North East England news

Originally constructed by Richard Grainger (John Dobson was the architect) in 1824, Eldon Square now stands as the largest City Centre shopping mall in Great Britain.

It is a far cry from the early days before the demolition in the 1960’s, that paved the way for what is Eldon Square Shopping Centre now.

In 2008 money was spent by the owners on the revamp of the Eldon Square memorial, which is now landscaped and has access to the lower level of shops.

It is currently undergoing major regeneration which will see a large portion of the centre going to Debenhams, previously this space was allocated to the Green Market.

It covers 13 acres and is home to over 140 shops, all big brands, it also provides a leisure centre that is used by all ages. Newcastle City Council have a reported 40% share in Eldon Square.

Built between 1973 – 1978, the Byker Wall is recognised as one of the most recognisable buildings in the region.

Designed by the architect Ralph Erskine, it provides 620 maisonettes across 200 acres on site, all buildings are in an unbroken chain.

Designed by Antony Gormley, the Angel of the North stands proudly on the edge of Low Fell (overlooking the A1) following its completion in 1998.

Weighing 200 tonnes, the £1m structure is 66 feet tall and has a wing span of 178 feet, making the span larger than most buildings.

Antony Gormley wanted to create a piece that would be a place of hope for those who were lost in between the industrial and information ages, it sits on a mound that was created following the closure of the Lower Tyne Colliery.

An unknown fact is that the wings are not actually flat, but have a 3.5 degree angle, this is to give the feeling of an embrace to all those who see it, which is an estimated 90,000 people every day.

Following the unveiling, many people disliked the structure, but it is now classed as the major icon of the North East, overtaking the Tyne Bridge.