Historic North Shields townhouse set for new lease of life

An historic North Shields townhouse is undergoing a much-needed facelift thanks to a new funding scheme.

Claire and Brendan Giles recently purchased 43-44 Howard Street – a run-down three-story Georgian property in the heart of the town’s heritage and cultural area.

The couple secured funding to help with the refurbishment through a third-party grant scheme as part of the North Shields High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project, a partnership between North Tyneside Council and Historic England.

The HAZ project, which is part of the council’s Ambition for North Shields and the Fish Quay regeneration Masterplan, is a four-year programme of physical improvements, community and cultural activities. It is a place-based scheme designed to secure lasting improvements to historic high streets and the communities who use them.

It involves repairing and restoring key architectural heritage buildings through the third-party grants scheme, which is aimed at businesses and residents in the area.

Once restored, Claire and Brendan plan to run their greetings card business, Claire Giles Ltd, from the premises, which has previously been home to a solicitor’s firm, architect’s practice and office furniture business, but has stood empty for around six years.

Brendan said: “It’s an old property and is very tired but it is so full of charm and character and has so much potential, so when it came onto the market we jumped at the chance.

“We also really love the area and there’s so many exciting and ambitious plans as part of the regeneration works getting underway in the town, and Howard Street is an amazing location.

“We’ve got an awful lot of work to do but the grant scheme has been a huge help. We’ve had regular contact from the council, with someone involved in the scheme, right from the start to run through what was possible with the building but we have also had a consultant architect through that, as well as the financial support.”

Claire added: “I grew up in Gateshead and we used to come to the coast every weekend and we moved to North Shields a few years ago out of chance and just fell in love with the area.”

Work is about to get underway to recreate the Georgian-era appearance of the historic Northumberland Square sympathetic to its heritage and roots as part of the An Ambition for North Shields and the Fish Quay Masterplan.

The scheme will be the first step towards creating a new Cultural Quarter for North Shields, incorporating the Square and the top end of Howard Street (north of the Saville Street junction to the Square), offering a new, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly environment and cultural scene.

Cllr Carl Johnson, North Tyneside’s Deputy Mayor and cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “It’s great to see that this historic property is undergoing much-needed renovation thanks to the support of our third-party grants scheme in partnership with Historic England.

“It’s also a real sign of confidence that business owners like Brendan and Claire have chosen to relocate to North Shields and invest in the town.

“The scheme is all about revitalising this part of the town, which has so much heritage and culture. Breathing new life into streets like Howard Street, alongside the ambitious transformation going on around the rest of the town, will really help give the local economy a shot in the arm and attract more people to live, work and visit here.”

Jules Brown from Historic England said: “It’s wonderful that this historic vacant building is being given a new lease of life and we wish Claire and Brendan all the best with their new business venture at the premises. Hopefully, their restoration of this Georgian property will inspire others to redevelop and improve the appearance of similar buildings on Howard Street.”

To find out more about the third-party grants scheme email Haz@northtyneside.gov.uk , and find out more about the North Shields High Street Action Zone here.