Photographs Of Newcastle: Grey Street

Grey Street was built by Richard Grainger in the 1830s with the aid of several architects, including John Dobson. The whole of the western side of the street was designed by two architects from Grainger's office, John Wardle and George Walker. Dean Street, which continues south from Grey Street was constructed earlier, in 1749. Grey Street contains the Theatre Royal designed by John and Benjamin Green, the southern entrance to Monument Metro station and the Central Arcade. It is renowned for its Georgian architecture, and was in 2010 voted 'Best street in the UK' by BBC Radio 4 listeners.

The street runs south from Grey's Monument; after the junction with Mosley Street it continues as Dean Street. Like Dean Street, it follows the route of the Lorke or Lort Burn, which formerly flowed into the Tyne but is now underground and so it curves slowly to the east as well as descending towards the river. The street was initially named Upper Dean Street, but it was subsequently renamed as Grey Street.

Sir John Betjeman said: As for the curve of Grey Street, I shall never forget seeing it to perfection, traffic-less on a misty Sunday morning. Not even Regent Street, even old Regent Street London, can compare with that descending subtle curve.

Description courtesy of Wikipedia.

12th November 2024

Grey Street improvement works.

28th July 2023

Grey Street works.

9th June 2023

Grey Street works.

12th May 2023

Grey Street works.

11th October 2022

Grey Street, No. 53.

Shop and house, now offices. Circa 1837. Probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible. 4 storeys, 3 bays.

Circa 1900 ground floor has plinth and rusticated pilasters; renewed door recessed between pilasters with block rustication under fanlight with wrought-iron grille and many-keyed arch. Ground floor entablature with prominent cornice supports giant Corinthian Order with attached square end columns and 4 intermediate fluted columns framing bays.

Plain sashes in architraves, those on first floor pedimented; wrought-iron balcony to outer bays. Second floor has prominent entablature with modillioned cornice; pilasters and cornice on top floor, which has renewed windows in plain reveals.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

28th August 2022

1st August 2022

Grey Street, Nos. 2 to 8.

Early C19. Sandstone ashlar, hipped Welsh slate roof. Classical building on corner with recessed, rounded corner bay.

Three and a half storeys, four bays on Grey Street and one wide bay on Mosley Street.
Moulded architraves to sash windows, tripartite on Mosley Street. Projecting second-floor sills rest on long brackets. The southern bay projects slightly with pedimented first-floor window. Moulded and coved eaves cornice. C19 shop fronts.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

23rd July 2022

Grey Street, Nos. 69 to 73 (New Turk's Head Hotel).

Shops, houses and hotel. Circa 1837, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof. Classical style. 4 storeys and attics, 8 bays.

3 left bays continue plain style of Nos. 61 to 67 and have rusticated ground floor with cyma-moulded plinth, altered windows and cornice. Plain reveals to sashes above with second-floor sill band. Second-floor band,and entablature below top floor which has cornice and blocking course.

5 bays at right have end pavilions; rusticated ground floor with 2 entrances in left 2 bays and 3 altered windows; carriage entrance in right end bay.

Ground-floor fascia and cornice. Upper floors have Giant Orders: flat Doric pilasters to pavilions and attached fluted Ionic columns defining central 3 bays. Second-floor sills moulded in central 3 and with band in outer bays.

All windows sashes with glazing bars. Second-floor entablature with prominent cornice. Fourth storey of pavilions has pilasters; central top balustrade;continuous cornice and blocking course, and parapet with carved pilasters above pavilions.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Market Street, Nos. 19 to 39.

Includes Nos. 77 to 85 odd Grey Street (Earl Grey House) on left return. Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1837, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof.

4 storeys, with some attics; 28 bays. Ground floor altered. Giant Ionic Order to end and central 5-bay pavilions, pilasters defining each 5 end bays, attached columns the central 5, all fluted. Right 3 columns of centre shorter, stepping up to accommodate change in level. Windows in plain reveals, mostly sashes, some renewed and some with glazing bars.

Second floor sill band except in 2 right centre bays. Second floor entablature with prominent cornice. Top floor has sashes in plain reveals, panelled pilasters in pavilions; and top cornice and blocking course.

Panelled parapet in centre. Nos. 19 to 27 (Earl Grey House), with inserted Mansard roof and attic windows, are extensively rebuilt behind facade and are included for group value.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

3rd July 2022

Grey Street, Nos. 61 to 67.

Shops and houses, now shops. Circa 1837 probably by John Wardle for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible.

4 storeys, 6 bays. Ground-floor shop c.1900 has curved windows and slender pilasters flanking 2 recessed glazed doors with high overlights; painted glass fascia.

Plain reveals to sashes with glazing bars on upper floors, with second-floor sill band; second-floor band and entablature with prominent cornice.

Top floor has cornice and blocking course. Upper floors, which became part of Turk's Head Hotel, empty at time of survey.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 55 to 59.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1837 by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Circa 1900 shop renewed at right; at left (in style of 1900) renewed c.1982. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof with brick chimneys. 4 storeys, 3 bays.

Ground floor Tuscan Order; giant Ionic above. Shops have curved glass to recessed entrances and slender pilasters to lights with curved top corners. 8-panelled house door and overlight in deep reveal at right.

Sash windows with glazing bars on all floors; pilasters above prominent second-floor cornice. Top cornice and blocking course. Ridge chimneys.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, No. 53.

Grey Street, Nos. 43 and 45.

Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1837; probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof. 4 storeys and attics, 6 bays.

Rusticated ground floor has panelled double door at right under large overlight; shop windows altered C20. Ground-floor entablature with modillioned cornice.

Sashes, some with glazing bars, on upper floors in architraves, those on second floor with bracketed sills, under second-floor entablature with prominent cornice. Plain third-floor sashes under top cornice.

Roof has inserted mansard with square-headed windows. Ashlar-corniced ridge chimneys.

Graded for importance in fine street group.

Prior to the construction of Grey Street in the 1830s, the area of 41-51 was occupied by the Butcher Market on its east side and the rear of long burgage plots stretching back from the Bigg Market to the west. The land was part of a large estate which had originally belonged to the Franciscan Friary and St. Bartholomew's nunnery.

No. 43-45 was occupied by John Hare music seller, piano-forte warehouseman in 1874 until at least 1898 when he applied to change the shop frontage.

By 1934 the Royal Insurance Company occupied 41-45 which also accomodated offices for Dorman Long and Co., iron and steel manufacturers, and the traffic commissioners of the Northern Area.

At some point between 1911-1943 the Royal Insurance Company offices had the façade of the building altered to the 4 bay façade which survives today.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 33 to 41.

Bank of England and Northern District Joint Stock Bank, now offices. Circa 1835, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar with plinth; Welsh slate roof.

Classical style.4 storeys, 10 bays. 6-panelled double doors and overlights with glazing bars in bays one and 3; similar door with altered overlight in bay lO. Channelled rustication to ground floor with lintel string to ground-floor sashes, those in bays 6 to 9 with aprons; fascia and band Giant Corinthian Order above contains sash windows in architraves, pedimented on first floor and with bracketed sills on second floor which has high modillioned entablature.

Third floor balcony has fat turned balusters; sashes in plain reveals between pilasters under top cornice and blocking course. Glazing bars to windows; shutters and original stucco decoration to some rooms.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 19 to 31.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1835, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof.

Renewed ground floor, retaining plinth and flat Tuscan pilasters to 6 right bays with channelled rustication. Set-back upper floors have sash windows in architraves, most with glazing bars; bracketed sills on second floor, which has plain entablature with prominent cornice. Third floor has sashes in plain reveals under eaves band, cornice and blocking course. Roof has added felt-covered head to lift shaft.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 5 to 13.

Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1835, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof.

4 storeys, 12 bays. Renewed ground floor and ground-floor fascia. Set-back upper floors have sash windows with glazing bars in architraves; bracketed sills to second floor, below plain entablature with prominent cornice. Third-floor sashes in plain reveals below top cornice.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

8th May 2022

Grey Street, Nos. 15 and 17.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1835, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Classical style. Sandstone ashlar with plinth; Welsh slate roof.

Ground floor altered; giant Corinthian Order above contains sash windows with glazing bars in architraves; plain entablature with prominent cornice. Third-floor windows have plain reveals; pilasters to top entablature and blocking course.

McCombie - a pavilion, originally a hotel, with keyed elliptical arch, left, to a lane and stabling behind; originally a route via White Hart Yard to Cloth Market.

Part of a 44 bay composition up to High Bridge, with pavilions and a boldly modelled ten-bay centrepiece. Christie's Directory of 1874-5 lists five businesses in No. 15: T Lupton, jeweller; Reid and Hall, corn merchants; Blagdon Chemical Co; R.S. Proctor, coal merchant and British Guardian Life Assurance. At No. 17 were Prichard and Spicer, tailors.

In 1911 the census lists John Malcom, shipwright, and his wife Mary at No. 15 and George Henry Hogg, engineer/labourer, his wife Margaret and daughter Georgina living at No. 17.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 1 and 3.

Shops and houses, now restaurant and shops. Circa 1835, probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar with plinth; Welsh slate roof.

Classical style. 4 storeys, 3 bays and curved left corner bay to Mosley Street.

Circa 1890, maybe 1895-6, the corner entrance was added in Baroque style; flat Tuscan pilasters frame shops with slender late C19 pilasters; fascia and band. Giant Corinthian Order above contains sash windows in architraves, with pediments on first floor and bracketed sills above; entablature with modillioned cornice.

Third-floor windows in plain reveals between pilasters top band. All windows sashes with glazing bars; those in corner are curved.

The 1851- 1881 censuses shows that No. 1 was the hosier and glover's shop of Robert Robson. He lived in No. 3 with his wife Elizabeth, 4 children, 2 servants and a hosiers assistant. In 1916 Ward's Directory lists the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Co. here. Cuthbert Horsley was the manager.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

17th February 2022

Grey Street, six lamp standards.

Lamp standards, 1902-4 by W.H. Knowles and J.R. Milburn. Cast iron. Bases triangular on plan and composed of 3 interlinked consoles. Hexagonal fluted tapering shafts. Moulded capitals. Cross bearings. Reflector hoods to mantle gas lamps; crown and ball finials.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

2nd January 2022

Grey Street, Nos. 2 to 8.

Grey Street, No. 10.

1908 dated on serpentine pediment with armorial bearings. Ashlar with banded corner pilasters. Tall narrow building of four storeys and attic, one bay.

Classical window treatment. Round-arched entrance, with coarse mouldings and carved spandrels, flanked by gigantic consoles. Included for group considerations.

>Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, No. 12.

Original building probably 1840s Dobson. Elevation remodelled in 1879 when the premises changed from shop and offices to the premises of Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society.

Terracotta. Four storeys, four bays, the central ones projecting, and forming a second-and third-floor oriel. Large windows. Each floor has an enriched entablature supported on stepped-out corner pilasters, banded and fluted bay pilasters and the slender engaged columns framing the upper windows. Top entablature has ornamental frieze and balustraded parapet. First floor has balustraded balcony. Ground floor slightly obscured by signboard.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey St, 14-16.

Grey Street, Nos. 18 to 26.

Shops and houses, later bank, now offices. 1836 by John Dobson for Richard Grainger; ground floor c.1890 by Newcombe. Sandstone ashlar with granite; Lakeland roof.

4 storeys and attics, 5 bays. Pink and grey granite Corinthian Order on ashlar plinth on ground floor: attached columns flanking lugged architrave, pilasters flanking windows, with ashlar reveals. Ground- floor entablature with modillioned cornice. Giant Corinthian Order above, defining end bays, overlapping pilasters and contains windows in architraves, that on first floor with bracketed pediment and that on second floor lugged, with bracketed sill.

3 central recessed bays have pilaster jambs to first floor windows; and mask-decorated parapet with urn finials above door. Second floor level balustrade; wreaths between bays. Second-floor entablature with modillioned cornice. Top floor has architraves to windows in end pavilions, plain reveals to central 3 windows. Top cornice and parapet with balustrade over pavilions. Inserted mansard and square-headed attic windows. The interior has been rebuilt c.1981.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 26 to 32.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1836 by Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible.

4 storeys, 6 bays. Flat pilasters and entablature to ground floor with C2O alterations. Upper floors have sash windows, some with glazing bars, in plain reveals. Second floor band; second floor entablature. Top cornice.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 34 to 40.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1836 by Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar with c.1930 granite ground floor. Welsh slate roof.

4 storeys, 5 bays. Upper floors have Giant Corinthian pilasters flanking end bays; central 3 bays recessed. Paired sashes in plain reveals in end bays, those on first floor with dentilled and bracketed cornices. Sashes in plain reveals in recessed centre, with first, floor deep cornice on paired brackets, and balustrade to first floor windows, linking end bays. Prominent entablature on second floor has dentilled cornice. Top windows, the outer in architraves, under cornice and balustrade. Inserted mansard roof.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 42 to 50.

Shops and houses now bank. Circa 1960 rebuilding of 1836 work by John Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible.

In style of the original except for ground floor which has no plinth, and a mezzanine inserted. 4 storeys, 8 bays. Giant attached Corinthian columns, with angle helices, define bays; sash windows with glazing bars in plain reveals. Second floor entablature with prominent modillioned cornice; top floor has pilasters, cornice and square urn finials.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 52 to 78.

Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1836 by John Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof. Classical style.

4 storeys, 1:12:1:3:1 bays, 18 bays in all. Ground floor altered. Upper floors have giant flat Corinthian pilasters to one-bay end and off-centre pavilions.

Circa 1900 shops in Nos. 52 and 56 have curved glass and slender pilasters. No. 78 at left has tripartite windows in architraves, with Tuscan pilasters on first floor, bracketed sills on second; similar treatment to paired first floor window and single second in other 2 pavilions.

All windows sashes, most with glazing bars; plain reveals to intermediate bays except for right 3-bay section which has first- floor balustrade, recessed upper floors and deep first-floor cornice on paired brackets linking pavilions. Second floor band to plain 12-bay section; prominent second-floor cornice; plain reveals to third-floor windows under cornice and blocking course.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 80 to 96.

Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1836 by John Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; Welsh slate roof. 4 storeys, lO bays.

Ground floor altered; No.92 has circa 1900 shop with slender pilasters and curved glass windows flanking central glazed recessed door with overlight. 2-bay end pavilions have Giant Corinthian pilasters and contain first floor windows framed by flat Tuscan pilasters with entablature; sill string and architrave to second floor windows.

Central 6 bays have architraves to all windows and second-floor sill string, with second floor entablature. Top storey has pilasters in pavilions, plain reveals to all windows, arcaded balustrade above pavilions. All windows sashes with glazing bars. Ridge brick chimneys.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, No. 102 Lloyd's Bank.

Includes Nos. 2-6 Hood Street and Nos. 12-18 Market Street. Houses and bank, now bank. Circa 1839 for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar, Welsh slate roof.

Classical style. 4 storeys, 9 bays. Steps up to central renewed door and fanlight in recessed centre. Round-headed ground floor windows with pilasters and archivolts. Bays defined by wide flat Tuscan pilasters supporting entablature with carved wreath on frieze. Giant Corinthian columns above, fluted columns in centre. All windows sahes with glazing bars. Tall ashlar-corniced chimneys. Whole interior redeveloped behind street façade.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 104 - 108.

Includes No.1 Hood Street. Shop. 1902-4 by W.H. Knowles and T. and R. Milburn. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible.

4 storeys, 5 bays and 3 to Hood Street on right return. Giant Corinthian order to top 3 storeys, three-quarter columns in centre of Grey Street elevation and pilasters elsewhere, with full entablature with bracketed cornice. Good Edwardian shop front intact on ground floor.

First floor has tripartite window in centre bays, the centre lights flanked by low columns and pedimented; windows have keystones and cornices. Second floor windows have scrolled pediments or shaped cornices of High Roman Baroque type, taken from Rossi's Studio d'Architectura Civile. Third-floor windows in architraves.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey Street, Nos. 110-116, HSBC Bank.

The building was previously the Victoria Music Hall before becoming a billiard salon.
In 1914 it was converted by White and Stephenson into an early cinema. The remodelled frontage features the words NEWCASTLE PICTURE HOUSE on the second floor.

In 1922 it became the Grey Street Picture House, but closed 18 years later.

Source: Sitelines.

Blackett Street, Nos. 29-33, Grey Street 118 Eldon Buildings.

Hotel, now shops. Includes No. 118 Grey Street. Dated 1893 on top panels; by Oliver and Leeson. Circa 1982 ground-floor alterations. Sandstone ashlar; dark slate roof.

Curved corner site to Grey Street. 4 storeys, 8 bays, the 2 at left end and that at right end wider. Hotel entrance in wide right bay. Ground floor entablature has bracketed cornice supporting first floor balconies (removed from 2 left end bays).

Giant Composite Order to first and second floors; Venetian windows in wide bays of first floor, round-headed windows in 5 bays of curve, with ornamental glazing bars in heads under keyed arches. Second-floor sashes in architraves under entablature with prominent modillioned cornice. Plain top sashes with fluted band between heads of windows. Top cornice and parapet with 3 carved panels: 18 F/M 93 on bays flanking curve and ELDON BUILDINGS at centre, in Art Nouveau lettering, under alternate pediments. High-relief coat of arms in central pediment.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

Grey's Court.

Originally a route via White Hart Yard to Cloth Market. Now blocked off but contains the entrance to Greys Club.

9th June 2018

Grey Street, No. 102 Lloyd's Bank.

Grey Street, six lamp standards.

Grey Street, Nos. 110-116, HSBC Bank.

19th September 2017

29th March 2016

Grey Street, Nos. 26 to 32.

Shops and houses, now offices. Circa 1836 by Dobson for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible. 4 storeys, 6 bays.

Flat pilasters and entablature to ground floor with C2O alterations. Upper floors have sash windows, some with glazing bars, in plain reveals. Second floor band; second floor entablature. Top cornice.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.

23rd February 2016

Grey Street, Nos. 1 and 3.

Grey Street, Nos. 47 to 51.

Shops and houses, now shops and offices. Circa 1837; probably by John Wardle, for Richard Grainger. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible.

4 storeys, 6 bays. Circa 1900 office in left 3 bays has 3-panelled doors, under overlights with glazing bars, flanking elliptical-headed wide window with carved spandrels. Entablature has pulvinated frieze with cartouches supporting cornice.

Shop in right 3 bays has renewed central door under altered entablature. Windows on upper floors, sashes with some glazing bars, in architraves, those on second floor with bracketed sills. Second-floor entablature with prominent cornice. Top sashes in plain reveals under cornice and blocking course. Graded for importance in fine street group.

Grade 2 Listed. Source: Sitelines.