NZ2464 : Street view from Grey's Monument
taken 15 years ago, near to Gateshead, England
The dome on the corner of the central building is part of the Central Exchange Buildings, built by Richard Grainger in 1837 on a triangular site (Market Street provides the southernmost side). The central space was conceived as a corn-market but instead became a news room, then later, art gallery, concert hall and theatre.
Tyne and Wear HER (9021): Newcastle, Grey Street, Nos. 87 to 109, Exchange Buildings Link
When it was gutted by fire in 1901, the central space was developed into the Central Arcade, completed in 1906.
Tyne and Wear HER (6843): Newcastle, Grey Street, Central Arcade Link
On the left, are the Royal Exchange Buildings (previously Waterstones, and now H&M) with its own cast-iron street lamps outside NZ2464 : Royal Exchange Buildings, 104-108 Grey Street, just beyond the entrance to the underground Monument Metro Station NZ2464 : Entrance to Monument Metro Station. Further down Grey Street, you can see Lloyds Bank NZ2464 : Lloyds Bank, Grey Street and the portico of the Theatre Royal NZ2464 : Theatre Royal, Grey Street on the left, and on the right, the magnificent curve of buildings that comprise its west side NZ2464 : Grey Street
Richard Grainger's second street, named for him on the right, is much plainer than Grey Street. Down to the first junction on the right, only his façade remains as internally the buildings have been incorporated into the modern Eldon Square Shopping Centre. Beyond Nelson Street, the frontage forms the east side of the massive, Grainger Market, one of the three of his most important legacy buildings. Much further down the road, you can just make out the junction with Newgate Street and the Bigg Market, with the clock on the square tower of St John's Church visible in the far distance.
In the right, foreground, set into the plinth that supports Grey's Monument, are two of the perspex cube installations that make up Simon Watkinson's, 'Head Cubes', made in 2002, using casts of the Earl Grey statue taken when it was cleaned Tyne and Wear HER (10989): Newcastle, Grey's Monument, 'Head Cubes' Link
Present-day Newcastle owes much of its architecture to the partnership of Richard Grainger Link
Grainger was a builder who built many important buildings in Newcastle. Dobson was an architect, with whom Grainger worked on many projects. Between 1824 and 1826, Grainger built most of Eldon Square and Blackett Street. In 1829, Dobson and Grainger built Leazes Terrace and Leazes Crescent, and in 1832, they completed the Royal Arcade at the foot of Pilgrim Street.
In 1839, the two men completed their most ambitious project covering 12 acres (49,000 m2) in central Newcastle, on the site of Newe House (also called Anderson Place). They built three new thoroughfares, Grey Street, Grainger Street and Clayton Street, with many connecting streets, as well as the Central Exchange and the Grainger Market.
Dobson was the one who provided the creative drive behind the project and Grey Street is considered to be his finest creation with its elegant curve. Unfortunately most of old Eldon Square was demolished in the 1960s in the name of progress. The Royal Arcade met a similar fate.
The name, Grainger Town, was first applied to this part of the City Centre in 1991 by the City Council and the Grainger Town Partnership was set up to co-ordinate its regeneration and revitalisation.
Link
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- Grid Square
- NZ2464, 2603 images (more nearby 🔍)
- Photographer
- Andrew Curtis (more nearby)
- Date Taken
- Sunday, 24 January, 2010 (more nearby)
- Submitted
- Tuesday, 26 January, 2010
- Subject Location
-
OSGB36:
NZ 2486 6439 [10m precision]
WGS84: 54:58.4106N 1:36.7902W - Camera Location
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OSGB36: NZ 2486 6442
- View Direction
- SOUTH (about 180 degrees)
