THE Duchess of Northumberland has officially opened a North East junior school, marking the completion of a multi-million-pound refurbishment of one of the region’s historic gems.

The Junior School of Central Newcastle High School is based at Chapman House, in Sandyford Park, which includes a Grade II-listed villa and five acres of grounds.

The site has undergone a major investment funded by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), an educational charity to which Central Newcastle High belongs.

On performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the duchess said: “I’m delighted to be opening the newly-refurbished Junior School and to be sharing this special day with the Central High community.

“It is wonderful to see that this historic building will be used to give girls an outstanding education for the future.”

Yesterday’s event included performances by the girls which celebrated the importance of Newcastle’s heritage and history through poetry, music and dance.

Headmistress Hilary French said: “We are extremely honoured that the duchess opened our Junior School. She is an excellent ambassador for the region and is so admired for her work at Alnwick Garden.

“The duchess has demonstrated how tradition can be combined with creative thinking to give an exciting educational experience; we hope that we have achieved the same in the refurbishment of Chapman House.

“The next piece of the jigsaw is the landscaping of the substantial grounds and gardens.”

Chapman House is steeped in local history. Its villa, originally named Villa Real, was designed by Newcastle’s esteemed architect, John Dobson, and was built in 1817 for Captain John Dutton.

Over the years, inhabitants have included Sir Thomas Burdon, a local colliery owner, and Russell Blackbird.

Its most famous inhabitant was Dr Charles Gibb, the house surgeon to the Newcastle Infirmary during a cholera epidemic. He renamed the house Sandyford Park and lived there until his death in 1916.

Renamed Nazareth House, the buildings and grounds passed into the hands of the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth who added a chapel and used it as a convent, school and children’s home, before it was purchased by the GDST for Central High in 1999.

A final name change was made, this time to Chapman House after the Central High headmistress of the day, Angela Chapman.

Angela Charlton, head of the Junior School, added: “I am proud to be one of the custodians of this stunning school. We have also been able to breathe new life into the John Dobson villa.”