Chowdene Chapel was built in 1880 and opened in 1881 to house a Primitive Methodist congregation who had been renting the former New Connexion Bethany Chapel. It cost £900 and seated 200; in 1925 structural problems affecting the north wall prompted major works; the congregation moved to Wesley Memorial Church on the opposite side of the road in 1965 and the building was sold to the Brethren, with whom it remains in use (Chowdene Community Church).

Over one round-headed window is a stone plaque 'ROBERT ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL 1901'.

LOCAL LIST

Formerly the Crown Public House – present on the 1st edition OS. DATES c1830 LOCAL LIST

LOCAL LIST

DESCRIPTION
Later 19th century stone crescent with Welsh slate roofs, pilaster and entablature stone doorcases. Of group interest with Methodist Church. LOCAL LIST

DATES 1930? Present on 3rd edition LOCAL LIST

DESCRIPTION / STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
This elegant double fronted red brick house was one of the later villas built in Low Fell, on land that had originally belonged to the adjacent Listed Musgrave School. It is set in a slightly elevated position unusually close to the road, veering away from the strong privacy element favoured with most of the earlier villas, perhaps to reduce spatial competition with Musgrave or perhaps to maximise the impact on passers-by. It certainly has this effect now, set as it is in glorious mature landscaping, flaunting many original and decorative features. It is a balanced composition, the warmth of the brick counterpointed by the solid stone detailing, and the hipped, slated roof (complete with implausibly delicate ball-topped needle finials) flanked by small gables to each side in a bookend effect. Battlemented full-height bays, fancifully detailed slim chimneys, a bracketed eaves cornice and stained glass in timber sashes all embellish the design. The doorway is particularly grand, with a carved lintel above. Cast iron rainwater goods have also been retained. Whilst it is unfortunate that the rooflights are not traditionally designed and stand well proud of the roof, they are at least limited in size and placed symmetrically so that the balance is not lost. A flat-roofed carport is an unfortunate addition to the setting, however its scale means it does not compete with the main building. The large site also included a block of stable buildings, which appear to be still present (?). MATERIALS Red brick, sandstone, timber, slate ARCHITECT J Landell Nicholson (12 Grey Street, Newcastle) DATES 1909 (plans) LOCAL LIST

DESCRIPTION
Stone built with large leaded windows, including a large stained glass rose window lighting the chancel. It is capped by a high, wood beamed roof and a tall, bell-less steeple. A western gallery and a two manual pipe organ are part of the design, which currently seats about 450 people. Originally Durham Road Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. Began as a mission of the High West Street Chapel. ‘Wagon headed roof’ (timbers showing inside, ceiling matching shape to create a void between for acoustic and thermal purposes) MATERIALS Sandstone (local) ARCHITECT Ellison & Co (Liverpool)
BUILDER T & R Lamb (Sunday School) Alexander Pringle (Chapel) DATES 1888 Sunday School
1906 Chapel STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Architects own description “The buildings are designed in the gothic style and are built of local stone, the walling in courses and the dressings tooled, the outline is broken and varied from every point of view and at the corner of Durham Road and Shipcote Terrace a tower & Spire will rise to the height of 140ft. A fine light window with richly traceried lead will occupy the front gable, 2-3 light window the transept gables and 3 light windows of smaller size on each side of the chapel above the galleries with windows also below. The school premises now built are of course plainer in detail than the future chapel, but effective even whilst standing alone and give good promise of what the whole will be when completed”. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The chapel was built with electric lighting but the school remained gas lit until 1919. Many bazaars were held to raise funds for building. It was designated an emergency feeding centre during WWI. LOCAL LIST

DESCRIPTION / STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
This rusticated stone building, the near neighbour of its Listed namesake, is a well-balanced composition, striking its own chord whilst deferring in grandeur and style. The rustication is harmonious and the lozenge aperture detail is directly borrowed, as well as the strong vertical elements – buttresses to the church are transmuted into tall chimneys with projecting stacks. However, the building is much more of a domestic piece in appearance, conveying more of a villa style than an ecclesiastical or institutional edifice. The low-pitched, hipped, slated roof is finished with erect ridge tiles and bracketed eaves, with the stone chimneys springing from each side. On the principal elevation shallow stone bays flank the original entrance to the ground floor, with unusual mock arrow-slit detailing to the parapets. This entrance features attractive stained glass elaborating the form, adding an engaging touch of colour, which recurs elsewhere on the building. Above this, a central gable pushes through the eaves, housing the lozenge detail, with a double arched moulding crowning the upper window and an uninscribed plaque. The form and footprint bears comparison with the later Marley Hill Miners Welfare Hall, although the detail is very different. It is virtually complete, with cast iron rainwater goods and almost all of the original timber windows, although it is unfortunate to note that the building has been the target of vandalism, and the condition is rather poor in places. The setting offers an opportunity for enhancement, as currently the landscaping requires some management, and although the railings to the front have been lost, their stone plinth remains, with its unusual footprint. The rear portions of the building are less architecturally polite, partly constructed in buff brick rather than stone, but featuring buttressing echoing that of the church. Overall the building is a worthy contribution to the setting of the church, the cenotaph opposite, and the Shipley Gallery nearby, on an important junction on this north-south route. MATERIALS Rusticated stone, timber, stained glass, slate ARCHITECT R Wylie
(36 West St, Gateshead) DATES 1908 LOCAL LIST

Two-storey, neo-Classical villa of ashlar sandstone and a Welsh slate roof shown on the First Edition OS plan, 1862. One of a cluster of large houses built on the west side of Durham Road. When constructed it was situated within a formal landscaped garden (HER16307). By 1897 a lodge had been added to the Durham Road entrance. The gardens were within dense woodland with a curved carriageway. Despite the construction of the college close to the house in the mid 20th century the grounds survived into the 1960s with the lodge still appearing on the 1974 OS plan. The house was converted into North Dene Technical College in the 1950s. At this time fireplaces were blocked up, new windows inserted and a first floor toilet extension added. The house retained an array of decorative plasterwork and ceilings and other period features. A billiard room extension was added in 1887. The house was recorded in 2008 by Addyman Archaeology and later in 2012 by URS.

DESCRIPTION
Built for Thomas Neilson, this is a grand mid-Victorian double fronted villa standing proud on an elevated site. The piano nobile, Tuscan doorcase and two-storey canted bays create a dramatic impression to the front elevation, but even the side entrance is adorned with a pediment and moulded pilasters, and large and prominent quoins. Two broad chimneys crown the gables of the Welsh slate roof, and also have the deeply moulded cornices notable elsewhere as a feature of the property. The blonde sandstone details are prominent against the render to the rest of the building. This is one of the remaining moderately grand villas in Low Fell which happily still remains, and therefore makes a significant contribution to the essential character of the area, as well as being of architectural interest. MATERIALS Blonde sandstone, render ARCHITECT Septimus Oswald DATES 1865 LOCAL LIST