High Street, Hall and gardens of Cole family

Between High Street and Oakwellgate was the hall and gardens of the Cole family, who lived in Gateshead from the middle of the sixteenth century. They made their fortune from coal mining and money lending. Nicholas Cole was created a baron by Charles I in 1646. The house was elaborately furnished, with an oak chimney-piece carved with scenes in Scripture. In 1762 the house was converted into a cloth factory, then a brewery. It ended its days as the brass foundry of John Abbot. The last part of the front facing High Street remained until 1865.