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Where's Geordie?

How well do you know Newcastle upon Tyne? Do you recognise where the photos posted were taken?

12/09/2026

Here's a leftover from late 20th century Newcastle I'd forgotten all about, until I passed it recently. It was the only vegetarian restaurant in the city, located up the concrete walkway that leads to the entrance to Bewick Court. This zone, called Upper Princess Square, was created when the Court was built in 1970 and can be seen as the culmination of the 'city in the sky' vision of Sixties’ town planning. Nowadays, it's all rather neglected.

Super Natural arrived in the upper square in 1978 and became a mainstay of foodie culture as well as student life in the city into the Eighties. The place was relaunched in 2015 to incorporate vegan food. In this 21st century incarnation, it has since moved to Grainger Street, but the old site and the old sign remain for the time being.

Did you eat here when it first opened?

Thanks to Steve Masters for this post on the Newcastle Upon Tyne Buildings & Architects FB Page.

11/09/2026

The entrance to the Laing Art Gallery, shortly after it's opening, c. 1904.

The Laing Art Gallery was born from an act of generosity. In 1900, Alexander Laing (1828–1905), a successful Newcastle wine and spirit merchant, offered to build a gallery ‘for the free use and enjoyment of the public in perpetuity’.

Designed by the architects Cackett & Burns Dick in Baroque style with Art Nouveau flourishes, the gallery opened in 1904 to huge crowds. On that day, Laing was awarded the Freedom of the City. He died just a year later, but his gift has shaped Newcastle’s cultural life ever since.

Unlike most galleries, the Laing opened without a collection.

Laing was not himself an art collector, but he trusted that the people of Newcastle would fill the space. Local generosity soon poured in: industrialists, philanthropists and artists made donations, and acquisitions were supported by national funds.

The result is a collection now recognised by Arts Council England as one of national importance.
Thanks to The Laing Art Gallery website for the information.

Do you have a favourite painting from the gallery?
Mine is ‘Blinking in the Sun’ by Ralph Hedley (below).

10/09/2026

Thanks to Michael Preston of the Newcastle Upon Tyne History in Photographs FB Page for this post.

The Metrocentre is located on the former site of Dunston Power Station. It opened in stages, with the first phase opening on 28 April 1986, and the official opening being held on 14 October that year. The centre also featured an entirely enclosed theme park called Metroland. Renamed The New Metroland following refurbishment in 1996.

09/09/2026

Thanks to Jill Gibson of the Tyneside Past and Present FB page for this great view across the rooftops, looking towards the Moot Hall, Castle Keep and Cathedral.
Post from 2021.

08/09/2026

The Palace Theatre on Percy Street.
The Palace Theatre opened on Monday the 23rd of December 1895 with Thomas Barrasford as its Manager. The new Palace Theatre had an auditorium built on three levels, stalls and pit, and two circles, along with four boxes and accommodation for what was stated in the ERA of the time to have been between 3,000 and 4,000 people. The building underwent refurbishment in 1903 on a grand scale and was very elaborate inside, with a cream and gold colour scheme, ventilation, electric lights, mahogany panelling and marble stairs.
The Palace Theatre closed in 1958 when the touring shows dried up and it was demolished in 1961. A row of unremarkable shops stand on the Theatre's site today, on the corner of St Thomas’ Street and Percy Street.

07/09/2026

Akenside Hill and Queen Street. The walk up the hill takes you up to All Saints Church. Great photo by Joe Tollitt.
Mark Akenside was a Newcastle born 18th century poet and distinguished physician.

06/09/2026

Ridley Place
1976
Thanks to Joe Tollitt for this post on the Newcastle Upon Tyne Buildings & Architects FB Page.

Do you have any memories of this street from that period?

05/09/2026

Great picture of the Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth by Darren Chapman.
Made out of clay and weighing an incredible three quarters of a tonne, the sculpture of a life size Aberdeen Angus bull is a big talking point at Morpeth's £32 million Sanderson Arcade, which opened in November 2009.

The magnificent bull captures the historic spirit of the market town of Morpeth, where Aberdeen Angus bulls were brought from the borders of Scotland to be sold.

04/09/2026

Thanks to Martin Oliver for this post on his Newcastle Upon Tyne Buildings & Architects FB Page.

The replacement of the head on Grey's Monument

By the way, if you find this interesting, give it a thumbs up! It really helps support the page. 👍

The Incident (1941)

On July 25, 1941, a freak bolt of lightning struck the statue of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, located 130 feet (40 metres) above the ground.

The stone head snapped off and crashed to the street below, reportedly landing on a passing tram / near Grainger Street.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

The Headless Years (1941–1947)

Due to wartime shortages and priorities during WWII, the decapitated statue remained headless atop the column for nearly seven years.

The Replacement (1947–1948)

The Sculptor:

Newcastle sculptor Roger Hedley (son of the famous local artist Ralph Hedley) was commissioned to sculpt a replica head weighing roughly 303 kg in his St Mary's Place workshop.

Installation:

In July 1947, steeplejacks and scaffolders erected scaffolding around the top of the 130-foot column.

The new head was hauled up and secured in place, fully restoring the statue in January 1948.

03/09/2026

Commercial Union House was built in 1971 straddling Pilgrim Street. Many thought it was a monstrosity and it was demolished in 2022 to make way for office developments. Note BHS which is clearly visible just off-centre.

British Home Stores were on Pilgrim Street temporarily while their Northumberland Street store was being rebuilt. They were there between January 1972 and December 1974.

Thanks to Peter Dawson and Marshall Hall of the Classic Photos Of Newcastle and Of The East End FB Page for the pictures and info.

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