The life and times of a South Shields town house

Man and a woman using computers
Getting to grips with new digital skills

Our Heritage

Date awarded
Location
Beacon and Bents
Local Authority
South Tyneside
Applicant
Age Concern Tyneside South
Award Given
£81700
“I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering for the project and finding out about the history of the building, I live alone and the project has provided a great opportunity to socialise with other people, meet new friends and learn new computer skills.”
Stan, project volunteer
The story of a historic 19th century town house is being used by a charity to help older people to broaden their horizons.

Age Concern Tyneside South (ACTS)'s South Shields offices are the focus of an imaginative heritage project which is introducing people over the age of 50 to the digital world.

The house dates back to the 1830s when the land belonged to former prime minister Charles Earl Grey and the Rev John Saville Ogle. Formerly known as 1 Wellington Terrace, it has since been occupied by the influential Forsyth shipbuilding family, a nursery, a construction business and an NHS drug and alcohol service. 

Andrea McLaughlin, Heritage Project Manager, said: “It’s given people a sense of pride to find out about the characters who lived here and made them think about their own ancestors.”

ACTS launched in 2016 after the transfer of services and staff from Age UK South Tyneside. Staff brought more than 30 years’ experience delivering services to older people in the borough, which has an ageing population facing issues around health and social isolation. 

The story of what is now 29 Beach Road has become a hook making people aware of the expanding community hub and the wider services it offers.

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