Staff Profiles

I am an interdisciplinary researcher who specialises in the histories and geographies of childhood and youth. In particular, I focus on the relationship between children and young people's play, leisure and mobility in twentieth and twenty-first century Britain and changing ideas about community, housing, transport and the environment.

I am currently a Research and Innovation Associate on the Green Corridors North East AHRC Mission Award project. I previously held an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University, where I also I completed my PhD.

Prior to this, I worked in museums and archives, primarily with a focus on architecture and the built environment, including a stint as curator at the RIBA Collections, Victoria and Albert Museum and as architecture programme manager at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. More recently, I have worked in exhibitions and research engagement at the Great North Museum: Hancock on a diverse range of projects - from archaeology and science communication to natural history and empire. I have also undertaken freelance projects, including arts and built environment research and policy work and museum interpretation. I am currently working one day a week for Northern Cultural Projects as archivist for the Byker Community Archive.

Qualifications

PhD in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, Newcastle University (2023)

MSc in Town Planning, Newcastle University (2017)

MA (Hons) in Architectural Design, University of Edinburgh (RIBA Part 1) (1997)

Awards/Funding

ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024-2025 (£95,980)

ESRC IAA Fund, Newcastle University 2025 (£2,400)

Faculty Impact Fund, Newcastle University 2025 (£900)

Award to participate in the Vienna International Summer School on New Social Housing 2024 (£1,000)

ESRC PhD Scholarship 2018-2022 (£60,000)

I am not currently teaching.

I have previously taught on undergraduate and postgraduate modules in architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture and have supervised undergraduate dissertations. This includes modules on the history of planning; the history of childhood and landscape architecture; child-friendly cities, urban planning and urban design.

• Articles

  • Watson S. 'The freedom of the place during daylight hours': Urban renewal and the fight over play streets in Newcastle upon Tyne, c.1955-1980. Planning Perspectives 2026, 41(2), 315-336.
  • Platt L, Devienne E, Boycott-Garnett R, Larrington-Spencer H, Lovett E, Naughton-Doe R, Powell A, Stenning A, Tucker L, Watson S, Wilkinson C, Wilkinson S. The ‘walking/wheeling with’ framework: establishing walking/wheeling with children as a mobility justice issue. Mobilities 2026, (ePub ahead of Print).
  • Stenning A, Watson S. "Children see streets differently" Making space for children's play and mobility. IPPR Progressive Review 2025, 31(3), 169-255.
  • Watson S, Fisch S. Power to all people? The 1969s fight for Byker. North East History Compendium 2024, 3, 85-96.

• Exhibitions

  • Watson S, Fisch S. The Fight for Byker and Other Stories. 2025. Newcastle upon Tyne: Farrell Centre.
  • Stenning A, Watson S. Women, Children and Play on Streets in How We Live Now: Making Spaces in the North East with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative. 2022. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle Contemporary Art.

• Review

  • Watson S. Justin O'Connor, Culture is not an Industry: Reclaiming Art and Culture for the Common Good. Manchester University Press, 2024. 304pp. £85.00 hbk. £14.99 pbk. £14.99 eBook. Urban History 2025, 52(1), 230-231.