Princess Square was built in the 1960's and early 1970's as part of the 'city in the sky' vision which aimed to separate out traffic from pedestrians. With increasing car ownership, towns and cities were becoming dominated by traffic and there was growing awareness of the associated pollution.
The idea was that people would be able move around the city on an 'upper deck' level, with traffic moving below on a 'lower deck'. Some of the developments were done as part of T. Dan Smith's vision for modernising Newcastle, when he was leader of Newcastle City Council. Many of the developments weren't realised - sparing many of the 19th century buildings in Newcastle city centre from potential demolition.
Princess Square and it's series of walkways links the square to Bewick Court, The New Bridge Hotel on Oxford Street, Northumberland Street, Ridley Place, New Bridge Street West, John Dobson Street and access across the Central Motorway towards Manors and the east of the city.
In recent years Princess Square has been altered and shaped by developments around it to John Dobson Street and the City Library while all the time falling out of favour with shoppers leaving the square underused with vacant properties and plagued by anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. The one constant in the square has been a rock pub called Trillians Rock Bar which I visited a few times in the late 1980's or maybe it was the early 1990's, I can't quite remember.
In 2024 a planning application was submitted to turn the Princess Square into a food market incorporating a floor of the Pearl Assurance Building. I'm not sure what is happening at the moment on that front but I will keep you updated as and when anything happens.
Nearby Lisle Street, running between Northumberland Street and John Dobson Street, was covered over when Princess Square was built. It's now largely used by lorries delivering to commercial properties.
Description partially courtesy of Co-Curate.
7th December 2025
Lisle Street.
Running underneath Princess Square from Northumberland Street to John Dobson Street.
6th November 2025
Northumberland Street Link.
Path down from Bewick Court.
Rear of Pearl Assuramce Building.
Northumberland House.
8th June 2025
Link to John Dobson Street.
10th March 2025
Princess Square.
15th July 2024
Princess Square.
Upper Level Retail Units.
Just west of Bewick Court.
2nd June 2024
Link to Bewick Court.
5th September 2022
Princess Square.
Upper Level Retail Units.
Just west of Bewick Court.
Lisle Street.
1st November 2021
Princess Square.
Northumberland Street Link.
Path up to Bewick Court.
Above John Dobson Street.
This area outside Bewick Court and above John Dobson Street was reduced greatly when the New City Library was built.
Upper Level Retail Units.
Around the entrance to Bewick Court are a few retail units and steps down to Saville Row.
1st November 2021
26th November 2017
John Dobson Street.
Lisle Street is on the left after the green and yellow posts.
16th May 2009
Northumberland Street Link.
29th March 2009
10th March 2009
New Bridge Street Link.
4th February 2008
Upper Level Retail Units.
7th September 2007
8th August 2007
31st May 2007
21st May 2007
14th May 2007
10th May 2007
8th May 2007
3rd May 2007
17th March 2007
27th November 2006
Upper Level Retail Units.
15th September 2006
New Bridge Street Link.
29th March 2006
1995
Princess Square, Central Library Entrance.
Photo courtesy of Newcastle Libraries.
1980
Central Library Princess Square.
Taken outside the entrance of Bewick Court.
Photo courtesy of Newcastle Libraries.
1972
Princess Square.
Photo courtesy of Newcastle Libraries.
1971
Princess Square.
Photo courtesy of Newcastle Libraries.
More Information:
See my other photos around Princess Square:
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