Capturing Keelmen's Hospital at St Mary's

Keelmen's Hospital is currently undergoing conservation work to bring it back into use for the first time in almost 20 years. From restoration work to raves, join us this Heritage Open Days to find out about its twentieth-century past - maybe you even have a story of your own to share?

The building began its life as much needed housing for sick and retired keelmen and their families, but later became housing for Newcastle's poor. Many of them migrants from Scotland and Ireland, keelmen operated small boats to ferry coal out to collier boats bound for London - their founding of the hospital is a great example of working-class unity. After spending a few years vacant in the 1960s and 1970s, it was then used as student accommodation for Newcastle Polytechnic ( now Northumbria University).

Find out more about the building's history through a mini exhibition of found and donated objects, and join volunteers from Remembering the Past who are recording memories from people on the team behind the 1970s restoration and those who lived there as students.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

1000-1500

Location & directions

St Mary's by the Tyne, Oakwellgate, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE82AU

Contact on day:

Katie Liddane

Telephone number:

+447576314051

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

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