St Edmund's Church and The Trinity Centre, Gateshead: Historic Building Record

A programme of building recording was carried out in June and July 2024 in advance of proposed conversion works (see planning ref. DC/20/01146/FUL) at St Edmund's Church and The Trinity Centre, Gateshead (centred upon NGR: NZ 2570 6312). To accompany a written description of the buildings, photographic recording was undertaken using a Panasonic DMC-FZ1000 camera. In addition, the history of the building was researched through locally-available and online historic maps and records. It is concluded that the principal attributes of both the medieval and late-19th century northern buildings, are embodied in the fabric of their external elevations; especially those on the west towards the High Street, where the 1890s frontage successfully complements that of the retained medieval chapel. The west front of St Edmund's is the best-surviving piece of medieval architecture in Gateshead and of greatest architectural note here as a fine piece of mid-13th century Early English work. The presence of a pair of doorways between the western bays of the destroyed north wall may suggest an opening into an adjacent structure. There are further indications that a structure adjoined the eastern bay on the south side, where an interesting stone configuration at low level has been suggested to indicate an early arch formation. It is also probable that structural remains are concealed by the present wall plaster and whitewash. The most important features of the former Holy Trinity church are considered to be its fine wagon roof, and the good-quality Atkinson glass of the eastern windows, which would benefit from repair. The 1980 conversion was largely functional but left earlier fabric and features undisturbed, though sometimes concealed. Outside St Edmunds, it is possible that important structural remains survive beneath the adjacent ground surfaces, with further remains of the postulated medieval range adjacent to the chapel possibly surviving beneath the floor of the western part of the Trinity Centre.