Victorian landmark was felled by the 'axe of progress'

The Douglas Hotel traded on the corner of Grainger Street and Neville Street for nearly 100 years writes nostalgia editor DAVID MORTON

- DAVID MORTON

THE character of Newcastle city centre might have been markedly different today had many of its 19th century buildings not been torn down and replaced by concrete and glass during the rush to modernity in the 1960s and '70s.

While most of so-called Grainger Town remained intact during the rebuilding programme of those years, many old structures bit the dust, for better or worse.

The Royal Arcade, for example, was replaced by Swan House. The Central Library was demolished during the construction of John Dobson Street, and a new library was built in Princess Square. The Chronicle's old Westgate Road offices, Kemsley House along with its next-door neighbour, Norwich Union House made way for the multi-storey Westgate House.

Two-thirds of the Georgian terraces of old Eldon Square were pulled down to make way for the sprawling shopping centre of the same name.

The giant retail project also necessitated the demolition of parts of Blackett Street, Percy Street, Newgate Street, Clayton Street and more.