Small square and projecting terrace of houses and flats, with detached house and one pair. 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Pale brick metric modular brick construction with carefully toning mortar, concrete block internal walls; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two storeys. Nos. 11, 13, 17-27, 31-33, 51-61 (odd) are flats. Nos. 1-13 form a terrace, with green and red first-floor balcony to no. 13, green end weatherboarding and bird box; brown eaves weatherboarding to rear. No. 15 is detached, with blue vertical weatherboarding, brick retaining walls and brown fence. Nos. 17-27 with front ramps, and a brown bird box to end wall of nos. 17-19 and nos. 25 and 27. Blue and brown vertical weatherboarding to the rear, with double porches. Nos. 29-57 form a square of three terraces. Brown bird boxes and pergolas. Nos 29, 31-45 with blue vertical weatherboarding, integral brick wall and brown fence. A green bird box to no. 47, which also has a green front fence and pergola. The frontage to the square with narrower band of blue weatherboarding at first floor and blue metal door hoods. Nos. 51-3 and 55-7 have rear vertical weatherboarding. Central shed between the lines of flats a part of the composition, with brown weatherboarding. No. 49 with bird box, and fence with central entrance which links to no. 47. Nos. 59-63 are a house and two flats, with green vertical weatherboarding, blue eaves, green fence and a bird box each side. All units have timber windows in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights. Bright timber doors with glazed panel, some renewed in hardwood. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. A particularly colourful design among the later parts of the estate.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*

Eight short terraces and two pairs of houses and flats, and one detached block of two flats. 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Orange/ red brick metric modular brick construction with carefully toning mortar, concrete block internal walls; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two storeys carefully following the horizontal contours of the steeply sloping site and angled to the view, the flats forming the south-eastern end units (at the white ends) save for detached block (nos.24 and 26). Very prominent bright green balconies to nos. 52 and 70. The fall of the land exploited in split level units, the entrance (north) side with kitchen windows at ground level. Black weatherboarding to north-west end extended on each side as fencing, white weatherboarding to south east, with bird boxes on each gable. Projecting timber balcony at first floor to upper flat units, prominent projecting eaves and suspended first-floor planting boxes. Entrance front with boldly coloured doors next to triangular staircase windows, and narrow eaves windows to first floor over bold brown timber projecting band carrying heating pipes. Projecting weatherboarded outshuts to end units, the others with brown timber door hoods suspended from the deep eaves. Timber windows, those to south larger with aluminium opening lights. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. Black, brown and green fences an integral part of the composition. Prominent red brick walls and green or brown fences link each group with that above and/or below it. Nos. 2, 10 and 16 with end boundary walls, nos. 76-8 with green fences and pergola. Steep steps throughout the development, with retaining walls between each row of housing. This is perhaps the steepest of all the developments, and exploits the spectacular views.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp LISTED GRADE 2*

Ten short terraces, of houses and flats (two flats per longer terrace) four pairs and one detached house. 1978-80 by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Fairclough Building Limited. Orange/ red brick metric modular brick construction with carefully toning mortar, concrete block internal walls; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two storeys carefully following the horizontal contours of the steeply sloping site and angled to the view, the flats forming the south-eastern end units (at the white ends). The fall of the land exploited in split level units, the entrance (north) side with kitchen windows at ground level. Black weatherboarding to north-west end extended on each side as fencing, white weatherboarding to south east renewed in upvc, with bird boxes on each gable. Projecting timber balcony at first floor to upper flat, found on terraces of more than three units. Entrance front with boldly coloured doors next to triangular staircase windows, and narrow eaves windows to first floor over bold brown timber projecting band carrying heating pipes. Projecting weatherboarded outshuts to end units, the others with brown timber door hoods suspended from the deep eaves. Timber windows, those to south larger with aluminium opening lights. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. Black, brown and green fences an integral part of the composition. Pale brown boxing to heating ducts a key part of this hillside development, such as links nos. 17 and 21; 31, 45 and 51; 61,75 and 81; 91, 99 and 107. Nos. 91-95 with black fences on red brick walls. Particularly prominent steps with granite sets to no. 95. No. 97 detached, with projecting porch and downpipes forward of deep eaves and black weatherboarded ends.

These were the first of a new type of housing, developed by Erskine to make the most of the exceptionally steep slopes and fine views of the Carville Road area. Newcastle City Council asked Erskine to use concrete tiles rather than the metal sheeting he preferred, and the Marley Modern tiles were found to be the only ones effective at the shallow pitches required. The Council also asked for these houses to be of brick and blockwork construction rather than predominantly of timber, but Erskine had already produced this design with timber ends (which he saw as a deterrent to vandalism) and adapted the internal construction in January 1978. Its more sophisticated palette of dark tones contrasted with black and white end walls and brightly painted doors makes an interesting foil to the primary colours of the rest of the estate.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60
Tyne and Wear Archives MD/NC/106 31 and 33 LISTED GRADE 2*

Seven terraces of houses and flats. 1978-80 by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Fairclough Building Limited. Red brick metric modular brick construction with concrete block internal walls, Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two storeys carefully following the horizontal contours of the steeply sloping site and angled to the view, the flats forming the south-eastern end units. The fall of the land exploited in split level units, the entrance (north) side with kitchen windows at ground level. Black weatherboarding to north-west end, white weatherboarding to south east renewed in upvc, with bird boxes on each gable. Projecting timber balcony at first floor to upper flats, all set at south end of terraces (nos 12-14, 28-30, 46-48). First floor flowerboxes. Entrance fronts with boldly coloured doors next to triangular staircase windows, and narrow eaves windows to first floor over bold brown timber projecting band carrying heating pipes. Projecting brown timber door hoods suspended from the deep eaves; black sheds to each end of nos. 38-48. Timber windows, those to south larger with aluminium opening lights. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest.

These were the first of a new type of housing, developed by Erskine to make the most of the exceptionally steep slopes and fine views of the Carville Road area. Newcastle City Council asked Erskine to use concrete tiles rather than the metal sheeting he preferred, and the Marley Modern tiles were found to be the only ones effective at the shallow pitches required. The Council also asked for these houses to be of brick and blockwork construction rather than predominantly of timber, but Erskine had already produced this design with timber ends (which he saw as a deterrent to vandalism) and adapted the internal construction in January 1978. Its more sophisticated palette of dark tones contrasted with black and white end walls and brightly painted doors makes an interesting foil to the primary colours of the rest of the estate.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60
Tyne and Wear Archives MD/NC/106 31 and 33 LISTED GRADE 2*

Includes No. 26A, Byker Photographic Workshop. Five short terraces of houses, and two individual houses (nos. 2 and 20). 1978-9 by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Shepherd Construction. Pale brick metric modular brick construction on timber frame, partly clad in weatherboarding, low-pitched metal roofs on plywood box beam purlins. Two storeys. The terraces provide incident by being set at right angles to the street, with side doors and linking fences. No. 2 has green timber windows and green weatherboarded eaves, green fence link to no. 4. Nos. 4-10 with green and red weatherboarding, and green weatherboarding to rear. Projecting brick porches all of brick with blue roofs, and prominent red door to side of no. 4. Nos. 12-18 with green and red weatherboarded eaves, and green weatherboarding to rear; green door hoods. Green bird boxes to either end. No. 20 has green weatherboarding to front and rear, with round bastion garden feature wall to rear behind green fences. Fence link to nos. 12-18. Nos. 22-26 and 26a (the Byker Photographic Workshop) has green weatherboarding, with a red vertical band between units. Green weatherboarding to single-storey workshop, which has a red door; blue roofs to brick porches on nos. 24 and 26. Nos. 28-34 have green and brown weatherboarding with red vertical bands between units; sloping roof over end garage to no. 26; blue door hoods. Green bird box to no. 34. Pergola link between no. 34 and no. 36, with have green weatherboarded flank walls. Nos. 36-44 form an `L'-shaped terrace, with black bird boxes to nos. 40 and 42. Weatherboarded eaves of green with red vertical stripes to nos. 36-40, blue first-floor weatherboarding to nos. 42 and 44. Red and blue doors with horizontal panels under blue hoods. Windows of timber in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights. Timber doors, of special interest where noted, otherwise with some replacements in hardwood. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. This is a particularly charming group for the incidence of decorative detailing such as linking walls and fences, with bird boxes to many end walls providing accents to the street.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*

Pair of detached houses. 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Pale yellow metric modular brick on concrete block construction with weatherboard cladding; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Three storeys, with single-storey outshut to side of no. 48. Frontages to Raby Way have small areas of blue weatherboarding to second floors, red doors and metal door hoods. Frontage to Raby Street and Mason Street have red-brown weatherboarding to first floor and blue weatherboarding to second, with bright blue weatherboarded eaves. All windows of timber in timber surrounds, with aluminium opening lights. Round porthole windows to outshut. Interiors not inspected but understood not to be of special interest. These two houses form a prominent feature in the square outside Avondale House (q.v.).

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*

Two terraces, of seven houses and two flats, devised to resemble eight houses on plan. 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Pale yellow metric modular brick on concrete block construction with weatherboard cladding; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two storeys. Nos. 64 and 66 are flats, with enlarged ground-floor porch and first-floor living room window. Blue weatherboarding to first floor of nos. 64-8 and no. 72, black to no. 70, forming continuous strip with windows. Black weatherboarding to projecting porches and end bird box outside no. 72. Some red doors and integral green fences. Rear elevations entirely of black weatherboarding. Nos. 56-62 weatherboarded in black, with bird boxes at either end, with green weatherboarding to porches, red doors and black fences. Timber windows in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights (mainly sliding); some doors (68 and 70) renewed in hardwood. Blue door hoods to north elevations of nos. 56-62, and blue door to no. 56. These two short terraces form a square around a central store, which has brick ends and brown weatherboarding, and is an integral part of the composition.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp LISTED GRADE 2*

Varied terrace of houses. 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Pale yellow metric modular brick on concrete block construction with weatherboard cladding; Marley Modern tiled roofs. Two and three storeys.

No. 85 is a house, of two storeys with brown and blue weatherboarding to first floor at window level under eaves, and projecting brown weatherboarded porch under sloping tiled roof. Nos 87-9 are three-storey houses, with green weatherboarding to first and second floor, with blue weatherboarding to eaves and projecting first-floor balconies with brown timber balustrades and planting boxes on green subframe. Blue doors. Green bird boxes at either end. Nos. 91-3 are also three storeys, but lower, with green weatherboarding, save for blue vertical strip and second-floor eaves, and a brown bird box to no. 93. Red doors and metal door hoods. Nos. 95-97 of two storeys, with brown and blue weatherboarding forming a strip between first floor windows, deep ground-floor windows painted blue. Projecting brick porches with brown weatherboarded fronts and sloping tiled roofs. Vertical brown weatherboarding to rear. No. 99 of three storeys, with green weatherboarding, save for blue weatherboarding around second-floor windows and eaves. Green timber to windows. Red door and red metal door hood. Triangular fencing to either side. High-level timber link via timber heating casing to nos. 101-5, which are three-storey, with brown weatherboarding and windows (blue eaves), and red door hoods. Distinctive white brickwork round the door to no. 105. All windows of timber in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights; timber doors with glazed panel, some renewed in hardwood where not specifically noted as important to the composition.

This is a long and prominent group on the principal pedestrian route through the Byker estate.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*

Sheltered block of 36 flats with warden's accommodation (styled no. 51). 1979-82 by by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Stanley Miller Ltd. Pale yellow metric modular brick on concrete block construction; Marley Modern tiled roofs. One, two and three storeys sunk slightly into slope of hillside. North side with green weatherboarding to second floor and projecting first-floor oriel with strip windows on concrete stilts. Raby Street elevation of two storeys with projecting brown timber balconies on green frames under sloping roofs at first floor. Raby Way elevation with green weatherboarding on long banded elevation with prominent corner columns defining entrance. South elevation has more independent units of one and two storeys, with attached warden's house of two storeys with high monopitch roof and green weatherboarding, entered up steps set around low bastion retaining wall. Two single-storey units (nos. 52 and 54) entered via same steps, which with the wall form an integral part of the composition. Timber windows in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights, mainly sliding; blue doors to single-storey units. Interiors not inspected but not thought to be of special interest. To Raby Street green timber fences and to Mason Street green steel railings are an integral part of the composition.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*

Long terrace of houses and flats. 1978-9 by Ralph Erskine's Arkitektkontor; site architect Vernon Gracie; structural engineer, White, Young and Partners; main contractor, Shepherd Construction. Pale brick metric modular brick construction on timber frame, partly clad in weatherboarding, low-pitched metal roofs on plywood box beam purlins. Flats set over open ground floors (so-called stilt blocks) of concrete blockwork construction on in situ ground-floor concrete frame, clad in metric modular brickwork and brown weatherboarding, blue metal roofs.

Two and three storeys. Nos. 39-47 Raby street of three storeys with blue balconies, blue weatherboarding to first floor, white weatherboarding above second-floor strip windows. Very prominent projecting integral bin stores and sheds joined to house by timber catslide roofs of blue timber with battening. Rear has green windows and green weatherboarding. Nos. 49-53 are stilt block flats, entered off gallery reached via stairs to left, with brown balconies. Nos. 53-65 and nos. 73-9 repeat the distinctive format of nos. 39-47 Raby Street, while nos. 67-71 repeat nos. 49-53. Timber windows in timber surrounds with aluminium opening lights, mainly sliding; timber doors with glazed panel, some renewed in hardwood.

The Byker area, first extensively developed in the 1890s, was earmarked for redevelopment from the late 1950s, with a new motorway to the north. In March 1967 the Housing Architect's Department proposed the building of a barrier block to shelter the area, and this idea was supported by Ralph Erskine, who was invited to develop the area for Newcastle Corporation in 1969. His Plan of Intent, published in 1970, promised a complete redevelopment programme of housing and landscaping with cost yardsticks, while maintaining the traditions and character of the neighbourhood, and to rehouse the residents without breaking family and social ties. His achievement in rehousing 40% of the original residents on the original site was exceptional, as were his methods of keeping the community informed of development and seeking their support and suggestions for the low-rise housing. In achieving these goals Erskine sought to exploit the south-facing sloping site, to develop a system of pedestrian routes through the estate and to provide a `specific "local" individuality to each group of houses.' The estate was redeveloped in a rolling programme of no more than 250 units at a time, to try to maintain the community's infrastructure. The idea was a sheltering perimeter block, which protects the estate from traffic noise and creates a micro climate, with low-rise housing in its lee. The modular metric facing brick of 290mm x 90mm x 65mm was developed by Crossley and Sons in County Durham, in collaboration with the City of Newcastle. When mortared, it forms a 12" by 4" by 3" unit. The inventiveness of the decoration, developed following the relatively muted `pilot scheme' at Janet Square, marks Byker out from other post-war housing for bringing the humane concepts of `romantic pragmatism' with its neo-vernacular details and materials to public housing in a unique way. It is probably also the greatest achievement of this important and idiosyncratic international architect. `If there is something marvellously lighthearted about the design, this I would say is the topographical keynote of the new Byker' (Architectural Design, June 1975, p.333).

Sources
Tyne and Wear Archives
Architectural Review, December 1974, pp.346-62
Mats Egelius, Ralph Erskine, Architect, Stockholm 1990, pp.148-60 LISTED GRADE 2*