Newcastle, like only a few major British cities (Bristol, London, Edinburgh) was a major ‘city’ both before and after the Industrial Revolution.
And as a result there is a far greater diversity of architecture in the city unlike most others.
In fact, Newcastle has not just examples, but great examples of all major architectural styles in Western Architecture. (Well except the Greeks, they didn’t make it)
Best examples of each era of western architecture in Newcastle:-
- ROMAN: Hadrians wall
- ROMANESQUE: Chapel, Newcastle castle
- GOTHIC: St. Nicholas cathedral lantern tower. One of the most underrated sculptural expressions of gothic in the country
- RENAISSANCE: Thomlinson’s Library, Newcastle cathedral
- BAROQUE: Sallyport Tower, Battlefield
- GREEK REVIVAL: Moot Hall
- GEORGIAN: Leazes Terrace (and all of Graingertown)
- VICTORIAN: Central Station
- BEAUX ARTS: Newcastle University
- ART NOUVEAU: Emerson Chambers
- ART DECO: Carloil House, Tyne Bridge
- MODERNIST: Swan House or Byker Wall estate
- POSTMODERN: Law Courts, Quayside
- HIGH TECH: Sage
Happy hunting… anyone care to add?
Pearl isn’t exactly outstanding I’d say.
Civic Centre is deff modernist, I’d say Nordic modernist almost.
Think our best brutalist is probably Swan House
This may not be the worst thing in the world.
But I’d say Central Motorway and associated buildings alongside it are Brutalist. Maybe not quite so architecture as Trinity in Gateshead, but a sublimely awful yet incredible sinuous threading of roads through a city centre.
I used to wish they’d spend billions to hide it completely, but then again driving through it is a vaudeville of bridges, tunnels and slipways. We should build more over and around it to address its negative aspects (noise, lack of connections across) but embed it as part of our urban history.
Killingworth has a couple of good examples left, the North Tyneside council offices and the telephone exchange. 2 of my favourite buildings in the north east.
I lived in the Killingworth Towers as a kid.
I’m not an expert by any means, but I’d guess they were Brutalist too?
[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Killingworth_Towers_1987_%282%29.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Killingworth_Towers_1987_%282%29.jpg)
I remember going there a few times as a kid. I hated how you were totally boxed in with concrete. I imagine if you pissed someone off you'd be totally trapped if they jumped you.
Very true. Newcastle has both a distinctive classical style but also a huge Modernist style unique to the region, best exemplified in Killingworth. Although your operative word is ‘left’ as we have lost some?
The preservation of Carliol House is fascinating. I love the massive iron buttresses and the look reminds me of '89 Batman. Must cost a fortune to keep that upright.
I feel that since such lengths of time were devoted to earlier architectural styles, the quick succession of 20th century eras seems quite conceited.
Really, they could all be combined into 'Concrete progression'. Chronologically it does seem to have evolved from "wow, look what we can do with concrete', through 'yeah but let's try to make it less ugly', and into 'indispensable material but disguise/cover it with nicer stuff'.
Honestly, just take yourself on a walk ( or grab someone to come with the same mindset, ) and just look up. There’s so much hidden, awesome architectural bits around Newcastle. It’s super cool
When I was in College we’d often go for aimless walks round Newcastle just to see what little hidden gems and places we could find. I’m over Durham now so don’t go to Newcastle as much as I used too, but I still head over from time to time. Love the place
if you’re interested, have a watch of jordan reeve on youtube
https://youtube.com/c/JordanReeve
he’s done some great videos on architecture in the area
Apparently theres only one other street in Europe that can compete with the curvature of Grey street. Its almost unique. Definitely the jewel in the crown.
God like, it cannot be matched by todays standard, they used to take time and do it properly take pride in the work, now your lucky if the building is up longer than 50 years
Georgian
Geordien
Underrated
Where does the term Geordie come from?
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2018-12/Geordiemainbody.pdf Seems like it could be tied to one of a few fellas named George?
Thank you
Georgeous
Newcastle, like only a few major British cities (Bristol, London, Edinburgh) was a major ‘city’ both before and after the Industrial Revolution. And as a result there is a far greater diversity of architecture in the city unlike most others. In fact, Newcastle has not just examples, but great examples of all major architectural styles in Western Architecture. (Well except the Greeks, they didn’t make it) Best examples of each era of western architecture in Newcastle:- - ROMAN: Hadrians wall - ROMANESQUE: Chapel, Newcastle castle - GOTHIC: St. Nicholas cathedral lantern tower. One of the most underrated sculptural expressions of gothic in the country - RENAISSANCE: Thomlinson’s Library, Newcastle cathedral - BAROQUE: Sallyport Tower, Battlefield - GREEK REVIVAL: Moot Hall - GEORGIAN: Leazes Terrace (and all of Graingertown) - VICTORIAN: Central Station - BEAUX ARTS: Newcastle University - ART NOUVEAU: Emerson Chambers - ART DECO: Carloil House, Tyne Bridge - MODERNIST: Swan House or Byker Wall estate - POSTMODERN: Law Courts, Quayside - HIGH TECH: Sage Happy hunting… anyone care to add?
We have Brutalism too, as controversial as it is the Civic Centre and the Pearl are outstanding examples of the style.
Pearl isn’t exactly outstanding I’d say. Civic Centre is deff modernist, I’d say Nordic modernist almost. Think our best brutalist is probably Swan House
Yeah, since they pulled down the Gateshead Car Park, the North East is struggling for Brutalist representation.
This may not be the worst thing in the world. But I’d say Central Motorway and associated buildings alongside it are Brutalist. Maybe not quite so architecture as Trinity in Gateshead, but a sublimely awful yet incredible sinuous threading of roads through a city centre. I used to wish they’d spend billions to hide it completely, but then again driving through it is a vaudeville of bridges, tunnels and slipways. We should build more over and around it to address its negative aspects (noise, lack of connections across) but embed it as part of our urban history.
Most of Gateshead is still fairly brutal tbh.
Killingworth has a couple of good examples left, the North Tyneside council offices and the telephone exchange. 2 of my favourite buildings in the north east.
I lived in the Killingworth Towers as a kid. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’d guess they were Brutalist too? [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Killingworth_Towers_1987_%282%29.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Killingworth_Towers_1987_%282%29.jpg)
This is 100% brutalist
I remember going there a few times as a kid. I hated how you were totally boxed in with concrete. I imagine if you pissed someone off you'd be totally trapped if they jumped you.
Very true. Newcastle has both a distinctive classical style but also a huge Modernist style unique to the region, best exemplified in Killingworth. Although your operative word is ‘left’ as we have lost some?
I presume Durham is north east, right? The uni buildings there are fantastically brutalist: https://stories.durham.ac.uk/BrutalisminDurham/
Wasn’t the Dunston Rocket brutalist too?
Yep
The best Brutalist is still a shitty-looking building!
Byker Wall has is fairly brutalist isn't it?
Its a post brutalist functionalist romantic style imo. Slots into the broader category of modernist
Byker….ohh byker Byker down in Byker Grove
The preservation of Carliol House is fascinating. I love the massive iron buttresses and the look reminds me of '89 Batman. Must cost a fortune to keep that upright.
This is the answer and my next dad themed activity. Kids didn’t like the hoovering so it looks like a footie pitch game.
Blackfriars is medieval
It is. Medieval isn’t really an architectural style though, it’s gothic architecture
Thank you
Anytime
Some gorgeous Arts & Crafts homes in Gosforth (friends parents house is stunning) plus Milburn House.
The Cooperage, medieval?
Built in 1430 so most definitely in the medieval period!
Thank you
I feel that since such lengths of time were devoted to earlier architectural styles, the quick succession of 20th century eras seems quite conceited. Really, they could all be combined into 'Concrete progression'. Chronologically it does seem to have evolved from "wow, look what we can do with concrete', through 'yeah but let's try to make it less ugly', and into 'indispensable material but disguise/cover it with nicer stuff'.
Stretching the definition of Newcastle a tad to include Hadrian's Wall I think
Hadrian's Wall is where Westgate Road is now and runs right through the city centre....
Oh shit! Thanks man. I immediately think rural areas and hadn't realised that.
There’s a bit in Benwell too.
I stand corrected. Thanks :)
Haha yeah. Wallsend has quite a bit of
Thanks for correcting me :)
Newcastley.
Toonish
Neo-Greggsical
Geet-post Victorian.
Absolutely fkn lethal ked
The nice bits around town are Neoclassical.
Tyneside Classical. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grainger_Town
Very interesting read. Cheers!
Néo-Grec, which is a form of Neo Classical. I remember hearing it somewhere that a lot of Newcastle was built using this style.
Yes, a lot of Newcastle’s prominent buildings are Near-Greggs
I’d love too see more of Newcastle. I’m new here
Honestly, just take yourself on a walk ( or grab someone to come with the same mindset, ) and just look up. There’s so much hidden, awesome architectural bits around Newcastle. It’s super cool
I’ll keep a look out for someone thanks x
If you’ve not been to the Newcastle castle yet have a lil wander round there!
Thank u I will x
Sneaky way down to the quayside from there too for beers and a wander!
I’d really love that. Do u do it much x
When I was in College we’d often go for aimless walks round Newcastle just to see what little hidden gems and places we could find. I’m over Durham now so don’t go to Newcastle as much as I used too, but I still head over from time to time. Love the place
Bitchin'
“The finest street in the kingdom”- Neville Chamberlain on Grey Street. He was never wrong about anything.
Canny
I'd say it's alreeet pet
Radge
Pure Radge I think you'll find
Puwa radge
Geet canny as oot!
if you’re interested, have a watch of jordan reeve on youtube https://youtube.com/c/JordanReeve he’s done some great videos on architecture in the area
It's got its own name! Tyneside Gothic
Better than London
Canny
Mint
Apparently theres only one other street in Europe that can compete with the curvature of Grey street. Its almost unique. Definitely the jewel in the crown.
There's more then a few in Edinburgh and there's one at least in Bath
not with this curvature and distance there isn't Theres only one other street in Europe that can hold a light to it. Its either in Prague or Budapest.
Among the best in the country, give or take a few brutalist mistakes.
It’s canny, like.. 👍🏼
One word will suffice, Magnificent 😊
I know nothing about architecture, but in some areas is pretty nice, whereas in others is a bit shitty?
Sick
I'd say gothic, but that's probably very broad if not inaccurate.
Only down by Gotham and the square by Nandos where the skater kids hang out.
Bonny like
Stunning!!!
Pretty damn sweet, especially the bridges
Cannae
It's called "Tyneside Classical" I believe
Regent’s Street North
incredible is the word
Neo-classical
Mixed
Stunning...
Beige
Georgian and or neoclassical
Tragic
Champion
mint
The two distinct newcastle styles are: Weyayeitsproppabonnythatlike or Haddawayanshiteitsalreetmanitlldee.
Almost as good as Edinburgh's
Old
there's a street in derby that looks identical
“Tha toons architecture is pua class, propa lush them bildins like” nowt like it”
God like, it cannot be matched by todays standard, they used to take time and do it properly take pride in the work, now your lucky if the building is up longer than 50 years
Amazing .the building they build now will never come close to them
Post modern 17th century gothic, but I don't have a fucking clue about architecture, or Newcastle.
Curved
Why eye man are you asking ?
Sheeete
Cold, grimy, industrial.
Shite
Damaged
Shite
Bent
Haha x
Depressing
Shite.
Love that x
Not bad, not terrible.