Tyne and Wear HER(10905): Blackett Street, 'Parsons Polygon' - Details
10905
Newcastle
Blackett Street, 'Parsons Polygon'
Newcastle
NZ26SW
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces
Sculpture
Sculpture
20TH CENTURY
Late 20th Century 1967 to 2000
Structure
1985 by David Hamilton. This brick and tile structure contains a ventilation shaft for the Metro system. The ceramic relief marks the achievements of Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931), the designer of Turbinia, a turbine powered vessel. The designs pressed into the clay are based on Parson's engineering drawings. Commissioned in 1982 as part of the 'Art on the Metro' scheme run by Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive to enliven the Metro network. Approximately 3m high hexagonal sculpture. Orange terracotta tiles. The patchy orange and brown gives a sense of iron, perhaps of rusty iron. Reasons for being listed: Aesthetic quality, function (an engaging sculpture that obscures the need for a ventilation shaft for the underground Metro tunnel), Historic Interest - praises the achievements of engineer Sir Charles Parsons, Contribution to the public realm. Described by Historic England as 'Tardis-like' and 'like some newly-arrived steam punk fictional machine waiting to interact with the human population'.
424805
564450
NZ424805564450
Ian Ayris, Peter Jubb, Steve Palmer and Paul Usherwood, 1996, A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear, p 74; Art On the Riverside, Grainger Town Partnership, Arts Council England, Nexus and Newcastle City Council, Public Art in Newcastle - A Guide (booklet); Paul Usherwood, Jeremy Beach and Catherine Morris, 2000, Public Sculpture of North-East England, p 98-9; www.davidhamilton.me.uk/section417319_349573.html; PMSA National Recording Project www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9504/; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1437311