Keelman's Hospital

Keelmen’s Hospital on City Road in Newcastle was built in 1701. It was built by the keelmen of Newcastle as an alms house for sick and aged keelmen and their families. The keelmen contributed one penny a tide from the wages from each keel’s crew. In more recent times the building was used for student accommodation, but has been disused since 2009. There was a failed attempt to sell the building in 2021. Then in 2024, it was reported that Newcastle City Council, the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, and Historic England are working together on feasibility plans to re-use the building, potentially for affordable housing. The building is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England.

1700 July 29. The keelmen petitioned the common-council of Newcastle, for a piece of ground whereon to erect themselves an hospital. August 23, the hoastmen made an order, that the lease for the above ground, which was sealed and executed on the 4th of October following, should be taken in the name of the governor, wardens, and fraternity of hoastmen, for the use and benefit of the keelmen. The charge of this hospital, which was finished in 1701, amounted to above two thousand pounds, towards the defraying of which each keelman paid four pence a tide.

Extract from John Sykes, 1833, Local Records; Or, Historical Register of Remarkable Events: Which Have Occurred in Northumberland and Durham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Berwick Upon Tweed.