IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Pendower Way, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 6SP

Well lit by the evening moon.

Hodgkin House / Royal Victoria School for the Blind was built by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect responsible for the Natural History Museum in London, for Dr Thomas Hodgkin, a notable local historian and banker in Newcastle. But by 1894 he had given it to the Royal Victoria School for the Blind and moved away. He gave the gardens to the Urban District of Benwell for use as a park. Hodgkin Park opened in 1899. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourism/parks-and-countryside/hodgkin-park

A glimpse through the trees of the former Benwell Towers, recently The Mitre public house. It was designed by John Dobson for Thomas Crawhall in 1831 and was later home to the Bishop of Newcastle and had an attached chapel. In 1989 the building featured as the Byker Grove youth club in the BBC children's television series Image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mitre,_Newcastle_upon_Tyne A full history of the building is given here http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=25061 and some excellent photos here http://newcastlephotos.blogspot.com/2009/07/benwell-towers-mitre.html Filming finished in 2007 but sale and development of the site has proved difficult. The grounds are said to be infested with Japanese Knotweed, contain an old burial ground and are the site of an old well, the Ben Well, which gave the area its name. The building was reportedly sold in 2010 to an individual on behalf of a community group http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/09/01/byker-grove-tv-set-in-benwell-is-finally-sold-72703-27178963/ and is intended as an Islamic school http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/11/06/byker-grove-to-be-an-islamic-school-72703-27613149/#ixzz14VpNmBKk

The ornamental gates are at the north entrance to the northerly section of Hodgkin Park on Benwell Lane. The wording in painted cut steel is 'From Lovers Lane to Gretna Road' and 'Lover's Refuge / Nature's Asylum' A reflection of local place names and, I guess, the park's place in local life. Public Monuments and Sculpture Association: http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9558/

This was formerly the lodge to Benwell Towers (recently The Mitre public house) and a listed building http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=304399&resourceID=5

Wonderful greasy spoon in the heart of Benwell. Closed at time of photograph-hope it is still up and running.

These are the type of shops you will find in any similar district.

Yes, this is the Grove miles away from Byker in the heart of South Benwell. Check out officious insecurity man on left of picture screaming "NO PHOTOS!".

Leading up to the West Road. Name indicates Roman activity nearby and indeed the West Road follows the course of Hadrian's Wall.

Off Benwell Lane lies a big old house where they film "Byker" Grove. Notice Zenith North logo on the sign-that's the production company responsible.