Changes

The essentially medieval streetscape of Newcastle was radically altered in the 1830s when the developer Richard Grainger (1797-1861) purchased the house and extensive grounds of Anderson Place, in the heart of the city, and there constructed several imposing modern streets in a severe classical idiom, with markets, Theatre Royal and Exchange. The architects John Dobson and John and Benjamin Green were associated with the redevelopments (the Greens designing the Theatre Royal). The two main streets, Grey Street and Grainger Street, converge on a large monument celebrating Earl Grey and the 1832 [[Reform Act]]. This district is today known as 'Grainger Town' as was the subject of an extensive refurbishment plan in the 1990s. It has the greatest concentration of listed buildings (or architectural or historical interest) of any English provincial city apart from [[Bath]].

The essentially medieval streetscape of Newcastle was radically altered in the 1830s when the developer Richard Grainger (1797-1861) purchased the house and extensive grounds of Anderson Place, in the heart of the city, and there constructed several imposing modern streets in a severe classical idiom, with markets, Theatre Royal and Exchange. The architects John Dobson and John and Benjamin Green were associated with the redevelopments (the Greens designing the Theatre Royal). The two main streets, Grey Street and Grainger Street, converge on a large monument celebrating Earl Grey and the 1832 [[Reform Act]]. This district is today known as 'Grainger Town' as was the subject of an extensive refurbishment plan in the 1990s. It has the greatest concentration of listed buildings (or architectural or historical interest) of any English provincial city apart from [[Bath]].

Further planned city centre redevelopment took place in the 1960s and 1970s as part of a plan devised by the regional political leader [[T. Dan Smith]] and Newcastle's head of planning, Wilfred Burns. The intent was to create in Newcastle a 'regional capital', and, with some foresight, encouraging arts, tourism and education as economic drivers. The brutalist architecture of the period has llkeft its mark on areas of the city, notably the Central Motorway (which Burns sought to celebrate as a visual feature, rather than hide) and an area of split-level development, segregating pedestrians from traffic, around the central library. Much of this latter area has since been cleared. A more valued legacy from the period is Newcastle Civic Centre, the council chamber of which was built large enough to serve as the location of a Northern regional assembly.

Further planned city centre redevelopment took place in the 1960s and 1970s as part of a plan devised by the regional political leader [[T. Dan Smith]] and Newcastle's head of planning, Wilfred Burns. The intent was to create in Newcastle a 'regional capital', and, with some foresight, encouraging arts, tourism and education as economic drivers. The brutalist architecture of the period has llkeft its mark on areas of the city, notably the Central Motorway (which Burns sought to celebrate as a visual feature, rather than hide) and an area of multi-level development, segregating pedestrians from traffic, around the central library. Much of this latter area has since been cleared. A more valued legacy from the period is Newcastle Civic Centre, the council chamber of which was built large enough to serve as the location of a Northern regional assembly.

In 1980 a rapid transit system, the [[Tyne and Wear Metro]], was opened linking the urban centres of [[Tyneside]]. This runs through the heart of the city, with five underground stations in the city centre.

In 1980 a rapid transit system, the [[Tyne and Wear Metro]], was opened linking the urban centres of [[Tyneside]]. This runs through the heart of the city, with five underground stations in the city centre.