Handyman Chapel House

About  Chapel House in Newcastle upon Tyne

Chapel House will reflect a picture of middle-class suburbanites in the 20th century. From this, it does not follow that Chapel House can be said to be typical of suburban life in Newcastle; instead, it must be admitted that it tends to call into question just what one means by the description. So now we are ready to begin our investigation.

Historical Development of Chapel House

Set west of the A1 trunk road, between two intersecting routes joining with the Great North Road and B6324, Chapel House today is a northeastern suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne and a latecomer in the historical chronicle of that great city. Much of the land on which the place was built only came into the possession of the town in 1911 and passed into public circulation soon after, never having been under the jurisdiction of the non-metropolitan district in which the town is situated nor the ancient parish of St. Andrew from which the modern city district draws its name.

'Chapel House' was so named for its religious function. In the late medieval 14th century, Robert of Wesley had a private chapel dedicated to St. John within the house on the same ridge as Father Johnson's chapel in 1973, to the east of the public houses named Northumbrian Hussar and Denton Hotel. Wesley's home became locally known as 'Chapel House'. It was very thinly populated as a place with an early resource-based economy. Nonetheless, it was likely a regular meeting place for people before 1329.

It was also a minor ecclesiastical centre for the surrounding population, as Jesus College had some land in Newburn. Chapel House, therefore, has a recorded written history of at least 700 years. This report provides a comprehensive history of historic Newcastle, of which the communities that were located and were established at different times on the land that would become Chapel House were a part. The study seeks to explore how the history of the area has shaped the community that is located there today and how the constant historical theme of local people shaping the place, in turn, can inform the future. To achieve this aim, we first need to understand how the land has historically developed to its current condition. To do this, this report looks at the economic and social historical development of the land within which Chapel House now sits as part of the broad sweep of local and regional history before focusing in greater detail on some of the most well-known milestones in the recorded history of Chapel House. We have also linked the events and people who have lived in the area over time with the built fabric. How buildings change, dictate, and shape a piece of land chronologically is a part of the story of historical development on the site. We have also given attention to some of the key movers and shakers, of which there are many, as the stories of these individuals in the locality will add to the social history of the district.

Architectural Features and Landmarks

The modern-day design of Chapel House is reflected in the many architectural styles and materials used and also in the wide range of house sizes and types: from grand local authority houses that stand on the eastern edge of the original estate to the smaller terraced brick-built housing that was completed around the village green. Evidence of many periods and the various social and cultural influences can still be seen. There are three listed buildings in Chapel House: Bandywood House and Newcastle Observer Offices and Printing Works, both of which are Grade II, and St John's Church, which is Grade II*. Chapel House has changed features and styles many times over its history, and this examination of the estate's architecture reflects this process, highlighting the buildings and features of each period.

The architectural identity of the estate is reflected through its housing and landmarks, and these features not only assist the local residents in perceiving and identifying their estate but also provide information on the past. This way, individual buildings become landmarks, fleshing out the bare skeleton of the historical record. The estate is over fifty years old, and some housing witnessed the first post-war construction. Mostly brick-built with slate roofs, the houses, on first impressions, fade gently into the landscape. However, on closer inspection, architecturally, the variety and detail that have been employed are fascinating, and extremely rapid change has been documented. The older houses, of course, are grandly and, in some cases, elaborately detailed, using the various materials available at the time and the range of architectural styles that had developed since the Victorian period of the 19th century. Designed by architects, today is a beautiful, pleasant estate with a varied but universally appealing housing stock.

Building an estate out of prefabricated huts was a suitable way to construct necessary housing after the war when there was a shortage of construction timber. Historically, it has been a standard and very successful way to manufacture shelter. The pre-fabs were located within a rapidly built timber framework in the estate's design. The low density of the huts allowed the timber framework to be constructed enormously quickly and with little investment. In the broadest sense, the architecture of Chapel Green reflects the social and cultural mores of the period in which it was developed and demonstrates the position and values placed on housing within plans to house the city's people. There are thirty-five listed buildings of architectural interest and value in various locations; are 15 listed in other areas and six in additional locations. Building a listed building is about preserving our local architectural heritage for future generations and providing a link between today's architecture and the past's architecture. Maintaining these grades of the building is essential for the long-term success of the estate. Still, it comes at a cost, with owners needing to be sympathetic to the town's character and our building heritage's past craftsmanship. They should also provide a focal point to help people understand the area's past and enjoy the built environment. Many of the buildings are located in prominent positions within the estate and have the potential to create a landmark.

However, many face neglect, with maintenance put off because of perceived cost or inconvenience. An architectural overview of any estate can highlight the progression of architectural eras and the response to changing social and historical events. The relationship between the residents and the building design is explored in this section.

Community Life and Social Dynamics

Chapel House is a friendly, happy, safe, respectful, well-kept, and inclusive neighbourhood. One of the main reasons why it is so happily talked about is how people talk about life in it. Residents are mostly older, caring, friendly, and approachable, with an established community feel and solid social dynamics. Neighbours talk to each other, not just passing pleasantries but genuinely caring about how they live their lives. If they're on holiday, they know to expect their newspapers to be picked up from the street. Those interviewed praised the friendly community feel of the place. They described Sunday mornings as "something transformed" when "no one feels alone." It was also said that residents pay more attention and care to elderly neighbours.

In an age of social isolation, Chapel House has been described by residents as being "very satisfying, a place where connectedness and the feeling of belonging adds meaning to people's lives." Social life involves interaction with fellow residents, a sense of caring, and being cared for. The neighbourhood has numerous social musicians and artists, walking opportunities, and other very friendly community groups. Chapel House attracts friendly people. The fact that the younger population is increasing is changing the dynamics. It is also said that inclusive social coping mechanisms are "not as effective as they might be because many tasks are not inclusive for people who are also having problems talking about their questions." The community groups, on the whole, have very heavily attended events, with the church filling all the seats at Christmas. In more recent times, estate agents in the area have suggested that there is an increase in private rented dwellings. These are occupants with larger families, and due to the lack of available council housing, they have moved into the area as an affordable alternative. Social life is mainly about having a chat and interacting with fellow residents. From the interviews, great importance in social dynamics was placed upon communication during meetings. Often, the men attend the community meetings to summarise and take it back to a committee. The sense of a connected, supportive community is valued. Social and community leaders work well together, with the after-church service explicitly tailored to suit the local group, with many people in attendance.

Residents entertain their guests at various places in and around Chapel House. Cultural pursuits include gardening. A growing number of renters in the area include students, as local educational institutions are both easily accessible by bus and are quick journeys by car. Many see this as one of the major attractions of residential Chapel House. What it is now, it always has been. And people show what they always have done. We are on the side of the main road. People come off, and they come here as well. A lot of people come into our community centre. Owners are essential in the area because a lot of voluntary community work is done. There are many local organizations, especially working together as housing associations, that own or secure homes for people who live in them. The social club and residents' associations are very active, and their relationship is crucial in representing this to the community. An increasing number of residents are renting from other legal landowners. Encountering people at their front doors meant you'd learned quite a bit about someone just by "chatting." All the old community has gone. With the new and the old meeting, "sixty years of community life's gone, completely gone in just three years" when older residents "were washed away just like the midges in the North Sea." Twenty years ago, residents moving up to a nearby area took a giant leap. It used to take older people about three months to move up, but now it just takes a few days.

Conclusion and Future Prospects

Conclusion Chapel House is unique, with visions ranging from the sentimental to the stark. It has a distinct architectural style in the form of the 'towers' that emerge above the surrounding low-density housing. Though few can accurately tell the story of how these towers emerged, it is clear they form part of a place with a long, complex, and rich history. To comprehend what Chapel House has been, we examined its history. The area saw significant changes that reflected the national and global shifts; however, it also saw continuities, and historic fabrics often remained integral to the ever-changing surroundings.

We also looked at what it is today: Church, Education and Community, Economy and Business, Infrastructure, and Green, Play and Shopping Spaces in Chapel House. These narratives highlighted the connected nature of built, natural, and social environments. As such, this case demonstrated the power of social and digital geography to capture this multi-scale and multi-induced perspective. Future prospects The history and current narratives of Chapel House were scrutinized for their role in the estate's future.

The paper ended by asking the reader to put aside what they think they know about Chapel House and to think about the people living there today. Urbanization is reaching the edge of Newcastle, and sprawling cities are being replaced by smaller urban entities like Chapel House. To avoid constructing stock homes and alienated existences in Chapel House, the stories about the estate must inform the development of the future. Given the historically collective nature of the area, this must be a collective discussion. Also, the village is built on green open spaces between villages. In that case, consideration must be given to how the villages will be developed to accommodate the new population of Chapel House. As such, this conclusion first looks at the prospects for Chapel House and second suggests that Chapel House is raising questions that can be addressed. Therefore, what we have learned in this paper is of much broader significance than simply documenting a particular locale. Following this, we ask the resident groups and planning committees to consider convening a public discussion regarding the potential expansion of the estate to rewrite the recruitment for the new housing and establish formal community consultation from the offset. Rather than see Chapel House as a case study in deficiency, it can turn this very apparent global issue into something positive by drawing attention to these things on a local level and establishing plans and debates regarding how social, environmental, infrastructural, and economic sustainability will shape both the form and the future of the estate. The community consultation must be between Chapel House residents, the two parish councils, schools and residents, businesses and residents, and residents and parents at any proposed development. How long any expansion takes and what it looks like will go some way to specifying the number of children to join the schools, and what it takes will help shape where the next generation of Chapel House residents come from.