Rising Sun Countryside Centre

The Rising Sun Countryside Centre was once the site of a coal mine, The Rising Sun Pit, and an isolation hospital, Scaffold Hill Hospital, for infectious diseases. The EJHB crest which can be seen on the remaining buildings of the hospital are that of the Earsdon Joint Hospital Board which comprised of six local parish councils. The hospital opened in 1914 and comprised of two wards of ten beds an additional block was added in 1927 and by 1934 there were 72 beds. The hospital took military cases during World War 2 but only those with infectious diseases. As the number of infectious diseases decreased due to modern medicines the hospital began to undertake care of the elderly. In 1986 the hospital closed and the building was turned into the visitors centre which is still open today.

The Countryside Centre is now a 400 acre natural green oasis set in the heart of North Tyneside. It consists of an Organic Farm, Nature Reserve woodland and numerous ponds as well as the visitors centre.