History and Heritage
Regeneration of the Ouseburn Valley
The Ouseburn Valley is just a stone's throw away from the bustling quayside of the Tyne, ½ mile east of Newcastle’s vibrant city centre. Steeped in a rich industrial past, the Ouseburn Valley has an imposing landscape enriched by an eclectic mix of new and old buildings huddled around the river Ouseburn, a tributary of the Tyne. For over 200 years the Ouseburn Valley was home to iron foundries, lead works, glass bottle works, paintworks, warehouses and potteries - the most famous being Maling pottery. At its height in the 1890s, the Valley was home to hundreds of people living in crowded dwellings amongst heavy and polluting industries - a stark contrast to the stunning landscape and thriving cultural community that inhabits the Valley today.
As heavy industry declined in the 20th century, small businesses began to invest in the Valley, artists converted the warehouses into studios and people from the surrounding communities set up a city farm, a riding stables and a regeneration trust. This community-led regeneration has turned the Valley into one of the most creative places on Tyneside. Other cultural venues and attractions in the Ouseburn Valley include The Biscuit Factory, Ouseburn Farm, Stepney Bank Stables, The Victoria Tunnel, The Mushroom Works, Colbalt Studios, Northern Print and 36 Lime Street - a collective of artistic studios. The Valley is also home to traditional pubs that host the most lively and vibrant music scene in the City.
A Home for Seven Stories
Seven Stories is housed in a Grade II listed seven-storied Victorian warehouse at 30 Lime Street, built in 1872 to store flour for Proctor & Sons. In 1896 Leethams, a family of millers, bought it and continued to use the building as a flour warehouse. Leethams left in 1916 and various small businesses moved into the warehouse over the next seventy years, including a farmer's co-operative and a brewery. During the 1970s the building fell into disrepair and was left derelict until 1982 when it was purchased by the Workers Revolutionary Party with plans to develop a centre for education and young people.
In 1988 it became the Trade Union Printing Service (TUPS), established by retrained miners who restored parts of the building and specialised in printing labour movement and social history literature. In 2000 the Centre for the Children’s Books (as it was named then) approached TUPS who were inspired by the idea and agreed to sell the building.
GWK Architects planned and designed the ambitious conversion of the building at a cost of £4.5m. Both client and architect were keen to ensure that the conversion should cause as little interference as possible to the integrity of the listed structure, and this can be seen in the building today. Much of the original interior is retained intact, such as the exposed cast iron pillars, restored windows and most notably the roof timbers in the attic, which still bear the remains of historic winch gear.
The modernisation of the building was extensive, however, since it needed to ensure high standards for the care and display of original artwork and for the safety and comfort of the thousands of young visitors that would be expected every year. The galleries are thermostatically controlled and a new entrance, a fairy tale stair tower and a lift shaft were created and integrated into the overall design. The new build is both a modern and complementary juxtaposition to the older building. The white entrance and first floor gallery above are inspired by the shape of an open book, and visitors are greeted by the artwork of eight award-winning illustrators etched above the entrance, creating a welcoming focal point and a presence on Lime Street that encourages people to visit the Centre.
The following funders made the realisation of Britain’s centre for children’s books possible:
• Arts Lottery funding through the Arts Council England
• Newcastle City Council,
• One NorthEast via Tyne and Wear Partnership,
• European Regional Development Fund,
• Northern Rock Foundation,
• Barbour Trust, Walker Books, Robert Westall Charitable Trust, Trusthouse Charitable Trust, Foyle Charitable Trust, HarperCollins, a number of private donations and support from NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s cultural programme.
In March 2006 Seven Stories' achievement was recognised through the awarded of the Centre Vision Award, the Civic Trust’s national award for best practice in town centre regeneration. Judges said:
This is a place fit for purpose that shines with personality and fun, and with a contemporary extension that reflects that purpose. This is a delightful building that works on all levels.
