On passing the Apollo pavilion – Peterlee
October 6th, 2017
2017:09:29 16:22:44
It was a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon in Peterlee and as I was taking photographs of the pavilion against the sun a teenaged girl walked past me on the footpath, underneath the pavilion, and up a staircase I had barely registered on the far side.
2017:09:29 16:18:40
Wondering what was up there I followed. She was singing quietly and I didn’t want to disturb her but I wanted to take photographs. She stopped singing when she noticed me and I said
“Hello, do you mind if I stand where you are?”
“No.”
2017:09:29 16:24:11
I took some photographs.
“Whey are you taking pictures?”
“Because it’s famous, It appears in architecture journals.”
2017:09:29 16:21:07
“Are you an architect?”
“No. My Father was.”
2017:09:29 16:24:24
“Do you live on this estate?”
“No, over there” (pointing).
2017:09:29 16:25:30
“Why do you come here?” I asked.
“Because it’s quiet.”
“Does it get vandalised?” (there was graffiti)
“Yes but it gets cleaned” she replied pointing to some faded lettering.
2017:09:29 16:26:18
“Thank you” I said, and left.
I left her in peace feeling slightly guilty for disturbing her singing, it was clearly a hallowed place.
Getting there
It’s not easy to find especially since a sign is missing from the Oaklands t-junction. Here are the coordinates.
54° 44.994’N 1° 20.733’W
Small scale aerial view
Large scale aerial view
Further reading
http://www.apollopavilion.info/history/apollo-pavilion/apollo-pavilion-history/