Terry Farrell has made a bequest to his old alma mater, Newcastle University, in the form of a shop. Farrell is donating some of his extensive plans and project proposal documents to this enterprise and hopes to make the planning process that baffles many and seems artfully constructed to achieve this end, more transparent. It might be something to welcome, particularly as the site of the shop is slap opposite the Civic Centre. I have my doubts. For one, Newcastle University has been part of the cabal of local 'interests' and behind the scenes actors that included Newcastle and Scottish Breweries (R.I.P.) and the Freeman in carving up the city as it suited them(1). Skullduggery over Leazes Park was exposed only by diligence by a few private individuals led by the late Dolly and Cliff Potter and a brazenness on the part of the main schemers who had the local media in their pocket and left a trail of slime behind them anyone over five years of age could follow.
The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic has killed millions world wide and caused great suffering so it might seem an insult to turn ones gaze to seemingly more mundane outcomes; however, we must somehow re-create something like a confident society out of these troubling times. One aspect of the pandemic has been the acceleration of certain trends that were slowly changing our towns and cities before that fateful year; the decline of shopping per se, the rise of the internet marketplace not just in household and clothing but food deliveries and bought in meals. These latter enterprises actually expanded as most had to stay indoors for much longer than perhaps anytime in our modern history. The future of our living spaces and work patterns is already being discussed in ways that are speculative as much as innovative. The High Street and the Shopping Mall are seemingly at the end of a road. Pity then so much of what once once fine and inspiring (shorn finally of its mere privileged pretensions post 1945, post 1963 even) was pulverised by numerous councils of every stripe around the country, and most notoriously here in the capital of the north east(2).
The similarity of all our city Shopping Malls is striking – but never in a good way.
Can one have any hope for the future? Yes has to be the answer but judging by the past and very recent past, don't bank on it.
The Farrell story in full from The Guardian here.
(1) The historic Haymarket public house that must have once been the watering hole for generations of people bringing produce, some of it on four legs, to the bustling markets was knocked down swiftly by Newcastle University and afterwards described by Vice Chancellor and outspoken Cold War warrior Professor Laurence 'personally I think there is a case for the neutron bomb' Martin, as a haunt of undesirables, including the present author apparently.
(2) Eldon Square, Grade II Listed was flattened almost completely for a hotel that never materialised only to be replaced by 'Eldon Square' Shopping Mall. Eldon Square's financial future looks uncertain. Around the country cities are demolishing such places either in whole or part. So something that today would not have looked out of place in any grand European city was laid waste for what? Shoe shops and a gymnasium.
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