Hexham Local History Society. 1983: Gilesgate looking North, No.13 Henry Bell wool warehouse/old swimming pool showing swimming pool extension.
Once The Wool House apartments are occupied and the communal gardens and ample on-site parking are in full use, it will be hard to imagine any other building ever stood here.
Yet this site has an interesting story to tell.
Formerly home to the Hexham Swimming Pool complex, which many local people will remember, its real claim to fame arose in the 19th century when brothers, George and Henry Bell, launched a large tannery business here.
In fact, the Henry Bell Wool Merchants business helped put the town on the map during the 19th century. It was here that the finest and much coveted Hexham Tans gloves originated.
After the two founding brothers died, Henry’s sons took over the business and turned it into one of the leading firms in the country, building a striking wool warehouse on this site in 1885.
With room for expansion, greater success followed, and the brothers took over two other tanneries, eventually amalgamating with eight more to become Border Counties Wool Sales Ltd.
Back to the present, the next chapter of the story began when we submitted our planning application for this exciting new apartment scheme.
Providing luxury apartment living in the heart of Hexham and designed to take advantage of the superb views of the Abbey to the front and of the tranquil Tyne Valley countryside looking out over Haugh Lane to the rear, The Wool House marks a new phase in the site’s history.
We have taken the utmost care over the civil engineering, design and construction of this apartment building which so effortlessly combines the old with the new – even down to the way its heritage has in no small way shaped our present thinking – the name of our development and The Wool House brand – not forgetting Woolliam, our brand ambassador.
We hope you agree that we are raising the baa in apartment living in Northumberland!
