IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
NE1 6RW

By Howell Brooks Tucker & Partners, c1971. Were it not for the ungainly projection its scale would not be, as Pevsner judges, inappropriate, but it's never going to win any beauty contests. In any case, it seems improbable that it will last much longer (beyond 2015).

The cleared site was, until recently, occupied by Commercial Union House, a large city centre office block. The building has been demolished to make way for new development. The rear of Carliol House can be seen on the right of the photo.

Shows the location of Image (it's on the nearest pillar supporting the projecting part of the building). See also Image

View shows the Odeon Cinema building (built for Paramount in 1931 as an American style super-cinema with a Wurlitzer organ, orchestra and Tiller Girls). The Northumberland & Newcastle Society are currently campaigning to preserve the building, which has one of the best Art Deco interiors in Europe. There is another view here Image Tyne and Wear HER (6449): Newcastle, Pilgrim Street, Odeon Cinema (Paramount) http://www.twsitelines.info Beyond the cinema is a modern office block, Commercial Union House, part of which straddles the east side of the street, probably part of the 1960s master plan to ruin the City Centre. Pilgrim Street may be the oldest road in Newcastle. Its name is connected with the pilgrims who passed along it and through the Pilgrim Gate in the town walls, to visit St. Mary's Chapel in Jesmond. Tyne and Wear HER (6490): Newcastle, Pilgrim Street http://www.twsitelines.info The Pilgrim Gate, situated at the north end of Pilgrim Street, was demolished in 1802. Newcastle Libraries has an engraving from 1786 here http://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlelibraries/4090512201/ Tyne and Wear HER (1549): Newcastle town wall, Pilgrim Street Gate http://www.twsitelines.info

For another view of location and description see Image

In the foreground, a pillar that holds up the ugly 1970s Commercial Union Building above half the road, is brightened by the addition of a red, white and blue, 'Space Invader' mosaic. There is a panoramic view from just south here Image

The location of this artwork is shown in Image (it's on the front end of the horizontal beam linking the pillars holding up the rectilinear dark grey concrete and glass monstrosity that's intruding into the street). See also Image

Shows the location of Image (it's on the nearest pillar supporting the projecting part of the building - centre). See also Image

The former Paramount Cinema, the last complete Paramount in Britain: latterly the Odeon (future uncertain). 1930-31 by Frank Verity and Samuel Beverly. Art Deco interior by Charles Fox. The ghastly building to the right, projecting out into the road on pilotis, is Commercial Union House by Howell Brooks Tucker & Partners, completed in 1971. Source of information : Grace McCombie (2009) : Newcastle and Gateshead (Pevsner Architectural Guides - Yale University Press) p143