North-East

North-east group

We are based in North Tyneside, but also cover from the Scottish Borders to Teesside, and concentrate on identifying local C20 buildings at risk and supporting the campaigns for preservation.There are many interesting local C20 buildings, bridges and monuments in our area that span the century, from the recognised local treasures (e.g. Ralph Erskine’s Byker Wall, Wills’ Tobacco Factory, and Newcastle Civic Centre), to those unjustly at threat of demolition. We became involved with C20 through personally campaigning to attempt to save Gateshead’s Brutalist behemoths, Owen Luder’s Trinity Square car park and shopping centre (a.k.a. the Get Carter Car Park) and Derwent Tower (see buildings at risk).  We have also had involvement with the Apollo Pavilion (Victor Pasmore, 1969), submitting an application for listing on behalf of the Apollo Pavilion Community Association in April 2010 (EH’s decision is still pending).  Comprehensively restored in 2009 and winner of a Civic Trust Award in 2010, the Pavilion is a gem hidden in the heart of the Sunny Blunts estate in Peterlee, County Durham and, with a ten year maintenance plan in place, thankfully is no longer at risk.  See www.apollopavilion.info for more information on the Pavilion.

News

Recently, our attention has been concentrated on the case for the Ryder and Yates buildings of Killingworth’s Stephenson Industrial Estate in North Tyneside – a rare example of so many buildings designed and built in one area by a single practice for a single client.  The significant group worth created by these individually impressive buildings is key to the importance of the Killingworth set, as is the growing awareness of the significance of Ryder and Yates as an architectural practice (see Rutter Carroll, Ryder and Yates, C20/RIBA 2009).  Although we are aware that the owners of Norgas House and Stephenson House are keen to find tenants, Notices of Demolition were submitted for both vacant buildings in 2010.  C20 awaits a full response from EH on this case - see C20 Magazine, Winter/Spring 2011 for more details.

There are currently a number of important C20 buildings at risk in our area. Many cases have been brought to C20’s attention by members of the public, so if you know of a post-1914 building in the north east that’s under threat or that you think should be listed, please get in touch.

Events

We are keen to hear about the types of events people would like to seein our region (e.g. tours, exhibitions, film screenings, talks etc).

Contact details
John and Karen Topping can be reached by email at northeast(at)c20society.org.uk