The first episode in a new series entitled 'Grundy's Wonders' produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this first edition John looks at how the suburbs developed within the region and find out which one, in his opinion, is the best and which is the worst deserving of his ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural...

The first episode in a new series entitled 'Grundy's Wonders' produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this first edition John looks at how the suburbs developed within the region and find out which one, in his opinion, is the best and which is the worst deserving of his ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the title card of the programme. Title: Grundy’s Wonders A phantom car ride through various suburban neighbourhood’s changes to presenter John Grundy walking through some of them asking the question why no one has written a book or made a film about suburbs which he describes as ‘utterly English’. Sitting on a park bench he provides the Latin meaning of the word suburb ‘less than a proper town.’ He then asks where they came from, are they as dull as they appear to be and is there a perfect one or one so bad it deserves to be crushed by ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’. An animation follows of a large boot stomping the image. As pedestrians walk along the Shambles in York John explains that Medieval towns were often densely packed coming to a sudden stop at, for example, defensive walls such as to be found in York. As he talks about the growing problems of overcrowding, sewage and plaque graves in a local churchyard he walks out of Bootham Bar onto Bootham talking about the rich deciding to move out of the city, but only a short distance away. Over a montage of traffic moving along Bootham John provides a history of suburbs which are believed to have started in London in the 1600s. As he walks along the road, he points out some of his favourite Georgian houses talking about some of their architectural features. Standing overlooking the River Wear at Sunderland with the Wearmouth Bridge in the background, John talks about the next generation of suburbs that developed in the 19th century for the towns growing middle classes. Banks and local government buildings on Bridge Street in Sunderland where these white-collar workers were employed changes to John walking along one of the new classical laid out grid streets of terraced houses built for these new workers in the 1830s. A montage follows of some of these streets including Athenaeum Street and Foyle Street. The Church of St John on Ashbrooke Crescent in the Sunderland suburb of Ashbrooke which developed in the 1850s as the town continued to grow. A montage of the many town houses, villas and terraces built for the new middle classes who wanted something on par with the very rich. Standing with a row of Sunderland terraces in the background John is amazed by these vast houses with protected entrances as if they were country estates. More views of houses and their architectural features on properties in ‘upmarket’ named streets such as Argyle Square or Azalea Terrance North. On Alice Street examples of less ornate houses build for the lower-middle classes. Leaning against a wall along a back-alley John ask the viewer if they have heard of Raymond Unwin? Reading an extract from a book he wrote, John explains that Raymond didn’t like Victorian street design and especially back-alleys like the one John is standing in. Over a montage of the model village of New Earswick near York John provide details on the pioneering work done by Unwin to build the very first example of an entirely new approach to building Britian’s first garden suburb in 1902. Leaning against a tree John attempts to tell the complicated story of New Earswick’s development that began with a change is architectural tastes and attitudes at the end of the 19th century. Over views of some of the houses on the estate John talks about the architecture features used in its construction and across the development. Now leaning against a garden fence John talks about another influence on Unwin the writer Ebenezer Howard and his book ‘Tomorrow’. Further views follow of houses and terraces around Ivy Place with John talks about how Howard’s vision of gardens was incorporated in Unwin designs. Some of Unwin’s own inspiration are also featured including curved streets and lots of trees. Heading into the commercial break John explains that having gone through the history of suburbs it will be time for him to choose the best as well as the worst suburbs that will be crushed under ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two In his car John drives towards what he describes as being probably the best know suburb in the Northeast which was started in 1907 by the North East Allotment Association. Passing a signpost for it he enters Darras Hall on the outskirts of Newcastle John begins to explain why he doesn’t like it and why, in his opinion, it must go. An animation of ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ crashing down on the road sign seen previously. Walking along a busy road John tries to explain why the suburb he has chosen is his favourite, he goes through several which he likes before picking the suburb he lives in, Gosforth in Newcastle. He comes to a stop beside a large road sign for Gosforth High Street. Walking into the churchyard of St Nicholas Church John explains he likes to look at the pre-history of a suburb, to look at the landscape before the houses were built. An archive photograph of Coxlodge Hall on which much of Gosforth is built changes to show some of the surviving builds including the entrance lodge built on The Drive, now a modern street but once the driveway leading to the hall. A short distance away the old stable block now converted into offices. In The Grove, a street of Victorian terraced town houses John stands in the garden of one pointing out the architectural features that make it Victorian rather than Georgian. Following views of some Gothic style houses typical of the Victorian period, the film changes to John sitting on a bench in a garden explaining that most of the suburb was build at the turn of the 20th century in the vernacular style. John opens and begins flicking though a book of images of some of the most famous architects in this style, he explains that he likes to wonder around Gosforth looking for houses that were influenced by these men’s work. A montage follows of said properties intercut with John walking past. At two of the houses John stops to explain why they are his favourites. At the bottom of the garden of one of these houses John walking into a small room attached to the garage that containing a central heating system built especially to heat the owners’ cars. Following views of the ‘lush porches’ built by local architect William Hope, a large villa also designed and built by the man with John explaining why he likes it. Another montage of houses in the areas showing what John calls the ‘gorgeous range of details Gosforth has to offer.’ Standing in the street beside a tree John notes the lack of modern housing in Gosforth. Over views of the few examples of modern architecture to be found in the area, John confesses that we appear terrified of the modern world. Over views of a row of large 1950s semi-detached houses, John compared them to a modern estate where the traditional architectural style is nearly exactly the same proving that little has changed in the last eighty-year, essentially still Edwardian houses built in the 1990s. The programme comes to an end with John walking through this new estate wishes we weren’t so afraid of the modern. He then explains why he has awarding Gosforth the honour for best suburb as it is rich, varied and beautiful and an excellent example of a suburb that has developed over 150 years. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonder Over a closing credits a phantom car ride through Gosforth. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera Mike Parker Sound Paul Graham Editor Mike Pounder Production Assistant Margaret McKie Dubbing Mixer Charles Heath Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music John Cook Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer & Director Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. © Tyne Tees Television MM