Plummer House Demolition reveals new vista of Plummer Tower

18th century annex to Plummer Tower

Back in 2008, Newcastle City Council revealed plans and a public consultation on the redevelopment of the East Pilgrim Street Area of the City Centre - an area stretching eastwards from Pilgrim Street to the Central motorway, bordered by Durrant Street to the north and Swan House roundabout to the south.

This area had been identified by the council as a preferred location for the extension of the core shopping area of the City Centre. One of the objectives of the redevelopment was to improve the visibility and the setting of the many historic buildings in the area. I presume this would involve getting rid of a number of low quality, and lacking in merit, buildings dating from the back-end of the 20th Centurym, which tend to dominate and overshadow the historic buildings.

Plummer Tower is no exception. Hidden down a side street, jammed between Plummer House and New Croft Centre, Plummer Tower has been almost completely obscured by the surrounding buildings. Now that the rear block of Plummer House has been demolished, the 18th Century Annex to Plummer Tower can now be seen from Carliol Square.

I suspect, unfortunately, that this vista will be short-lived.  I think that the plans to build student accommodation on this site will again obscure this historic site.  The plans for the East Pilgrim Street development hit the buffers years ago, but its a shame if the vision for enhancing this visual setting of the historic buildings has been forgotten in the process.

John Dobson Street Improvements to Start in August

The transformation of John Dobson Street into a tree-lined boulevard is set to commence from 3 August 2015 and is expected to be completed by Spring 2016.

The project which I described here back in February: http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/john-dobson-street-to-become-tree-lined.html will see pavements widened, new seating areas installed, new pedestrian crossings, and a segregated two-way cycle track.  The new layout will employ new traffic light technology which will make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as deterring motorists from using the street as an alternative route through the city (rather than using it merely for access to local premises).

Plummer House Demolition - more photos

I took some more photos yesterday of the demolition in progress of Plummer House.

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/chapmans-plummer-house-demolition.html

oh, and apparently, Gareth is a C**T

Chapman's Plummer House Demolition

I love demolitions, me! You would think so, given the number of posts and photos I publish here, or perhaps that it is just the sheer number of buildings that have been demolished in recent years in Newcastle City Centre and Gateshead.  But there is something fascinating about watching the progress of a building being demolished - seeing a building being ripped apart by the pincer movements of a giant set of pliers, on the outstretched arm of a Thomson's of Prudhoe crane (or rather, the  Komatsu 450 high reach excavator machine with a grab attachment).

There is the thrill of destruction, the dramatic transformation of a building and its surroundings.  It is the odd perspective you get from peering into the innards of a building, the fabric and make up of a building; and the evidence of previous lives - a bit like seeing the personal effects of left behind in deserted towns such as the Belorussian town of Pripyat following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986.  And then, post-demolition, there is the emptiness, the gap, new views of the surrounding buildings are revealed; the landscape is changed, sight lines and perspectives are altered.

The latest one to have grabbed my attention is the part-demolition of Plummer House, the former Chapman's furniture store on the corner of Market Street, Carliol Square and John Dobson Street. Plummer House was built in 1910, and was home to Tilley's dance hall before Chapman's Furniture Store moved here from its Prudhoe Street location (where Prudhoe Chare is now - up the side of Marksies on Northumberland Street). Chapman's closed in 2012, and the building is to be converted into student flats.  Part of the building is listed (Market Street block) to it is the rear extension to the building on Carliol Square which is getting demolished.

Plans to demolish Liquid/Envy/Ritzy/Ikon/Studio/Tiffanys/Oxford

Last year, plans were submitted for the demolition of the Liquid / Envy nightclub on New Bridge Street, (but preserving the listed John Dobson House and portico) and replacing it with student flats, as I described here in more detail: http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/end-of-era-for-newcastle-city-night-spot.html.

I thought that work had commenced on this project last month, as there was a lot of activity around the area with construction workers eyeing up the entire structure with theodolites.  There also appeared to be some drilling going on.  But now its all gone quiet again.  It was obviously an in depth structural survey prior to new plans for the site being submitted to the council at the back end of June.

The plans appear to be very similar to the ones last year (although there are no artist impressions like those which accompanied the previous planning application).  There are fewer flats to be built, but they are to be housed in taller blocks than those shown above.

The Journey / Kitchen's Music Store

Having anticipated the opening of a new cafe on the Blue Carpet for some time (http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/new-cafe-bar-for-blue-carpet-square.html) and, in particular, the opening of the Sustrans/ ColoorCoffee/Recyke Y'Bikejoint venture, I was pleased get the chance to pop in for a cuppa after work recently.

As I sat enjoying my coffee, I reminisced that it was in this very spot, about 35 years ago, that I bought my first guitar - a Fender FC20 Classic - when the cafe was once a music shop called "Kitchens".

Now, I have scoured the internet (well a couple of Google and forum searches) for images of this music store but cannot find any at all.  I had begun to think that I was imagining it, when I stumbled on an article from a couple of years ago on the Evening Chronicle site.  Not only am I right and there was such a store here,  it seems I am in good company buying a guitar from Kitchens.  The article containing an interview where Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler reveal that it was Kitchen's music shop where he picked up his first guitar. He revealed that the shop manager who handed the instrument over had some sage advice for the would-be megastar: “He told me to stick at it,” said. “I should have taken his advice!”  He had  bought the guitar was bought from Kitchen’s music store, in the mid-1960s, when it occupied the corner unit of Higham House, on New Bridge Street West, where The Journey is now.

Come to think of it, I wish I had stuck at the guitar as well.

Anyway, The Journey opened its doors a few weeks ago now, and comprises a cafe serving great coffee in pleasant surroundings - great decor with glass fronted exterior providing views on to the 'Blue' Carpet and the historic Lying-In Hostipital (and former BBC) building.

Sustrans Cafe - The Journey Newcastle opens today

"The Journey" active travel centre and cafe has opened today, 18 May 2015, on the Blue Carpet, New Bridge Street, Newcastle.  After lots of activity over last couple of months, the place is looking fantastic!  Can't wait to pop in.

"Sustrans, Colour Coffee and Recyke Y'Bike working together to create an exciting new venue."

https://www.facebook.com/TheJourneyNCL

https://twitter.com/TheJourneyNCL

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/sustrans-to-open-bike-workshop-and-cafe.html

finishing touches getting ready for 18 May 2015 opening

Bun Stop Worswick Street

Aah, I see what they did there! I'm a bit slow on the uptake. It's taken me twenty odd years to "get" the reference: Bus Stop / Bun Stop - the former sandwich shop located next to the old Worswick Street Bus shelter, which has a sign with the typeface and colours of the old Northern Buses livery.

Now that was a great sandwich shop. It was a pity it closed. I used to love their cheese savoury baps and the all-day gut-buster breakfast sandwiches (not a menu item - just my name for them) I used to get from there.  I can't remember when it closed, possibly 10-15 years ago, and I had almost forgotten about it until I spotted that some continuing renovations to the building had revealed the old shop sign.

Jamie's Italian

Oh dear!

Last week, I had an enjoyable lunchtime meal at The Botanist, which was ram-packed with diners.  I had burger and chips served on a seed tray with a relish/salsa in a miniature preserving jar.  The Botanist is upstairs in the refurbished Monument Mall and now has an open-air bar area just below the glass dome.  

As I was leaving, though, I passed by Jamie's Italian restaurant which is below the Botanist on the ground floor of Monument Mall and I noticed that it was completely empty.  Something not quite right there! This place should be chocka, but its not.  Now, I've never been, but whenever I have asked anyone I know who has been what it is like, the response I get is "it was alright, but its too expensive for what it is".  Gordon Ramsey will be cockahoop!

There is plenty of competition in close proximity, but there seems to be plenty of customers to go round - everywhere else seems to be busy: Carluccios, Browns, Harry's Bar, Pleased to Meet You, Tyneside Cinema cafe, The Botanist, Fenwick's restaurants and cafés, to name but a few in the Grey's Monument, upper Grey Street part of Newcastle.  These place are all busy at lunchtimes as well as on an evening (except Fenwick's).  

It used to be a deserted even depressing part of town on an evening, but which all these new cafés and restaurants it has become quite a lively area, attracting the evening dining crowd.

Russian Ships Invade Newcastle

Royal navy frigates have been scrambled to intercept Russian ships which been spotted sailing up the river Tyne this morning.  

Unlike the Russian bombers which have flew close to UK airspace, testing our defences, these Russian ships have penetrated deep in UK territorial waters and have actually berthed on the Tyne at Newcastle's Quayside.

The Russian ships are here on the request of Durak Aprelski, the leader of the Russian separatists who occupied Newcastle last year, as reported here:

http://blog.therussiahouse.net/2014/04/russia-to-annex-newcastle-upon-tyne.html

Ok, I admit it, these pictures were taken in 1986 during the Tall Ships Race in Newcastle.

Work commences on Sustrans cycling hub

You heard it here first.  Back in January I told you that Sustrans was set to open a cycling hub and cafe on the Blue Carpet Square in Newcastle:

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/sustrans-to-open-bike-workshop-and-cafe.html

"Sustrans - the "leading charity enabling people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys" are set to open up a bicycle hub where cyclists can leave their bikes securely and have a shower."

Well, the builders are in, and they are in the process of stripping out the old fittings of Fusion Bar and commencing the necessary alterations.  

John Dobson Street to become a tree-lined boulevard

Tree-lined boulevards are not something I normally associate with Newcastle City Centre, and the track record of the council in respect of greenery in the city has not been good.  OK they probably tick all the boxes on urban green spaces, in no small part due to the Town Moor - a park which according to Wikipedia is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath combined (and larger than New York's Central Park), but greenery in the city centre is generally pretty sparse.  The last attempt of something coming anywhere close to resembling a tree-line boulevard was the planting of trees outside the central libary when it opened in 2009.  These were soon vandalised and destroyed, probably after a NUFC derby defeat, but were never replaced (nor are there plans to - the trees are absent on the above video).  

This could be about to change!  John Dobson Street is to become a Tree Lined Boulevard. Newcastle City Council has announced what they call as the “biggest investment in its roads for a generation”, with ambitious plans to turn John Dobson Street into an attractive  tree-lined boulevard. The plans include widened pavements, a dedicated two-way cycle track with limited vehicle access.

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/re-newcastle-transport-improvements/john-dobson-street-improvements

The soon-to-open Sustrans cycle hub and cafe on the Blue Carpet will complement the flagship cycling route.  They have already installed new bike racks outside the proposed 'hub'.

I think the plans look good. Widened footpaths, improved crossings, raised junctions, cycle routes, reducing unnecessary traffic, are all good measures to improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclists alike. But, unless something is done about the number of buses speeding through the city centre, these measures may not have the desired impact.

Gateshead flyover

It's a great flyover this, architecturally speaking, well at least I think it is, but it's absolute no fun been stuck on it for 50 minutes, as I was yesterday, or stuck under it for 15 minutes today. Dunno what's going on with the traffic this week. Ridiculous. Gridlocked everywhere. 

MEA House gets English Heritage Listing

Gleaming with pride in the Winter sun, MEA House, Newcastle celebrates its listing status with English Heritage.

"MEA House was the first office purpose-built to house multiple voluntary organisations under one roof, demonstrating the growing social relevance of the ‘third sector’. Designed in the early 70s by Ryder and Yates, its unique, innovative design dispenses with the need for columns, instead suspending the building slabs from deep beams within." http://heritagecalling.com/2015/01/28/14-of-the-finest-post-war-offices-designed-by-leading-architects/

I loved this building as soon as it was built back in 1974.  The mirrored glass exterior was unlike any other building in Newcastle at the time and was reminiscent of skyscrapers in American cities.  It is looking a bit dilapidated nowadays, especially the surrounding walkways, but the listing status may now encourage some money to be spent on its upkeep and refurbishment.

Lets hope it can avoid tubs of Artex in future!

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/mea-house-staircase-artex.html

Sustrans to open a bike workshop and cafe

Sustrans encourages us to "commute with confidence"

Back in September 2013, I blogged about a new cafe that looked to be opening in the Fusion bar / Supershop premises on the Blue Carpet: 
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/new-cafe-bar-for-blue-carpet-square.html.

Nothing came of this and the premises have remained empty ever since.  But, I have now heard that Sustrans - the "leading charity enabling people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys" are set to open up a bicycle hub where cyclists can leave their bikes securely and have a shower.  As well as promoting walking and cycling for our regular journeys, they will have people on hand to give advice on cycling and safe routes. There will also be a cafe on the premises.  Sustrans plan to move their Newcastle office to Higham House, above the cafe. 

Newcastle Winter sun - John Dobson Street

Newcastle in the Winter Sun - Grainger Street

Fenwick's Christmas Windows 1993

Fenwick's Christmas Window display

21 years cannot erase the emotional scars from the last time Alice in Wonderland was the theme for Fenwick's  Christmas display. Is it too soon? I think so. It seems like only yesterday that I recoiled at the ugly contorted face of Alice as she falls through the rabbit hole.  The soundtrack was no better - what with the Queen of Hearts exhortations to "chop off his head" followed by musical refrains of "chop chop chop off his head".  It wasn't well received by the people of the North East either, judging by the bad press it received at the time.

All last week, the windows of Fenwick's Newcastle store were the shrouded in black plastic, as the final tweaks were made to this year's Xmas display which was unveiled on Friday evening.   This annual event in Newcastle, for over forty years now, is hotly anticipated and draws more crowds each year.  This year's theme is Alice in wonderland - AGAIN.  I caught a glimpse of the display this week and was horrified. From 50 yards away, I immediately recognised the vortex representing Alice falling down the rabbit hole - surely not the same display?  On closer inspection, I could see that Alice was not quite as disturbing as the one years ago. Phew!

View of the Tyne from the Baltic

Looking North East from the second floor of the Baltic art gallery.  In the centre of the picture, below the triangle of white (part of the Byker Wall) you can see the old Sailor's Bethel on Horatio Street, which was once painted by LS Lowry:

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ls-lowry-sailors-bethel-newcastle.html