Amala Parry (Campus Comment Sub-Editor)
I have many memories of my first year in Castle Leazes Halls, both good and bad. One that stands out as particularly awful is the time when a friend of mine had come up from Durham to stay the night, unluckily for her that meant sleeping on the floor of my tiny room, on a pitiful blow-out bed. We were sitting chatting in my room at 2 am when the fire alarm sounded! Luckily we were already awake, unlike some of my flatmates who came out of their rooms in their pyjamas and sliders. Despite it being a false alarm, the alarm continued to ring every 10 minutes or so for a few hours, to the point where we were told to just stay indoors and wait it out. It was a very long night.
Despite other memorably awful moments, such as going to open the freezer door only for it to come off its hinges entirely in my hand, the discovery of silverfish in our shared bathroom and the realisation that all of the walls in the flat contained asbestos, Castle Leazes still has a place in my heart. Though it wasn't my first choice for accommodation, I'm glad I got the true halls of residence experience and made many great memories within its four walls. It's sad to see it being knocked down, though I'm sure it will be replaced with more modern and attractive accommodation...
Zain Safdar
Back in the first year, my future flatmates and I did this thing where we hosted each other for dinner at our own accoms. My first (and only) visit to Castle Leazes was for this purpose. The evening began with us sitting on the carpeted floor of our host's room while she disappeared to bring us the feast. We were shortly presented with tagliatelle and roasted zucchini. The best part, however, was the blackcurrant and apple Capri-Sun. Sipping, we reminisced and talked for hours. Even made plans to watch the entire Twilight series together when we moved in. To me, there's truly no better way to remember Leazes.
Joseph Morris
To call Castle Leazes ‘outdated’ would both describe it’s structural integrity and the attitudes of its target demographic. The Leazes Lads displayed nothing less than morally reprehensible behaviour, with the girls living the Princess Eugenie lifestyle. The Leazes subculture borrowed working class terminology i.e. “rah pass my Baccy” yet were shocked to meet a state-educated northerner. Although the Leazes subculture may still be found frequenting Osborne Road on £2 Tuesdays, the demolition of Castle Leazes itself provides comfort for isolated northerners who no longer have to hide from their Etonian flat ‘mates’. Like the Archangel Micheal banishing Satan to hell, the demolition of Castle Leazes is something to be celebrated victoriously.
