St Mary Magdalene Hospital

The St Mary Magdalene Hospital is said to have been founded in the reign of Henry I, and there is evidence that it was in existence by about 1250. However, all medieval charters have been lost and the first known charter was granted by James I in 1611.

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1867 to regulate the charity and full powers of management were conferred on Newcastle Corporation. The Hospital was enlarged to sixteen Brethren and the Corporation was directed to build a new hospital to be occupied by the Brethren as a place of residence. In pursuance of the powers conferred by that Act, the former St Mary Magdalene Hospital was built on part of the estate immediately to the north of the site now occupied by the Hancock Museum. This building was completed in 1874.

Holy Jesus Hospital

Holy Jesus Hospital was founded in or shortly before 1682, "for the maintenance, sustentation and relief of the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne and their widows, sons and daughters". The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of Newcastle were appointed trustees, and were made responsible for maintenance of the Hospital.

In 1847, an Act of Parliament was passed for the better support and regulation of the Hospital. In 1937 the old Hospital had become unfit for further use, and the new Hospital at Spital Tongues was built to provide accommodation for the 32 Sisters and 8 Brethren in self-contained bungalows, and a central common room.

During the 1950's the Council developed plans to replace the then St Mary Magdalene Hospital on a new site, to provide bungalows for almspeople (other than the Brethren) and to rationalise the administration of various charities. As a result the Charity Commission presented to Parliament an agreed scheme for the amalgamation of the Hospitals of St Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus together with the non-resident Hospitals of Thomas Davison, Ann Davison and Sir Walter Blackett. The Scheme was confirmed by Act of Parliament on 14 May 1959.

Earlier approval by the Commissioners for the purchase of a site and the erection of a new hospital to replace the existing St Mary Magdalene Hospital was confirmed. The construction of the bungalows and other buildings on the present site in Claremont Road (which was previously part of the Town Moor) was undertaken. Details of the qualifications for appointment to the various Hospitals were contained in the 1959 Scheme and the separate identity of each of the original charities was preserved.

By a Scheme of the Charity Commission sealed on 24th April 1968 the management of the Trust passed to a body of 12 Trustees. Although the constitution of the Trust remained substantially the same since 1968, it was then contained in a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners sealed on 10th March 1983.

By a Scheme of the Charity Commissioner sealed on 22nd December 2008, the St Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus Trustee Limited, a company limited by guarantee, became the trustee of the Charity. The trustee, comprising 10 Company Directors (Charitable Trustees for the purposes of charity law), was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed under its Articles of Association.