West End Local History Books
Here you will find links to our collection of our local history books which you can view and download.
Lead on Tyne
This booklet traces the past, present and future of the former site of Elswick Leadworks on the banks of the Tyne. This was the earliest of the major manufacturing industries along the West Newcastle riverside, and also the last to close. It includes an account of the lead manufacturing process, as well as the hazards for those employed in it.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and Julia Heslop, 2026
Creating Homes for Heroes: Pendower Estate and the architects who designed it
This book tells the story of the building of Pendower Estate, one of Newcastle’s first council estates. An example of a garden suburb model with good quality homes and generous outdoor space, this significant project was the creation of several different architects including Newcastle’s first council architect. The book also pays tribute to Robert Burns Dick, one of the city’s finest architects.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group 2026.
The Montagu Pit Disaster
This short booklet was produced to commemorate the centenary of the Montagu Pit Disaster which killed 38 miners when the mine flooded.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2025
The Lemington Gut: hub of the outer west’s industrial history and heritage
This booklet is an introduction to the rich heritage associated with the major industries of coal mining, iron and steel, and glass manufacturing which once thrived on the stretch of the river banks known as Lemington Gut.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2024
A Potted History: people and places of the west end
This book offers a series of snapshots of the history of the west end of Newcastle illustrated by unique clay models created by more than 200 people of all ages as part of the Potted History of the West End project.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2023
St Margaret’s Church, Scotswood
Illustrated with original documents, this booklet tells the story of the origins and development of St Margaret’s Church, Scotswood, set within the context of the changing community.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2023
1952 and All That
This booklet contains a collection of photographs, stories and memories, giving a varied picture of what life was like in the west end of Newcastle when Queen Elizabeth began her reign.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group West End Memories Series, 2022
Ruth Nicholson’s Elswick
This heritage guide tells the story of a woman, a family and a community during the second half of the 19th century. It includes an illustrated walk trail through present day Elswick, enabling readers to explore key sites from this period of history.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2022
Newcastle’s Outer West through the years in Maps and Pictures
This book uses maps and photographs to tell the story of the housing and industrial development of the riverside settlements of Newburn, Lemington, Bell’s Close and Sugley which today comprise Newcastle’s outer west.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2021
Remembering St Joseph’s
This illustrated booklet tells the story of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Benwell and those who built it, worshipped there, and cared for it until its closure in 2013.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2021
West End at War
A collection of stories from the Home Front during the Second World War, told in their own words by 19 people who lived through those years,.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2021
Scotswood through the Years in Maps and Pictures
This book uses maps and photographs to trace the development of Scotswood from the early 19th to the late 20th century. During this period it was transformed from a small riverside village to an extensive suburb of Newcastle, and from a semi-rural backwater to a major transport hub and the site of a number of significant industrial enterprises.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and West Newcastle Picture History Collection, 2020
West End Stories
A collection of 14 short stories from the history of West Newcastle, 2020.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2020
Benwell and Scotswood in the Early 20th century
The early years of the 20th century saw the completion of the transformation of Benwell and Scotswood from and area of green fields and large country houses into densely populated suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne. This book describes the development of the area from 1900 until the outbreak of the Second World War.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2019
A Short History of St James’ Graveyard, Benwell
The story of Benwell’s parish graveyard from its consecration in 1832 at a time when this was a fashionable area populated by some of the wealthiest and most powerful families on Tyneside, until its closure in 1966.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group 2019
Remembering the Bond
The story of the Bond Memorial Methodist Church, Benwell, one of the most imposing buildings on Adelaide Terrace until its demolition in 2017.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2018.
Elswick through the Years: in Maps and Pictures
This book uses maps and photographs to trace the development of Elswick from 1864 to 1989. During this 125 year period Elswick changed from a largely rural area to become one of the most densely populated and highly industrialised areas of Newcastle, but then experienced a prolonged period of economic decline and physical transformation.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and West Newcastle Picture History Collection, 2017
Benwell through the Years: in Maps and Pictures
This book uses maps and photographs to trace the development of Benwell from 1864 to 1993. During this 130 year period it was transformed from a distinct rural area of green fields and big houses in landscaped grounds to become a densely populated and industrialised suburb of the city of Newcastle.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and West Newcastle Picture History Collection, 2015
Never Felt So Good
The Benwell and Scotswood area has a long and interesting history, and today stands at the cup of further change as a result of a major regeneration programme. This book is a colourful record of a project using the craft of felting to explore the community’s views of their changing area. It is a vivid and moving celebration of the past, present and future of Benwell and Scotswood and the creativity of the people who live there.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2015
Men’s Lives
West Newcastle was formerly one of the most important industrial areas in the UK, home to diverse companies at the forefront of industrial development. There are few traces of this legacy today. This illustrated book captures the memories and experiences of older men from the area who worked in jobs or industries that have disappeared or changed radically.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and West Newcastle Picture History Collection, 2014
A Guide to St James’ Graveyard
St James’ Church, Benwell, is one of the oldest churches in Newcastle. This book introduces some of the 12,300 people buried in its graveyard including pitmen, boatmen, soldiers, farmers, shopkeepers and inhabitants of the local workhouse, as well as members of many of the richest and most powerful families on Tyneside.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2014
Built on Coal: The Story of Coal Mining in Benwell, Scotswood and Elswick
Newcastle once led the world in the production of coal. Coal mining shaped the development of Benwell, Scotswood and Elswick, an area which can stake a claim to be one of the first coal producing areas in the world. It also hosted a number of important innovations such as waggonways and steam engines. This book tells the story of coal mining in this area, illustrated with maps, photographs and other archive material.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, 2013
Richard Grainger and the West End of Newcastle
Richard Grainger enjoys a reputation as the main force behind the regeneration of 19th century Newcastle. Grainger’s connections with the west end of the city are less well known. This illustrated booklet describes how, after bringing about dramatic changes in the centre of Newcastle during the 1830s, he turned his attention westwards to Elswick, devising a master plan for the area that included new housing, factories, roads, railways, churches, and even a zoo.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2013
“Waiting at the Pit Head”: Coal Mining Disasters on Tyneside
Coal mining was once the biggest employer in the North East. It was a hard and dangerous occupation. This small booklet remembers the thousands of miners who have died mining coal on Tyneside, including the 38 men and bys who were killed when the Low Montagu Pit in Scotswood flooded in 1925.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, 2012
Women’s Lives
The 20th century saw enormous changes in people’s lives with the creation of the welfare state, changes in employment and the increasing availability of new consumer goods. What was it like to live in the west end of Newcastle during this period? This book traces the changes in women’s lives through the memories and photographs of local older women, telling their stories in their own words.
Riverside Community Health Project and St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2012
Bishop Lloyd
This booklet describes the life and death of Bishop Arthur Thomas Lloyd, the third Bishop of Newcastle, who died in 1907 and is buried at St James’ Church. He resided in Benwell Towers, home of the bishops of Newcastle since the establishment of the diocese in 1882.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2012
“The King of the Coal Trade”: John Buddle
When John Buddle died in 1843, his funeral procession was over a mile long and took over three hours to travel from his home in Wallsend to the burial place in Benwell. Today few people remember who John Buddle was or why he was held in such high regard in his time. This illustrated booklet is an introduction to Buddle’s life and his enormous significance to the coalmining industry in the north east and nationally.
St James’ Heritage & Environment Group, 2011
Atkinson Road: a century of schools in Benwell
Produced for the centenary of Atkinson Road School. This book describes the origins and development of the many different schools which occupied the site over the years.
Newcastle Community Heritage Project and Judith Green, 2010
The Boy and the Hall
One man’s story of his lifelong connection with Benwell Hall.
Newcastle Community Heritage Project, 2008
St James' Heritage and Environment Group 