The Cooperage -  Newcastle Upon Tyne.

THE COOPERAGE; the most complete late medieval timber-framed building in Newcastle dating from AD1430 is a grade II-star listed building; and one of the former merchant’s houses, including Bessie Surtees House, which survived the Great Quayside Fire of 1854 ; IS BEING LEFT TO ROT BY IT'S OWNER:

Apartment Group
Jesmond Three Sixty
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 1DB
Director - Duncan Fisher

'The most significant regional addition to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register 2017 ..'

THERE ARE FEW PLACES LEFT IN THE NORTH EAST THAT SPEAK OF OUR UNIQUE HERITAGE SO ELOQUENTLY. THE COOPERAGE IS NOT JUST AN OLD BUILDING; IT’S A PLACE OF MEMORIES FOR COUNTLESS PEOPLE ACROSS GENERATIONS; A LIVING MONUMENT TO THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF NEWCASTLE THROUGH THE AGES; A PLACE OF GREAT HISTORICAL INTEREST REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.

MANY TOURISTS FLOCK TO OUR ANCIENT QUAYSIDE TO ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURE THAT SPEAKS OF OUR RICH AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PAST.  TOURISM, AND THE REVENUE GENERATED, IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF MANY BUSINESSES ON THE QUAYSIDE.

‘the building's owners ( Manners Ltd, a company connected to The Apartment Group ) have admitted they have no plans for the future of the site, meaning it is likely to continue to sit empty and deteriorate further’ .. Evening Chronicle 16 Aug 2018

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, BELIEVE THE COOPERAGE, LIKE SO MANY BUILDINGS, IS BEING REDUCED TO A CONDITION THAT WILL RESULT IN IT’S DEMOLITION.
WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE WITH THIS PRACTICE AND REJECT IT IN OUR CITY AS AN ACT OF GROSS IRRESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF MANNERS LIMITED AND THE APARTMENT GROUP; AND BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO INSURE THE COOPERAGE WILL BE MAINTAINED TO A SUFFICIENT STANDARD OF PRESERVATION.

EVERY REGION IS BLESSED WITH IT’S OWN UNIQUE IDENTITY AND THE NORTH EAST IS NO LESS ENTITLED TO PRESERVE IT'S OWN.

Leaving such important structures to decay into an eyesore does not benefit Newcastle's image or economy.
The early 17th Century 28-30 the Close, which was rescued from dereliction and is now the Michelin-starred House of Tides restaurant, opened in 2014….. PROVES THE WORTH OF OUR OLD ARCHITECTURE AS INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM AND QUALITY LOCAL BUSINESS.

Within hours of a prior online campaign being launched to save the pub, more than 6,000 people backed the move… SHOWS HOW STRONGLY THE NORTH EAST FEELS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF IT’S IDENTITY.

GIVEN THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF SUCH A BUILDING AS THE COOPERAGE TO OUR REGIONAL HERITAGE,  WE BELIEVE IT IS RIGHT AND FAIR THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION HAVE A SAY IN WHAT WE FEEL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SOUL OF OUR CITY, AND NOT SIMPLY A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AT THE COST OF A LEGACY TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THE ONGOING PROSPERITY OF OUR REGION.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COOPERAGE WILL PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLL IN A PROCESS THAT WILL PROGRESSIVELY RUIN THE FACE OF THE QUAYSIDE AND IMPACT UPON NEIGHBOURING BUSINESSES.

WE ARGUE THAT IF OTHER REGIONS OF ENGLAND MANAGE TO RECOGNISE THE VALUE OF THEIR HERITAGE, WHY CAN’T THE NORTH EAST?
ARE WE TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER?

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, ARE SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THOSE ADDRESSED THAT WE ARE UNITED IN OUR RESOLVE TO SEE THE COOPERAGE RECOGNISED FOR IT’S TRUE VALUE TO THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, AND FOR A SPEEDY RESOLUTION TO BE FOUND FOR IT’S FUTURE PRESERVATION.

LET THIS PETITION BE THE REGARDED AS A TESTAMENT TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH EAST AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD WHO ARE STANDING UP AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

“There is no reason for it being in the state it is now, at a time when the Quayside is on the up…It is a really important example from the merchant trading high point of the Quayside’s history. We have written to the owner and offered help, as has the city council. It now needs a new use to ensure its survival.”... Kate Wilson, Heritage at Risk Principal for Historic England in the North East.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT..

#APPENDED 23 Nov 2021

A recent visual, external inspection of the building has revealed more worrying signs of water penetration, gaping holes in brick/blockwork, and ivy taking root in voids where stonework is missing.

SaveTheCooperage Youtube Channel

This has been allowed to worsen over years as Apartment Group knowingly neglects to address these basic issues and make good all repairs; in spite of it's many promises and claims to the contrary.

Save The Cooperage now seeks to urge Newcastle City Council to serve a Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Urgent Repairs Notice on Apartment Group to enforce prompt, and much needed, works to ensure the structure is properly water tight and safe from further degeneration; the oncoming Winter weather being of immediate serious concern.

This notice will force repair works to be conducted at the owner's expense, and is a possible step towards issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order.

Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

We urge you to help us place this at the forefront of our campaign by signing and sharing with your networks.

Eleven years, to date, and complacency and neglect are taking a heavy toll on The Cooperage. Its shambolic condition has become an eyesore on the margins of our beautiful, historic Quayside, which is saddening, unnecessary and should not be allowed to continue at the risk of losing a crucial part of North East history, forever!
This action will buy the building precious time and could secure its future.

FURTHER REFERENCE:

The Cooperage

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/grocery-silk-makers-barrel-shop-13821261

Historic England

 https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/list-entry/52900

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1024916

Press

Evening Chronicle 16 Aug 2018
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/concerns-over-state-cooperage-newcastle-15036324

Evening Chronicle 26th Oct 2017
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/quaysides-cooperage-latest-heritage-building-13812467