7 Summerhill Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne

Image: © Geoff Holland Taken: 27 May 2025

The 'Summerhill Conservation Area Character Statement' describes this house as being one of the eight houses (numbers 1-8) in, "four pairs of large semi detached houses which face the park". The eight three-storey houses (with basements and some with attics) were built in about 1830 with English garden wall bond brick and ashlar dressings with all having Welsh slate roofs. All houses along with the steps and railings are Grade II Listed. This house (number 7) has a plaque attached to the exterior wall recording the fact that Dr. William Rea, a prominent Victorian musician and founder of the Newcastle Amateur Vocal Society lived here from 1877 until his death in 1903. Born in London in 1827, William Rea studied music in Leipzig and Prague, before being appointed as organist to the Harmonic Union (London) in 1851. Later, in 1858, he became organist at St Michael's Church in Stockwell, London. Two years later he was selected for Newcastle Corporation's newly created organist post, moved his family north and spent the rest of his life in the city. In 1886 Durham University conferred upon him an honorary degree of Doctor of Music.

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