Easton Court

Some of the worst housing in Gateshead was situated behind Gateshead High Street. Huddled narrowed courts and entries provided accomodation for large families in the High Street and Oakwellgate areas. The houses were often badly built from rubble and quarry waste and were overcrowded because of the shortage of housing for workers. The only access to most of these courts was a narrow passage between the shops on the High Street.

Conditions in these streets eventually became so bad that whole areas had to be demolished. Between 1932 and 1935 Barn Close, Pipewellgate, Hillgate, Bridge Street, Church Street, Old Fold and many of the High Street courts were demolished.