Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust

05/08/2026

A bread oven in your bedroom? 🍞

Last week, we visited Willow Court Farmhouse in Droitwich Spa to see the fabulous work West Midlands Heritage are doing to bring it back to life as 6 much-needed apartments. 🏡 Features like 16th century timber frames, star shaped chimney stacks, and the bread oven in the last slide here mean that these new homes will be steeped in character as well as protecting this wonderful building.

Getting to visit and learn from similar organisations in different parts of the country is incredibly valuable to the work we do in our own region.

Like Keelmen's Hospital, this project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund so a big thank you to National Lottery players 🌟

24/07/2026

Earlier this week, we celebrated the launch of Bottles, Coal and Iron, the Tyne Derwent Way boardgame!

All of the squares are fascinating but we couldn't resist highlighting the squares linking to our projects 👷‍♀️

A huge thank you to pmalowaniec for designing each square (including the mischievous mining goblin) and stay tuned to the Tyne Derwent Way's socials and website to find out where the game can be played this summer ☀️

Thanks, as always to Historic England for their support on the Tyne Derwent Way

Gateshead

16/06/2026

If you're in Newcastle or Gateshead, you might have noticed scaffolding going up at Keelmen's Hospital over the past couple of weeks!

After years of planning, our Chief Executive Martin has been able to get up close to have a look at works needed to the clocktower, roof, and brickwork - all in our new hi-vis 👷‍♀️👷‍♂️

You'll definitely not miss us onsite during our public hard hat tours coming later this summer, stay tuned to our website to find out when the next one is coming up!

04/06/2026

This Saturday! 🤩

The first Dunston Staiths Open Day of the year is nearly here 🌟

This Saturday 6 June, 10am to 2pm, it’s your chance to stand on this historic piece of Gateshead's history and feel our borough’s industrial past come to life around you ⏳

While admiring epics views of the Tyne, you’ll be able to find out more about the memorable structure.

Make sure to check out the Tyne Derwent Way socials on the day in case of bad weather ☔

Can't make it? There'll be Open Days on the first Saturdays of July, August and September too ❤

Tyne Derwent Way Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust

01/06/2026

📣 Join at Newcastle West End Library (NE4 9JH) to find out more about their work uncovering the history of St John's and Westgate Hill Cemeteries, and what they've learned about the wildlife that make the cemeteries their home.

📆 The main event is at 10am on Monday 8th of June, but you can view the exhibition from Saturday 6th to Saturday 13th of June.

📚 You can also pick up a FREE copy of their second book, containing poetry and research written by the group and the project's artists.

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16/05/2026

16/05/2026

15/05/2026

An exciting Keelmen's update for a Friday afternoon 🤩

07/05/2026

📣 The Keelmen's Quayside walking tour 📣
📆: 27.05.26
⏰️: 11am-1230pm
📍:

To celebrate Tyne + Wear Building Preservation Trust’s starting work on restoration of the fabulous Keelmen’s Hospital this walk tells the tale of how Keelmen, lived, worked and played on Newcastle Quayside & also looks at some of the Trust’s previous restoration successes.

Led by local history expert, Tony Stephenson, this tour will run for 90 minutes and starts at St Mary's by the Tyne on Wednesday 27th of May at 11am. To reserve your free place, head to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tyneandwearbuildingpreservationtrust/2201396

*Due to works on site, internal tours of the building do not begin until the summer, this tour highlights what life was like as a keelman beyond the hospital's walls. *

29/04/2026

📣 Members!📣

🌟Our Spring newsletter has just gone live 🌟

And, with it, your chance to get your place on our first ever Keelmen's Quayside tour! Head to the Patreon to find out more!

If you're not yet a member, tune in next week to find out how to book your place 🎟

To find out more about membership to the Trust, head to: twbpt.org.uk/membership