Challenger Plaza opens at Discovery Museum

The car park in front of Discovery Museum has been transformed into the Challenger Plaza, a new outdoor space that will play host to a range of events and activities.

The iconic Challenger 2 tank, built in Newcastle and donated to Discovery Museum by BAE Systems, is the focal point of the new plaza. Discovery Museum’s galleries and collection present the history of life, work and innovation in the North East.

From Armstrong’s No1 gun to the closure of BAE Systems Scotswood works, the transfer of the Challenger 2 tank to Discovery Museum enables the museum to present the complete story of armament manufacture in Newcastle’s west end.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Stephenson officially opened the Challenger Plaza during a small event at the end of August. Invited guests included the Scotswood Residents Association and Newcastle City Councillors.

The manufacture of armaments in the west end of Newcastle spanned over 160 years. William Armstrong founded his company in Newcastle’s West End in 1847 and soon became a major employer with a workforce peaking at 30,000 people by 1918. The physical presence and demands of the Armstrong works literally reshaped the course of the River Tyne and dominated the growth of Newcastle’s west end, creating and shaping the urban geography of the area.

In 1927, Armstrong merged with Vickers Limited to form Vickers-Armstrong, later becoming part of BAE Systems. The Challenger 2 tank was designed and built in the Scotswood works from 1993, with the first tanks delivered in 1994. A British main battle tank, Challenger 2 is still in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. In June 2014, BAE Systems left the Scotswood Road site, concluding the manufacture of armaments in the west end of Newcastle.

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums worked with Newcastle City Council and BAE Systems to commemorate the Scotswood community’s major contribution to the history of Tyneside. The Challenger 2 tank complements Discovery Museum’s collection and galleries that collectively present the story of Tyneside. Funded by Arts Council England and funding from Newcastle City Council, the Challenger Plaza was developed to create an outdoor space for visitors to view the iconic Challenger 2 as well as enjoy outdoor events and picnics in front of Discovery Museum.

Iain Watson, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said: “It has been our ambition to improve the outdoor space around Discovery Museum to create more welcoming space for our visitors to enjoy museum activities and events outdoors. The Challenger 2 tank is a reminder of the history of armament manufacture in the west end of Newcastle and is a welcome attraction for our visitors.”

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Stephenson said: “Challenger Plaza is a reminder of the Scotswood community’s major contribution to the history of Tyneside. I hope that local people from the community and people from across the city, and further afield, will enjoy the benefits and history associated with this new outdoor space.”

Image: Iain Watson, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums; Councillor Ged Bell, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development; Trevor Stephenson, Lord Mayor’s Consort and The Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Stephenson. Photo: Steve Brock.