Back in time to old Market Street
HERE’S a classic shot of Newcastle city centre from the Chronicle archives. This is Market Street in 1955. It’s busy with shoppers - and cars are nonchalantly parked up. Imagine trying that today!
On the left, we see the entrance to the Central Arcade, which is still going strong. (Anybody been to Window’s music store lately?)
Built in 1837 – the same year Queen Victoria came to the throne – the tripledomed Central Arcade was part of the Central Exchange complex built by Richard Grainger.
The triangular building was originally a commercial exchange, then subscription newsroom, and later an art gallery, before it was damaged by fires in 1867 and 1901. It was rebuilt in 1906 and the Central Arcade, an elegant Edwardian shopping arcade, was constructed within the original building. On the right, we see the grand old retail favourites of Bainbridge and Binns, present and correct next door to each other. Bainbridge had traded in the city since 1838. Arguably the world’s first department store, it was situated here in Market Street until 1976 when it moved lock, stock and barrel to its present location in the heart of the Eldon Square complex.
The store traded as Bainbridge until 2002 when the name was changed to John Lewis Newcastle.
Nowadays, as we see in our modern image, a more modest Cooperative food store sits where Bainbridge once reigned supreme.
Binns would finally close its doors in 1996. The facade would remain but its vast interior was demolished.
It was a good year for the city, 1955. Newcastle United won their third FA Cup in five years, their last major domestic trophy to date.
And it was a great time to be young with full employment meaning there were plenty of jobs for school leavers.
Rock’n’roll would soon arrive on the scene and a powerful new social group called “teenagers” finally stepped out from the shadow of their parents.
Those were the days.
Binns department store would close its doors in 1996, the facade would remain, but its vast interior was demolished