Sheriff Hill
This led to the building of the first council housing estate in Gateshead. Alderman Hodkin laid the foundation stone on 27 October 1920; as work commenced the Alderman demonstrated the authority's concerns, telling the local newspaper that: "we can build houses, but we cannot build homes. Only the people themselves can do that and I hope that the spirit of ‘esprit de corps’ will prevail and this will be a model estate" Demand was highthere were 427 applicants for the first twenty eight houses builtand the council built further tracts of housing in a broad triangle between Sodhouse Bank, Ermine Crescent and The Avenue, although central government withdrew its promised funding. By 1936, most of the social housing available as of 2012 was in existence and provides accommodation to over half of the population of the suburb.
House-built engine
Such construction was also quicker to build on-site, as a pre-manufactured engine could be supplied by the engine maker in almost completed form. Skilled engine erectors were a rare resource, especially in remote mining areas, and the need to have them working on-site for long periods whilst a large house was constructed around the engine was often a cause of delays to an engine being completed. Even with adequate labour, masonry construction is a slower process than delivery of machinery alone. Where brick foundations were constructed, it was recommended that at least fifteen days were allowed before the weight of the engine was placed onto them.