14 Comments

• At 2009.12.06 00:35, CGP said:

  yeah, that’s like the greggs steak bake stadium, or whatever they changed the name to, it’ll always be the hancock.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 14:30, mrs K said:

  . In 1890 the well-known North East naturalist John Hancock, who had been instrumental in the campaign for setting up the new museum, died aged 83 years. The Museum was re-named the Hancock Museum in honour of him and his brother Albany.

  Does Newcastle Univeristy and its sidekicks think they can just re-name something to what means absolutely zilch. Where is this ‘Great North’, its not in the UK as that Great North would be located in Scotland, its not in England, because we have the North East and the North West.

  OK we have the Great North Run and that was also a misnomer but to latch onto something which just does not exist is a no-brainer.

  I do not live in the @Great North, I live in Tyneside (bad enough we got lumbered with Tyne & Wear) So from henceforth I shall call it ‘Hancock Museum - Tyneside’.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 19:19, Dave said:

  Yeah I sort of agree Mrs K, but I recently read ‘Pies and Prejudice’ by Stuart Maconie. (ALL readers of this site and lovers of Newcastle and Gateshead must read this immediately!) Anyway the author is from the North West, and goes ‘in search of the North’. When he gets as far as us, he finds the ‘Great North’, i.e. us, rather than the more generic ‘North’ that southerners would think of. So I sort of like the phrase.

  But I DO know what you mean, and it will always be the Hancock to me I think!

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 19:24, Dave said:

  By the way, I’m sad that the old Newgate Street Co-Op towers aren’t accessible any more; anyone remember the lovely ornate staircases, with the female figures supporting the handrails? Mrs K and Alf - of course you do! (I thought of this because of yesterday’s photo and comments about the elegant clocks in Newcastle! I think that Co-Op must be 1930s.

  On the subject of Newgate Street Co-op, I’m a bit disappointed with the new building opposite; I think they could’ve designed something much more attractive.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 20:05, alf stone said:

  Well said, Mrs. K, the museum was named as a tribute to the brothers Hancock and should remain that way. They have renamed most of our pubs, St. James’ Park is up for grabs, whatever next? I spent many a happy hour in the Hancock as a child and with my children and grandchildren but having looked at their website, I think it might be a while before I visit again. The events advertised under “things to see and do” include a roaring 20s night, a Jazz party and a stand up comedy night, The wonderful displays and collections are relegated to second place. I’m starting to feel like one of the dinosaurs they had in their wonderful exhibition about five years ago.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 20:37, alf stone said:

  Sorry, Dave, I didn’t see your comment until after I had posted mine. I am a slow typist. I certainly remember the towers in the Coop on Newgate Street, they were quite impressive. The building opened in 1932 so you were spot on. In the 60s I remember they opened the Rainbow Rooms on the top floor and I went to many of a works do there. It was a very popular venue for the old-fashioned dinner dance.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 21:44, Dave said:

  Yes Alf, I’ve been to a works do there too! It would be the late 80s / early 90s, and I think I’m right in saying the Rainbow Rooms weren’t used much after that.

  I also distinctly remember going with my mam, dad and sis for a meal there, so I think it must have also been available as a regular restaurant or cafe then - or maybe there was an alternative on the same floor as the Rainbow Rooms. That would be the early 70s.

  Seems a shame that it is all no more, doesn’t it? Unless there are plans for it; they’re doing something on the ground floor in the shop, but it’s nothing like the huge store that it was.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 21:45, Dave said:

  I haven’t been to the revamped Hancock yet and the above (and one or two comments I’ve heard elsewhere) isn’t making me want to go there in any hurry!

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 22:31, alf stone said:

  Don’t let my jaundiced view put anybody off visiting the Hancock, whoops, sorry, the Great North Museum. I was really having a swipe at the administrators who think they have to be hip and interactive to draw in the visitors. If all the old exhibits are still there it will be still worth a visit. Well it kept me going back for over 50 years.

  Dave, as always, Timmonet has some excellent shots of the interior of the Co-op here:

  http://www.timmonet.co.uk/html/newcastle_co-op.htm

  Thanks for the tip about “Pies and Prejudice”. I love a good pun.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 23:38, Beth said:

  I suspect that as long as it says ‘Hancock Museum’ above the door, the people will know what to call it :)

  I’m so sad that I’ve only ever been on the ground floor of the Co-op. Hopefully it will open again one day…

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.06 23:55, Ash said:

  I might be a bit out of line here with emotions running high on this museum but I did take my children to the Hancock several years ago with my mother and she and I both agreed that although there were many unique, wonderful exhibits, many of the displays were not looking their best…tired, dusty we thought. We felt The Hancock Museum had been somewhat neglected over the years and not as I had remembered it when I had visited so many times as a child.
  I will certaily check out “Pies and Prejudice” as suggested…thanks Dave!

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.07 02:40, mrs K said:

  Oops, did not mean to start a runner. But a mate of mine, now Mayor (bragging again) down South has just won a battle to retain a name on a building that has been renovated and the old name means a lot in that part of England. I guess we are all in the same boat, trying to hang onto things that are part of the local heritage.

  Ash, it did need re-furbishing and it got it in spades - but do we not have enough places for Jazz Nights etc. But I suppose if it is to generate income and keep costs down - up with it we must put.

  Dave - will put ‘Pies and Prejudice’ in my Santa letter.

  Maybe I am a dinosaur and I know we cannot keep everything as it was (I helped to get a listed building demolished). But some things just do not need re-naming.

  Ah, the Rainbow Rooms, weddings, tea dances, engagements, twenty firsts (in the days when it meant something), works do’s, christenings. Yes Co-op was top of the heap. You could even take out a store club in advance and save it all up and then use it to pay for the hire. And whilst the dance floor was not up to Oxford standard it was pretty good.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.07 02:45, CGP said:

  ‘Pies and Prejudice’ by Stuart Maconie is a great book, i’d also recommend Northern Pride by John Grundy (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Northern-Pride-John-Grundy/dp/0233001034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260150224&sr=1-1) a fantastic read about northern architecture.

  [Reply]
• At 2009.12.08 14:32, Dave said:

  This is all great! Great comments as ever… thanks Alf for the link; thanks for your recommendation CGP!

  [Reply]