In 1854 the Burial Board of Jesmond merged with St. Andrew to form a joint board. In April 1855 the Burial Board agreed to purchase ground for a cemetery from the Hospital of St Mary Magdelene. The designer was Middleton and Prichett of Darlington. The first burials took place in 1857. Initially known as St Andrew's and Jesmond Cemetery the name is given as St Andrew's Cemetery on the 1861 OS. The cemetery is one of the first four mid 19th century Burial Board cemeteries in Newcastle upon Tyne. The cemetery is still in use and is in the ownership of Newcastle City Council. The cemetery is 4.1ha and is bounded by 1.5m high stone walls lined with trees and shrubs. The principle entrance is on the western boundary. The square piers have incised inscriptions 'St Andrew's and Jesmond Cemetery'. The drive terminates at a semi-circular carriage turn and entrance lodge. At the head of the drive is a porte-cochere with low Tudor-style arches. The lodge is in random stone with ashlar dressings. There is a second entrance from the east marked by19th century wrought iron gates and stone piers. This is not marked on the 1861 OS so is a later 19th century addition. There is a 20th century service access from the north. There are two chapels, one Nonconformist, the other Church of England. They are Gothic in design, in random stone with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. Each has a gabled entrance porch and short tower. The towers may have been altered, with the top section removed. The cemetery is divided by a circuit of paths. It includes many mature trees. It contains a variety of monuments including Celtic crosses and tall obelisks. In the south-west corner of the cemetery is a large canopied Barawitzka memorial with Egyptian-style columns dating from 1936 {2}. Includes just over 43,000 burials [in 2004].

The hall was built soon after 1600 (SMR 1694). The estate was bought by Joseph Cowen in 1850. His son Joseph was a prominent radical politician. He was friendly with many leading European figures of the time and in 1854 entertained Garibaldi when he visited Tyneside. Stella Hall was gifted to the University of Durham in 1946, demolished in 1953 and replaced by housing. The Hall was set in a small country estate, and remnants of the landscape can be traced today. A lodge, gardener's house, bath house, impressive estate wall and tree planting survive. Most impressive of all is the 18th century brick summerhouse (HER 1699) by which a statue of Garibaldi once stood {1}.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
This former estate has a long and interesting pedigree. In the mid 12th century Bishop William of St. Barbara granted "Stellinglei", with all appurts of woodland, meadows, fisheries, mills etc. to the Benedictine nuns of the convent of St. Bartholomew in Newcastle, which held the manor for 13s 4d p.a. until the Dissolution. There is no clue as to how the nunnery used this property, or what buildings they may have had here. After the Dissolution it was acquired by the Tempest family, and the house was built (around 1600), but it is unclear how the estate was laid out during this period. The surviving landscape features appear to date mainly from the early 18th century landscaping undertaken by the Widdrington family, with later 18th and 19th century additions. The designer is unknown, but it could have been James Paine (who did nearby work at Gibside, Benwell and Axwell among others), Thomas Wright of Durham or possibly even Capability Brown. At its height, it must have been a very impressive place, with all the latest fashionable features demonstrating conspicuous wealth. The hall was the heart of the estate – situated to the north of the site, near the river. By the mid 19th century the entrance lay here, to the north, where the lodge was then built, but originally there was a grand, semi-circular entrance to the southeast of the hall. At Benwell, on the other side of the Tyne, the estate was of a similar form, with a garden overlooking the river, and a bath house in the grounds. Stella had its own walled garden, adjacent to the house at the west, with the gardener’s cottage in the northwest corner (now listed) and stables to the north. Beyond this, to the south, was The Park – a large, open, landscaped area surrounded by trees, which formed the setting for the hall. Situated centrally in this space was a well, with statues within the tree belt to the west. Within the wall also, but to the eastern edge, stands a gothic-style bath house (echoing the Cold Bath situated in a similar position at Benwell). These features were all enclosed by a boundary wall, which may have marked the delineation between the private and accessible parts of the estate. According to Bourne, however, this wall had originally also enclosed Image Hill (5 acres) and Summerhouse Hill (33 acres), indicating that the walls may have been altered. Image Hill was so called after 2 images, representing Apollo and Aesculapius, which once stood on it, but by Bourne’s time these had been moved nearer to the hall (possibly for security). Summerhouse Hill was, of course, named for the Listed Summerhouse still standing on the site. Reputed to date from Lord Widdrington’s time on the Estate (around 1700), this attractive brick structure has unfortunately been subject to vandalism for over 100 years. It is a key element in the landscaping scheme. Path Head Wood was situated centrally in the landscape, with a dene running through, alongside the Towneley Main Wagonway (HER ref. 3317), which is important as one of the older wagonways in the area. This led to the Stella Staith (HER ref. 3414). The site of this route can still be traced in the landscape. The tree planting survives well, in a similar form to that depicted on the 1st edition OS map, and as well as giving the site historical landscape interest, this provides an important wildlife habitat. Stella and Path Head Woods, as ancient semi-natural and semi-natural woodlands, are therefore designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (GAT 102), along with the traditional permanent pasture at Image Hill (GAT 63) and the traditionally managed grassland at Path Head Meadow. When Stella Hall was demolished in 1953 and replaced by a housing estate, the character and features of this part of the estate were lost, and therefore it has been excluded from the designation. However, some of The Park has still been retained (the perimeter to the east and a significant chunk to the southwest corner), and some of the estate buildings – including the lodge, bath house and summerhouse. Altogether, despite its incompleteness, it is a fascinating and important surviving landscape, which makes an important contribution to both the historic and natural environment of the area.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Summerhill was the location of a warden’s post during WWII.
USES Former Estate, now amenity land including 3 SNCIs

The house is set in extensive gardens facing south west. Many mature trees survive and kitchen garden walls remain at the north west corner of the site {1}.

Mature trees now provide a fine context for the buildings. Formerly the park had woodland walks, lawns, a fish pond, an ice house, a ha-ha. Shown on Gibson's plan of 1788 {1}.

The 1850s OS map shows a tantalising outline for what might have been quite a significant garden. West of the pleasure garden, a kitchen garden is annotated with an orchard and glasshouses. In front of the house a ha-ha separated the parkland which was planted with clumps of trees. A path lined with trees crossed the ha-ha to join a route to an observatory. The pleasure garden to the east of the house was quartered with three sections containing formal avenues of small trees or shrubs (topiary?). Today the garden remains sheltered by a high eighteenth century wall along the north and east sides. The large ornamental pond is derelict and the observatory is barely evident. The gatehouse gives an impression of grandeur. Scot's House was mentioned in Hatfield's survey of 1348 (see SMR 961). In 1617 Thomas Cole surrendered the house to Ralph Cole, then it passed to the Millbankes and the Wades by 1800 {1}.

The Parkmoor Wagonway was a diversion of the Bensham Wagonway, constructed c1770 (Williams suggests it was in use by 1694) after the Carr-Ellisons had opened a new colliery on the Fell called Parkmoor in 1768. The northern part of the Riddells' wagonway route from Windmill Hills to Pothouse staith on the river established in C17 was supposedly reused by this diversion. This route came through the fields and closes on the west side of Gateshead and crossing the west end of Jackson's Chare, ran north across East Pipe Hills pasture, bending sharply west to join the river at the Trunk Staith. Shown on Gibson's 1788 Plan of the Collieries. This has been mistakenly identified as depicting a cutting down Rabbit Banks and the present Riversdale Road. Excavation in 2000 across the estimated position of the wagonway failed to recover any archaeological evidence. Shown on several 18th century estate plans. Considered to be a westerly diversion of the Bensham Way (HER5946). A mid 18th century plan shows the southern part of Half Moon Lane described as a 'piece of waste ground must be a waggonway' and across the site of Greens Field is written 'a Gill convenient for waggonways'. The plan may have been an early proposal for the line of the later Parkmoor waggonway. Extended to Sheriff Hill Colliery as Sheriff Hill Wagonway (HER 3847).

Three days after the battle of Newburn Ford (28 August 1640) on the 31 August 1640, the Scottish commander General Alexander Leslie established his camp on 'Gateshead Hill', another name for the Windmill Hills. This was the beginning of the Scottish army's occupation of Newcastle. The Scots were back on Windmill Hills four years later, when the Earl of Callendar, having defeated the Royalists at Marston Moor, advanced from Usworth to Newcastle on the 27 July 1644. The Newcastle garrison took up position at the top of the hills and deterred an advance party of Callendar's troops. The following day the rest of the Scottish army drove the defenders from the hill, forcing them back across the bridge into Newcastle, thus beginning the siege which lasted until October 19th 1644. Five batteries of artillery were erected by the Scots 'along the Bankhead'. These were assumed to have been sited on the Windmill Hills, but they were probably positioned on high ground closer to the riverside, spread out on the east and west sides of Gateshead town, rather than being concentrated on the west, which would have left much of Newcastle's Quayside inadequately covered. No evidence can be found to indicate the siting of any Civil War siegeworks on the Windmill Hills, although it is almost certain that at least one Scottish battery would have been placed in the vicinity to fire into the western parts of Newcastle. The vestry book of St Mary's records that the Scots destroyed the rectory and the church was left in a deplorable state. During the wars with France in the late 18th century and early 19th century the Windmill Hills were used as an exercise ground for the Gateshead Volunteers, formed 1797 and reconstituted in May 1803 under Robert Shafto Hawkes {1}.

Traditional meeting place and during the early 18th century a popular racecourse. Hoppings (Anglo Saxon word for dancing) were held on the hill at Whitsun with activities such as wrestling. A handbill from June 1829 advertises that 'the Ancient Custom of holding an Annual Merry Meeting on the Wind-Mill-Hills, Gateshead, will be revived on Whit-Monday, the 8th Inst. When the following prizes will be given to successful competitors: a hat to be run for by men; another hat to be run for by boys; a cheese to be run for by men tied up in sacks; a pound of tobacco to be grinned for through a horse collar; and another pound of tobacco to be wrestled for'. Windmill Hills gradually became more and more popular as a park, but was not suggested as a People's Park until 1857. It became Gateshead's first public park in 1859 (Grace McCombie says 1861) {1}. Early usage of this site is likely to have been agricultural, but by C17 its elevated location was recognised as useful for wind powered milling (see SMR 3494). The name Windmill Hills first appears in 1436 when it was part of the manor of Gateshead claimed by St. Edmund's Hospital. It was at that time, common land for the inhabitants of Gateshead. By the C17 however, the rights were restricted to the 'free-borough men and freeholders'. On 31st August 1640 the Scottish commander General Alexander Leslie established his camp on 'Gateshead Hill', another name for Windmill Hills (see SMR 5240). The importance of Windmill Hills as a place for public outdoor entertainment and leisure was established in the course of C19. The Whitsuntide hoppings were held there in 1829. A 'training ground', apparently a circular running track, is shown in 1858 and the hustings for the 1868 election were held there. Throughout the 1850s the brass band from Hawks Crawshay's works gave concerts on the Windmill Hills. In 1859 it became the first public park in the borough. The Windmill Hills continued to be a popular place of resort, although terraced housing developed on the west side from 1858. The upper part of the hills was extensively remodelled before 1974 with the creation of earthen embankments and playing fields {2}.
DATES 1859 (official designation as a public park)

The Redheugh estate had belonged to the Redheugh family since before the C13. By 1713 the land had passed out of the family. Richardson described the garden, pleasure grounds and plantations as being laid out with great taste. The land was purchased from Cuthbert Ellison in 1836 and by the time it was illustrated on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, a designed layout was established. To the west, plantations shielded the railway which ran parallel to the River Tyne. The southern end of the gardens were on a steep bank which ran along the boundary. The kitchen gardens were protected by sections of walls. To the south of the house the lawn was divided by flower beds. Serpentine walks led around the gardens into the woodland. Eventually railway and industrial activity interfered with enjoyment of the house and it was no longer suitable as a gentleman's residence. In 1850 the estate was put up for sale. This was unsuccessful and the house fell into decay and was finally demolished in the 1930s {1}.

Carved stone found in 2002 in the garage of No. 12 South Cliff, Cullercoats. It is fine grained sandstone, 41cm across and 11cm deep. In the shape of a flower, with a wheel-like pattern in the centre. The decoration is on both sides. There is a small hole in one of the straight arms for some sort of fixing. Probably a piece of window tracery or a finial from Tynemouth Priory.