Gateshead in 50 memorable buildings
IF frequently overshadowed by its illustrious neighbour on the other side of the River Tyne, Gateshead does have a sizeable, rich heritage of its own.
A new book, Gateshead in 50 Buildings, explores the town’s history through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures.
From the fairy-tale Saltwell Tower to the stunning new Millennium Bridge and Baltic Arts Centre, this unique study celebrates Gateshead’s architectural heritage.
Local author Rob Kirkup guides the reader on a tour of the town’s historic buildings and modern architectural marvels.
If much of Gateshead’s old industry has vanished, in recent years there has been a revival in the town’s social and cultural infrastructure which has placed it firmly on the tourist map.
This fascinating history is embodied in the rich Victorian architecture that has shaped the town.
The images here are just some of the illustrations of buildings and structures - old and new, past and present - that have characterised Gateshead.
The town has not always enjoyed a favourable press, however.
In 1934, playwright JB Priestly in his travelogue English Journey said of Gateshead: “The whole town appeared to have been carefully designed by an enemy of the human race. Insects can do better than this.”
But Rob Kirkup, an author of several books, says: “Gateshead in 2018 is unrecognisable from the Gateshead that Priestly was so damning of. “The old town was filled with sights and smells of coal staiths, flour mills, chemical works, roperies, and even a fat-rendering plant. “Gateshead has been transformed in the decades since. In 2011, for example, South Shore Road on Gateshead Quays was voted Britain’s Hippest Street.” Certainly, take a stroll by the river today, and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, The Sage music centre, and the Millennium Bridge all point to a brighter future. ■■Gateshead in 50 Buildings, by Rob Kirkup, Amberley Publishing, priced £14.99, is on sale now.