Byker by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen

Konttinen moved to Byker in 1970 and made it her home for as long as she could, witnessing the gradual demolition of the rows of terrace houses, including her own, as part of Conservative plans for Byker as a show-piece redevelopment project in 1968, following years of neglect by private landlords and prevarication by the city council.

“It’s wicked,” said Mr. Burness, collecting his wife’s brasses off the wall. “These houses have been under demolition order for twenty odd year, and you know - they could’ve been saved … They could’ve just given us a bath and hot water.”

In spite of The Conservative’s much-lauded policy to retain the existing community, people were dispossessed and displaced, houses were demolished without new ones being built; those forced to live elsewhere were given no guarantee of ever being able to return. Over 17,000 people lived in Byker at the start of the redevelopment. Fewer than 3500 were living in the New Byker in 1976.

‘One way or another I had grown to be a part of my street, and the community. It had been my first own home, and a real home for me.As my neighbour Nancy points out proudly: “When she first came in our street, she couldn’t tell hello from tarra, and now she speaks FINNISH with a Geordie accent.” I had come a long way. My final, and most treasured, compliment arrived in the post, months after I had moved away. It read: “Not only did you immortalise Byker, and its many famous characters - You were one of them.”’ Konttinen

Softcover, first edition. Good condition. 1983.