Lost Buildings of Hebburn

Every town carries the ghosts of buildings that are no longer there, and in a place shaped by heavy industry like Hebburn, some of those losses loom large. From the shipyard that gave the town its name in the wider world to the offices that once towered over the Metro, here are some of the lost buildings of Hebburn, and what has taken their place.

The Hawthorn Leslie shipyard

The greatest loss of all is the Hawthorn Leslie yard, the shipbuilding works that launched HMS Kelly and countless other vessels. The yard closed in 1982, and for decades its abandoned buildings stood empty on the riverside, becoming an eyesore and a target for fires and antisocial behaviour. The site's listed status was removed in 2014, clearing the way for redevelopment, and the remaining structures were demolished to make way for hundreds of new riverside homes. The shipyard that built the town's fortunes is gone, but its story lives on in guides like Hebburn's shipbuilding and mining heritage.

The Reyrolle office building

For years a tall office block belonging to the Reyrolle engineering company towered over Hebburn's Metro station, a landmark visible across the town. Reyrolle was one of Hebburn's great employers, and even gave the town's football club its start as a works team. The redundant office building stood empty for several years before it too was demolished, changing the skyline around the station.

The old library and Hebnac

The town centre has changed as well. The old Hebburn Library building was demolished in 2019, opening up an entrance from Station Road to the modern leisure and library hub at Hebburn Central, which had opened a few years earlier. Over on Victoria Road West, a building long known locally as "Hebnac" was demolished in 2021, with the site landscaped to tidy up the surrounding area.

A town still changing

Hebburn's story is one of constant reinvention, and not every old building has been lost. Hebburn Hall, once dilapidated, was refurbished and returned to residential use, and the former St Andrew's Church found a striking second life as a Buddhist meditation centre. With former industrial land now giving way to new housing, the town continues to remake itself while keeping its history close.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to the Hawthorn Leslie shipyard in Hebburn? The Hawthorn Leslie yard closed in 1982 and stood derelict for decades. After its listed status was removed in 2014, the remaining buildings were demolished to make way for new riverside housing.

Was there a big office building by Hebburn Metro station? Yes. A tall Reyrolle engineering company office block once towered over Hebburn Metro station. It stood empty for several years before being demolished, altering the town's skyline.

When was the old Hebburn Library demolished? The old Hebburn Library building was demolished in 2019, which created a new entrance from Station Road to Hebburn Central, the town's modern leisure and library hub.

Remember a lost Hebburn building we should add? Get in touch.