Shieldfield, Newcastle
British Paints Works, Shieldfield
Last Updated:
23 Oct 2024
Shieldfield, Newcastle
This is a
Factory
54.976852, -1.598151
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Now Stephenson House student accomodation
I count this as one of the most gorgeous and underappreciated buildings in the whole of Newcastle This was the British Paints works, owned by J Dampney & Co with this facility being constructed in the 1930s. 🎨
Now there had already been a paint works here since at least the 1870s. It was owned by Messrs W H Holmes & Sons, who operated here until 1928 when their group was absorbed into British Paints. They actually operated a dual factory here, with a paint-makers taking up one half and an electric component works just over the road. Stepney Saw Mills was also located here, operated by the Hardy Brothers, who supplied timber to merchants in the city.
As noted, the Holmes Group was absorbed by James W Anderson, who owned G A Frater Paints at Gateshead. He bought up companies at Cardiff, Liverpool, Barking, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield, Haltwhistle and even New York.
This was their principal site though - a beautiful art deco monolith covering a whole side of Shieldfield Lane. Paints were produced for every industry, and the laboratory stood directly next door. A site was opened at Dunston for resin manufacture. The group however was broken up to various bits of the old empire and the USA through the 60s onwards, when Jimmy Adamson retired. It stands as a relic of the old industry as student accommodation.
Listing Description (if available)
We're going from new to old on this entry. The first map you see is from 1947, and below is the town plan from the 1890s. The pre-war survey is the first to feature this beautiful art deco building. It is a U shaped building now featuring a car park in the centre, but will have previously catered for deliveries and logistical requirements. Surrounding Shieldfield has changed dramatically - once dominated by terraces for which many have been cleared for denser high rises and mid 20th century housing developments.
You'll see the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and School on Clarence Street which have both been cleared,as well as many of the pubs - the Stepney Hotel, General Wolfe and Blue Bell included. The Biscuit Factory of course remains however.
The 1850s map shows Shieldfield while it was still developing as a housing area. The boundaries of Newcastle were yet to reach their greatest extent, with Byker still technically being its own settlement. Our paint works site was a brick field where the topsoil was listed, clay stripped and mixed with the necessary materials to produce bricks. Before this there was coal workings here. You'll also see a set of allotments near the viaduct.
The Paint Works in September 2024
A clipping of the site facing north east from its opening. Shown on the front of the British Paints Limited brochure. Source: http://bjn-paint-reunion.co.uk/british%20paints.htm
The mid 20th century laboratory at the rear of the site. Source: http://bjn-paint-reunion.co.uk/british%20paints.htm