The two-metre-tall bronze statue of Martin Luther King Jr, situated in the inner courtyard of the Armstrong Building, was erected in 2017 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr King’s visit to Newcastle to accept an honorary degree. It stands in the King’s Quad, next to King’s Hall, the setting for Dr King’s honorary degree ceremony in 1967. The statue now forms a focal point of the procession route that students at the University take at the end of their graduation ceremony. The first major art commission by the University since 1962, the statue was unveiled by Ambassador Andrew Young, a close friend and colleague of Dr King who accompanied him to Newcastle in 1967.   

The base of the statue is encircled by bronze lettering inset into Caithness paving, featuring text taken from the civil rights leader’s powerful acceptance speech in which he spoke of the ‘three urgent and grave problems’ facing the world: war, poverty and racism. It was Dr King’s last public address outside the US before he was assassinated, barely six months later. The statue was created by sculptor Nigel Boonham who spent months researching Dr King before deciding on the statue’s final pose, which he described as, “Dr King standing firm with legs apart, holding his hat and leaning back slightly. It appeared to me that Dr King was braced for whatever came his way.”  

The statue’s installation and unveiling were significant milestones in Freedom City 2017, a year-long city-wide programme of events which commemorated the anniversary of Dr King’s visit to Newcastle.  

Learn more about Martin Luther King’s visit to Newcastle in 1967 is this online exhibition. 

Sources

Newcastle University Press Office (2017) Statue unveiled in honour of Martin Luther King Jr. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2017/11/martinlutherkingstatueunveiled/

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

The Frederick Douglass Centre is one of the newest buildings at Newcastle University, housing state of the art learning and teaching facilities. It takes its name from the prominent slavery abolitionist, author and diplomatist, Frederick Douglass. Douglass was born around 1818 as an enslaved person in Maryland, USA. He escaped from slavery in 1838, and after publishing his autobiography titled ‘Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’, he travelled to Newcastle in 1846, as part of a lecture tour. While in Newcastle, Douglass stayed with Anna and Ellen Richardson on Summerhill Grove, near where The Frederick Douglass Centre stands today. The Richardsons were Quaker sisters-in-law, who raised the funds to buy Douglass’ freedom later that year. 

The building was inspired by a unique property which once stood on the same street. Oystershell House was built in the 1800s, and the whole building, with the exception of the roof, was covered with oyster shells which shined in the sun. The new centre was officially opened in November 2019 by Kenneth B Morris Jr. Morris is President of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), and one of Douglass’ direct descendants. 

Learn more about the life of Frederick Douglass on this webpage. 

Sources

Newcastle University (2021) Frederick Douglass. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/frederick-douglass/

Newcastle University Press Office (2018) Helix building named in honour of social reformer and abolitionist. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2018/12/thefrederickdouglasscentre/

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2020) Frederick Douglass. Available at: https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-Douglass107532

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

The Armstrong Building is the oldest building on the campus and is the site of the original Armstrong College. It was constructed and opened in three stages between 1888 and 1906.  The final stage of opening in 1906 was carried out by King Edward VII. The building contains the impressive wood-panelled King’s Hall, which serves as the University’s chief venue for ceremonial events including Congregations. The Hall was named in honour of King Edward VII.  

During the First World War, the building was requisitioned by the War Office to create the 1st Northern General Hospital, a facility for the Royal Army Medical Corps to treat military casualties. The building’s foyer houses the Armstrong Memorial which was unveiled in 1923 and lists 223 members of the College who lost their lives during the First World War. 

The Armstrong Building takes its name from the local engineer, industrialist and arms manufacturer Sir William Armstrong (1810 –1900) who provided substantial financial and practical support towards the foundation at Newcastle of the Durham College of Physical Science which would ultimately evolve into Newcastle University. The college was renamed as Armstrong College after his death. More recently there has been increased scrutiny of Armstrong’s legacy and there are plans to contextualise him as a historical figure through physical and digital signposting in and around the Armstrong Building, as part of a wider initiative to create an inclusive campus environment. 

Read more about the role played by the Armstrong Building and other parts of the University during both World Wars in this online exhibition.

Learn more about the Armstrong Memorial and a Heritage Lottery -Funded project to conduct research into those listed on it in this digital resource.  

Sources

Bettenson, E.M. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne: A Historical Introduction 1834 – 1971 (University of Newcastle Upon Tune, 1974) 

Special Collections Newcastle University (2010) The Armstrong Effect: The Life & Legacy of Lord Armstrong. Available at: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/speccoll/2010/11/01/the-armstrong-effect-the-life-legacy-of-lord-armstrong/

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

The Bedson building, named after Professor Peter Bedson (1853-1943) Head of Chemistry, was built to house the growing number of students and researchers studying Chemistry at King’s College.  

The construction of the Bedson building was due to begin in 1939 however the outbreak of the Second World War saw plans grind to a sudden halt. Whilst the College did not have to give up its premises during this time, a considerable amount of research was carried out by the Chemistry Department towards the war effort.  

Permission to begin work on the new building was finally granted in 1946 and two new Chemistry Department wings were opened on 10^th December 1949. These new additions were five storeys high to accommodate the further rise in student intake, over treble what it had been ten years earlier.  

Further additions to the building were made in 1959 and included: a 300-seat Chemistry Lecture Theatre, laboratories and corridors with a floor finish in ‘Rhodesian teak wood block chosen for its rich appearance, durability and acid-resisting quality’. These were officially opened by H.R.H. Princess Margaret on 30^th April 1959. 

The refurbished Chemistry Department became home to many outstanding and pioneering chemists. Radiation chambers were later built specifically for Joseph Joshua Weiss, Professor of Radiation Chemistry from 1956, to continue his work on high energy radiation, and he went on to receive the Marie Cure Medal of the Curie Institute in 1970. Martin Fleischmann, perhaps best known for his controversial research into cold fusion, began his teaching career in electrochemistry at King’s College in 1950 and remained until 1967. Furthermore, James Baddiley, Professor of Organic Chemistry from 1954 to 1977, was awarded the Davy Medal in 1974 for ‘distinguished research on coenzyme A and studies of the constituents of bacterial cell walls’, and then knighted in 1977. 

Visit CollectionsCaptured to see more photographs of Newcastle University campus from the university archives.

Sources

Art UK (no date) Professor Peter Phillips Bedson. Available at: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/professor-peter-phillips-bedson-18531943-57326

McCord, Norman (2006) Newcastle University Past, Present and Future. Newcastle: Third Millennium Publishing. 

Newcastle University (2018) Our History. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/about/ourhistory/

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

In 1898, in honour of the study of English Language and Literature, Newcastle University (formerly part of the University of Durham) appointed Charles Harold Herford, who was the first chair of English in the College of Physical Science. Before then, English was not a taught subject at the University and colleges taught medicine, science and engineering which were appropriate to local industries.  

The Percy building was therefore built as a means of housing the new departments in the faculties of the arts and economic studies and to separate the English department from the college of physical science. It was officially opened on 14th October 1958 and was named after Lord Percy of Newcastle, the first rector of King’s College between 1937-1952 in recognition of his outstanding work and achievements.  

In 1963 when the division of the University of Durham formed the establishment of Newcastle University, those teaching English were apprehensive of this split. Staff feared the loss of library holdings in Durham and worried that the arts in Newcastle would be overwhelmed by other dominant disciplines. Despite this, in the post-war decades English degrees increased in popularity. The school has held its own and continues to teach high numbers of undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

The English department has become home to several outstanding scholars who have made considerable contributions to English Language studies. Allen Mawer from 1909 pioneered the modern study of English place names. Harold Orton, perhaps best known for his first published major work on the ‘Phonology of the South Durham Dialect’ in 1932, represented a huge step forward in the modern history of dialects. Furthermore, the appointed professor of English Language and Linguistics from 1964, Barbara Strang, developed a unique integration of descriptive and historical approaches to the study of the English language which became the hallmark of the University’s English department. 

Visit CollectionsCaptured to see more photographs of Newcastle University campus from the University Archives. 

Sources

Booklet for the opening of the Percy Building, 1958, NUA 16/17/1, Newcastle University Archives, Newcastle University Special Collections, GB 186

McCord, Norman (2006) Newcastle University Past, Present and Future. Newcastle: Third Millennium Publishing. 

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

• 

The dramatic frontage of Student’s Union building was built around 1924, designed by local Architect Robert Burns Dick who also designed the towers of the famous Tyne Bridge. The coats of arms over the main entrance are for three separate organisations; Armstrong College, Durham University and Newcastle College of Medicine, which reflect the separate institutions which went on to become Newcastle University. Until at least the 1950s, the Union was split into separate organisations for women and men, each with their own offices and common rooms, and even separate entrances. A bricked up door on King’s Road is likely the old women’s entrance. 

The original building was created for a student population of only 800 but by 1948, numbers had risen to 3200. The Student’s Union building had suffered from poor adaptations, heavily used furnishings and, as one commentator put it, ‘injudicious attempts at fashionable décor’. The solution was renovations and an extension to the Union building designed by Sir William Whitfield. The new facilities were opened in 1964. The British Modernist construction included a debating chamber,  dance hall and a refectory featuring coffee lounges, bar facilities and improved catering. The enlarged Student’s Union Building has since hosted hundreds of gigs, including Fleetwood Mac, Blur and George Ezra. 

Learn more about student life on campus in this series of blogs exploring the history of the student publication The Courier. 

Sources

Concert Archives (2021) Newcastle University Students Union’s Concert History. Available at: https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/newcastle-university-students-union–5

Ernest Marsden Bettenson. (1971) The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne: a historical introduction, 1834-1971. Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Historic England (2021) Students’ Union. Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1355263

McCord, Norman (2006) Newcastle University Past, Present and Future. Newcastle: Third Millennium Publishing. 

Opening of the Refectory and Students’ Union Extension, 7th March 1964, NUA 16/7/1/20, Newcastle University Archives, Newcastle University Special Collections, GB 186

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

The picturesque gardens of the Old Quadrangle have been a popular site for graduation photographs for many years. The Quad is situated in the oldest part of Newcastle University Campus, and is framed by listed buildings – the Armstrong Building, Hatton Gallery and Architecture Building. It hasn’t always been a relaxing green space. During World War I, auxiliary army huts were placed in the Quad, where they remained until after World War 2, operating as makeshift classrooms. The Quad was also a thoroughfare for cars. 

This all changed between 1947 and 1949, when the Quad was laid out and planted as a memorial garden. The garden is dedicated to members of the University community who lost their lives during the two world wars. A memorial plaque can be seen on the low wall in front of you as you walk through the Arches. At least 276 staff and students from Armstrong College and Newcastle College of Medicine lost their lives in World War I alone (these two institutions formed the origins of Newcastle University). The Quad remains the venue for Remembrance Day services. 

Visit this online exhibition to learn more about World War I and Newcastle University.

Sources

Ernest Marsden Bettenson. (1971) The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne: a historical introduction, 1834-1971. Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Newcastle University Art on Campus (2018) Old Quadrangle. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/art-on-campus/outdoor-spaces/

Newcastle University Library Special Collections (no date) A Higher Purpose: Newcastle University at War. Available at: https://speccollstories.ncl.ac.uk/Newcastle-University-at-War/

Sitelines (no date) Tyne and Wear HER (9927): Newcastle, University Quadrangle- Details. Available at: https://twsitelines.info/SMR/9927

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

The King George VI Building was opened by King George in 1939. It was built to house the Medical School of Kings College, a newly created institution which would go on to become Newcastle University. King’s College was formed from two separate institutions – Armstrong College of Physical Sciences, and the Newcastle upon Tyne College of Medicine. Local shipowner Sir Arthur Sutherland donated £200,000 for King’s College to establish a Medical School with a dedicated building (around £14 million today). The new Medical School was nearer the hospital, less crowded and better equipped than previous facilities. 

Newcastle University’s Medical School developed to be a world leading research and teaching institution, and student numbers continued to rise. It was the first to offer an integrated curriculum, which gave students early clinical exposure as part of their studies. It remained based in the King George VI building for nearly 50 years, with an extra floor added in the 1950s. In 1984 the Medical School moved to its current location, and the building is now home to the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy.  

Visit CollectionsCaptured to see more photographs of Newcastle University campus from the University Archives.

Sources 

Co-Curate (no date) Arthur Munro Sutherland (1867-1953). Available at: https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/arthur-munro-sutherland/

Co-Curate (no date) King George VI Building. Available at:  https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/king-george-vi-building-newcastle-university/

Internet Archive Wayback Machine (2010) The Alumni Association 175 years of medicine at Newcastle. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20120720123159/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni/arches/page.htm?years-of-medicine-at-newcastle

McCord, Norman (2006) Newcastle University Past, Present and Future. Newcastle: Third Millennium Publishing.  

Newcastle University (2021) History of Newcastle University. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/history/

Sitelines (no date) Tyne and Wear HER (9244): Newcastle, Queen Victoria Road, King George VI Building – Details. Available at: https://www.twsitelines.info/SMR/9244

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.

Constructed in 1911, Newcastle University’s redbrick Arches owe their existence to a donation made by John Bell Simpson, a North East mining magnate. Built in the neo-Jacobean style, their construction serves to commemorate King Edward VII and they have become a recognised symbol of the University around the world.  

Today the Arches and their surrounding building form part of the Hatton Gallery, but in 1911 they functioned as part of the King Edward VII School of Art. If you look closely, you will be able to see a bronze statue of King Edward VII recessed in a niche above the Arches in addition to a coat of arms and a Latin inscription which reads, ‘To the pious memory of the most serene King Edward VII promoter of peace on earth by heavenly inspiration. John Bell Simpson gifted this school as a home for the lovelier arts. He saw to its building, 1910’.   

The Arches served originally as the gateway to Newcastle campus from the city, but following developments on site now sit further back, framing the entrance to the University’s Armstrong Quadrangle. 

Such is the iconic status of the Arches that the building has been replicated at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, our international branch campus in Johor, Malaysia. 

Visit CollectionsCaptured to see more photographs of Newcastle University campus from the University Archives.

Sources:

Co-Curate (no date) The Arches. Available at: https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/the-arches-newcastle-university/

Newcastle University (2021) Architectural delights. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/vision/architectural-delights/

Newcastle University Art on Campus (2018) The Arches. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/art-on-campus/iconic-buildings/#viewdetails

Newcastle University Library Special Collections (no date) A Higher Purpose: Newcastle University at War. Available at: https://speccollstories.ncl.ac.uk/Newcastle-University-at-War/

Want to learn more about the history of Newcastle University campus? Why not explore all the articles in our Campus Tour blog series.