DJ puts former metal merchants building on a different track
A Victorian building in North Shields is about to play a new role in the cultural future of the town.
131 Bedford Street has been bought by a new social enterprise headed by internationally-renowned DJ, producer, musician and label owner Geoff Kirkwood, better known as Man Power.
Now renamed The Haswell Building, it will be transformed into affordable spaces for creatives and artists. There is potential to split the three-storey building into studios, workspaces, offices and more.
Geoff said: “We want this to be a place where brand new creative businesses can incubate, established artists can co-exist and where both can work together and learn from each other.
“North Tyneside is full of creative energy. It’s jammed with people doing great things and with great ideas. We just want to make it more affordable to do it where we live, in a way that connects people and creates a sustainable bedrock for a creative community.
“The building has so much potential, it’s huge and there's lots of scope for big and small spaces for activities and ideas.
“In the last five years I’ve worked with a varied range of large creative and social organisations, government bodies, charities and arts organisations in the UK and around the world.
“I’m a creative person from the North East myself and I’ve found myself living and working here once again. All of this has really helped us zero-in on what we truly believe can best help other creative people and businesses from the North East.
“At the root of this project, we want to make it easier for people to make world-class output in the place where they’re from, without having to move elsewhere.
“I see North Tyneside Council and North Shields Cultural Quarter as key partners in this.
“It’s literally on my doorstep so I want to play my part in the regeneration of North Shields and the growth of the cultural economy, I share that vision for the future of the town.”
Built as an iron merchants in 1874, the building is at the bottom of the hill at the junction with Bell Street and Clive Street.
In the more recent past it has been the local Labour Party headquarters and North Tyneside Council offices. It has been vacant since July 2012, following roof damage during a storm.
Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We are delighted that this former council building will now play a part in the cultural future of the town.
“Our ambitious plans for North Shields include the creation of a new Cultural Quarter, to bring stronger connections between the town centre and the Fish Quay, and to build a stronger and more diverse local economy.“
The Haswell Building was once home to iron, steel and metal merchants Thomas Grieve & Co and was designed by prolific local architect Francis Haswell.
The building has two plaques, one inscribed with 1874, the other 1896, both with the monogram T.G. There is an 1896 iron foundry attached to the rear of the building.
Grieve & Co specialised in supplying materials to ships based at, or visiting, North Shields.
Haswell was one of the founding members of the Northern Architectural Association, which also featured the likes of John Dobson. Haswell even bought Dobson’s practice from him and completed some of his work in Newcastle.
Geoff Kirkwood is a Battle Hill-raised artist, musician, performer and DJ who now lives in Tynemouth with his family.
His art project ‘Bed Wetter’ saw him appointed as artist in residence at Sage Gateshead for 2020/2021, where he wrote an orchestral symphony which was performed by Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Geoff is also the former Head of Community Engagement for Newcastle-based World Headquarters, taking music and nightlife out to the wider community in the North East. He has a similar role working for Projekt, a London-based social enterprise that operates over half a million square feet of creative space in the capital.
He's organising a series of events In North Shields, with support from North Shields Cultural Quarter.
These include a night with DJ and Producer Erol Alkan and Man Power at The Exchange in North Shields (sold out) plus an In Conversation event with Erol Alkan, also at the Exchange on November 10. Entry for this is free and sign up is still available.
Since summer 2022 Geoff has been running a series of nights bringing some of the world’s most famous international DJs to play at King Street Social Club in North Shields. The next, and possibly final one is December 2, with Man Power, B2B Artwork + Megan Leo.
For more information visit onethreeone.co.uk or follow @onethreeonespace on Instagram.