Grundy's Wonders


Grundy's Wonders is a Tyne Tees Television architecture programme presented by John Grundy, which began in 2000.
On the programme, Grundy explores buildings in north-east England, as well as Cumbria and Yorkshire. Each programme has a particular theme or type of building, and Grundy names his favourite piece of architecture his "Grundy's Wonder", and gives a "Big Boot" to things he dislikes.
Grundy presents the programme in an enthusiastic way, while covering many aspects of the northern English region's history; this is also one of few architecture series on television.

Episodes and places visited

Series 5

  • Episode 1: "Rock"
Featured the North Bar gateway, Beverley; Burton Agnes Hall; River Glen bridge at Ewart, Northumberland; Swarland Brickworks library, Beamish tram shelter.
"Great Boot of History": BHS store, Northumberland Street, Newcastle.
"Grundy's Wonder": Houses near Crossgate Peth, Durham, with view to Durham Cathedral.
  • Episode 3: "Graffiti"
Featured St Paul's Church, Jarrow; Falstow, Northumberland; Hexham Abbey; Berwick Town Hall prison.
"Great Boot of History": Jesmond Metro station.
"Grundy's Wonder": Prison cells, Carlisle Castle; Carlisle Cathedral.

Series 6

  • Programme 1: "Rock"
Featured Bamburgh Castle; Bamburgh House; Steel Rigg ; Beverley Minster.
"Big Boot": Rock cut architecture.
  • Programme 2: "Weather"
Featured Swaledale, North Yorkshire; Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole; Nunnykirk Hall, Muker; Joicey Road Open-Air School; Cassop, Co. Durham.
"Big Boot": Badly-designed classrooms.
"Wonder": Devonshire Building, Newcastle University.
  • Programme 3: "Lead"
Featured Killhope, Co. Durham; Holmes Linn, Sinderhope, Northumberland; Stublick Chimney, Langley, Northumberland; Allenheads ; Ireshopeburn.
"Big Boot": Slag heaps.
"Wonder": Spar boxes, Weardale.
  • Programme 4: "Listed"
About listed buildings.
Featured Ripon Cathedral, Ripon, North Yorks.; Surviving Medieval buildings, Quayside, Newcastle; Newcastle Castle Keep; St Bartholomew's Church, Whittingham, Northumberland.
"Big Boot": Trinity Centre Multi-Storey Car Park, Gateshead.
  • Programme 5: "Iron Town"
Grundy pointed out reminders of the rural past in the industrialised Teesside.
Marton, Ormesby Hall, Kirkleatham, Acklam Hall, Eston.
"Big Boot": A66 road.
"Wonder": Middlesbrough.
  • Programme 6: "Monuments"
Jesmond Old Cemetery; St Mary's Church, South Dalton, East Riding of Yorkshire; Sykes Sledmere Monument, Garton on the Wolds, East Riding; Sledmere Eleanor Cross and Waggoner's Memorial, Sledmere; Grey's Monument, Newcastle; Angel of the North, Gateshead; The Spirit of South Tyneside, South Shields.
"Wonder": Conversation Piece by Juan Muñoz, South Tyneside.