The gatehouse provided access to the other structures, which included the banqueting hall, all of which were reached down a steep staircase and were swept back down the hill.

[1][5] The design of the gatehouse, the only part of the structure visible from Jesmond Dene Road, involved an asymmetrical main frontage of three bays.

[1] Armstrong donated the banqueting hall together with Jesmond Dene gardens to Newcastle Corporation in 1883, on the understanding that the complex would be used for the arts, literature, science or education.

[6] During the first half of the twentieth century, the banqueting hall was used by Newcastle Corporation for entertaining civic guests, and the works of art included a 20 feet (6.1 m) portrait of Prince Hal.

[7] The Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust asked the Miller Partnership to prepare design proposals for development of the complex; drawings were duly submitted.