The third episode in this second series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this third programme John looks at town planning though the ages finding examples of both the good and the bad across the Northeast. John also comes up with Grundy’s Nine Commandments of town planning and uses examples from across the region to illustrate their value. An animation of a book with its pages turning...

The third episode in this second series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this third programme John looks at town planning though the ages finding examples of both the good and the bad across the Northeast. John also comes up with Grundy’s Nine Commandments of town planning and uses examples from across the region to illustrate their value. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Walking through Gosforth Central Park in Newcastle, presenter John Grundy comes to stand on the steps of the war memorial and takes on the persona as ‘grumpy old git’ complaining about the litter and graffiti. Following a montage of graffiti around the park a nearby street of former Georgian townhouses converted into office which John finds depressing. At a nearby construction site for a new development of ‘luxury apartments’ John laments the loss of a former police station that sat on the sight. Over views of the playing fields belonging to Gosforth Rugby Club John complains that open spaces are being lost as the club has recently sold land to a property developer. In a nearby street cars double-parked with John complaining about growing amounts of traffic. Returning to Gosforth Central Park John now sits on a bench and ask the questions does it matter if a place is nice, will it make a difference to people’s lives? Over a montage of views around an unidentified pit village that features heavy traffic, rows of terraced housing and a closed shop along the main street with the house next door up ‘For Sale’ John states he can’t answer for the people who live here that their lives are worse off than someone who lives somewhere nice. However, as a man sweeps the step outside his terraced house John states that he believes that people make their own lives beautiful even when the town isn’t that nice with gardens and allotments. Growing in one allotment plots large Chrysanthemum’s changes to two small girls riding pony's across a field at the back of a row of terraced houses. Returning to John now leaning against a tree he answers his initial question ‘does it matter’ with an emphatic yes. He then poses a second question what should be done for a town that is in need of improvement? Over views of Corbridge in Northumberland with its 17th century stone bridge and St Andrew’s parish church with its Medieval Pele Tower John explains that the first option is to do nothing at all. As he talks about how attractive Corbridge is, he points out that it has been spoilt by the traffic and intrusive road signs. Around the village cars and motorcycles passing along narrow street. Standing outside Ridley’s Fish and Game shop, John explains that with the exception of adding a one-way system not much else has been done. However, he is concerned that the village will be ruined by the traffic so doing nothing isn’t an option. A second option John puts forward is to improve what you can without making big changes. In the village of Seahouses along the Northumberland coastline as visitor sit eating trays of chips, ice creams and ice lollies John explains that it has the same problems as Corbridge with traffic. He provides details on what has been done to improve traffic flow coming in and out of the village and to give the pedestrian the edge over the car or bus. However, standing at the entrance leading into the town’s car park John explains that what they’ve done hasn’t solved the problem and what they have ended up with is ‘something more attractive than it was, but not as nice as it might be.’ Over a montage around the centre of Newcastle John explains that a third option of what to do when a town needs improvements is to knock it all down and start again. Over more views John describes Newcastle as a ‘fine Medieval city that has changed continuously through the centuries producing a lush mixture of all different periods and styles.’ However, in the past few hundred years it has gone through ‘several bouts’ of town improvements. Sitting on a bench inside Gosforth Central Park again John talks about the work of T. Dan Smith and Wilfred Burns and the ‘notorious development plan of 1963.’ Over views of some of the buildings built during this period such as Newcastle City Library and Swan House as well as pedestrian walkways and decks passing over the Central Motorway, John explains how at the time everyone approved of this grandiose vision. However, John is convinced they all got it wrong. Over views of other structures built in the 1960s as well as people using the dark and dismal pedestrian walkways John explains why it was a bad town improvement and badly flawed. Views around Eldon Square in the middle of Newcastle three-quarters of which were demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Eldon Square shopping centre. Walking past it John describes it as dull, boring and bland and tragically an unnecessary successor to the genuine architecture of John Dobson who built the original Eldon Square in the 1820s. Another example of what John sees in the 1963 plan in that everything that was demolished was replaced by something mediocre. Because of the points that have been raised John gives this weeks ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ to the 1963 development plan as a model of how not to improve a town. An animation of a great boot coming down and squashing the 1960s Eldon Square. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Walking along the beach at Seaham in County Durham John introduces what he calls ‘Grundy’s Nine Town Improvement Commandments.’ He begins by stating that once the beach here was a beautiful place and reads Hebrew Melodies by Lord Byron who wrote it there. Views of the nearby Saxon parish church of St Marylebone where Byron was married in 1815 are followed by a montage of Seaham Harbour developed in the 1820s by the Marquess of Londonderry, but never got going properly due to lack of money. As excavators and other heavy equipment work to prepare the site of the former Vane Tempest mine for housing development, John talks about how mining took over bringing with it the pollution of the coastline that features in the Michael Caine film ‘Get Carter.’ Over views again of the Vane Tempest development as well as the fishing boats in the harbour John pointing out that with the closer of the mines in the 1990s people focus has turned to the importance of the environment and believes Seaham paid to high a price for coal. Over views of the newly decorated seafront and promenade featuring pieces of street art John sees this development as making the town emerge resplendent. In the distance construction work at Seaham Hall where Byron held his wedding now being turned into a hotel. Leaning against a railing along the promenade John explains that the work done so far is only a start, but the town can begin to feel pride in itself again. It also illustrates Grundy’s First Commandment which is animated onto a rock. Title: If you’ve got the will to do it no problem is too big to tackle Over views of the modern riverside development at South Shields with the Shields Ferry crossing the River Tyne in the background, John explains that this area suffered from similar issues of pollution and loss of usefulness as Seaham Harbour but is now a perfect example of Grundy’s Second Commandment. Title: Improvements should get rid of the bad not replace the good Standing beside the statue of the Spirit of South Shields John talks positively of the work that is being done that has character and style with its ‘seasidey’ touches that while the development is modern it hasn’t lost touch with the past. An animation of Grundy’s Third Commandment hanging from the Spirit of South Shields. Title: New buildings should respect the history and character of the place there’re in Grundy’s Fourth Commandment is animated on a sign being held by one of the figures that forms a piece of nearby public art entitled Conversation Piece. Title: New Buildings should be good A montage of modern buildings around the region that conform to the about four commandments including the riverside development at South Shields, the Tees Barrage at Stockton-on-Tees, Durham University Queens Campus at Thornaby-on-Tees, St Peter’s Campus of Sunderland University along the banks of the River Wear and buildings such as the Pitcher and Piano bar along the Newcastle Quayside. Sitting at an outside table at a Coffee Republic café on Grainger Street near Grey’s Monument in Newcastle John confesses that he may have been a little hard on the city as there have been improvements that he can point out without leaving his seat. The first change he points out is the pedestrianisation of the area illustrated with people walking past or sitting on nearby benches relaxing or eating. Animated onto a road sign Grundy’s Fifth Commandment. Title: Pedestrians Matter Over a montage of people and traders working on or walking across the pedestrian walkways John talks about the quality of the work and unusual additions such as artworks placed into the pavement itself. Animated against scaffolding attached to a nearby building Grundy’s Sixth Commandment. Title: The quality of the materials and finish should be as high as possible Over a view of the Lloyds Bank on Grainger Street John explains that changes have been kept to a minimum. Animated over John’s cup of coffee Grundy’s Seventh Commandment. Title: Small is beautiful Fashion outlet Kookai on the corner of Grainger and Market Street changes to a man on a nearby bench and an entertainer on a unicycle entertaining a crowd. As the crowds begin to cheer and clap Grundy’s Fourth Commandment written on an Evening Chronicle headline board. Title: Towns are meant to be enjoyed Scaffolding and cladding surrounding Grey’s Monument itself with Grundy’s Ninth Commandment animated over it. Title: Old is good Over a montage of Grainger Town along Grey Street including the Theatre Royal John explains that people have discovered that old building matter and have become brilliant at restoring them. With John commenting that communities are increasingly imaginative at finding new uses for old buildings, Alderman Fenwick’s House on Pilgrim Street. Driving north into Scotland John confesses that while he has chosen his favourite town improvement it isn’t in the region or England rather the village of Pathhead on the A68 in Midlothian. Over a montage of the busy Main Street and its residents John asks the viewer to take a look at how the village as turned around its disadvantages in the simplest of ways and making it delightful. As a man crosses this major truck road into Scotland John explains that the village have had the courage to make it narrower allowing more space for pedestrians, for this reason alone he awards it this weeks Gundy’s Wonder. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Standing on Main Street with traffic speeding past John believes what the town really needs is a bypass, but until then they have done what they can. He ends the programme by stating that anyone can do it and all it requires is a bit of imagination, some money and loads of energy as well as remembering to follow Grundy’s Nine Commandments. Over the closing credits a montage of some of the locations visited in the programme. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera Mike Parker, Dave Leeder Sound Paul Graham, Gail Westwood Lighting Gordon Porteous, John Haynes, Ron Angus Production Assistants Margaret McKie Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music John Cook Dubbing Charles Heath Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer & Director Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. © Tyne Tees Television MMI