Today’s photo was taken by Nicole, my (Cassandra) roommate while I lived in Newcastle. If you’ve got a moment, visit her writing blog! http://a-writing-life.blogspot.com
The Haymarket scheme, led by private developer 42nd Street Hub, will see the station completely rebuilt with a new four-storey building above the concourse and improved passenger facilities at ground level and below.
Landmark steel arched trusses form the frame of the building.
Tolent Construction are currently building the project, due to be completed in late 2009, based on the design devised and developed by Newcastle architects Reid Jubb Brown Partnership working together with consulting engineers Arup and Metro’s own project and engineering staff.
It looks like it’s going to be a fantastic structure when it’s done. And it provides a perfect foil for the monument (Victory?) in the foreground.
Love it. And like the way the architects, whether by accident or design, have echoed the arch of the Blinking Eye.
As .previously stated by Alf, the statue commenmorates the Fallen in the Boer War. Not Victory. Victory is an illusion.
It looks fabulous.
Will there be offices above the concourse then?
I didn’t think the angel was Victory either, Mrs. K. but it appears we were both wrong:
A hexagonal ashlar obelisk sitting on a double hexagonal base and ringed in bronze at the top. On this stands the winged bronze figure of ‘Victory’ on a stone base facing north, a down-turned sword in her left hand, a laurel crown in her outstretched right and a scabbard at her side.
Well that’s us both telt. All we need for a perfect picture is some of Dave’s green twiddly bits.
Hilda, Mrs K, & Alf - Make sure to check out Sunday, there will be more on ‘Victory’
Rachel - The new building will feature shops, a bar-restaurant and offices.
Wow that’s really neat. So many things change around the Toon. I have been away FAR too long. I need to journey back. It makes me ‘homesick’…. lol
Alf
well it may be Victory and we are both telt, but victory is still an illusion and I have decided I still like the statue.
And I am pleased the new building does not take away from it but somehow enhances it.
We used to sit around the base whilst lads queued to get into Haymarket Cinema and when they got near the front of the queue we joined. Mind not in the winter - then we just had to stand in the damn queue.
Mrs. K. you’ve set the old memory going now. The Haymarket cinema, I had almost forgotten it. Very plush if I remember right. Queuing to get in the pictures is a thing of the past too, I reckon. I recall queueing round the block at the Bensham in Gateshead to see John Wayne in The Quiet Man and we were allowed to book seats, upstairs in the Palladium (the Pal to friends) to see The Dambusters. Didn’t this site used to be about photographs?
This is a great shot and the comments on here are really interesting! I like the look of this new build now, and wasn’t sure before.
When Haymarket Metro was originally built, the angel was removed, as the engineers were worried that the vibrations caused by excavating the tunnels might cause it to wobble off its pedestal! I remember this distinctly: I was a kid at the time, and my dad worked for the Tyneside Passenger Transport Executive (as it was then known). I visited him at work one day (in Byker bus Depot), and he showed me the angel where it was stored. It was on it’s side, behind some hoardings, but you could look at it through some mesh. It looked absolutely enormous to me. I can’t imagine that many people will have seen it at ground level!
Alf - yes definitely some green twiddli-ness needed - it’s becoming legendary! ;)
Alf
It still is about photographs.
But without these two taking them I would not have seen half of what is going on in Newcastle as I don’t get out and about much at present. The memories come flooding back - its like when you look at your old box brownie stuff but much more interesting. I like to see changes and one thing I have to say for us, is that now we have rid of that carbuncle on the side of what was the old Chronicle Building and when my side of the River gets rid of that monstrosity of a car park, we are not doing so badly.
Dave, I love green twiddli-ness its been there all my life. I sometimes try and imagine what they would have looked like when it was copper coloured. I sort of decided, I would like it green better.
Beth and Cassandra - you can always tell us off for blathering.
Alf, Dave, Mrs K - this site is more than photographs to me. It’s the community, both those who still live in the north east and those who have left. I love it when I post a pic that brings back memories - and Dave I’m amazed that you’ve seen that angel like that!
I’ll never tell you off for blathering. I love to listen/join in.