Byker

In the mid-sixties Newcastle City Corporation took the decision to redevelop the Byker area of Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally Byker was a Victorian working-class area of typical densely-built terraces. By the 1960s much of the housing needed major repair and upgrading. In 1953 Byker had nearly 1,200 dwellings considered unfit for human habitation (many lacked bathrooms), yet 80% of residents wanted to stay in Byker, a location on the eastern edge of the city centre close to industry on the riverside.

Newcastle council aimed to clear the slums but keep the community. The appointment of Ralph Erskine as architect in 1969 was seen as an inspired choice and one sensitive to local needs. Erskine's Plan of Intent was adopted by the Council in 1970 and the project was completed in 1982.

The Byker Estate covers an area of approximately 200 acres and is home to around 9,500 people.

Existing housing was demolished to make way for the new development - although some old buildings including pubs, churches and swimming baths were retained in the new design.

The move to the new development was also phased to help try to keep a sense of community alive.

The layout was designed to encourage cars to be left at the edges of the estate and public spaces were included to encourage social interaction. The area was landscaped with trees and gardens.

Byker now has an international reputation as one of the most important urban housing projects since the Second World War, though it has had it's fair share of problems over the years.

The estate has collected a number of awards including a Civic Trust Award and the Veronica Rudge Green Prize for urban design from Harvard University in the United States.






2nd October 2018



Shields Road bypass towards the city centre.




The Stags Head, Headlam Street.






Headlam Street.




Michaelgate.




Spires Lane.






17th July 2018



Taken at the bottom of St Peters Road.






St Lawrence Gospel Hall, Bolam Way.






24th June 2018



Raby Way.






27th July 2017



Byker Metro Station.






21st February 2017



Formerly The Fighting Cocks, Albion Row, now converted to offices.






6th May 2014










Janet Square/Street.








Jubilee Terrace area.











Ayton Rise.




Oban Gardens.











Bolam Coyne area.








Raby Cross.





Raby Street.




Kirk Street.




The Brow.











Dunn Terrace/Low Fold area.






29th April 2013



Cheviot Mount.




Michaelgate.






12th January 2012



Panoramic Photo.






8th December 2011



Bolam Coyne.




Finchdale Terrace.






22nd November 2011



Tom Collins House.




Byker Bank.





Low Fold.




Clive Place.






21st July 2011



Raby Way.






26th June 2011



Chirton Wynd.




Jubilee Terrace.





Chirton Wynd.




Grace Street.




Jubilee Terrace.




Benson Place.




Felton Green.




Raby Way.




Headlam Street.




Michaelgate.




St Michael's Mount.




Carville Rise.




Brinkburn Street.




Raby Street.




The Hare & Hounds, Raby Street.




Raby Street.




Gordon Road.





Brock Square?




Gordon Road.




St Michaels Road.




Dibley Square?




Bolam Coyne.




Kendal Street.




Gordon Road.




Dibley Square?




Raby Cross.




Ayton Rise.




Whickham Gardens.




The Brow.





Ayton Rise.




Lilburn Close.






9th May 2011



Jubilee Terrace.




Headlam Street.






29th November 2010



Kendal Street.




Gordon Road.






Commercial Road.




Near The Brow.




Clydesdale Road.




Rear of Avondale Road.




Looking over Byker to the Quayside.




Near Cheviot Mount.




Headlam Street.




Footpath at the Shields Road Bypass.




East End Pool and Library.




Conyers Road and Dalton Road.




Shipley Walk.




St Michael's Church.






8th August 2009



Byker Metro Station.






24th June 2009



Byker Metro Station.






1st June 2009



East End Library and Swimming Pool.






19th June 2009



Mason Street.






15th August 2008



Old Byker Library, Brinkburn Street.






8th July 2008



Raby Street.




Mason Street.




Priory Place.




Old Byker Baths, Brinkburn Street.






14th June 2008



Bolam Coyne.






30th April 2008



Kendal Street.




Priory Green.




Raby Street.




The Hare and Hounds, Raby Street.






29th April 2008



Headlam Street Community Centre.




St Michaels Mount/Michaelgate.




The Stags Head, Headlam Street.




Headlam Street.




Michaelgate.




April 2008

Byker Metro Station.






Looking west from St Peters Road.






13th February 2008



East End Library and Swimming Pool.






21st May 2007



Janet Street/Janet Square.






3rd February 2007



The Middle Club, Raby Street.




Byker Primary School and Brinkburn Street.






21st October 2006



Jubilee Terrace.






22nd September 2006



Gordon Road.





Priory Green.




September 2006

Brinkburn Street.




September 2006

September 2006

September 2006

Raby Street.




Brock Street.




Lilburn Close.





Raby Cross.






4th April 2006



The Stags Head, Headlam Street.




Headlam Street.











Views from around Avondale Road.




St Michaels Church, Headlam Street.




East End Library and Swimming Pool.






27th March 2006



New Fire Station, Union Road.






8th February 2006



Byker Metro Station.






7th February 2006



Kendal Street.




Priory Green Church, Gordon Road.






30th December 2005





East End Library and Swimming Pool.




Byker Metro Station.






4th December 2005



Byker Metro Station.






3rd December 2005



Top of Byker Bank looking east.




Shields Road Bypass.






26th November 2005



Byker Metro Station.






19th November 2005



East End Library and Swimming Pool.






A short video about the Byker redevelopment.






Another video about the Byker estate featuring Writer – journalist, broadcaster and playwright Beatrix Campbell.






The story of the redevelopment of the iconic Byker estate in pictures.






More Information

See my other photos around Byker:

5 comments:

Apprentice said...

Very impressive blog here ILuvNFUC, it's quickly becoming a major resource for local photos, right up there in the search engine rankings. Good stuff. :)

(brendadada)

Apprentice said...

btw, do you know anything about a Byker photography collective? In the old Tyne Tess building, as far as I know??

Newcastle Photos said...

Thanks.:)
I'm quite surprised at how popular this site getting. I expected Google to pick it up quickly but I get just as many hits from MSN too.

Can't say I've heard of the Byker collective but I will try and find out.
Have you had a look at the links in my sidebar as they may hold some clues?
The Sine.ncl.ac.uk is an amazing site

Phil K said...

I notice you rightly say Walker was named by Vikings (and old English) but so was Byker - both Byker and Walker were named by Danish Vikings 8th-10th century or so. Only where does the "By" part come from ? We know the "Wal" part of Walker meant by the wall for obvious reasons. (Good old Hadrian !)

Phil K said...

.....unless thats exactly what it means !
"By" - by the..."Kyer" marshy woodlands !
I think i recall (from Bill Brsyon) that many small words like "by" used in English IS from Old Norse.