Newcastle Civic Centre | |
---|---|
General information | |
Location | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Address | Civic Centre Barras Bridge Haymarket Newcastle upon Tyne |
Coordinates | 54°58′44″N1°36′39″W / 54.9790°N 1.6109°W |
Completed | 1967 |
Inaugurated | 14 November 1968 |
Owner | Newcastle City Council |
Height | 200 ft (61 m) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | George Kenyon |
Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Civic Centre |
Designated | 16 November 1995 |
Reference no. | 1242692 |
Newcastle Civic Centre is a municipal building in the Haymarket area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. [1] Designed by George Kenyon, [2] the centre was built for Newcastle City Council in 1967 and formally opened by King Olav V of Norway on 14 November 1968. [3] It is a listed building with Grade II* status [4] and is the joint-eighth tallest building in the city, standing at a total of 200 feet (61 m). [5]
The civic centre was commissioned to replace a Victorian Town Hall which stood in St Nicholas Square (between the Bigg Market and the Cloth Market). [6] Plans to build a new city hall [7] on the site at Barras Bridge had been proposed prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, to the point of holding an architectural competition, although these were halted by the war; [8] and due to post-war restrictions on capital expenditure, it was not until August 1956 that authorisation to begin construction was granted. During the interim period, the demolition of houses and a former Eye Hospital on the intended site was implemented. [3] The building was designed by the city architect, George Kenyon. [2]
The construction work, which was undertaken by Sir Robert McAlpine, [9] commenced on the building in May 1960, and the foundation stone was laid by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Mrs Gladys Robson, on 30 November 1960. The total construction cost was £4,855,000. [3] The building was completed in 1967 and was formally opened by King Olav V of Norway on 14 November 1968. [10] On 6 May 1977, the Civic Centre was visited by the 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter, who delivered a speech famously containing the Geordie phrase "Howay the lads!" [11] A stone commemorating the event was placed in the Civic Centre grounds. [12]
The council leader's office was used as a filming location by a Japanese production team in 2014 for a drama set in 1960s Tokyo. [13]
The Civic Centre is also notable for its modern sculptures, in particular the "River God Tyne" and "Swans in Flight", both by David Wynne and the seahorses on the top of the tower by John Robert Murray McCheyne. [14] The cashiers reception of the former rates hall, now the Customer Service Centre, has two abstract murals by Victor Pasmore. [15]
Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located on the River Tyne's northern bank opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.
Geordie is an English dialect spoken in the Tyneside area of North East England, especially connected with Newcastle upon Tyne, and sometimes known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. The Geordie dialect and identity are primarily associated with a working-class background. A 2008 newspaper survey found the Geordie accent to be perceived as the "most attractive in England" among the British public.
John Dobson was a 19th-century English neoclassical architect. During his life, he was the most noted architect in Northern England. He designed more than 50 churches and 100 private houses, but he is best known for designing Newcastle railway station and his work with Richard Grainger developing the neoclassical centre of Newcastle. Other notable structures include Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn, Northumberland, and Beaufront Castle.
Newcastle upon Tyne Central was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2010 until its abolition for the 2024 general election by Chi Onwurah of the Labour Party. As with all constituencies since 1950, the constituency elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Newcastle upon Tyne was originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman Conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.
Haymarket is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the Haymarket area of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network as a terminus station on 11 August 1980, following the opening of the first phase of the network, between Haymarket and Tynemouth via Four Lane Ends.
Newcastle City Council is the local authority for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. Newcastle has had a council from medieval times, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It has been under Labour majority control since 2011. In 2024 the council became a member of the North East Combined Authority. The council is based at Newcastle Civic Centre.
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, situated north of the City Centre. It constituted a separate urban district of Northumberland from 1895 until 1974 before officially merging with the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 2001, it had a population of 23,620.
Haymarket is an area in the north of central Newcastle upon Tyne. The area has several transport hubs including Eldon Square bus station, Haymarket bus station and Haymarket Metro station. Haymarket features the facades of Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle University and Northumbria University. It is also the location of the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, a prominent city landmark.
Benton is an area of North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It is 4 miles (6 km) to the north east of Newcastle upon Tyne. The parish of St Bartholomew, Longbenton, is within the North Tyneside district. The population of the North Tyneside Ward taken at the Census 2011 was 10,359. The area is contiguous with the suburbs of Newcastle.
The Victoria Tunnel is a subterranean wagonway that runs under Newcastle upon Tyne, England, from the Town Moor down to the River Tyne. It was built between 1839 and 1842 to transport coal from Leazes Main Colliery in Spital Tongues, to riverside staithes (jetties), ready for loading onto boats for export.
Exhibition Park is a public park connected to the south-eastern corner of the Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The park is home to numerous facilities including sports areas, a boating lake, playgrounds and a skatepark.
Newcastle City Centre is the city centre district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the historical heart of the city and serves as the main cultural and commercial centre of the North East England region. The city centre forms the core of the Tyneside conurbation.
Jesmond is a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, situated north of the city centre and to the east of the Town Moor. Jesmond is considered to be one of the most affluent suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne, with higher average house prices than most other areas of the city.
Edward Charlton was an English physician, writer and historian.
John Shield was an English songwriter. One of his best known and liked songs at the time was "Bob Cranky's Adieu". Shield was a contemporary of the earliest Geordie dialect songwriters Thomas Thompson and John Selkirk.
The Bigg Market is a site of historical significance in Newcastle upon Tyne and dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was the site of a thriving marketplace that formed an important part of the Great North Road. The market was named after a type of coarse barley, called bigg, that was widely sold from the stalls. Other nearby markets included the Cloth Market and the Groat Market. The Bigg Market is located close to Newcastle Cathedral.
George Kenyon was a British architect, who worked as City Architect for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. He designed the Newcastle Civic Centre in the 1950s, which was completed in 1967. It was given 'Grade II* listed' designation in November 1995, making it legally protected from unauthorised alteration or demolition. Earlier in his career, Kenyon he was involved in the construction of the Empire State Building.
The Town Hall was a local government building located in St Nicholas Square, Newcastle upon Tyne. It was the headquarters of Newcastle City Council until November 1968.
Monument is an electoral ward and area of Newcastle upon Tyne. It was established as an electoral ward in 2018. It takes its name from Grey's Monument. It replaced most of Westgate ward, parts of South Jesmond and some of Ouseburn.
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