On Pilgrim Street, looking towards Swan House roundabout (Swan House is now 55 degrees North, a place where rich people live - but it’s effectively the middle of a roundabout, albeit a very expensive one). Taken on an August evening while out with friends.
visits
since April 2006.
Oo, request for a close up view of Swan house Roundabout when you have time. I like roundabouts. Would love to see what the flats look like on it!
Ruby - apartments, daaahling ;o) I’ll get another photo at some point, but the white building to the top left of middle is the building in the middle of the roundabout. It used to be Swan House, the BT building. The big pink wave… thing is also in the roundabout, and the lit up sign where it says Metro Radio.
Alderman Fenwick’s house, as posted here, is to the right as you look at this photo.
I found this (can’t remember what I was looking for now!) but if anyone is interested it’s fascinating.
Hi B, Pilgraim Street has one of my favourite restaurants - Paradiso, which is behind Poppolo’s.
Also - Pilgrim Street is going to be redeveloped extensively. It’s a bit tired looking in places, and the council have recognised that it’s a prime piece of the central business district. Planning for this has been going on for over a year, and strangely enough a final report was published in Oct this month about what their preferred option is going to be. It’s going to be fab of course! More shopping :-) , and with offices and accomodation.
I reckon they should bring back the Royal Arcade that was in the Timmonet link in your post, looks fab!
Preffered Option Report contains the latest news.
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/pilgrimstreet
Mike
Just a little correction - the building belonged to the old DHSS. BT leased part of it - mainly the top floors.
We watched the roundabout being built and the building as we were located in Carliol Square and worked mainly on the top three floors. It was fascinating to watch. The sad thing was that the view of Holy Jesus Hospital was then lost - you could only see the top half.
The Royal Arcade was demolished brick by brick and they numbered them. When they came to re-instate it, underneath Swan House, they found the numbers had worn off.
The underground tunnels to access the building were a nightmare after dark. I assume they are now well lit up.
Hope the developers don’t destroy the older buildings on Pilgrim Street, they could leave the facade and build behind contemporary accommodation. They do not seem to get the facades right, unless they build outrageously. Mind I like new buildings in the right place.
Apartments, eh? I seeee! I had a look at the fascinating article, lol. It had some fascinating photographs on it. I have to say I prefer the derelict bits they knocked down, to Swan House! Wonder what they look like inside?
Haven’t been to Paradiso or Poppolos, Mike, will have to get myself along there sometime. I’ve always thought that you come across the Tyne Bridge, all impressive-looking - and then if you go onto Pilgrim Street it just all goes horribly wrong, everything looks old and worn and horrible. I’m glad they’re going to redevelop, but do we really, really need more shopping in Newcastle - isn’t the new Debenhams and all that going to be enough or even too much?
Can you tell that shopping isn’t my idea of a good time?!
Mrs K, I’m always glad you come along and keep me on my toes, everyone just always told me Swan House was the BT building.
One of my friends regularly has to use the subway round there and although it’s well lit, it is apparently still very scary (and this is a 21 year old who thinks she’s indestructible). The security guards in her building watch for them coming out the other side on CCTV, but as she pointed out, she could be dead by the time they know to raise the alarm.
Funnily enough, one of my next few posts is going to be the sports bar on Grainger Street, where everything collapsed *apart* from the facade!
Ruby, I never looked through that timmonet link generally before last night - it’s a great site generally. Love it. And yes, Swan House isn’t the most inspiring building in the world, is it?! The hubby has been inside some of the apartments, but not the really expensive penthouses at the top. Still - he’s lucky!