Cullercoats Watch House is an iconic building perched on the clifftop overlooking the bay and harbour on the North East coast of England. The building was originally funded in 1879 by the then 'Board of Trade' and supported by public subscription.

It was proposed and decided, that a Watch House would be constructed on the same spot as the many Cullercoats fisherfolk would assemble to observe the fishing boats leaving and entering the bay, and where they would also keep vigil for the return of their families and loved ones during storms or bad weather. It was also the base for the Cullercoats Life Brigade who assisted the Coastguard in saving lives from shipwreck, by means of the rocket apparatus. However, this duty could not be carried out without a strict watch being kept throughout storms and rough seas, both night and day.

The Watch House is further immortalised in the work of the world renowned American artist Winslow Homer, who spent time in Cullercoats during 1861 - 1862 and included the building as a backdrop in many of his paintings. The building is also well recorded in both art and the written word by numerous local and international figures.

The requirement for keeping watch as described above has long been superseded by both the the demise of the local fishing industry and advances in technology. The building spent many years as a snooker club who's membership had declined to the point that only 8 people in total were using the building on an infrequent basis.

The hope and vision of the trustees is that the Watch House can become a focal point within Cullercoats, providing a welcoming community orientated venue, which can support its own future financially as a community venue and heritage hub, supporting musical, cultural and educational events.

The concept has already been tested and we have been fortunate over the past 2 years to host a number of cultural events and small community group activities which have all proved successful. The potential for the future is only limited by the structural problems and lack of facilities within the building in its current state.

The Watch House became a charity in 2006 and at the same time it was designated a trust, governed by a board of trustees and operated by a group of dedicated willing volunteers who oversee the day to day maintenance and care of the building. The building also has Grade II listing status.

Unfortunately, the ravages of time, the north sea weather and the exposed clifftop aspect, had taken its toll on the building structure. Prior to its adoption by the trustees, infrequent and often unsympathetic maintenance, both internal and external, had brought us to the point that to ignore or simply patch over the now obvious problems, was no longer an option.

A full scale 3 phase renovation project was begun in 2023 to initially deal with the external structural problems, which placed the future of the building at immediate risk. The timber roof supports for one, had lost their structural integrity and there was a real danger in the short term that this could cause the roof to collapse. The roof tiling, clock tower shaft and stonework were all in need of repair and renovation to ensure the building was watertight.

Following a successful funding campaign the trustees, together with our dedicated volunteers and members were able to secure enough funding to commission the exterior work (£179,000), which was completed in the Autumn of 2024. The exterior is now presented in its former glory and reflects the original design and decorative features that would have been seen in 1879.

Due to the compounding nature of the external problems and the inappropriate maintenance (or lack of it) to the interior over a number of years, the interior suffers issues of extreme dampness and decay and the false ceiling (installed in the 1960's to conserve heat) has woodworm infestation, as does the currently hidden decorative scissor roof trusses.

It is now the priority of the trustees to secure the remaining funding to enable the interior to undergo similar refurbishment and renovation to make it fit for purpose as a community asset. The professional cost estimates for the interior currently stand at approximately £190,000 and we currently have a significant shortfall against this figure.

The heritage importance of the Watch House, both locally and far beyond, cannot be underestimated and It is the mission of the trustees to ensure the celebration of this underpins anything that the future holds for the building. The potential uses are limitless and we see its future enshrined within community but not limited to them, following its repair and restoration.

The shortfall in funding is such that it is beyond the fundraising capabilities of coffee mornings and open days, however much we try. That said, we do currently host a number of group activities including a recent wedding reception and a number of birthday celebrations together with music and cultural events, which are limited only by the available space and amenities. These events provide a small but welcome income in addition to donations.

The long term future of the building and its heritage rests in everyones hands, especially as the area suffered unsympathetic planning and modernisation by the local authority in the 1960's, which removed the historic heart of the community and left only this building as a tangible link to the regions heritage.

Like many charities, the trustees and volunteers work extremely hard to ensure the continuation of their asset and It would be widely considered to be nothing short of a travesty if the Watch House were unable to have its long term future and heritage ensured for the benefit of all.

Thankyou