Life and times of old city shopping centre
NEWCASTLE’S Newgate Shopping Centre was a fixture for less than 50 years.
Built in 1969 as areas of the city centre underwent major redevelopment, by 2016 it was itself being razed to the ground.
A new £100m hotel, student accommodation and shopping complex is currently taking shape as Newcastle marches into the 21st century.
Our three main images come from Whitley Bay-based photographer Trevor Ermel, a regular Chronicle contributor.
They show the Newgate Centre in 1995.
We see a bus from the Blue Bus Company passing the centre, with the Swallow Hotel in the left background and Jessops photographic shop.
There is a busy scene taken from outside Jessops shop, looking towards the Co-op building in the centre background.
And, there is a shot from inside the centre, with the Wimpy fast food restaurant on the right. Remember that place?
By this time, as we can see, the centre was struggling with footfall as shoppers headed to the ever-popular Northumberland Street, and Eldon Square shopping centre which had opened in 1976.
It was back in the 1970s that the Newgate Centre had been home to a men’s boutique called For The Exclusive Man.
Opened by Newcastle United superstar Malcolm Macdonald in 1972, many of us - as young fans would hang around outside the shop hoping for a glimpse of our footballing hero.
Before the shopping centre came along, the site was home to the popular Empire Theatre which attracted generations of North East fun-seekers until it was demolished in 1963.
Further back in time, Newgate Street was one of Newcastle’s earliest thoroughfares and the site of thriving medieval markets.
It current name came into use in the 1700s, commemorating the strongest of the Town Wall gates, and the infamous jail which stood there for nearly 400 years.
Today’s Newgate Street bears little resemblance to the one of even 50 years ago.
The new hotel, flats and retail complex is due to open next year.