other side of Sodhouse Bank, which was to become Broadway. He informed local newspapers 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"

The area of each house and garden averaged about 300 square yards (250 m²). Trees would be placed on paths, with grass margins, every 10 yards (9.1 m) apart. The total cost of the scheme was £730,000 and the average price per house was £1,123 with ten houses built per 1 acre (0.40 ha). Demand was enormous- there were four hundred and twenty seven applicants for the first twenty eight houses built. Two hundred and thirty two houses were built in the Pottersway and The Avenue areas and a further four hundred and nine followed in 1924 at Sodhouse Bank, Broadway, Fosse Terrace, Ermine Crescent and Crossway, despite the Government withdrawing the funding they had promised at the outset of the scheme. By 1936, most of the housing evidenced in Sheriff Hill today was in place.

After the initial period of prevacation followed a time of great ambition and pride. M. G. Moses was clearly impressed when he noted after his visit in 1930 that:

"Council Estates, where neat, modern houses, fitted with new appliances and devices, look like a small village, each house with its garden plot in front and, in nearly every case, vegetable garden behind. Such estates as these depicted are Carr Hill and Sheriff Hill, of which Gateshead Council have every reason to be proud...

These houses have remained in situ and provide residential accommodation to over half of the population of the settlement today.

Private housing

Typically flat-roofed homes in the Egremont Estate at the rear of Sheriff's Highway

Although social housing is the predominant type of housing in the settlement, privately-owned dwellings are also reasonably prevalent. The Egremont Estate is a "quiet, peaceful and very distinctive estate" located to the immediate rear of Sheriffs Highway with entry at Egremont Drive. The houses here are privately owned and have unusual, flat roofs with steps leading to them as an architectural feature. The character of this area is "a progressive suburban development, constructed on a plateau nestling in the landscape...this has the feel of an enclosed community, with development encircling a central space". The entire estate is now part of the Sheriff Hill Conservation Area. Also part of the conservation area is Sourmilk Hill, located at the rear of the Egremont Estate and leading towards St John the Evangelist Church. This is "an informal grouping of vernicular stone buildings, with the character of a small rural farmstead, on the perimeter of a vestige of woodland". The houses here are built with locally quarried stone and brick and add considerable charm to the settlement. Windy Nook Road is another area of Sheriff Hill in which privately-owned dwellinghouses are prevalent. Located at the crest of Sheriff's Highway directly adjacent to the Traveller's Rest, the character of this area is of a "loose, straggling ribbon development along a minor east-west hilltop route". Building here is especially irregular and has created stepped frontages in the "important and early vernacular stone grouping of Field House (a Grade II listed building), Sandmill House and Home Cottage". There is a great variety among the buildings here, several of which are built from locally quarried brick, slate and sandstone

Health

Main article: Sheriff Hill Lunatic Asylum

Sheriff Hill Asylum. Picture courtesy of Gateshead Council public archives

Sheriff Hill Lunatic Asylum, also referred to in documents as Gateshead Fell Lunatic Asylum, was situated on Sour Milk Hill Lane, Sheriff Hill, during the 19th century. It is likely that the asylum was opened by a Mrs Orton and that at some stage soon after ownership was transferred to Jacob Gowling and his wife, who soon moved onto nearby Wrekenton to open a new asylum in a similar vein. In 1844, records show that the asylum had 86 patients. Escapes do not seem to have especially commonplace, but incidents have been recorded. The asylum closed in 1860. Sheriff Hill's association with isolation and mental health did not end with the demise of the asylum; a thirty-eight bed isolation hospital was built on what is now Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

The mayor of Gateshead lays the foundation stone to commence work of the extension of the Isolation Hospital in 1938. Picture from Gateshead Council public archive.

In 1878, the first part of the hospital was erected whilst other sections were added in subsequent years. The site comprised around 4 acres (1.6 ha) in total and was enclosed by a large stone wall tipped with barbed wire (or broken glass in places) By 1903 the buildings comprised a main block with an administrative building in the centre and a ward block on each side. There was also a new three-ward block, a porter's lodge, a steam disinfecting building, a laundry and a mortuary. The ward blocks contained seven wards in addition to four other single bed wards. These allowed a potential maximum of seventy eight patients. There were ten nurses, nine other female staff, two porters and two ambulance staff in addition to the matron. There was also a medical officer, who in 1904 was a Dr Clayton assisted by a Dr Kapp. The isolation hospital continued to thrive during the First World War, but otherwise the medical provisions in Sheriff Hill remained woefully substandard. Sheriff Hill had no doctor save those in the isolation hospital and as the population grew, so too did the urgent need for better medical provisions.

First mooted in 1931 when a local governmental survey concluded that hospital provisions in the whole of Gateshead were entirely inadequate, work began on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was decided that this new hospital be built on the exact site of the old isolation hospital in Sheriff Hill and the conversion and extension work required duly commenced in March 1938. After good early progress saw the foundations for the new general hospital laid in 1939, the war years delayed building work so that the hospital was finally (and belatedly) opened on 18 March 1948 by Queen Elizabeth (the wife of George VI). It is now by far the largest hospital in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead and has been expanded on numerous occasions since, most notably with the opening of the North East NHS Surgery Centre in 2008. This new facility cost £13.3 million to build and treated over 6000 patients for both urgent and non-urgent operations in its first year. In 2009, the Care Quality Commission rated the hospital as 'excellent', the highest possible rating, in both the quality of its care and the use of its resources. The hospital is also currently the 'Dr Foster Medium Sized Acute Trust of the Year' and has been rated second best in the country for maternity services by the Healthcare Commission.

Whilst once considered an affluent suburb of the town of Gateshead, the area is now markedly less so, with almost half of the total working age population not economically active and less than half of the households in the area owning a car. Over one quarter of the adult population of the area are considered clinically obese, Around 44% of the adult population smoke (as opposed to a national average of 33%) and 23.8% of the adults in the area are statistically binge drinkers. The average life expectancy for men in Sheriff Hill is 70.7 years. Women have a higher life expectancy of 77.5 years. Both figures are below the UK national average.

Education

In March 1871 the Census Committee reported to Gateshead Council that there was a chronic deficiency in school provisions throughout Gateshead. It was found that, of the 8041 children of school age residing in the town, only 4111 undertook a programme of formal education. It was proposed that five new schools be built; Park Lane, Prince Concert Road, Askew Road, near Gateshead Cemetery and at Sheriff Hill Building work was "piecemeal and laborious", even after the second school board (1873–76) elected to follow the proposals mooted by its predecessor. Alexandra Road School was not opened until 1875 due to the contractor in charge being declared bankrupt and work on the school at the Teams proved "extraordinary complex". In the event, a temporary board school was established at Sheriff Hill and by the time that the third school board completed the original planned building work by taking full control of Sheriff Hill National School in 1870, Sheriff Hill had its first fully fledged educational institution.

Sheriff Hill Board School

Sheriff Hill Board School was situated on Church Road immediately adjacent St John’s Church at the crest of Sour Milk Hill and catered for all children aged between five and fourteen years of age. Like the great majority of its contempories, the school was extremely elementary, teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, grammar, geography and needlework. Attendance was compulsory but as parents were required to pay for their children, truancy was rife- indeed, such was the scale of the problem that prizes and awards were presented to children to encourage attendance. Thankfully, such problems were largely eradicated when, in 1891, the 'penny-a-week' charge on parents was expunged in law and mandatory, free education for children up to the age of twelve years was established.

After 1889 the board introduced technical instruction and modern languages with the assistance of the town council. Biblical instruction was heavily emphasized, with forty minutes a day being devoted solely to the reading and interpretation of the ‘Good Book’. This part of the early curriculum was undertaken with some relish; one Committee noted that "we have proof that many teachers highly approve and most faithfully discharge this part of their duty". The eighth school board (1894–97) went on to introduce physical exercises, organised games and an intra-schools football league was created. Voluntary swimming instruction was also introduced. As one former pupil recalled, discipline at the school was strict:

"The classes were a mixture of boys and girls and discipline was strict. All the teachers could, and did, cane or use a strap on us when we deserved it. We knew afterwards where we stood with them and we were not resentful afterwards..."

Sheriff Hill School continued providing education to village children well into the 20th century until its closure in 1947.

Glynwood Primary School

In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, Gateshead Council drew up far reaching plans in respect of education provisions which intended to cope with the enormous growth in population and the subsequent over-demand for school places. An "enormous sum of public money", some seven million pounds, was set aside for the building of thirty four new primary and secondary schools in the town.

Glynwood Primary School and Ennerdale Junior School were built and duly opened by Alderman Grant on 28 November 1953 after a dedication by the Rector of Gateshead and in the presence of the local press. Situated on Glynwood Gardens to the north and Southend Road to the south, the schools have since merged so that only Glynwood School still survives today and it is the sole educational provision directly available to the children of Sheriff Hill. Today there is also a nursery provision.

There are two hundred and fifty eight students on the roll at present and around sixty more enrolled at nursery. The school day lasts from 8.55am until 3.15pm, with a fifteen minute break in the morning and a fifty-five minute lunch break. An additional ten minute break is provided for the youngest children at 2.40pm. It has an above average number of students with learning disabilities/difficulties and provides specific learning for those children who require it. The number of children entitled to, and claiming, free school meals is above the national average. Those who pay for their meals pay £1.70 per day (or £8.50 per week). Packed lunches are allowed but must not contain sweets or chocolate, which are barred from school. The youngest children also receive one piece of fruit, free of charge, per day. Children are required to wear a uniform and the school operates a strict ‘no football tops’ policy, even in Physical Education classes.

The pupils are taught a variety of subjects under Key Stages One and Two of the National Curriculum including Mathematics, English, Science, History and Geography. In national tests, the school is performing well in English, utilising their ‘'Reading Together'’ programme, which encourages parents and/or carers to work together with teachers to improve reading, writing and comprehension skills. However, the school does not perform quite so well in Mathematics and Science, where it is still scoring fractionally below (or just in line with) the national average.

The ethos of the school is "to provide a positive culture of successful learning in a safe, secure environment" and pupils are said to "feel safe in school and are likely to approach the staff if they have problems". There is "an ethos of giving children responsibility which encourages them to trust and take charge of themselves and others which allows them to develop into thoughtful, caring young people". In 2006 the school was subjected to the latest OFSTED inspection:

"This is a good school. The head teacher provides outstanding leadership and has succeeded in creating high morale and an excellent team spirit. Academic standards and progress, the curriculum, levels of attendance and the quality of the teaching have all improved since the previous inspection. The school provides good value for money and its capacity to continue to improve is good. Pupils achieve well, often from a low starting point, because the teaching is almost always good and sometimes outstanding. They enjoy school, work hard, and appreciate what adults do for them. Consequently, pupils behave well and make good progress in lessons. Teachers make lessons interesting, with chances for everyone to succeed. They ensure that pupils feel safe and valued and provide calm environment which enables them to work well. Pupils learn how to get along with others in and how to keep safe and healthy. There is a strong tradition in the school of participation and success in sport..."

Leisure and recreation

Parks and public space

Hodkin Park

Trees divide the larger, flowered section of the park from the children's play park.

Described as "a green oasis" Hodkin Park is one of many small parks in Gateshead. The park adjoins Sheriffs Highway, Causeway, Blue Quarries Road and Southway and is located on the exact site that was previously incumbered by Potter's Field. The name of the park honours Alderman Daniel Hodkin; Gateshead's deputy Mayor in 1920 and a member of the Housing Committee which brough social housing to Sheriff Hill.

The park is split unevenly into two sections. The larger of the two sections consists mainly of green space and flower beds, which produce roses, daffodils and other typical British seasonal blooms. A stone stairwell provides access to the larger section of the park from Blue Quarries Road. The smaller section of the park contains a variety of childrens play equipment such as a climbing frame and football goalposts.

Hodkin Park had become something of a no-go area in recent years, frequented mainly by youths for the purposes of anti-social behaviour. In 2009 Gateshead Council gave the park a further makeover, with pupils from the local South Street Primary School being invited to plant one of several new herb beds being created as part of a package of improvements to make the park lighter and more open by pruning and clearing dense trees and shrubs and replacing them with more appropriate and inviting planting. Prior to the outset of the work, Gateshead Councillor David Napier stated that:

"The work we are carrying out in Hodkin Park will not only make the park a better place to visit for everyone but sends out a clear signal that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in our parks and public spaces...Parks like Hodkin Park are a real asset for our communities and are an important part of helping our residents, whatever their age, to lead active and healthy lives".

Hodkin Park was locally listed by Gateshead Council in 2004; "this is a positive way of recognising elements of the Borough’s historic built environment which, whilst not of national importance (such as Listed Buildings or Registered Parks and Gardens), are of significance to local communities and contribute to the distinctiveness of the Borough".

Quarry plantation

At the north end of Sheriffs Highway there runs on the right hand side of the road a dene, which contains a number of old, tall trees (especially oaks, pines and horse chestnuts providing plentiful supplies of conkers for the local children) and a selection of typical British fauna and flora. The dene is shown as the Quarry Plantation on Ordnance Survey maps of 1858.

Gateshead Council have recently made improvements to encourage a more traditional, lawful use of the area. Dirt pathways, or more precisely, desire lines, run through the dene providing access by foot for users. These have now been officially marked-out, with obtrusive branches and plants pruned and/or removed, whilst wooden stairways have recently been installed by Gateshead Council to further encourage visitors to safely enjoy the area.

Public houses

Despite being a comparatively small suburb of Gateshead, Sheriff Hill has always contained a large number of public houses. This is thought to result from its origins as an area of dwelling for local miners and tinkers and due to the fact that, prior to the opening of Durham Road through Low Fell in 1827, Sodhouse Bank was the route to the Great North Road. Pubs along major roads such as this traditionally thrived as meeting and resting places.

Ye Olde Cannon, Sheriff Hill today

Ye Olde Cannon is situated at the bottom of Sheriffs Highway and has existed in a variety of guises since medieval times. When the Sheriffs of Newcastle travelled to meet the Durham judges prior to holding the assizes in the City of Newcastle Upon Tyne, they would stop here for refreshment and "to discuss serious legal matters". The pub has operated under its present name since at least 1782. The historical significance of this venue has been locally recognised: Ye Olde Cannon is one of two public houses in Sheriff Hill to be locally listed by Gateshead Council in 2004 (the other is the Three Tuns).

Slightly further 'up' Sheriffs Highway (travelling south) is The Queens Head. The exact date of opening is unknown but the venue is listed in trade directories in 1848. Unlike The Cannon, surviving photographs demonstrate that this venue has substantially changed in appearance over the last one hundred years; so much so that it is extremely likely that the building which now stands is an entirely different one to that which existed one hundred or so years ago. Circa 1900 the public house was a long, two storey building with steps leading to the primary entrance/exit in the centre of the establishment indicating that the main drinking area was elevated by around foot or so. A side entrance also existed and complimented the rest of the windowed frontage. The proprietor was a William Edward Robinson. It is not known when the rebuilding took place but the Queens Head now sports a mock Tudor look in a mixture of black, red-brick and white painted hues.

The Three Tuns is situated directly at the junction of Sheriffs Highway and Kells Lane/Broadway. It is another public house in the area with a long and well documented history. It is not known when this venue opened but it is listed in trade directories as early as 1778 The Three Tuns was chiefly used by pitmen and quarrymen. Its social activities were cock fighting (abolished by law in 1849) and cuddy races which took place on the open ground in Kells Lane. In 1867 the Three Tuns was the scene of a big reception to celebrate the passing of Lord Russell's Reform Act. It was also the home of reform meetings and benefit societies such as the 'Women's Box', run by Jenny Hall, wife of a leading local Primitive Methodist. Since re-opening after refurbishment in 2002, the Three Tuns has hosted live rock and punk music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (as well as most Thursdays) which attracts customers from far outside the Sheriff Hill area. It has also held a number of niche events, including an International Sausage Festival in August 2011 which followed an international pie festival on 30 April 2010. Formerly a "failed Scottish and Newcastle house", the venue has been turned around completely and, as a result, has twice been awarded the title of 'Gateshead Pub of the Year' (in 2005 and 2007) by the now defunct Gateshead Herald and Post newspaper. In 2007, Ian McKellen and Sylvester McCoy made an impromptu visit to the pub and drank with locals.

The Traveller's Rest today

The Travellers Rest is situated at the top of Sheriff's Highway (nominally listed as 1-2 Southend Terrace). Little is documented in respect of this pub, though contemporary evidence confirms that it was once known as The Golden Quiot. It has been suggested that the name change took place in 1895 and refers simply to the tendency of travellers through Sheriff Hill to stop and take refreshment once they reached the top of the steepest part of the hill.

The Causeway was situated at the junction between Causeway and Blue Quarries Road. This has existed in a variety of guises since around 1860. By 1890, Mr. Angus McKie was the proprietor of the Causey House Inn; this establishment is marked on Ordnance Survey maps in the exact same location as the establishment which became latterly called the Causeway Hotel. The venue thrived during the latter part of the nineteenth century as it provided refreshment for quarrymen employed a minute or so walk away However, the venue closed in 2003 and is now used for residential purposes.

Even more spectacular has been the recent demise of The White Swan Inn. Located on Windy Nook Road, this is another public house which can be traced back as far as 1858. By 1890 it was in the hands of Mrs. Ann Robson, who provided refreshment to a combination of the quarrymen and pitmen who worked within short walking distance. However, a downturn in trade at the turn of the twenty-first century resulted in the venue closing in 2003. It has subsequently been completely demolished and replaced by a number of residential flats.

Religion and places of worship

The settlement formerly contained a number of Methodist Chapels but only one remains today, along with a solitary Anglican church.

Historical

The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was situated immediately adjacent Hope Pit near Blue Quarries Road. A surviving photograph of this building exists and has recently been uploaded It is not known when this church was erected or indeed demolished, though by 1919 the Church was no longer shown on Ordnance Survey maps. There are no surviving remnants of the church and council houses have since been erected in the Blue Quarries area.

The Zion Chapel c.2003 used as a gymnasium

The United Methodist Free Churches were formed in 1857 by the amalgamation of two reform movements arising out of doctrinal disputes within the Wesleyan Church. One of these movements, the Wesleyan Reformers, opened its first preaching room in Gateshead in 1852 and a separate circuit was created in 1858. Six years later, in 1864, the Church opened the Providence Chapel in Sheriff Hill near Sodhouse Bank. The Providence Chapel was built in the Gothic style and had seating for three hundred worshippers. It also accommodated its own Sunday school for the village children, which was situated underneath the Church. The church was demolished in the middle of the 20th Century. The exact location of the church is unknown and the church is not evidenced on any Ordnance Survey maps. The New Connection (Zion) Chapel was built in 1836 and was opened by James Forsyth, the third minister in the Gateshead Wesleyan circuit at that time. It is not known exactly when it ceased to be used for worship but one published testimony recalls attending the Church in 1914. During the 1990s and early 2000s this church was used as a gymnasium but it has since been completely renovated and is now used for residential purposes. In 2004, the Zion chapel was locally listed as a building of special local architectural or historic interest (Category 2). and still stands midway 'up' the western side of Sheriffs Highway at the corner of Egremont Drive. One eyewitness later recounted;

"the two Methodist chapels, Zion and Providence, were both well attended. Zion was also known as 'Scotts Chapel' and Providence as 'Pattersons' after the men who built them. The ordained ministers only came occasionally but most of the local preachers were very, very good. They were humble and didn't pretend to know all the answers..."

St John the Evangelist Church

St John's Church circa 1920. Photograph taken from Gateshead Council public archives

The 1809 Enclosure Act decreed that a church be built on Gateshead Fell. An acre of land was set aside and the sum of £1000 was raised by trustees, so that, despite several delays, the foundation stone was laid by Rev. John Collinson, at a "lofty eminence" on Sour Milk Hill, on 13 May 1824. After an overall expenditure of £2742, the building itself was completed and the church was consecrated on 30 August 1825.

An "impressive landmark", St John the Evangelist Church contained 1000 sittings, half of which were "declared to be free and unappropriated for ever". The benefice was in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham and the Rev. William Hawkes was the first incumbent. underwent a period of restoration (including the addition of an organ loft on the north side and stalls) in 1883. In the late 1990s the Church was again the subject of much needed renovation, with the addition of two meeting rooms and two toilets, both at the rear of the church. Somewhat unusually, the church also has its traditional pews removed and replaced with carpet and comfortable chairs.

To the side and rear of the church is a sizeable graveyard, though this has been closed for a number of years and is now the responsibility of Gateshead Council. The rectory is not located on the site of the church itself, but rather is situated some fifteen minutes walk away in Shotley Gardens, Low Fell.

The building itself is a neat, plain, Gothic structure built from ashlar and slate. Along with some detailed and well maintained stained glass windows, the predominant distinguishing feature of the church is its elegant tower and spire, which stretches some 148 feet (45 m) into the Sheriff Hill skyline. Coupled with the natural terrain of the land, the top of the spire reaches over 500 feet (150 m) into the air, making it the highest point in the entire metropolitan borough of Gateshead and one of the highest churches in England. The church itself, therefore, is visible for several miles in all directions, particularly to the west where it is clearly visible as far away as Blaydon-on-Tyne, Ryton and beyond into County Durham.

Sheriff Hill Methodist Church

Sheriff Hill Methodist Church

In 1907 the New Connection and the Methodist Free Churches, out of largely financial necessity, amalgamated into one body. The resultant organisation, the United Methodist Free Churches, continued its work in Sheriff Hill at the Zion Church on Sodhouse Bank. Ordnance survey maps of 1939 show a 'United Methodist Church' situated on the corner of Kells Lane and Sodhouse Bank, directly opposite the Three Tuns public house.

This is the exact site of the sole surviving Methodist Church in Sheriff Hill today; the Sheriff Hill Methodist Church.

There is little documented history of the building which is unusual in shape. The main body of the church is contained within a brick building of semi-circular design, baldly described as "a bland modern church...which signally fails to pay respect to its position". In the grounds of the church stands a tall wooden cross, inscribed with the words "Jesus Christ, God's Son Saviour".

Sheriff Hill Methodist Church is a focal point for social activity in the settlement. It has hosted bi-annual jumble sales for many years as well as bi-annual auctions. An annual Christmas fayre, replete with traditional stalls and homemade cakes, is also held and which has been said to mark "the start of Christmas in Sheriff Hill". The church also works in collaboration with nearby St John the Evangelist Church to provide Cornerstone: a successful cafe and thrift shop which runs every Monday morning. The result is a Church which is heavily used and in need of renovation and expansion, with fundraising events ongoing.

Culture

Field House from Windy Nook Road

According to English Heritage, there are three Grade II listed buildings in Sheriff Hill. These are St John the Evangelist Church, Field House and Thornlea. Field House is located on Windy Nook Road. Evidenced since 1822, this building "conveys a sense of the rural origins of the area, is visually warm and full of character". It is built with 'rubble stone' with visible quoins and a Welsh slate roof. It was listed on 13 January 1983. Thornlea is a remnant of Sheriff Hill Hall and is "one of the earliest buildings {in the settlement}...important for its social, historic, architectural and ‘hidden’ qualities. The grounds are largely intact enclosed by substantial stone walls, and contain many mature trees, which contribute to its historic character". It is built from ashlar with a low hipped, pitched slate roof and a doorpiece of two Greek Ionic columns remains intact and the building was listed on 13 January 1988.

Sheriff Hill is also home to eight locally listed buildings. These are the Zion Methodist Chapel, 97, 99, 101 and 103 Sheriff's Highway, 168 and 170 Sheriff's Highway, The Three Tuns public house and 13-14 Egremont Drive.

Transport

The No.28 stops at Sheriff's Highway

The settlement is situated on the B1296 "Old Durham Road" which is a former route of the Great North Road before it was diverted through Low Fell on the present route of the A167. The journey time by car or bus to Gateshead town centre is approximately ten minutes, with a further five minutes journey taking travellers into the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The nearest mainline railway station to the settlement is Newcastle Central Station. This is located 2.78 miles (4.47 km) away. The nearest Metro station is Gateshead

Sheriff Hill lies on a major bus route out of Gateshead served by several bus services, such as the 'Waggonway 28', the 'Fab 56' which continues into Sunderland as well as the 'Fab 57' which terminates at the Ellen Wilkinson Estate. It is also part of the 93/94 'loop' network. All of the buses which serve Sheriff Hill are operated by Go North East under the administration of Nexus.

List of buses serving Sheriff Hill

Route	To	Via	Frequency	Route Name
X1	Easington Lane	Washington Galleries, Houghton-le-Spring Bus Station	every ten minutes	Red Arrows
	Newcastle Eldon Square	Gateshead Interchange
Note Limited Stop Only
X25	Langley Park	Birtley, Chester-le-Street, Witton Gilbert	every thirty minutes	The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
	Newcastle Eldon Square	Gateshead Interchange
Note: Limited Stop Only
28	Chester-le-Street	Birtley, Beamish, Pelton	every thirty minutes	The Waggonway
	Newcastle Eldon Square	Gateshead Interchange
56	Sunderland Park Lane	Wrekenton, Concord, Hylton Castle	every ten minutes	Fab 56
	Newcastle New Bridge Street	Gateshead Interchange
57	Ellen Wilkinson Estate	Beacon Lough, Wardley	every ten minutes	Fab 57
	Newcastle New Bridge Street	Gateshead Interchange
69	Winlaton Bus Station	Low Fell, Lobley Hill, Whickham, Blaydon	every sixty minutes	The Kingfisher
	Wardley Bus Terminus	Felling Square, Ellen Wilkinson Estate, Pelaw Metro station
69A	Blackhall Mill	Blaydon, Ryton, Crawcrook	every sixty minutes	The Kingfisher
	Wardley Bus Terminus	Felling Square, Ellen Wilkinson Estate, Pelaw Metro station
93/94	Gateshead Interchange	Team Valley, Dunston	every fifteen minutes	The Loop
	Gateshead Interchange	Felling Square, Heworth Interchange
187	MetroCentre	Gateshead Leisure Centre, Dunston	every sixty minutes

Bibliography

Academic texts

• Carlton, Ian Clark (1974). A Short History of Gateshead. Gateshead Corporation. ISBN 0-90127-304-X. 
• Hair, T.H (1844). A Series of views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham. London. ISBN 0-94686-507-8. 
• Harrison, John (1979). Sheriff Hill: My Villiage. Gateshead Central Library. 
• Kelly (1858). Post Office Directory of Durham. 
• Lewis, Samuel (1831). A Topographical Dictionary of England. Lewis & Co. ISBN 0-80631-508-3. 
• Manders, Francis William David (1973). A History of Gateshead. Gateshead Coropration. ISBN 0-90127-302-3. 
• Marshall, T (1991). Gateshead Place Names and History:Miscellanious Notes. Gateshead Central Library. 
• McKenzie, Eneas (1827). Historical Account of Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Including the Borough of Gateshead. McKenzie and Dent. ISBN 1-14429-746-4. 
• McKenzie and Ross (1834). An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive View of the County Palatine of Durham. McKenzie and Ross. ISBN 1-14477-815-5. 
• Tegg, Thomas (1829). The London Encyclopedia. London. 
• Slater, I (1848). Royal National Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Durham. 
• Ward (1893-94). Directory of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North and South Shields, Jarrow, Sunderland and the adjacent villages. 
• Ward (1889-90). Directory of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North and South Shields, Jarrow, Sunderland and the adjacent village. 
• Whellan, William (1855). Whellan's History, Topography and Directory of Northumberland. Whellan & Co, Manchester. 
• Whitehead (1782). Newcastle and Gateshead Directory. 

Journals, reports, papers and other sources

Where an abbreiviation is used in the references this is indicated below in (brackets) at the end of the source name

• Burn, Zoe (17 November 2010). Vicar dons hat to open Methodist Church Christmas Fair. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 
• Buchannan, G.S (November 1905). Report to the Local Government Board on Small-pox in Gateshead and Felling 1903-1904, in relation to Sheriff Hill Hospital. Journal of the Royal Sanitary Institute. 
• Davis, K (31 August 2010). Kids love roman troops and Beach Party. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 
• Morgan, Bryn (2001). general Election results June 7 2001. 
• Oglesby, Keith (22–23 November 2006). Glynwood Primary School- Inspection Report. OFSTED. 
• Pearson, Andy (26 January 2010). Labour MP David Clelland to Stand Down. The Sunday Sun. 
• Quinn, David (February 2004). Report to Council- Local Lists of Buildings, and Parks and Gardens of Special Interest. Gateshead Council. 
• Redpath, L (May 2009). Council News: Kids help tackle anti-social behaviour. Gateshead Council. 
• Roberts, A (2001). Index of English and Welsh Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitals. University of Middlesex. 
• The Earl of Shaftsbury (1844). Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor. Bradbury and Evans. 
• Vaughan (June 2010). Canny Bevvy- Issue 212. CAMRA. 
• Whittock, David (April 2009). St John's Church, Gateshead Fell, Parish Profile. Gateshead Council. 
• Wilks (29 November 1953). New Schools Open in Sheriff Hill. The Gateshead Post. 
• Unknown (March 2006). Interim Policy Advice 17; Conservation Area Character Statements (IPA 17). Gateshead Council. 
• Unknown (2009). Glynwood Community Primary School Prospectus. Glynwood School Board. 
• Unknown (November 2008). Achieving Excellent Outcomes in Sheriff Hill- Housing, Economy and Transport (AEOSH). Gateshead Council. 
• Unknown (13 June 1834). Classifieds. Newcastle Evening Chroerynicle. 
• Unknown (12 October 2004). Community News. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 
• Unknown (19 February 2011). Diary Dates. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 
• Unknown (14 October 2009). Gateshead Hospitals Get Top Rating. Gateshead NHS Trust. 
• Unknown (24 March 2009). Kids Dig in to Improve Local Park. Gateshead Council. 
• Unknown (5 March 2010). Ian Mearns Selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Gateshead. Labour Matters. 
• Unknown (November 2008). Neighbourhood Profile Central, Sheriff Hill (NPC). Gateshead Council. 
• Unknown (5 January 2007). Sheriff Hill Conservation Area Management Plan (SHCAMP). Gateshead Council. 
• Unknown (March 2010). Ward Information- High Fell. Gateshead Council. 

External links

• Collieries in Northumberland and Durham (updated by academic Brian Pears) at Genuki
• Election 2005- Results at the BBC
• England, 2001 UK Census
• Gateshead, 2001 UK Census
• Gateshead Council Elections- 2008 Results
• Gateshead Council Elections 2010- Results
• Gateshead Council -Parks
• Gateshead East and Washington West Constituency at The Guardian
• Gateshead Election 2010 at the BBC
• Gateshead NHS Trust Press release
• Glynwood Primary School OFSTED Report
• High Fell- Ward Factsheet(Gateshead Council)
• High Fell- Ward Information Gateshead Council Website
• ISee Gateshead
• Issue 212 of Canny Bevvy: the North East CAMRA newsletter
• Kids dig in to improve local park article at Gateshead Council
• Labour Matters
• Neighbourhood Statistics Gateshead 011B (Lower Layer Super Output Area), 2001 UK Census
• Quinn's Report to Council on Locally Listed Buildings and Parks
• Roberts' Index of English and Welsh Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitals
• Sheriff Hill Colliery at Durham Mining Museum
• Sheriff Hill Conservation Area Management Plan at Gateshead Council
• The North East Surgery Centre Website
• The Northern Echo- Pit Disasters
• The Three Tuns at CAMRA
• "Joyce Quin". They Work for You. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/joyce_quin/gateshead_east_and_washington_west. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
• Washington and Sunderland West, Election 2010 at the BBC