| Study funded to save Newcastle's Coppersmith's Shop historic railway works site Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 04:37, 13th May 2026 |     |
From the BBC:
Study funded to save historic railway works site
The Coppersmith's Shop formed part of George Stephenson's locomotive works - Image © Newcastle City Council
An empty Grade II-listed building once used as a workshop for one of the first railway companies could be saved for the future.
Coppersmith's Shop near Newcastle Quayside has received £65,000 from Historic England for surveys and technical studies in the hope it can be protected from collapse.
Built in the 1800s, the building was part of a collection of workshops owned by the Robert Stephenson & Co Works, which built early steam locomotives.
Historic England's Jules Brown said she was excited for the chance to uncover the history of the building, which hailed from "the crucible days of our railway heritage".
"Our grant is a vital first step to reveal a detailed understanding of it, creating the best chance of moving quickly towards a sensitive long-term conservation and reuse solution," she said.
The Coppersmith's Shop was used to make a range of parts such as boiler pipes and cab fittings before the company vacated the site. It has been left empty for decades and is in a poor condition.
Surveys will now be carried out to see if the building can be saved from collapse - Image © Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council said it hoped the building could be restored and become a new attraction of the Stephenson Quarter, which is being developed behind Central Station.
Last year two other buildings from the Robert Stephenson & Co Works - the Machine Shop and Smith's Shop - were earmarked for demolition because they had become "dangerous".
However, the Boiler Shop and Pattern Shop have been restored on the site and there are plans for housing at Orchard Yard and an office block at One Founders Place.
The Stephenson Quarter development has also attracted Atom Bank, which plans to relocate to the area and move 600 jobs to its new office.
Plans for a large £138m development on Forth Yard are also in the works, which is expected to create a new neighbourhood in the city centre.
The Coppersmith's Shop formed part of George Stephenson's locomotive works - Image © Newcastle City Council
An empty Grade II-listed building once used as a workshop for one of the first railway companies could be saved for the future.
Coppersmith's Shop near Newcastle Quayside has received £65,000 from Historic England for surveys and technical studies in the hope it can be protected from collapse.
Built in the 1800s, the building was part of a collection of workshops owned by the Robert Stephenson & Co Works, which built early steam locomotives.
Historic England's Jules Brown said she was excited for the chance to uncover the history of the building, which hailed from "the crucible days of our railway heritage".
"Our grant is a vital first step to reveal a detailed understanding of it, creating the best chance of moving quickly towards a sensitive long-term conservation and reuse solution," she said.
The Coppersmith's Shop was used to make a range of parts such as boiler pipes and cab fittings before the company vacated the site. It has been left empty for decades and is in a poor condition.
Surveys will now be carried out to see if the building can be saved from collapse - Image © Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council said it hoped the building could be restored and become a new attraction of the Stephenson Quarter, which is being developed behind Central Station.
Last year two other buildings from the Robert Stephenson & Co Works - the Machine Shop and Smith's Shop - were earmarked for demolition because they had become "dangerous".
However, the Boiler Shop and Pattern Shop have been restored on the site and there are plans for housing at Orchard Yard and an office block at One Founders Place.
The Stephenson Quarter development has also attracted Atom Bank, which plans to relocate to the area and move 600 jobs to its new office.
Plans for a large £138m development on Forth Yard are also in the works, which is expected to create a new neighbourhood in the city centre.
