04/10/2011
Nestled within the vibrant landscape of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gosforth stands as a testament to rich history, evolving commerce, and a strong sense of community. More than just a district, it’s a living tapestry woven with tales of bygone eras and the hum of modern development. From its bustling High Street, a hub of daily life, to its tranquil religious sites and the crucial infrastructure projects ensuring its future, Gosforth offers a unique blend of tradition and forward-thinking progress. This guide delves into the multifaceted character of Gosforth, providing an in-depth look at what makes this area truly special.
The Heart of Commerce: Gosforth's Shopping Scene
Gosforth's High Street has been the beating heart of local commerce for over a century, a place where generations have shopped, socialised, and built a community. Today, it remains a bustling thoroughfare, home to an array of establishments that cater to every need. Familiar high street names like Boots stand alongside cherished independent businesses, such as Thorpes, a well-established local hardware store that has served the community for years. Estate agents, hairdressers, and banks complete the diverse retail landscape, ensuring residents have convenient access to essential services.
In 1979, the Gosforth Shopping Centre opened its doors, providing a modern retail experience and seamlessly connecting the High Street to Gosforth Central Park. Within its confines, shoppers can find a Sainsbury's supermarket, a WHSmith for stationery and news, a branch of Virgin Money, and even a Cancer Research charity shop, reflecting the community's philanthropic spirit. Interestingly, the site where the shopping centre now stands once housed a theatre, with its stage facing the park, allowing for unique outdoor performances through a huge openable door. This theatre, sadly damaged by fire shortly before the shopping centre's construction, is a fascinating footnote in Gosforth's retail history.
Over the years, the High Street has seen many shops come and go, each leaving its mark on the local memory. Names like Robinson's Pet Shop near Elmfield Road, Boydell's Toys on the corner of Hawthorn Road, and Maynard's sweet shop evoke a sense of nostalgia. The Toddle Inn Cafe and Laidlaw's hardware and decorating store, both situated opposite the junction with St Nicholas Avenue, were also popular fixtures. Even Moods, a stationery and gift shop, once stood where the Gosforth Centre is now, opposite Ivy Road.
A notable change occurred with the closure of the Woolworths store on 3 January 2009, a casualty of the company's administration. Its premises later reopened as a Co-operative Food store, after plans for an Italian restaurant were rejected. This Co-op branch itself closed in 2016, being replaced by a McColls convenience store, which has also since closed its doors, illustrating the dynamic nature of retail in the area.
The car park at the corner of the High Street and Salters Road also holds a piece of Gosforth's past, being the former site of a primary school. Looking to the future, local councillors, Trinity Church, and Gavin Black (agent for Gosforth Shopping Centre) collaborated on a strategy in 2009 to further develop the High Street. This included the vision for Trinity Square, now completed, which was hoped to become a focal point for the High Street, providing a space for farmers' markets, street theatre, and other community activities. This project, costing around £400,000, aimed to enhance the pedestrian experience and community engagement.
The Gosforth Shopping Centre itself saw a significant ownership change in 2016 when Drum purchased it for £12.25 million. For over a decade prior, it had been owned by Graham Wylie, co-founder of the Sage Group, who had acquired it for £9.25 million, demonstrating the continued investment and interest in Gosforth's commercial core.
A Toast to Tradition: Gosforth's Public Houses
Gosforth boasts a vibrant pub scene, with a collection of establishments that cater to various tastes and offer a glimpse into the area's social fabric. The High Street alone is home to several popular spots, each with its own character and history.
- The Brandling Arms: A well-known pub on the High Street, it even has its own local edition of My Monopoly, featuring Gosforth locations – a quirky testament to its local prominence.
- The Gosforth Hotel: An enduring landmark, this hotel and pub was built in 1878, standing as a historical fixture on the High Street.
- The Queen Victoria: Known for a brief period as Northern Lights, this pub continues to be a popular choice for locals.
- The Blacksmith's Arms: Another traditional pub contributing to the High Street's lively atmosphere.
- Barca: Formerly known as the Earl Grey, Barca offers a contemporary setting for a drink.
- The Job Bulman: A branch of the popular Wetherspoons chain, this pub occupies the former 1920s post office building on St Nicholas Avenue and is named after the founder of Bulman Village.
- The County Hotel: Located towards the southern end of Gosforth's centre, it marks the southernmost High Street pub.
Beyond the High Street, other notable establishments include the Three Mile Inn, situated on the historic Great North Road. While some pubs have stood the test of time, others have faded into memory, such as the Collingwood in Regent Farm and the Royal George in Brunton Park, which closed its doors in June 2009, reflecting the ever-changing nature of the hospitality industry.
Pillars of Faith: Gosforth's Religious Sites
Gosforth is home to a diverse array of religious sites, each with its own unique history and architectural significance, reflecting the spiritual life and development of the community over centuries.
St. Nicholas (Parish Church)
The Parish Church of St. Nicholas, dedicated to its namesake, was constructed in 1799, designed by John Dodds. This elegant structure replaced an earlier medieval church building, which, like many parish churches of its time, had been built atop a hill. The renowned architect John Dobson was responsible for various alterations to the church between 1818 and 1820, further shaping its appearance. The eastern half of the church was a later addition in 1913, designed by Hicks and Charlewood, and a new vestry, partly serving as a war memorial, was added in 1959, designed by F.W. Harvey.
The history of a church on this site stretches back much further, with its predecessor being mentioned as early as 1170, when its advowson changed hands. Gosforth itself was also noted in 1220, according to Brand's History of Newcastle. The earliest parish register, a valuable historical record, dates back to 1697, providing a glimpse into the lives of Gosforth residents centuries ago.
St. Charles' (Roman Catholic)
The Roman Catholic parish of St. Charles' began its journey in Coxlodge in 1861. The land upon which the current church in Gosforth now stands was a generous donation by George Dunn Jnr. in 1896. An initial iron church was opened on 20 December 1896, measuring 25½ yards by 10 yards. The construction of the current, more permanent church commenced with a blessing and the laying of a foundation stone by the Right Rev. Richard Collins, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, on 14 August 1910. The new church was dedicated in 1911, with its solemn opening marked by a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Bishop Collins on 3 December 1911.
In more recent times, work began in 2003 on a new parish centre, located on the land adjacent to the church's north side, which had previously housed the original St. Charles' Primary School. This modern facility was officially opened in September 2004 by Canon Bob Spence, continuing the church's role as a vital community hub.
All Saints' Church, West Avenue
All Saints' Church, situated on West Avenue, is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture. Designed by the Diocesan Architect, Mr. Robert J. Johnson, building work for the church began in 1855. A prominent west tower, a distinguishing feature of the church, was added later in 1896. All Saints' Church was consecrated on 2 October 1887. The tower is a significant architectural element, housing ten bells and surmounted by a battlement and flagstaff, contributing to Gosforth's distinctive skyline.
Trinity Church and Amalgamated Chapels
Trinity Church represents a modern ecclesiastical development, formed from the amalgamation of three non-conformist chapels previously located on the west side of Gosforth High Street. The building itself was formerly known as West Avenue Methodist Church.
One of the churches amalgamated into Trinity Church was the Gosforth Presbyterian Church. Its former premises later became a Loch Fyne restaurant, which closed in July 2018. Following planning permission, it reopened as a bar, now trading under the name Barluga. Similarly, the Woodbine Road Primitive Methodist church was also amalgamated into Trinity Church. Its former premises are now occupied by the Community Foundation, having previously served as the offices for the Northern Rock Foundation.
The South Gosforth Methodist Church, located on Freeman Road near the Freeman Hospital, is now known as the Trinity Christian Community Centre, and it is administered by Trinity Church, Gosforth, further centralising community-focused religious activities.
Regent Chapel
In 1938, a group of Christian families residing in the Gosforth area felt the need for a Bible-based church for weekly services. They initially rented premises above the Co-operative Society on the Great North Road in Gosforth, where the new church began to meet and take shape. By 1960, a suitable site became available on Regent Farm Road, and with imaginative planning, a new building was constructed for £7,500, providing a permanent home for Regent Chapel.
United Hebrew Congregation Synagogue
The United Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Graham Park Road served the Jewish community of Gosforth for many years, in use from 1986 to 2019, reflecting the area's diverse religious landscape.
Shaping the Future: Metro Track Redevelopment
Gosforth is not just about its past and present; it's also a focal point for crucial infrastructure developments that will shape its future connectivity. Major metro track renewals are currently underway in and around Gosforth, a vital project aimed at preparing the network for the arrival of new trains.
Nexus, the public body responsible for owning and managing the Metro system, is undertaking the comprehensive replacement of tracks, sleepers, and ballast at a key track junction situated between South Gosforth and Regent Centre. This specific junction is of paramount importance as it serves the existing Metro depot and will be equally crucial for the new £70 million depot, which is rapidly taking shape on the same site.
These essential works are meticulously planned to minimise disruption, being carried out over two dedicated weekends: 12-13 February and 5-6 March. During each of these weekends, there will be no Metro services operating between Airport and South Gosforth. To ensure continued public transport access, a frequent and accessible replacement bus service will be in operation in the affected areas.
Cathy Massarella, Major Projects Director at Nexus, emphasised the significance of these renewals, stating, "We are carrying out vital track renewal work between Regent Centre and South Gosforth over two weekends as part of our modernisation programme. We are replacing a key section of line which serves the Metro depot. The junction there will be vital for getting the new trains in and out of the new £70m Gosforth depot, which is really starting to take shape. These works will secure the future of Metro for many years to come."
She acknowledged the inconvenience, noting, "There is no good time to close a large section of the network, but we are working at weekends when customer numbers are lower in order to keep the level of disruption to a minimum."
Further temporary changes during both weekend closures include the Fawdon level crossing on Fawdon Lane being closed to traffic, with a diversion route in place. However, the crossing will remain open for pedestrians, ensuring local access. The Government has provided crucial funding to Nexus, enabling these significant investments in Metro's infrastructure, all part of a broader effort to secure the network's long-term future and prepare it for the arrival of the first new train by the end of this year. These 46 new Metro trains are being built by Stadler, a reputable Swiss train manufacturer, promising a modern and efficient future for Gosforth's public transport links.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gosforth
What is Gosforth Shopping Centre?
The Gosforth Shopping Centre is a retail hub located on Gosforth High Street, opened in 1979. It houses various shops, including Sainsbury's and WHSmith, and provides a direct connection to Gosforth Central Park. It was purchased by Drum in 2016.
What notable pubs are in Gosforth?
Gosforth is home to several well-known pubs, including The Brandling Arms, The Gosforth Hotel (built 1878), The Queen Victoria, The Blacksmith's Arms, Barca (formerly Earl Grey), The Job Bulman (a Wetherspoons in a former post office), and The County Hotel. The Three Mile Inn is also located on the Great North Road.
What is Trinity Square in Gosforth?
Trinity Square is a development on Gosforth High Street, completed as a focal point for the area. It was envisioned as a space for community activities such as farmers' markets and street theatre, part of a strategy to enhance the High Street.
What is happening with the Metro in Gosforth?
Major metro track renewal works are taking place between South Gosforth and Regent Centre. This involves replacing tracks, sleepers, and a key junction serving the Metro depot. The work is crucial for preparing the network for new trains, being built by Stadler, and securing the Metro's future. It causes temporary weekend closures of services between Airport and South Gosforth, with replacement bus services in operation.
Are there any historic churches in Gosforth?
Yes, Gosforth has several historic churches. St. Nicholas Parish Church dates back to 1799, replacing an earlier medieval building. St. Charles' (Roman Catholic) church was dedicated in 1911, and All Saints' Church on West Avenue, a Gothic Revival building, was consecrated in 1887. Trinity Church represents an amalgamation of several non-conformist chapels.
Gosforth continues to be a dynamic and evolving area, successfully blending its rich historical foundations with continuous development and modernisation. Whether you're interested in its retail history, its vibrant social scene, its diverse places of worship, or the exciting infrastructure projects shaping its future, Gosforth offers a compelling narrative of a thriving British community.
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