A Geordie Life

Doesn't look like much does it, but this car park is a famous landmark that was controversial from the get go. Of course my memories of it precede Get Carter (my cousin was in the dance hall scene as a extra). That brick wall on Jackson Street in Gateshead is hundreds of years old (I think it's from roman days) and I tinkled next to it behind a billboard. Yes that is my claim to fame LOL! Oh! I was only 6 and desperate, as was my nana and mum to find a loo for me, but alas nature was demanding. I loved going to Gateshead with my mum and nana, the shops, the old buildings, churches and pubs. Those are my good memories. As for the car park, that is where at 16 I was attacked. I was several floors up and waving to my sis in the square below. I was about to get on the lift when a man stopped me, grabbed me by the throat and started to drag me towards a car screaming he was going to teach me a lesson. It is almost surreal when you are attacked. Forget logic, your body and your brain don't connect or work too well. I couldn't even process for a few seconds what was happening, my body went limp and I tried to scream but no sound came out. It was only when he had dragged me a few feet next to the car that I gave out a hell raising scream and some shopper came racing up to rescue me. That is the bad memory.

It is one of many incredibly ugly building that went up in Gateshead and Newcastle during the late 50's 60's and early 70's, an architectural movement called Brutalist. Putting aside the aesthetics (that is always subjective) the architecture and surroundings proved unfriendly, cold and inhospitable. A classic example is the now demolished Newcastle Public Library.

Trivia: "1853 Police were forbidden to carry sticks and were ordered by the Watch Committee to "Control their tempers." 19th century gateshead

Geordie Life, where you can see some great videos of the city of Newcastle and its architecture and learn a little about the culture.