Unusual polling stations across the region - including a Darlington castle

Many voters will be heading to the local school or community centres to cast their ballots in this week’s elections on May 2.

However, some will have slightly more interesting venues in which to exercise their democratic rights this year. This time round, as well as the usual annual council elections in Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland, voters will select the first-ever North East Mayor.

And when they do so, they could be voting in a cemetery, art gallery and even a castle.

Here is a list of some of the more weird and wonderful polling stations people will be heading to this Thursday.

Walworth Castle, Darlington (Image: LDR)

Darlington
Darlington’s Walworth Castle has roots dating as far back as 1150 and has had a rich and varied history since. The castle has hosted royalty including King James I of England as well as the Durham Light Infantry during the Second World War. 
The castle also served as a prisoner-of-war camp for both German and Italian officers during the same conflict. In 2007, the castle became part of the Best Western Hotel Group.

Whitley Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Whitley Bay (Image: LDR)

North Tyneside
Whitley Bay’s Cemetary office has been chosen this year as a slightly macabre polling station for the residents of St Mary’s ward. The Whitley Bay crematorium opened in 1960, having been converted from an existing cemetery and chapel in 1913. 
The chapel and crematorium were grade II listed in 2003.

Daft as a Brush outside the Gosforth HQ (Image: LDR)
Newcastle 
Some of the electorates will have the opportunity to use cancer charity Daft as a Brush’s Gosforth HQ to select their candidates. The charity specialises in transporting cancer patients to and from hospitals for their chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments free of charge. 
The charity has been stationed in Gosforth since 2012. 
Residents of the ward of Elswick also have the pleasure of using Dance City School on polling day. The school started life off across the road from its now-home of Temple Street in 1986.

The Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead (Image: LDR)

Gateshead
Shipley Art Gallery first opened its doors in 1917 after 504 was bequeathed to the institution by a local lawyer Joseph Shipley. The gallery is also home to some major examples of studio ceramic, which formed part of the Henry Rothschild collection. 
The gallery and Northumbria University now offer the Henry Rothschild Bursary for Ceramic Artists for five artists starting out in their careers. The Shipley is managed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums for Gateshead Council.

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South Shields Town Hall (Image: LDR)

South Tyneside
South Tyneside Council has allowed for its coroner’s office, accessed from Beach Road, to be used as a polling station for May 2 this year. 
Ordinarily, the coroner’s office receives reports of deaths from hospitals, care homes, prisons or other state institutions. The office would usually investigate deaths that are violent or unnatural, unexplained or have occurred in some form of state detention.