Victorian station revamp begins

The station is on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register

Work to protect part of a unique Victorian coastal railway station on Tyneside has begun.

The scheme will make safe sections of Tynemouth Station's glass canopy ahead of a full renovation.

The work was identified by the North of England Civic Trust (NECT) which looked at the future uses of the station.

Work on the station, built in 1882, will cost £40,000 and has been funded by Station Developments and a grant from Tyne and Wear Partnership.

The eventual aim is to restore the surviving derelict canopies to their original specifications to create performance spaces alongside a programme of special events and space for cultural businesses.

'Important conservation'

The initial work will make safe certain sections of the canopy. Scaffolding will be installed to prop up the overhanging cantilevers until a full restoration scheme has been approved and implemented.

Bruce Pickard, North Tyneside Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Tynemouth Station has a heritage which is of regional, if not national significance.

"It is an important gateway, not only to Tynemouth, but to the rest of the coast and has the potential to boost what the area is able to offer visitors."

The station is currently used as a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro network.

Metro director, Mick Carbro, said: "Tynemouth station is one of the most iconic on our network and we are pleased to see this important conservation work going ahead.

"Metro services will be operating as normal for the duration of the works."

The station was designed by the chief architect of North Eastern Railways William Bell and is currently on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register.