The Road to Blaydon - Part 1

A beautiful Tyne Tees production unearthed from the NRFTA, this half hour programme chronicles the regeneration of Scotswood Road from the point of view of residents and small business' affected by the changes. Interspersed with some dry comedy moments from the Tyne Tees Studio this film shows the flip-side to the glossy media frontage of early regeneration schemes, all to an epic Blaydon-Races inspired soundtrack!

[@jamesfretwell1511]

People looked out for eachother back then. Community spirit was high, but now it's just a bunch of strangers walking around with their heads in their mobile phones. I grew up in the 80s and remember when people would randomly invite you into their home on new years eve (and you didn't even know them). Most people didn't lock their doors because they knew their home was going to be safe.

[@martyjago8636]

So true mate , how times have changed and not for the better .

[@michaelpatzer5042]

Paddy sent us here

[@allycat5004]

Someone said that was paddy Conroy the little lad in the shop at beginning that picks the cake up and licks it,must admit it does look like him

[@xXAngelis420Xx]

Thanks for uploading this, my nanna and grandad were the shop owners :)

[@Rupertbear27]

I used to run the Hydraulic Crane in Scotswood Road in 1981--great people

[@tootsiroll4134]

Did you ever meet Chris “Kicker” Minnikin?

[@oldtatshow]

Such memories. Watching it makes me feel extremely sad.

[@shadow-Sun]

Absolutely facinating stuff real social history ..great upload

[@brianupton8154]

I remember Tyne Tees TVs first birthday, Shirley Bassey sang and it was the first time my dad heard her, he said, she’s a good singer that lass. She had replaced someone who dropped out. We were lucky we lived in Dene Ave Lemington, the Dene was at the bottom of our garden, the great times we had, never in the house. Lovely memories.

[@Gallowgate]

Salt of the Earth people, hard place to grow up, but I don't regret a bit of it

[@chasidahl8563]

Me too..........

[@carolginsberg8392]

Why aye man

[@melonycrumpet]

Love this video, thank you for posting it.

[@divaddrofdarb1955]

What a fantastic view of the Scotswood Road, I was born and still live in the east end of the city, but have worked on Scotswood road all of my working life. My sister used to live in Clara street, I then got an apprenticeship with Vickers Armstrong in 1971,so the views of the entrance of the works bring back so many memories(29 gate).I still work ther in the only existing ex Vickers company on the road,its now called ADM pressings.

[@drover110]

+Dave Bradford My grandfather worked in what was then known as Armstrong Whitworth- Ive got his old technical drawing box. Brought up in paradise- Benwell.

[@dannylewisham1954]

My Dad was the Music Associate for this film. He worked for Tyne Tees TV for several years, then retired and took on a pub....The Plough in Killingworth. His name was Clarry Sampson....wonder if anyone can remember him ?

[@steviemac9055]

The Plough is a nice pub.

[@DavidGarside]

My Uncle Paddy, the window cleaner. Lived in Joseph Street.

[@Gallowgate]

Great video - fascinating insight - a real gem!

[@jimmyoconnell2734]

Glasgow and Newcastle were the first cities to get these horrible block of flats

[@pecka2k]

Fascinating video, thanks for posting this. Its a funny situation, people tend to look back thru rose tinted glasses at the past. The council have demolished a sickening amount of housing, if only they had enforced the rules and clamped down with anti social problems with the police then perhaps a vast majority could be saved. But instead of tackling this they just moved people out. There is a housing shortage crisis in this country now and all we have an abundance of is grass.

[@mrgoodintent]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[@mrgoodintent]

As per usual....As ever still 'Brainless British Planners, Architects & Councillors!!!!!' The real facts are that these so called authoritarians have down the years done very well for themselves out of redevelopment. Expert Conmen!!!

[@broadoak2006]

GREAT VIDEO

[@thomashogg8352]

What a belta 👍

[@alanwann9318]

What happened to the Tyne Tees archive? I know there is more like this timepiece

[@jimmyoconnell2734]

A true fighting city

[@stevelewis69]

jesus my father used to manage the forge and hammer pub used to live upstairs as a kid.

[@jnieurzyla]

Yeah, the architects and councillors etc did not live the flats, all they were interested in were the awards they got.

[@richardkell4888]

I think you hit the nail on the head there. They get awards for this bloody destruction yet for instance looking at the vids for say the Byker Wall it is a very subjective treatment, they only show the good bits, after all, the Byker Wall itself is a high-rise laid on its side! In my opinion there was something wrong in the head of T Dan Smith, certainly a very clever talker, but so twisted and divorced from real lives and what goes to make a fuctioning community. Its as if the high rise developments were devised as a punishment, as if the Planners and Councillors really did hate ordinary folk to that extent and degree!

[@goonluv]

my mother was the first person to get married at the civic centre

[@brandonlewismalone986]

Eeeee taffy cakes 😊😊

[@tonysomerville4037]

That’s my nana 10:39 ❤

[@peternufc1981]

Them rubbish shoots look nawty like bet it did smell ropey like the woman said.. good old view of what scotswood rd looked like back in the day

[@garysomerville2476]

Me nana Alice n me da, aged about 8-9years old 😂 mad x

[@iknowyouknowiknow7389]

Guys, looking for somebody named robert hall, had a butchers named halls butchers, its my mothers dad and she is looking for him, not once met the bloke, it was the benwell\elswick area, if anybody could help it would be much appreciated.

[@richardkell4888]

They get awards for this bloody destruction yet for instance looking at the vids for say the Byker Wall it is a very subjective treatment, they only show the good bits, after all, the Byker Wall itself is a high-rise laid on its side! You'll notice tv crews are loathe to show you the inside of that. In my opinion there was something seriously wrong in the head of T Dan Smith, certainly a very clever talker, but so twisted and divorced from real lives and what goes to make a functioning community. Its as if the high rise developments were devised as a punishment, as if the Planners and Councillors really did hate ordinary folk to an incredible extent and degree! But hey everybody .... lets get those awards first, once we've smashed it all to the ground and Thompsons have flattened and cleared the lot ... its a blank canvas! Rendered into a void, become nothing. Theres more to architecture and planning than playing around with wooden blocks on a bit of plywood. Did they never once think what people do each day, their movements and habits, little journeys; the corner shop, the pub, the houses of your friends and relatives. That listening thro an open window you can tell who is walking where, the approach of a neighbour, kids back from school, dad coming home. I'm sure we don't need Norman bleedin Foster to work that one out. Tragic.

[@martino.malley9276]

Bloody Depressing Place.

[@Jeffybonbon]

I worked in the High Rise flats at Cruddas park the most misrable job I have ever done God it must have been awfull to have to live there Thank god I did not have too live in such an awfull place

[@chasidahl8563]

Actually, it was a great place to live. It was a close community where we all helped each other.. ........

[@jamesfretwell1511]

@@chasidahl8563 exactly.

[@fannylicker7765]

Them were the days