Newcastle Civic Centre

The civic centre was commissioned to replace a Victorian Town Hall which stood in St Nicholas Square (between the Bigg Market and the Cloth Market). Plans to build a new city hall on the site at Barras Bridge had been proposed prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, to the point of holding an architectural competition, although these were halted by the war; and due to post-war restrictions on capital expenditure, it was not until August 1956 that authorisation to begin construction was granted. During the interim period, the demolition of houses and a former Eye Hospital on the intended site was implemented. commenced on the building in May 1960, and the foundation stone was laid by…