In the footsteps of Nicky Black and The Flower House

Submitted: 13th October 2024

Flower House with Nicky Black

In the footsteps of Nicky Black and The Flower House. Always love a Newcastle set read here on The BookTrail and this time, it’s Nicky Black with her new novel The Flower House set in Newcastle and Ouseburn..

Nicky Black

Book map locations in The Flower House

I love gritty stories – books, TV series, films – not necessarily the gangland type of grit, more the real-life experiences of people living on the edges of our society. Think Trainspotting, Shameless and This is England. It’s what I enjoy, so it’s what I write!

The Flower House Nicky Black

I wanted to bring Valley Park up to date (the first two books were set in 1999 and 1989 respectively). It would inevitably be demolished, and I had the idea of one older woman refusing to leave her home. Then Julie and I talked about the 60s when it was first built, and a connection between the property developer and the woman who refused to leave her home. It grew from there…

Former Handyside Arcade:

Book map locations in The Flower House

I know all of the places pretty well. So I didn’t need to visit any other than refresh my memory on Summerhill, which was quite the magnet for hippies back in the day! The Handyside Arcade isn’t there anymore, so I relied on research. I looked at a Facebook Group called “I was a hippie in Handyside Arcade on Saturdays!” where there were lots of photographs of how it looked back then.

I did a lot of research on the 60s hippy culture and cults. I think I’ve watched every cult documentary there is, from Wako to Jonestown.

Rye Hill

Book map locations in The Flower House

The book is part of a collection of novels set on the fictional Valley Park Estate. The Estate sits in the west end of Newcastle, accessed via Westgate Road, and is based around the area Rye Hill now stands. The estate is based on a combination of my experience working in regeneration on Cowgate Estate and Julie’s experience of working in Scotswood, Benwell and Elswick. We met some absolutely brilliant characters, and some very shady ones too…

Book map locations in The Flower House

I would suggest anyone visit the fantastic city of Newcastle upon Tyne! The Ouseburn Valley is a lovely little oasis in the east end. It’s full of artists’ studios, cute cafes and lovely bars, a community farm, and a very beautiful viaduct.

Grey’s Monument sits at the top of Grey Street in the city centre, and is the gateway to Grainger Town, one of the dazzling jewels in Newcastle’s crown, with classical architecture designed in the 1830s by the internationally renowned Richard Grainger. A walk down Grey Street towards the River Tyne is not to be missed. You’ll receive our famous Geordie welcome.

Book map locations in The Flower House

The Flower House is a dual-timeline story, and themes run across both timelines: loss of innocence, good v’s evil and redemption are, I think, the key themes that run throughout.

Thanks Nicky!