“I started taking photographs in my school days in the 1960s, as a means of recording my interest in railways,” says Trevor Ermel, whose photographs of Newcastle take us back to when the city was still synonymous with heavy industry.
In the 1970s, old terraced streets were were being demolished. The Central Motorway East was formally opened in August, 1975. The Tyne and Wear Metro rapid transit system was being constructed in readiness for its opening in August, 1980.
“From the 1970s onwards I began recording everyday scenes on Tyneside, particularly in Gateshead where I lived at the time,” says Trevor. “I mainly use the camera for the thing I think it is best at – capturing the changing world around us in a factual way. I often try to include people in pictures to provide an extra element in the scene. I now live in Whitley Bay and am often out with my camera photographing the streets of the town and the changes it is undergoing.”
Between Beresford Road (left) and Avondale Road in 1974.
A 1976 view of the Haymarket area of Newcastle. The ABC cinema is showing the new blockbuster film ‘Jaws’.
Signs of the times – Scotswood Road 1978
Probably Raby Street, but open to correction.
Westmorland Road, Newcastle opposite Marlborough Crescent bus station in 1977
Byker back lane 1974
A nice lineup of Northern buses at Worswick Street bus station in 1976
Railway Street Newcastle 29-10-78
Sunday market on the Quayside in 1978
Neville Street and Central Station in 1976
Newcastle end of Metro Bridge 26-7-78
Marlborough Crescent Newcastle 12-3-77
Newcastle Central Station 4-9-77
Newcastle Quayside 7-10-78
The crowds are out in force at Tynemouth to see the departure of the ‘Esso Northumbria’ on 9th February 1970, the first of the ‘supertankers’ to be built on the Tyne
The skyline at North Shields has changed a bit since this 1975 view was taken, looking over from South Shields
View to Newcastle from Gateshead in 1975, with a queue waiting to cross the Swing Bridge
Pottery Lane, Newcastle, looking towards the end of the old Redheugh Bridge (to the left) in 1978
The old Cattle Market Keeper’s House, plus some contemporary cars, in 1977
The ‘Tyne Pride’ being built at Swan Hunter’s yard in Wallsend in 1975 – it was launched on 6th October
Carville Road, Byker prob 1975
Newcastle Bigg Market in 1976, with open air market stalls in the foreground
Massive construction work for the Tyne & Wear Metro in 1977 – building the tunnel for the line through Byker
Demolition in Byker in 1974, although I did not make a note of the street.
The ‘Evening Chronicle’ seller in an apt sheltered spot in Byker in 1975.
Fishing boats at North Shields fish quay in 1975
Another view of Carville Road, this time from 1974. The car on the right seems to have the reg. 431SHN in case anyone recognises it!
This farmer’s field near Ryton, to the west of Gateshead, had a rather dramatic background of the cooling towers of Stella North Power Station over the river in Newburn.
Ouseburn Viaduct & Byker Bridge Newcastle 23-5-75
A 1976 view in Newcastle from St. Mary’s Place towards the Haymarket.
A 1987 view from the end of Neville Street, Newcastle, towards the junction of Westmorland Road and Clayton Street West.
Conversation piece at the Byker Wall in 1975
North Shields Fish Quay in 1975
All images by and with permission of Trevor Ermel
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