Posts by venue: Local History

The real Barras Bridge and Newcastle’s beautiful lost dean

Art   Collections & Objects   Laing Art Gallery   Local History   Social History
Posted by administrator on May 4, 2012     Permalink     Comments (52)

Imagine a deep ravine slicing across the Great North Road next to the Civic Centre, replacing concrete and tarmac with a beautiful tree-lined dean. Well, it’s not fantasy – this was Pandon Dean (or Dene – spelling varied). Much of… Read more

Interesting personnel records uncovered by the Sunderland Shipbuilding Archives project

Collections & Objects   Discovery Museum   Local History   Maritime History   Social History   The Archives
Posted by administrator on April 23, 2012     Permalink     Comments (60)

During the past month I’ve been cataloguing the administrative records of Austin & Pickersgill Ltd and its two predecessor companies, S.P. Austin & Son Ltd and William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd. These include an interesting set of personnel records, which… Read more

‘Young Anglers, Barras Bridge’, painted by Thomas Miles Richardson: a picture of old Barras Mill-pond?

Art   Collections & Objects   Exhibitions   Laing Art Gallery   Local History
Posted by administrator on April 16, 2012     Permalink     Comments (1)

Thomas Miles Richardson’s idyllic scene of ‘Young Anglers, Barras Bridge, depicts a scene in Pandon Dean. Now completely obliterated, the dean was known for its beauty in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The scene can be located at Barras Mill-pond opposite the present-day Civic Centre. The picture was painted by Newcastle’s leading artist of the time, TM Richardson, senior (1784-1848). Read more

Monkwearmouth Station Bombed!

Local History   Military History   Social History
Posted by administrator on April 5, 2012     Permalink     Comments (8)

When first built there was a roof over the lines between the main building at Monkwearmouth Station and the Goods Yard on the west side. This roof provided shelter for the passengers waiting for their trains. On the night of… Read more

Richard Grainger’s vision for Grey Street, Newcastle

Art   Collections & Objects   Laing Art Gallery   Local History
Posted by administrator on March 28, 2012     Permalink     Comments (8)

This picture shows Grey Street, Newcastle, when it was still just a twinkle in the eye of the developer Richard Grainger. The scene is an ‘artist’s impression’, painted by John Wilson Carmichael for Grainger to show to investors, Newcastle corporation, and… Read more