See how Keelmen’s Hospital changed between 1887 and 2026. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
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In 1701, Newcastle's keelmen, who navigated flat-bottomed boats called keels to transport coal along the Tyne, established the Keelmen's Hospital as an almshouse for their sick and elderly members. Funded by the keelmen themselves, each crew member contributed one penny per tide, amassing £2,000 for the construction. The building, completed in 1701, featured fifty chambers surrounding a cloistered courtyard. Over time, it transitioned from housing keelmen to serving as tenement housing, student accommodation, and, as of 2026, plans are underway to convert it into 20 affordable housing units. (theguardian.com)
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