Topics > Newcastle City Centre > Civic Centre
Civic Centre
![Civic Centre](../uploads/pics/67/67364.jpg)
Newcastle Civic Centre is a local government building located in the Haymarket area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the main administrative and ceremonial centre for Newcastle City Council. Designed by the city architect, George Kenyon, the building was completed in 1967 and was formally opened by HM King Olav V of Norway on 14 November 1968. It is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England. The Newcastle Civic Centre is the joint eighth tallest building in the city.
History
Plans to build a new city hall on the site at Barras Bridge had been proposed prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, to the point of holding an architectural competition, although these were halted by the war; and due to post-war restrictions on capital expenditure, it was not until August 1956 that authorisation to begin construction was granted. During the interim period, the demolition of houses and a former Eye Hospital on the intended site was implemented.
Work commenced on the building in May 1960, and the foundation stone was laid by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Mrs Gladys Robson, on 30 November 1960. The building was completed in 1967 and was formally opened by HM King Olav V of Norway on 14 November 1968. The total construction cost was £4,855,000. Newcastle's Victorian Town Hall which stood in the centre of the Bigg Market was demolished in 1973. On 6 May 1977, the Civic Centre was visited by the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who delivered a speech famously containing the Geordie phrase "Howay the lads!" A stone commemorating the event was placed in the Centre grounds.
The council leader's office was used as a filming location by a Japanese production team in 2014 for a drama set in 1960s Tokyo.
Sculpture and art works
The Civic Centre is also notable for its modern sculptures, in particular the "River God Tyne" and "Swans in Flight", both by David Wynne and the seahorses on the top of the tower by John Robert Murray McCheyne. The cashiers reception of the former rates hall, now the Customer Service Centre, has two abstract murals by Victor Pasmore.
Visit the page: Newcastle Civic Centre for references and further details. You can contribute to this article on Wikipedia.
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3513/4082769268_013633f0a2_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
050508:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1982
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2752/4080621477_3f72796dbc_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
038439:Civic Centre guides Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1977
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2560/4081346254_e3d69f1d5d_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
037987:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1978
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2705/4086763387_e0c2aeeb90_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
062132:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1995
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2751/4077606050_bf378891b7_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
014484:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne 1964
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/sitelines.png)
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(10906): Newcastle, Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, 'River God Tyne'
- "1968 by David Wynne. A bronze statue commissioned for the new Civic Centre. The 'River God Tyne' is one of eight rivers represented as sculptures of 1786 on the front …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/sitelines.png)
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(12299): Newcastle, Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, carillon
- "The Edith Adamson Carillon in the Civic Centre tower was donated to the City in 1967. The carillon weighs 22 tons and consists of 24 bronze bells, which are played …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2721/4080199221_80c971dee8_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
034423:Bookbus Newcastle City Libraries Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1977
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2683/4081020827_8dc1eaec2e_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
046800:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1967
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Opening of the Civic Centre, Newcastle, 1968](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2668/4081726098_036a2c8bff_z.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Opening of the Civic Centre, Newcastle, 1968
- Newcastle Civic Centre by Barras Bridge was completed in 1967 and officially opened by King Olav V of Norway on the 14th November 1968. Two sculputes by David Wynne were …
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2678/4078142071_e50a12a8f0_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
020226:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Signey James 1969
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3151/4080634833_807b1ede8e_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
038683:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown c.1960
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2740/4080690879_d4bc44830c_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
040964:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1980
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2689/4077962103_74accb6c56_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
017126:Carillon Tower Civic Centre Newcastle upon Tyne Dec. 1967
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2499/4090193983_6f6e29d9fd_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
068172:Piper Tapestry Banqueting Hall Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown Undated
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7505/16203566876_65e8126604_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1974
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8673/15609582613_c048fbe9ac_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1966
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15609617073_c8de7c92e5_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1982
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](/static/img/loading.gif)
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3513/4082769268_013633f0a2_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
050508:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1982
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2752/4080621477_3f72796dbc_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
038439:Civic Centre guides Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1977
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2560/4081346254_e3d69f1d5d_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
037987:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1978
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2705/4086763387_e0c2aeeb90_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
062132:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1995
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2751/4077606050_bf378891b7_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
014484:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne 1964
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/sitelines.png)
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(10906): Newcastle, Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, 'River God Tyne'
- "1968 by David Wynne. A bronze statue commissioned for the new Civic Centre. The 'River God Tyne' is one of eight rivers represented as sculptures of 1786 on the front …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/sitelines.png)
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(12299): Newcastle, Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, carillon
- "The Edith Adamson Carillon in the Civic Centre tower was donated to the City in 1967. The carillon weighs 22 tons and consists of 24 bronze bells, which are played …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2721/4080199221_80c971dee8_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
034423:Bookbus Newcastle City Libraries Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1977
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2683/4081020827_8dc1eaec2e_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
046800:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1967
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Opening of the Civic Centre, Newcastle, 1968](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2668/4081726098_036a2c8bff_z.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Opening of the Civic Centre, Newcastle, 1968
- Newcastle Civic Centre by Barras Bridge was completed in 1967 and officially opened by King Olav V of Norway on the 14th November 1968. Two sculputes by David Wynne were …
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2678/4078142071_e50a12a8f0_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
020226:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Signey James 1969
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3151/4080634833_807b1ede8e_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
038683:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown c.1960
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2740/4080690879_d4bc44830c_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
040964:Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne City Engineers 1980
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2689/4077962103_74accb6c56_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
017126:Carillon Tower Civic Centre Newcastle upon Tyne Dec. 1967
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2499/4090193983_6f6e29d9fd_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
068172:Piper Tapestry Banqueting Hall Civic Centre Barras Bridge Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown Undated
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7505/16203566876_65e8126604_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1974
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8673/15609582613_c048fbe9ac_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1966
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/15609617073_c8de7c92e5_z.jpg)
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, July 1982
Pinned by Pat Thomson
List grade: 2*
Post code: NE1 8QH
Borough: Newcastle
Wikipedia: Newcastle Civic Cen…
Grid ref: NZ2505864947