Spanish City, Whitley Bay, 1910

Designed by Newcastle architects Cackett & Burns-Dick, when it opened in May 1910 the Dome of Spanish City in Whitley Bay was the largest in the UK after St.Paul’s Cathedral. As part of a £64 million regeneration scheme for the area, Spence & Dower were appointed by North Tyneside Council in 2008 to advise on the conservation and repair of this Grade II Listed example of Edwardian seaside architecture. This iconic structure is one amongst only a few of such pleasure buildings still remaining in the UK.

The first phase of this project has focussed on making the building weather tight and consolidating what remains of the original building.

An historic paint consultant has carried out an analysis of the finishes to the exterior and interior of the building and the copper ‘terpsichorean figures’ which originally adorned the towers either side of the main entrance are currently being cleaned and restored off-site.