This was the headquarters of Reyrolle who were a local tyneside based company making electrical generators, turbines and switch gear for power stations across the world. Once employing 1000s of people on Tyneside the business declined gradually throughout the 70s until it was finally swallowed up by first Rolls Royce, then Dutch VA Tech and finally disappeared into being part of Siemens.
This office became surplus to Reyrolle and was last used in 2005 by the Inland Revenue. Its due for demolition in 1-2 months and probably would be gone already was it not right next to a very active train line (TW Metro) so when it comes down the Metro commuter trains will be in chaos if anything falls on the track!
Ok first picture of how the building looked a few years ago.
Shot from the rear tonight, it was peeing down when kjud and myself visited so we didn't do many external shots.
Note the ship's bridgehouse style viewpoint at the top - more on that later.
The basement was huge but empty
This is a copy of the Daily Mirror dated 1960 - as the building was completed in 1961 this must of been tucked behind a panel for 40 years and just been disturbed recently.
The 8 main open plan floors are in good condition, apart from all the ceiling tiles being ripped down.
Whats in the lift shaft?
Death obviously...
The best find is the viewpoint at the top. Weirdly this was only ever accessible though a small ladder through the main air conditioning plant room, so must of only ever been used by the building care takers. Odd when this in my opinion is the best room in the house.
Amazingly plans of the building dated 1959-60 were still in the cabinet drawers:
The Metro trainline - trains pass every few minutes but never managed to get a shot of one. This (and the asbestos) will be why the building still stands while the rest of the Reyrolle site has been flattened long ago.
The roof
kjud gets a shot
Swan Hunters ship yard
Another hazard - straight down for 150 feet!
Lift machinery
Giant air filters
Parts of the board room
Excecutive urinals with special splash guards!
Kitchen - still in very good nick and remarkable clean
Look out for kjud's pictures of this place too.
And if you fancy a look yourself, make it soon as it will be a pile of bricks very shortly.
This office became surplus to Reyrolle and was last used in 2005 by the Inland Revenue. Its due for demolition in 1-2 months and probably would be gone already was it not right next to a very active train line (TW Metro) so when it comes down the Metro commuter trains will be in chaos if anything falls on the track!
Ok first picture of how the building looked a few years ago.
Shot from the rear tonight, it was peeing down when kjud and myself visited so we didn't do many external shots.
Note the ship's bridgehouse style viewpoint at the top - more on that later.
The basement was huge but empty
This is a copy of the Daily Mirror dated 1960 - as the building was completed in 1961 this must of been tucked behind a panel for 40 years and just been disturbed recently.
The 8 main open plan floors are in good condition, apart from all the ceiling tiles being ripped down.
Whats in the lift shaft?
Death obviously...
The best find is the viewpoint at the top. Weirdly this was only ever accessible though a small ladder through the main air conditioning plant room, so must of only ever been used by the building care takers. Odd when this in my opinion is the best room in the house.
Amazingly plans of the building dated 1959-60 were still in the cabinet drawers:
The Metro trainline - trains pass every few minutes but never managed to get a shot of one. This (and the asbestos) will be why the building still stands while the rest of the Reyrolle site has been flattened long ago.
The roof
kjud gets a shot
Swan Hunters ship yard
Another hazard - straight down for 150 feet!
Lift machinery
Giant air filters
Parts of the board room
Excecutive urinals with special splash guards!
Kitchen - still in very good nick and remarkable clean
Look out for kjud's pictures of this place too.
And if you fancy a look yourself, make it soon as it will be a pile of bricks very shortly.
