Historic Newcastle Building Transformed into Affordable Homes After Years of Vacancy
A 300-year-old almshouse, originally built for the city's keelmen – men who worked on flat-bottomed boats carrying coal from the River Tyne – is set to be given a new lease of life as £4.6m worth of lottery funding has been awarded to convert it into affordable housing.
The Grade II* listed building, which has stood vacant for nearly two decades, was once home to families living in cramped tenement flats without access to modern amenities like electricity and television. The site's history is rich with stories of hard-scrabble lives, cold winters, and the occasional rave, as students who occupied the building between 1989 and 2009 recalled memories of alternating smells of soap and animal bone char.
Now, a partnership between the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust and Newcastle city council will bring new life to this historic landmark. The project aims to restore the building's original charm while providing much-needed affordable housing options for local residents.
Martin Hulse, CEO of the preservation trust, emphasized that the building should have been converted into residential use from the start. "It just always felt to me that it should be residential," he said. "When you come here, you can just feel it."
The funding announcement has sparked excitement across the UK, as others with historic derelict buildings watch on. The project's significance extends beyond its own location – it highlights the importance of breathing new life into neglected buildings and prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Katie Liddane, a trust employee who worked closely with former students, recalled tales of paranormal activity – including sightings of icy presences – but downplayed these claims, suggesting that old buildings often come with quirks like poor heating. Despite its past as a hub for lively student life, the building's recent vacancy has left it in need of revitalization.
As work begins this March, the Keelmen's Hospital will be transformed into 20 units, offering much-needed affordable housing options to local residents. With £4.6m worth of lottery funding backing the project, there is a renewed sense that Newcastle's most at-risk structure has finally found its new purpose.
A 300-year-old almshouse, originally built for the city's keelmen – men who worked on flat-bottomed boats carrying coal from the River Tyne – is set to be given a new lease of life as £4.6m worth of lottery funding has been awarded to convert it into affordable housing.
The Grade II* listed building, which has stood vacant for nearly two decades, was once home to families living in cramped tenement flats without access to modern amenities like electricity and television. The site's history is rich with stories of hard-scrabble lives, cold winters, and the occasional rave, as students who occupied the building between 1989 and 2009 recalled memories of alternating smells of soap and animal bone char.
Now, a partnership between the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust and Newcastle city council will bring new life to this historic landmark. The project aims to restore the building's original charm while providing much-needed affordable housing options for local residents.
Martin Hulse, CEO of the preservation trust, emphasized that the building should have been converted into residential use from the start. "It just always felt to me that it should be residential," he said. "When you come here, you can just feel it."
The funding announcement has sparked excitement across the UK, as others with historic derelict buildings watch on. The project's significance extends beyond its own location – it highlights the importance of breathing new life into neglected buildings and prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Katie Liddane, a trust employee who worked closely with former students, recalled tales of paranormal activity – including sightings of icy presences – but downplayed these claims, suggesting that old buildings often come with quirks like poor heating. Despite its past as a hub for lively student life, the building's recent vacancy has left it in need of revitalization.
As work begins this March, the Keelmen's Hospital will be transformed into 20 units, offering much-needed affordable housing options to local residents. With £4.6m worth of lottery funding backing the project, there is a renewed sense that Newcastle's most at-risk structure has finally found its new purpose.
, can't believe this historic building is getting a second chance after so long 
! The idea of 20 units of affordable housing is like, totally needed in the area 
! I mean, who needs a bunch of fancy skyscrapers when you've got character-filled buildings like this one? 
Plus, think about all the cool stories that must be hidden behind these walls... paranormal activity, student raves, keelmen living in cramped conditions... it's like history is literally coming alive! 
March can't come soon enough for me, I'm so hyped to see what they'll do with this place 
. I mean, can you imagine living in a 300-year-old building without electricity or TV? The thought sends shivers down my spine 
. It's like, this place has so much history and character, and it's been sitting vacant for nearly two decades.
. And the fact that they're prioritizing affordable housing options is just incredible 
. I mean, not everyone has access to a dream home like this, and it's amazing that they're making it happen.
. It highlights the importance of preserving our heritage buildings and giving them new life 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to live in a building with its own paranormal activity legends? 
. Bring on March, when work starts, and let's see this project come to life! 
i love that the council is prioritizing affordable housing options - we need more of these projects across the UK! 
and let's be real, £4.6m is like a drop in the bucket compared to what this building could've achieved in the first place 
but i'm hyped to see it get some TLC 
It's amazing how a historic building like the Keelmen's Hospital can be given a second chance to shine. I mean, it's been vacant for ages and was basically a shadow of its former self. But now, with £4.6m worth of lottery funding, it's getting the TLC it deserves. I love that the trust is aiming to restore the building's original charm while also making sure it's got all the modern amenities local residents need. It's all about finding that balance between preserving history and meeting community needs. Plus, who wouldn't want to live in a place with some ghostly vibes? 
But seriously, this project is a win for Newcastle and sets an awesome precedent for other historic derelict buildings across the UK. Fingers crossed it inspires even more revitalization efforts! 
and I'm loving how they're not just gonna rip it out but actually restore its original charm. that £4.6m lottery funding is gonna make a huge difference 
. seriously though, it's all about giving old buildings new life and making them usable again for people who need it most 
️ Can't wait to see the finished result 
they have these insane Korean tacos that are literally to die for 
i mean, who needs history and architecture when you can have spicy food and a good vibe? 
anyway, back to Newcastle... yeah, it's cool that the almshouse is getting a new life, but i wonder what the process of restoring it will be like 
might be some cool behind-the-scenes stories to come out in the future 
this is like something out of a movie – an entire building just waiting for someone to bring it back to life! 300 years old and still got some serious charm, you know? 
but yeah, the fact that it's been vacant for so long is pretty wild. can imagine those keelmen families living in cramped flats with no electricity or telly... that's just harsh 
. i love how the preservation trust is trying to restore the building's original feel though – gotta respect that commitment to history.
.
. it shows that even old buildings can get a second chance 
.
anyway, can't wait for the March start date and to see how it all turns out 
the fact that a 300-year-old almshouse is now getting a makeover makes me think about how cool it'd be to live in something with so much character 
. anywayz, can't wait to see how it turns out. hope they keep the original vibes intact