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PHOTOS OF A LOST COMMUNITY

Evocative photographs show the vibrant life in Newcastle’s famous Byker neighbourhood through the Seventies before it was razed to the ground and rebuilt

Finnish-born photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen captured those living in the industrial town between 1969 and 1981

AN evocative photo series, currently on show at Tate Modern, has given a candid insight into Newcastle’s famous Byker neighbourhood during the Seventies.

Finnish-born photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen came to the North East as a member of the Amber Collective and captured those living in the industrial town between 1969 and 1981.

‘Dogs’ hairdressing, Shields Road, 1981′. A woman, dressed in a tabard, is seen pouring hot water into a bucket. Next to her, standing in a puddle of soap suds, is a wet, washed, longhaired Afghan hound
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‘Dogs’ hairdressing, Shields Road, 1981′. A woman, dressed in a tabard, is seen pouring hot water into a bucket. Next to her, standing in a puddle of soap suds, is a wet, washed, longhaired Afghan houndCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS

An evocative photo series gives an insight into Newcastle's famous Byker neighourhood during the Seventies.

Before Konttinen came to live there, the city council had decided to demolish the area to make way for what was to be the visionary Byker Wall Estate.

Her photographs celebrate what was lost through demolition - a vibrant community living in houses considerably more robust than their replacements.

‘Young couple in a backyard, 1975’. During a waterfight in a backyard a young woman gives a talking-to to her boyfriend. A child stands in the background with hood up to cover her hair
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‘Young couple in a backyard, 1975’. During a waterfight in a backyard a young woman gives a talking-to to her boyfriend. A child stands in the background with hood up to cover her hairCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS
‘Kendal Street, 1969’. A man walks down a street lined with terraced housing. Snow peppers the rooftops and the dozen motors that are parked on the curb
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‘Kendal Street, 1969’. A man walks down a street lined with terraced housing. Snow peppers the rooftops and the dozen motors that are parked on the curbCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS
‘Children with collected junk near Byker Bridge, 1971’. Nine kids are captured in a makeshift playground. One boy hugs a football, while two girls are seated in a pram
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‘Children with collected junk near Byker Bridge, 1971’. Nine kids are captured in a makeshift playground. One boy hugs a football, while two girls are seated in a pramCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS

The residents were told they would be rehoused together in the new estate, but the promise wasn't kept.

Konttinen lived in Byker until her own house was demolished in 1976.

She set up a studio in a disused hairdressing salon and offered residents free portraits.

‘Byker Park Dominoes Club, 1974’. A group of elderly men are pictured playing dominos in a wood-panelled hut. The gentlemen all face the camera and are smartly dressed in suits and ties
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‘Byker Park Dominoes Club, 1974’. A group of elderly men are pictured playing dominos in a wood-panelled hut. The gentlemen all face the camera and are smartly dressed in suits and tiesCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS
‘Ragman’s horse and cart by Union Road, 1970'. A horse with its cart attached grazes on a demolished street
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‘Ragman’s horse and cart by Union Road, 1970'. A horse with its cart attached grazes on a demolished streetCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS
‘Mrs Potter in Mason Street, 1975'. An elderly lady stands at the corner of a street wearing a floral apron, buttoned-up cardigan and a hairnet
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‘Mrs Potter in Mason Street, 1975'. An elderly lady stands at the corner of a street wearing a floral apron, buttoned-up cardigan and a hairnetCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS

Her rapport with the local community helped win their trust, and she went on to capture the resilience of youngsters on the streets, elderly people in their homes, working men playing dominoes and much more.

She said of her time there, 'Being a foreigner gave me one advantage. I could be nosey, and be forgiven.

'Many doors were opened for me that would have remained closed to another photographer, and invitations extended to the kind of hospitality and intimacy that would normally be reserved for family only.

In one photograph, a woman, dressed in a tabard, is seen with a bucket, washing an Afghan hound that is standing in a puddle of soap suds.

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‘John Hindmarsh & Son, Funeral Directors’, Raby Street, 1974'. A Byker funeral director uses his shop window to grow tomatoes in pots
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‘John Hindmarsh & Son, Funeral Directors’, Raby Street, 1974'. A Byker funeral director uses his shop window to grow tomatoes in potsCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS

Nine kids are captured in a makeshift playground with the discarded furniture, TV sets and prams they have rescued from the houses awaiting demolition.

The grassy area is located near a railway viaduct, which can be spotted in the background of the image.

Another picture simply shows a man walking down a street of terraced houses.

Snow peppers the rooftops and the dozen motors that are parked on the curb.

The image and many others in the series capture the sense of pride and ownership people took in their streets, despite the progress of the demolition.

An elderly lady, Mrs Potter, stands at the corner of a street wearing a floral apron, buttoned-up cardigan and hairnet.

'Jimmy Dodds, Albion Row allotments, 1980’. Jimmy Dodds holds up a pigeon to attract his flock of racing birds back to his pigeon cree
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'Jimmy Dodds, Albion Row allotments, 1980’. Jimmy Dodds holds up a pigeon to attract his flock of racing birds back to his pigeon creeCredit: SIRKKA-LIISA KONTTINEN, COURTESY AMBER / L PARKER STEPHENSON PHOTOGRAPHS
'Carville Road at night, 1969'. Coal fires smoking against the Tyne Bridge and the City of Newcastle
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'Carville Road at night, 1969'. Coal fires smoking against the Tyne Bridge and the City of NewcastleCredit: Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, courtesy Amber / L Parker Stephenson Photographs

Meanwhile, Jimmy Dodds holds up a pigeon to attract his flock of racing birds back to his pigeon cree.

Other photographs include a young woman giving a talking-to to her topless, wet-haired boyfriend in the aftermath of a water fight. A young child stands in the background with a hood up to protect her hair.

A group of elderly men are also pictured playing dominos in a wood-panelled hut.

The gentlemen all face the camera and are smartly dressed in suits and ties.

The area is known for the popular BBC children’s drama Byker Grove, which aired between 1989 and 2006.

The TV programme was set in a youth club in the area – although filmed elsewhere – and helped to launch the career of Ant and Dec.

A series of Konttinen’s photographs are on display at the  in London, at Level 4 – Switch House in the ‘Living Cities’ section.

They have been curated by Ann Coxon and Shoair Mavlian.

More of Konttinen's Byker photographs can be found on the Amber .

 

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