Gorgeous Jesmond house with fascinating history hits market in unique style

A gorgeous Jesmond property with a fascinating Victorian history has arrived on the market in a very unique way.

The house has undergone a six-figure renovation and will be revealed at an American-style open house event today.

The home was once a warren of bed-site for impoverished, retired governesses.

It belonged to the Northern Ladies Annuity Society and was split into a number of bedsits for governesses who hadn't married, were widowed or had fallen on hard times.

Each flat had a sink and cooking facilities and there were communal bathrooms and living spaces.

In the Victorian era, many aristocrats and rich families employed live-in governesses to teach their daughters the skills they would need for a future marriage and domestic life.

The Northern Ladies Annuity Society, which was established in 1868 to support retired widows and single women on low incomes, sold the property – known then as Lavender Lodge – to Tim Price and his wife Sarah, in the 1990s.

The Prices converted the house into a very large, five-bedroom family home and went on to have two children there - Sam in 1998, and Josh in 2000.

They enjoyed a happy life at Highbury House until 2002, when Tim’s job took him away to work in Manchester.

Up until 2019, Mr Price rented the house out to students.

Now the property had undergone a six-figure renovation to become three, separate family homes.

One of the properties, No. 13 Highbury, has uninterrupted views across the Town Moor and would typically fetch £700,000.

The works are being unveiled in style this week with an open house today, Thursday, February 24.

Hive Estates managing director, Michael Mortimer said: “We are incredibly excited for the ‘big reveal’.

“These properties are a perfect example of how we are changing the way estate agency works, by not just sticking them on Rightmove and putting a board outside but creatively advising and styling them, or designing them, and selling them via effective marketing campaigns which embrace social media platforms to reach varied and extensive audiences.

“The location of these homes is spectacular – they have serene, vista views across the Town Moor, yet are minutes away from a wonderful array of cafes and shops in Jesmond and Newcastle city centre, with great schools on their doorsteps.”

Jesmond is, of course, well known for being a student pub thanks to its proximity to both Newcastle universities and cheap bars.

However, it is also home to more upmarket residents with some high-profile Newcastle United stars also purchasing in the area.

Pat Robson Director Tim Nixon explained: "Despite an enduring reputation as a student hub, there is of course a great deal more to Jesmond.

"Tucked away between Osborne Road and Jesmond Dene, the streets of Adderstone Crescent, Lindisfarne Road and Glastonbury Grove are collectively known as ‘The Golden Triangle’, and the houses there represent some of the most desirable in the city.

"These high-value homes enjoy privacy and seclusion however their super-central position, just moments from Jesmond’s famous restaurants, bars and shops ensure that residents fortunate enough to live there really do enjoy the best of both worlds."