The third episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John travels the Northeast to uncover some of its many public spaces and to explore how they are used by people. 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...

The third episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John travels the Northeast to uncover some of its many public spaces and to explore how they are used by people. 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 As presenter John Grundy wonders around the Tuesday market at Chester-le-Street in County Durham he passes local shoppers and stall holders selling alarm clocks, fabrics and fruit and vegetables. Coming to stand beside one of the stalls he goes onto explain what he means by a ‘public space’, a place where the built environment opens out a bit. As a GNER Class 91 passenger train speeds north across the Chester Burn Viaduct, the programme changes to John wondering around the now empty and depressing looking marketplace on a nonmarket day. Not wanting to sadden his audience, John causes the programme to hit the rewind button returning it to the moment when the GNER Class 91 passenger train once again crossing Chester Burn Viaduct. As customers once again wonder around the market John explains that with more than 250 stalls its one of the largest in the region. As a boy kicks a ball at Chester-le-Street John suddenly appears crossing Framwellgate Bridge in Durham. As he makes his way towards Durham Market Place, he states that the best way to do this is to approach it like a Medieval traveller. As he continues to cross the bridge, he provides details on its history before points out both Durham Cathedral and Castle towering over it and the many pedestrians crossing over the River Wear. On Silver Street he points out the some of Medieval houses that line the route as well as some of their architectural features. Coming into the marketplace itself a montage of people sitting on benches or at cafes chatting happily over refreshments. Coming to stand beside a decorative lamppost John gives a history of both marketplaces in general as well as this one of Durham which was given its charter by the then Bishop of Durham Bishop Hugh Le Puiset in 1189. As people wonder through the marketplace or sit on benches relaxing, John explains that the fundamental problem for all marketplaces, including Durham, is that it is only busy a couple of days a week becoming bleak for the remainder of the week. A great indignity Durham Market Place faced was losing its charter in 1851 when Durham Indoor Market was opened. John heads inside and wonders around past the many stalls that are open all week, standing beside a fruit and vegetable stall he tells a story about why he really likes this nice and intimate space. As John goes onto explain that the indoor market took away the main function of marketplace outside, he asks the questions what to do with the space when it has lost its purpose? Heading into Durham Town Hall next door which was also re-built in 1851 John wonders around the building before making his way onto the balcony that has a splendid view of the marketplace. From there he explains that market squares have another function as it doubles as a civic square where proclamations can be made as well as a place to display public art. Still standing on the balcony John talks about his fascination with the Equestrian statue of Charles William Vane Stewart 3rd Marquis of Londonderry which dominates the marketplace. He also talks positively about the nearby Statue of Neptune which was originally atop the town well or ‘pant.’ As people continue to wonder about and a man from ‘Del’s Ice Creams’ sells he wares from a tricycle John explains what he likes about the public space that is Durham Market Place. Walking along Sadler Street making his way towards Durham Cathedral John provide details on how Durham is organised rather differently from other cathedrals. Heading along Owengate he talks about the powers of the Prince Bishops and that the cathedral was also a monastery with monks and a prior who had his own public space built and is now known as Palace Green. With people relaxing around the green and others coming out the North Door of the cathedral John provides details on its history being laid out by Bishop Flambard more than 900 years ago. Over views around it John states that he believes it to be one of the great public spaces in Europe if not the world. After admiring the many buildings which surround the green John is critical of the number of cars that have been allowed to park near to the cathedral. He provides details on how he would sort the parting problem and add seating. Walking along North Bailey John talks about Durham’s other great public space The College. Entering it via the Gatehouse he admires some of its 15th century features before passing into The College itself. Over a montage of the buildings around it John describes The College as a most loveable space in Durham. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Sitting in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Remembrance Garden at the rear of Durham Cathedral John worries that so many supposed public places belong to somebody else and that these people are careful to control what goes on in it. On Northumberland Street in Newcastle a montage of people including some eating, smoking and one man taking a nap. A busker plays a violin while John walks along the road carrying a sign that reads ‘Beware the Demon Drink!’ The sequence ends on a teenage boy skateboarding on the steps of the Statue of Winged Victory in the Haymarket. Standing outside Eldon Square shopping arcade on Northumberland Street John explains that the perfectly legal activities featured in the previous montage wouldn’t be allowed inside supposedly public shopping malls. John them makes the first of two complaints about private spaces that pretend to be public. Standing on a roundabout in the Newcastle suburb of Gosforth John makes his second complaint about public spaces being sold off to the highest bidder. Standing next to John is an advertising hording for ‘The Travel Bureau’ which John hates. Over views of other advertising signs around the city John believes that we need to be carefully to hold onto the ownership of our public spaces. Sitting in a bench John makes his third complaint with regards missing opportunities and using them properly. Following views of Westgate House on Westgate Road and another 1960s office building on the corner of Neville Street and Westgate Road described by John as ‘unspeakable ugly and intrusive’ he talks positively about many of the other buildings around Newcastle Central Station that represents the greatest collection of buildings in the Northeast. Coming to stand beside the George Stephenson Monument on Westgate Road and explains that the place is really nothing more than a ‘scabby transit point’ where ‘beauty becomes the beast’. An animation of ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ appears and crushes Westgate House. As John walks along Northumberland Street, he explains that he awarded the area around Newcastle Central Station the ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ because it was a wasted opportunity to make a space into something that was worth having, where everyone benefits and where a space can become a place. Walking past the World War One memorial known as ‘The Response’ in the gardens of Newcastle Civic Centre he goes onto to explain that towns are not just for shopping but also for working, living and enjoying and as such needs public spaces to allow it to breath. A montage of people using the park around the memorial to eat and relax. Walking along the wall outside John explains why he has given this weeks ‘Grundy’s Wonder’ to the courtyard in the middle of Newcastle Civic Centre. As people sit around the green space and water feature known as Swans in Flight John explains that it has been chosen because it was self-consciously planned with beautiful public art, is simple and most importantly of all is used by the public. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over the closing credits a montage of John wondering around some of the location featured in this programme. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera and Location Direction Simon Elphinstone, Dave Dixon Sound Paul Graham Lighting John Mason, Lew Hedley Production Assistants Margaret McKie Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music and Dubbing John Cook Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. Granada. © Tyne Tees Television MMII