Former Mechanics Institute, High Street, Newburn

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 23 Jul 2010

Was used as an elderly persons' residence but this closed in 2004. The building has been the subject of several applications for demolition. An ornate and very attractive building, built by Spencer's Steelworks in 1884. The Spencer family were early industrialists operating in Newburn. The first John Spencer established a mill for the manufacture of files at the beginning of the C19th century. His son, also named John, was Managing Director of a huge industrial concern employing 1,500 workers. They made steel plates, springs and other items for the railway, shipping, armaments and mining industries all over the world. The large steel plates for the ship Mauretania were made in the Newburn factory. The factories were closed in 1926 and demolished in 1933. http://www.petersen-stainless.co.uk/blb/history.html#newburn The Institute provided an alternative to the village public houses and alcohol was usually forbidden. It provided a reading room, library and rooms for lectures, meetings and parties. The clock in the end wall was provided to aid people catching trains from the nearby station but the Institute was struck by lightening shortly after it was built and it failed to work.

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