Nelson Street

This street ran west off the High Street parallel to Swinburne Street. Situated at 10 Nelson Street was St. Mary’s Working Men’s Club, one of the most popular clubs in Gateshead. The working men’s club movement began in the 1860s in London. Many of the early clubs were temperance clubs and the main objects of the club were mental and moral improvement, free from alcohol. From the 1870s when club members could buy drinks, the movement spread rapidly and a number of clubs formed in Gateshead. Between 1900-1914 at least 17 clubs were formed. Some are still in existence today but many were short-lived, having their licence revoked for repeated drunkenness!