These posts were intended to be manned during times of tension, to monitor the location and power of nuclear detonations and the progress of radioactive fallout, so that the population could be warned, and Civil Defence measures effectively managed. They operated in clusters of three posts linked by telephone and radio cables, meaning that readings could triangulated with independence from peace-time telephone system. The posts were manned by observers. A bunk-bed and basic toilet facilities were provided. Food had to be prepared in the post. No air filtration system was installed. Half of the ROC posts, including Kenton, were abandoned after the 1968 defence cuts. Some however remained in use until 1991 when the ROC was finally disbanded. Opened as post 2 in cluster E of 30 Group here in December 1936. In or before April 1943 the post was resited further north (HER 5881). Having moved to Hastings Hill (HER 5882) in 1949, the post was resited briefly back at this site at Washington in or before December 1952, before moving back to Hastings Hill in c1952. This was a visual observation post to track aircraft movements. Early Observer Corps Posts had a simple instrument for plotting the plan position of the aircraft. Throughout WW2 the ROC had a more sophisticated "Post Instrument" which also recorded the height of the aircraft. WW2 posts were frequently simply sand bagged emplacements, or more sophisticated examples were of domestic brick construction, some two-storey, with an open observation post and a crew room. Some had latrines.

These posts were intended to be manned during times of tension, to monitor the location and power of nuclear detonations and the progress of radioactive fallout, so that the population could be warned, and Civil Defence measures effectively managed. They operated in clusters of three posts linked by telephone and radio cables, meaning that readings could triangulated with independence from peace-time telephone system. The posts were manned by observers. A bunk-bed and basic toilet facilities were provided. Food had to be prepared in the post. No air filtration system was installed. Half of the ROC posts, including Kenton, were abandoned after the 1968 defence cuts. Some however remained in use until 1991 when the ROC was finally disbanded. In August 1954 Springwell ROC post moved here from Birtley (HER 5878). In or before May 1959 the post moved underground. It closed in October 1968. During WW2 there was a pillbox and a bombing decoy in this vicinity (HER 5397 and 5516). This was a visual observation post to track aircraft movements. Early Observer Corps Posts had a simple instrument for plotting the plan position of the aircraft. Throughout WW2 the ROC had a more sophisticated "Post Instrument" which also recorded the height of the aircraft. WW2 posts were frequently simply sand bagged emplacements, or more sophisticated examples were of domestic brick construction, some two-storey, with an open observation post and a crew room. Some had latrines.

These posts were intended to be manned during times of tension, to monitor the location and power of nuclear detonations and the progress of radioactive fallout, so that the population could be warned, and Civil Defence measures effectively managed. They operated in clusters of three posts linked by telephone and radio cables, meaning that readings could triangulated with independence from peace-time telephone system. The posts were manned by observers. A bunk-bed and basic toilet facilities were provided. Food had to be prepared in the post. No air filtration system was installed. Half of the ROC posts, including Kenton, were abandoned after the 1968 defence cuts. Some however remained in use until 1991 when the ROC was finally disbanded. Springwell ROC opened here as post 4 in cluster E of 30 Group in December 1940. In November 1953 it was renumbered as post 4 in cluster N of 23 Group. In 1954 the post moved to Springwell (HER 5879). This was a visual observation post to track aircraft movements. Early Observer Corps Posts had a simple instrument for plotting the plan position of the aircraft. Throughout WW2 the ROC had a more sophisticated "Post Instrument" which also recorded the height of the aircraft. WW2 posts were frequently simply sand bagged emplacements, or more sophisticated examples were of domestic brick construction, some two-storey, with an open observation post and a crew room. Some had latrines.

This stone tower stood on Marden Road next to Marden Quarry (HER 1193). It was originally built as offices but may also have been used as a powder and explosives store. It was a local landmark until it was demolished in 1965. A painting of 1900 by an unknown artist survives of the tower.

Richard Heckels Nesbit of Cramlington opened up his brickworks at the edge of Whitley Quarry (HER 1193) Hill Heads 18th century. He had made his fortune working in the goldfields of Australia and New Zealand. Together with Alfred Styan, Nesbit built Albany Gardens, Clarence Crescent, Edwards Road, the Esplanade, Laburnum Avenue, Station Road and Mafeking Street (Fern Avenue). By 1889 the brickworks were exhausted. Nesbit landscaped the site to create an area called West Park. There was a row of four cottages at West Park. Nesbit and his wife Mary Jobling lived at No. 1. He died in 1911 and was buried at St Pauls Church, Whitley Bay. West Park was sold to George Steel, florist and nurseryman. He used the site as market gardens and moved into Nesbit's former cottage. The site was compulsory purchased by Whitley Urban District Council in 1924. The cottages were demolished and the adjacent quarry infilled and landscaped to become West Park cricket field. Mr RH Nesbitt of West Park, Whitley Bay died at the age of 81 years in March 1911. He was a native of Cramlington where he set up as a building contractor in the 1860s, doing building work at Hartford and Holywell collieries. He moved to Whitley in 1875 and made bricks at Hill Heads until 1889, as well as continuing his trade as a builder for the local district council.
(Source: Davison, P J, 1986. Brickworks of the North East, 56(site 6), 57 (list on this page says 1879, Marden, Whitley Bay), 62)

Built in 1735. Demolished by 1950. A plan of the farm from 1876 shows the farmhouse, byre, poultry houses and gardens. The farm was bought in 1875 by Richard Heckels Nesbit who set up the brickworks at Hill Heads (HER 5857). The farm was cleared by 1950 and was built over by The Gardens.

Small stone cottage. During the 1840s it was known as "Ramsay's Fort" because the owner, Robert Ramsay, was supposed to have two imitation cannons on the roof, with the intention of "frightening away the French should they ever invade".

South West Farm. Shown on map of 1833 and 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. Dates to the early 1700s. In 1950 the buildings were altered to offices, a builder's merchants and showroom. In later years the section facing onto Front Street was converted into a small supermarket (Spar). The castellated stone boundary walls and gate piers also survive. Demolished in 2005. Only the farmhouse remains.

Built in 1806 for a Dr Roxby. During the 1800s it became the residence of Monkseaton Brewery (HER 1151) owner, William Davison. The house had a fine garden, shown on a plan of 1877, with a vinery, tennis court, rockery, fernery, coach house, potting shed and tomato house. Davison built two reservoirs in the garden to supply water for the brewery. The reservoirs were fed by the Cold Well (HER 5869). The house is now a residential care home.

Probably the oldest surviving building in the village. Said to have been built in the 1400s as a farm byre prior to conversion to a dwelling house. During the late 1800s it was the home of Col. T.W. Elliott. Now a residential care home. Dated C15-19th.