Newcastle Upon Tyne in the 20th Century

An early 20th century postcard;
 not only the track layout but the signal gantry is impressive.

Electric trams began to run in the streets of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1901 but they were in turn replaced by buses. Laing Art Gallery was built in 1901, Shipley Art Gallery opened in 1917. The first cinemas in Newcastle opened in 1909.

Redneugh road bridge was built in 1900. King Edward VII railway bridge was built in 1906. Hatton Gallery was founded in 1925 and the suspension bridge, Tyne Bridge, was erected in 1928.

John G Joicey Museum opened in

1934. Discovery Museum opened as a museum of science and industry in 1934. It was renamed in 1993. In the 1920s and 1930s the council built the first council houses in Newcastle, many more were built after 1945.

Shefton Museum opened in 1956, the Museum of Antiquities opened in 1960. Furthermore a new Civic Centre was built in  1968. In 1969 it was given a Civic Trust award. Eldon Square Shopping Centre opened in 1976. Furthermore two sculptures were made by the David Wynne, the River God Tyne and Swans in Flight.

A new Central Library was built in 1968, Newcastle Arts Centre was built in 1988 and Monument Mall Shopping Centre was built in 1992.

In the 20th century coal exports declined dramatically. The last coal mine within the boundaries of Newcastle closed in 1956. Shipbuilding also dramatically declined. During the 1930s Newcastle suffered from mass unemployment.

However. after 1945, as manufacturing industry contracted new service industries grew. More and more people were employed in public administration, retail and education. Newcastle University was formed in 1963. Newcastle Polytechnic was founded in 1969. It was made a university in 1992.

Meanwhile Newcastle Military Museum was founded in 1983. Stephenson Railway Museum opened in 1986.

Newcastle Upon Tyne in the 19th Century

Here is the tram shed in action during 1937.

In 1801, at the time of the first census Newcastle Upon Tyne had a population of 28,000. It grew rapidly. The population of Newcastle reached 53,000 in 1831. the boundaries were extended in 1835 to include Byker, Westgate, Elswick, Jesmond and Heaton. The population of the borough reached over 87,000 in 1851. By 1901 it had risen to 215,000.

In years 1825-1840 the centre of Newcastle was rebuilt. This was mostly the work of three men, John Dobson - an architect, Richard Grainger - a builder and John Clayton - the town clerk. All three have streets named after them. Dobson designed Eldon Square and Grainger built it 1825-31. A man named Thomas Oliver designed Leazes Terrace. Grainger built it in 1829-34. Dobson designed and Grainger built Grey Street in the 1830s. It was named after Earl Grey prime minster 1830-34. (Earl Greys monument was erected in 1838). Grainger also built the market named after him.

A new Theatre Royal was built at that time, Leazes Park was laid out in 1837 and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary built in 1844. Like all 19th century cities Newcastle was dirty and unsanitary. An epidemic of cholera in 1832 killed 306 people. Another epidemic in 1848-49 killed 412. The worst outbreak was in 1853 when 1,533 people died.

However there were some improvements in Newcastle during the 19th century. After 1818 the streets were lit by gas. In 1836 a modern police force was formed. In 1858 a Corn Exchange (where grain could be bought and sold) was built. So was a Town Hall.

In 1838 a railway was built from Newcastle to Carlisle. It followed by one to Darlington in 1844 and one to Berwick in 1847. In 1849 a railway bridge, High Level Bridge, was built over the Tyne to connect Newcastle to London. Queen Victoria opened central railway station, which was designed by Dobson in 1850.

In 1862 a memorial was erected to Stephenson. A swing bridge was erected in 1876 and Hancock Museum opened in the present building in 1884. The first public library in Newcastle opened in 1878. From 1879 horse drawn trams ran in the streets of Newcastle.

The first public park in Newcastle, Leazes was opened in 1873. In the 1870s the rest of Town Moor was laid out as parks, Brandling Park opened in 1880.

A new diocese was created in 1882 and the Church of St Nicholas was made a cathedral. Newcastle became a city, also in 1882 a drapers shop in Newcastle became the first shop in the world to be lit by electricity.

In the early 19th century an alkali industry flourished in Newcastle but it had died out by the end of the century. The pottery industry and the glass industry also declined. During the 19th century shipbuilding continued to be important. So did the iron industry, mechanical engineering also prospered in Newcastle.

Newcastle Upon Tyne in the 18th Century

The West Gate Road site in 1810

By the mid 18th century the population of Newcastle had risen to around 20,000. In the later 18th century the city spread beyond the walls and suburbs were created.

In the last part of the 18th century work began on demolishing the walls and the gates at Newcastle since they impeded traffic.

Although there was much poverty in Georgian Newcastle Upon Tyne (as there was in all cities) there were some improvements. In 1711 Newcastle gained its first newspaper. In 1736 an assembly room was built where balls were held and card games were played.

In 1751 an infirmary was built in Newcastle. In 1777 a dispensary was opened where the poor could obtain free medicines. In 1755 Newcastle gained its first bank.

After 1763 the streets inside the walls of Newcastle were lit by oil lamps and night watchmen patrolled them. (Although it is unlikely they were very effective). A customs house was built in Newcastle in 1766. The Theatre Royal was first built in 1788. However in 1773-81 a new bridge was built over the Tyne after the Medieval one was destroyed by a storm.

In the 18th century private companies began providing piped water but only a small number of people could afford it. For the wall off life in Newcastle was more comfortable and more refined than before. In the later 18th century the salt industry in Newcastle declined but a pottery industry began to flourish,

History of Newcastle

Medieval Newcastle upon Tyne

The city of Newcastle Upon Tyne was founded at the lowest place the Tyne could be easily crossed. In 1080 the Normans built a wooden fort to safeguard the crossing. They also erected a wooden bridge. (The 'new castle' rebuilt in stone in the 12th century). Soon a little town grew up in the shadow of the new castle and was named after it. In the Middle Ages towns often grew up by castles because the garrisons provided a market for the townspeople's goods.

Medieval Newcastle Upon Tyne prospered partly because of the wars between the English and the Scots. There was much traffic through Newcastle and travelers spent money there.

Newcastle Upon Tyne also became a busy port. In the Middle Ages the main export was wool. (Wool was by far England's most important export). Hides, grindstones and lead were also exported. Newcastle also famously exported coal, from the 13th century onward. Much of it was exported to London where it was used in many industries. Imports included alum and luxuries such as spices and wine.

Newcastle also had a shipbuilding industry in the later Middle Ages. The first record of a ship being built there was in 1294, there was also a rope making industry (ropes being essential for sailing ships). There was also a leather industry in Newcastle. There were skinners, tanners, saddlers.

Wool cloth was manufactured in Medieval Newcastle. First it was woven, then is was fulled. In other words it was pounded in a mixture of water and clay to clean and thicken it. Wooden hammers worked by watermills pounded the wool. When it dried the wool was dyed, in Newcastle there were also the same craftsmen you find in any medieval town such as butchers, bakers, brewers and smiths.

In the Middle Ages there were 2 fairs in Newcastle, fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they would attract buyers from all over Northumberland and Durham. Furthermore in the late 13th century walls were built around Newcastle - a sign of its growing performance. There were 7 main gates and 19 towers.

The church was very important and powerful in the Middle Ages, there were 4 churches in Newcastle, from the 13th century there were also friars. The friars were like monks but instead of withdrawing from the world they went out to preach. In Medieval Newcastle there were Franciscan friars (known as grey friars because of their grey costumes), Dominican friars, (known as black friars) Carmelite friars (white friars) Trinitarian friars and Austin friars. There was also a Benedictine nunnery in Nun Street. There were also several 'hospitals' run by the church in Newcastle. In them monks cared for the sick and the poor as best they could.

Newcastle Upon Tyne had a mayor as early as 1216. In 1400 it was made a county in its own right separate from the rest of the county. By then Newcastle had a population of around 4,00. It would seem tiny to us but by the standards of the time it was a large town.

Newcastle Upon Tyne in the 16th Century and 17th Century
In 1539 Henry VIII closed the friaries in Newcastle. In 1540 he closed the nunnery. However, Henry also founded a grammer school in Newcastle which was incorporated in 1600.

In the 16th century exports of coal boomed and it overtook wool as the town's main export. It is estimated that in 1500 and about 15,000 tons of coal were exported from Newcastle each year. By the mid 17th century that had soared to around 400,000 tons a year.

By 1600 the population of Newcastle Upon Tyne has risen to about 10,000, By the standards of the time it was a large and important town. In 1635 a writer called Newcastle 'the fairest and richest town in England inferior for wealth and building to no city save London and Bristol'.

In 1642 came civil war between king and parliament. Newcastle sided with the king but in 1644 a parliamentary army laid siege to the town, Newcastle surrendered in October 1644.

In the late 17th century coal exports continues to boom so did the shipbuilding industry in Newcastle. Rope making also flourished. Lime was made in kilns for fertilizer. Salt was made from seawater. The water was heated in pans to evaporate it and leave behind a residue of salt. From the late 17th century there was a glass making industry in Newcastle. By the early 18th century there was also an iron and steel industry, another industry in Newcastle was clay pipe making.

At the end of the 17th century the travel writer Celia Fiennes described Newcastle Upon Tyne as a noble town. She said it resembled London more than any other town in England. The streets were broad and the buildings were tall and made of brick or stone.

The Sage

Sage Gateshead is an international home for music and musical discovery, bringing about a widespread and long-term enrichment of the musical life of the North East of England.

The Sage Gateshead contains three performance spaces; a 1,700-seater, a 450-seater and a smaller rehearsal and performance hall, a Northern Rock Foundation Hall. The rest of the building was designed around these three spaces to allow for maximum attention to detail in their acoustic properties.

Structurally it is three separate buildings, insulated from each to prevent noise and vibration travelling between them. The gaps between them may be seen as one walks around inside. A special 'spongy' concrete mix was used in the construction, with a higher-than-usual air capacity to improve the acoustic. These three buildings are enclosed (but not touched) by the now-famous glass and steel shell. Hall One as intended as an acoustically perfect space, modelled on the reowned Musikverein in Vienna. It's ceiling panels may be raised and lowered  and curtains drawn across the ribbed wooden side walls, changing the sound profile of the room to suit any type of music. Hall Two is a smaller venue, possibly the world's only ten-sided performance space. The building's concourse was designed to be used for informal music-making. Below the concourse level is the Music Education Centre, where workshops, community music courses and day-proofed rooms, one of which is also a recording studio.

The building is open to the public throughout the day. Visitors can see rehearsals, soundchecks and workshops in progress. It has five bars, a brasserie, the "Sir Michael Straker Cafe", and "The Barbour Room" - a multi-purpose function room which holds around 200 people. There was also "ExploreMusic": a technologically well-equipped musical branch of Gateshead public library, stocking books and current magazines covering all aspects of music, a CD library with listening posts, and computers with free internet access, subscriptions to music websites and music software. However this was closed in March 2011 owing to funding cutbacks to Gateshead Council, who funded this particular part of the building.

The fact that the main entrance doors to the western end of the building are still not working properly, seven years after the building's opening, was described as "disappointing" by centre general manager Anthony Sargent in the North Music Trust's 2010-11 annual report. As of February 2012 significant work has begun on improving the entire Western entrance to the building, including brand new disabled and fire access doors and reinforced revolving doors. As of March 2012 this has now been completed.

The Baltic

The notion of BALTIC began in 1991 when Northern Arts (now Arts Council England North East) announced its ambition to achieve 'major new capital facilities for the Contemporary Visual Arts in Central Tyneside'.

Construction began in 1998: only the south and north facades of the original 1950s building were retained. A new structure consisting of six main floors and three mezzanines was secured between the facades which contained 3000sqm of arts space (four galleries and a flexible performance space), artists' studio, cinema/lecture space, shop, a library and archive for the study of contemporary art and the Rooftop Restaurant on Level 6.

An additional two-storey structure: The Riverside Building, was constructed to the west of the main building, providing the main entrance into BALTIC, which looks out across Baltic Square and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art opened on Saturday 13 July 2002. The inaugural exhibition, B.OPEN, featured work Chris Burden, Carsten Holler, Julian Opie, Jaume Plensa and Jane & Louise Wilson, and attracted over 35,000 visitors in the first week. Since the BALTIC has exhibited 186 exhibitions, worked with 358 artists and presented from 5 countries around the world.

In April 2013, the BALTIC welcomed its 5 million visitor.

The founding director, Sune Nordgen was appointed in 1996 and after close to 6 years, left to take up a new post as founding Director of the National Museum for Art, Architectural and Design, Oslo, Norway. He was briefly succeeded by Stephen Snoody, who went on to become Director of the The New Art Gallery, Walsall and from 2005 Peter Doroshenko, who went on to accept the role of Director with the prestigious PinchukArtCentre in Ukraine.

BALTIC was delighted to welcome Director Godfrey Worsdale as Director of BALTIC who took up his new position in November 2008. Following an immensely successful time as Founding Director of mima, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Godfrey Worsdale joins BALTIC with over 15 years of experience in gallery management and programming.

Toffee Factory

Toffee Factory is a beautifully refurbished new building providing high quality, contemporary serviced office space for a range of digital and creative businesses, from start-ups in a shared workspace to larger offices for established companies. Thoughtfully designed by local architects xsite, and furnished with both design classics and locally produced furniture and art work. Located in the heart of The Ouseburn area  of Newcastle adjacent to the Quayside, it is within walking distance of the City Centre and the Railway Station with good transport links by road and a frequent local bus, Q2, dropping off near the door.

The Ouseburn has a unique community feeling of its own with excellent pubs and places to eat on the doorstep: The Tyne Bar, The Free Trade, The Cycle Hub Cafe, The Cluny, The Cumberland Arms and Ouseburn Farm are just a stroll along the river away. There is even accomodation at the neighbouring Hotel du Vin. Meeting rooms are available for hire for our internal companies for free. Toffee Factory also has an Event Space for external hire with a fixed projector and seating for up to 70 people. The Toffee Factory is a landmark building located at the mouth of the Ouseburn Valley in Newcastle upon Tyne.

As with many other sites and buildings in the Valley, it has a long history of different uses that reflect the changing fortunes and roles of the area itself, and gives insight into the lives of the people who have inhabited the building over the years. The Toffee Factory occupies the South Western corner of Lower Steenbergs Yard, with two sides formed by nine metres retaining walls holding up Ouse Street and the Glasshouse Bridge. The Yard itself is a strip of land between the small Ouseburn river and the retaining wall to Ouse Street, running from Cut Bank to the Quayside Road. From there, a narrow tunnel provided the only access.

In 1870 Newcastle Corporation decided  to develop a 'Foreign Cattle Yard and Slaughter Shops' at the north end of the site. This was a response to the increasing importation of live cattle from abroad, particularly from Scandinavia. The corporation  purchased the land in 1872 for £83,000 and agreed a contract with Henry Hudspeth in 1877 to build a 2-storey sanatorium that could hold up to 635 cattle and 3,000 sheep. The building has since been demolished, but the ramp that was used to get the cattle in and out of the Yard is still a prominent feature.

Livestock imported to Newcastle Quayside could now be sent directly to this new facility, to be quarantined for a minimum of twelve hours and if found free from disease to be then transferred to open pens for sale and subsequent slaughter.

Stepney Bank Stables

Stepney Bank Stables is approved by the British Horse Society and the Association of British Riding Schools, we are also a Pony Club Centre. This means that we have passed difficult checks to ensure that our horses, facilities and equipment are fit for purpose and that our staff are appropriately qualified and skilled. Stepney Bank Stables is an equestrian centre with a difference, not only are we open 7 days a week to provide high quality riding lessons to both children and adults; we also operate as a charity (Reg. charity no. 1084687) providing opportunities for children and young people growing up in challenging situations to grow their confidence, develop their resilience and gain qualifications and experience that will enrich their lives.

Stepney Bank Stables was honoured by ' Her Majesty The Queen' with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award 2003. We have also been awarded Investing in Children Membership as a result of our continued commitment to involving young people in the planning and delivery of our work with children and young people in 2014.

Stepney Bank Stables is a unique equestrian centre situated in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. Our superb team of qualified instructors and well-mannered horses provided horse riding lessons ranging from beginner to advanced. The centre has both indoor and outdoor riding arenas allowing year round equestrian activities. The family atmosphere and customer care centred approach make us the ideal choice for both adults and children learning to ride.

Mission Statement:
Stepney Bank Stables is committed to making horses and riding accessible to the whole community. We offer opportunities. to volunteers of all ages to develop in confidence and skills whilst helping others.

Our Values:
We provide outstanding equestrian training. Commercial riding lessons provide the focus for all other activities and enable us to support those most in need.
We engage with vulnerable young people and adults, raising their aspirations and helping them to feel positively about themselves and their futures.
By choosing to ride with Stepney Bank Stables you can not only have a fantastic time, learn valuable skills whilst keeping fit but you will also be helping local disadvantaged young people.

Stepney Bank Stables ---- MORE THAN JUST RIDING !

Tyne Theatre and Opera House

The Tyne Theatre and the Opera House (trading as the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre) is a Grade I listed building with key elements of outstanding national importance including the lavish auditorium and wooden stage machinery. One of the only about twenty-three Grade One listed theatres in Great Britain, the theatre is also located within the boundary of the Hadrians Wall Worlds Heritage Sites.

The Theatre is significant on a number of levels; from technological, artistic and creative innovation of the machinery, its restoration and the skill of its restorers; to the architectural design and artistic quality of the interior and exterior; influence of local through to nationally important architects; association with important historical figures in Newcastle; and international stars of the stage and screen. The place is hugely important socially to the community of Newcastle,being a continuously operational theatre and cinema (with exception of a few years - 197-77) during its life and a hub of entertainment and social interaction.

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House offers the best in Music, Comedy & Theatre. The Theatre itself is a Grade 1 listed building rated in the 4% of listed buildings by English Heritage and has been afforded a three star rating, the highest available, by the Theatres Trust, branded as " a very fine theatre of the highest theatrical and architectural quality".

The importance of the architectural and theatrical heritage of the building is also recognised by The Association of Historic Theatres in Europe and OISTAT (the International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatres Technicians and Architects). The Tyne Theatre and Opera House Preservation Trust became the freehold owner of the building in 2008.

Located in the centre of Newcastle, the Tyne Theatre & Opera House is easily accessible by the city's varied public transport systems. There is a choice of off-street parking nearby and a wealth of restaurants, shops, hotels & local amenities.

Northern Stage

Northern Stage is a theatre and a production theatre company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is adjacent to Newcastle University's city centre campus on King's Walk, across from the students' union building. It hosts various local, national and international productions in addition to those who produced by the Northern Stage company. Until the 2006 reopening the theatre was known as the Newcastle Playhouse and is a registered charity. The complex hosts three stages, the capacity decreases with stage one being the largest having 447 seats. The complex also boasts a bar-restaurant McKenna's.

The theatre's beginnings were in 1970 when the current building (initially known as the University Theatre) was built to replace The Tyneside Theatre Company's old building, the Flora Robson Playhouse, which was demolished in a road-widening scheme. The old Playhouse was not actually demolished until some time later and the site never was used. Access did become a problem however, The Tyneside Theatre Company continued to use the theatre until 1977. The theatre was also formally known as the Newcastle Playhouse and Gulbenkian Studio, from 1992 until 2005 the company was run by Alan Lyddiard who created the Northern Stage Ensemble Company in 1998.

It re-opened in August 2006 as Northern Stage after £9 million refurbishment, the first performance at the refurbished theatre was a production of Dennis Potter's Son of Man. During the 2006 the refurbishment an art installation was constructed on the roof of the theatre, titled Escapology, by artist Cath Campbell.

Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens

Take a trip to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland and enjoy one of the best value days out in North-East England. Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens are the creation of the Middleton family, over more than seven centuries. First came the castle, still dominated by its massive 14th Century defensive 'pele tower'. It was built as a refuge at a time of Anglo-Scottish warfare, it was also designed to impress: it is still displaying rare traces of elaborate medieval wall paintings. In more peaceful times a Jacobean mansion wing was added: here the family lived until Christmas Day 1817, when they moved into Belsay Hall.
Belsay Hall is an austerely Classical Greek Revival villa and now is displayed without furnishings to reveal the fine craftsmanship of its construction. It begun in 1807, it was designed by Sir Charles Monck (formerly Middleton), a man inspired by Ancient Greece and the buildings he had seen on his honeymoon in Athens.

You can spend hours exploring both inside and out on fair and wet weather days, the Hall is an unfurnished architectural perfection inspired by the temples of ancient Greece, with it fabulous pillars. Explore the great room of the destroyed medieval castle and don't miss the stunning views from the top of the tower.

Outside, there are extensive more than 30 acres of landscaped grounds, a Grade I Registered heritage garden, lovingly restored and packed with an impressive array of shrubs and flowers which changes with the different seasons. The high point of any visit to Belsay is the unique Quarry Garden, a fantasy of ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants. No wonder Belsay Hall is one of the most loved visitor attractions in Northumberland. The monumental gardens which provides a magnificent setting for the Castle and Hall which are also largely Sir Charles's work. His romantic Quarry Garden, created where stone was cut for his Hall. has ravines and sheer rock faces inspired by Sicilian quarries. His grandson Sir Arthur Middleton, likewise a revoluntionary plantsman, and further embellished the Quarry with the exotic species which progress in its micro-climate, and added the Winter Garden, Yew Garden and the Magnolia Terrace,

Bessie Surtees House

The two buildings now known as Bessie Surtees House stand on a stretch of Newcastle riverfront that has been used as a quayside since Roman times, when the first bridge was built over the Tyne. By the 16th century the commercial importance of the area was well established and many prominent merchants owned property here. The two buildings, originally numbers 41 and 44 Sandhill, were known respectively as Surtees House and Milbank House. Other houses further east along Sandhill are of a similar date.
The Bessie Surtees House is part of the English Heritage, and admission to this gem was free. The public area is limited to the first floor (second story for North Americans) where there are three rooms open. All of the rooms are almost totally devoid of furnishings, thus allowing you to really see the Jacobean panelling, windows and fireplaces.

In the first room, the ceiling is a reenactment of what it would have been like with its corbelled style. The windows stretch the length of the room and include on blue pane. That pane is used to mark the windows that Bessie supposedly used when she eloped. The second room has a more "Georgian" feel because the windows are that deep Georgian variety. The third room, looking out the back of the house, is a true gem, the wall panelling is in original linen-fold, one of the oldest of kinds of wall paints. One of its tenants was Aubone Surtees, whose daughter Bessie is said to have eloped in 1722 from a first-floor window with John Scott, a coal merchant's son. They ran away to Scotland where they were married (and were remarried in Newcastle after the families were reconciled). Scott eventually became a successful lawyer and as Lord Eldon, Lord Chancellor of England.

From the late 18th century the richer merchants of Newcastle moved from the busy quayside to the more fashionable suburbs. The houses were divided up and let, and subsequently entered a period of slow decline. The houses were eventually united by John Clayton, who owned Surtees House from 1880 and later bought Milbank House. In 1930 they were bought by SR Vereker, later Lord Gort, whose wife was descended from the Eldons. He employed an engineer, RF Wilkinson, to restore the houses using 17th-century architectural fittings salvaged from properties which were due to be demolished.
Bessie Surtees House was bought from the Gort estate by Newcastle City Council in 1978 and leased to English Heritage in 1989. The rooms on the first floor are now open to visitors, while the rest of the building is used as offices.

The buildings are rare examples of Jacobean domestic architecture, built towards the end of the timber-framing tradition. Both are five storeys high and had shops or stores at ground level with living accommodation above. Milbank House as constructed in the 16th century but was refronted in red brick on the early 18th century. Its original timber-framed structure is now concealed behind a Georgian facade with elegant sash windows and shutters.
Surtees House is a 17th century structure with overhearing storeys above the ground floor. It has retained its original facade, featuring plasterwork decorated with classical details. The interior, in particular the principal room on the first floor, has fine carved oak panelling, elaborate plaster ceilings and carved fire surrounds.

St James' Park

Delve into Newcastle United's history all the way back to the late 1800s by joining us on a tour of the iconic St James' Park. Accompanied by a tour guide you will visit areas of the ground which is reserved for players and officials only, including the Home Dressing Room, Media Suite , Director's Box, and more.

St James' Park is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom which is located in the centre of Newcastle, its white cantilever roof, the largest in Europe is visible across the sky. Besides Premier League football, St James' Park has also been used for international football, as a football venue for the 2012 Olympics. The stadium will also be used as a rugby venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In addition to professional football, the stadium has hosted charity football events and rock concerts and been used as a set for film and reality television.

St James' Park is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Premier League club Newcastle United F.C. and has a seating capacity of 52,405. St James' Park has been the home ground of Newcastle United since 1892 and has been used for football since 1880. Throughout its history, the desire for expansion has caused conflict with local residents and the local council.

This has led to proposals to move at least twice in the late 1960s, and a controversial 1995 proposed move to nearby Leazes Park. Reluctance to move has lead to the distinctive lop-sided appearance of the present-day stadium's asymmetrical stands.

Tours last approximately 90 minutes and runs daily 11.30, 12.30 and 14.30. At a cost of £15 an adult, £12 a concession and £8 a junior.

Historic Sites

1. Burrow into Newcastle's history in the Victoria Tunnel .

Experience the sounds of a wartime air raid and follow your guide underground to discover the tunnel's role as a Victorian Colliery waggonway.

Deep beneath the Newcastle city streets, the Victoria Tunnel runs from the Town Moor down to the Tyne. It was built in 1842 to transport coal from Leazes Main Colliery to riverside staithes (jetties) ready for loading onto ships; playing an important role in the industrial strength of Tyneside during the 19th Century.

The Tunnel closed in 1860 but remained untouched and in 1939 it was converted into an air-raid shelter to protect hundreds of Newcastle citizens during World War II. A recent programme of repairs has been carried out and part of the tunnel is now open for guided tours which include evocative sound and visual effects - listen out for the oncoming coal wagons.

Don't forget to book your tour in advance, and keep an eye out for the ghost, rumoured to haunt the tunnel.

2. View the city as the Normans once did at Newcastle Castle.

From Romans to Victorians and right through to modern times, explore the history of the area where the original 'New Castle' once stood.

Newcastle Castle is located within the historic heart of Newcastle. Built between 1168 and 1178, the stone Castle Keep sits upon ground previously occupied by the Roman Fort Pons Aelius, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and the Norman timber and earth castle from which city takes it's name.

One of the finest surviving medieval Castle Keeps in Britain, it also boasts an outstanding view of the city, the Tyne and the seven bridges which join Newcastle to Gateshead from it's rooftop. The Castle's Black Gate was the last addition to the medieval castle's defences (built between 1247 and 1250) and will open up to the public as a heritage centre, telling the story of 'Old Newcastle', in 2015.

3. Celebrate cinema 1930's style at Tyneside Cinema.

See free newsreel screenings of important 20th Century events and take guided tours of this Grade II restored news theatre. The showing of newsreels in news theatres was a craze that swept the UK in the 1930's and changed the lives of many people allowing them for the first time to see global events and faraway places.

The last surviving newsreel theatre still operating as a cinema full-time in the UK, Tyneside Cinema is a Grade II listed building which has recently been restored to preserve and celebrate the grandeur of it's original 1937 Persian palace inspired design.

Free newsreel screenings in the restored news theatre auditorium and guided tours provide a window into the greatest achievement and darkest hours of the 20th century, and a reminder of the social setting in which news was once consumed. Continue your journey through the architectural history of Newcastle and Gateshead with a stay at Hotel Du Vin Newcastle, Housed within the former Tyne Tees steam shipping company in Ouseburn, there's a tip and a wink to the magnificently refurbished Edwardian building's maritime past at every turn - from ships' ropes in the courtyard, to porthole windows in the showers.

Travel through time exploring England's eclectic heritage from prehistoric fossil sites and imposing castles and country houses to its literacy, industrial and maritime past.

5 buildings to see in Newcastle

1. The Discovery Museum

Discover all about the life in Newcastle and Tyneside from the area’s renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion through the eras and military history. The museum is bursting with lots of interactive displays which make it the perfect place to learn and to have fun. The displays are regularly updated and complemented by an array of free, fun learning activities and a changing programme of exhibitions.

One of the favourite exhibits in the Discovery Museum is Turbinia which dominates the entrance to the Museum. Invented on Tyneside, it is the first ship to be powered by a steam turbine, the 35 metre vessel was once the fastest ship in the world and now her history is brought to life in the Turbinia Story display, and has she sets the standard for a day out that it is guaranteed to be filled with breathtaking discoveries.

Click on this link to find out wgoing on at the Discovery Museum: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery/whats-on/events

2. Centre for Life

Life is an award-winning Science Centre in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne where one ticket will get you everything! Highlights include the only 4D Motion Ride in the North East – for safety reasons, visitors have to be at least 4ft/1.2 metres in height to use the Motion Ride. The North’s biggest planetarium, live theatre shows and the Curiosity Zone - 100% hands-on and full of exhibits that are designed to bring out your inner scientist.

 The Centre of Life also has a special area for the under 7s and a changing programme of exhibitions and events. From November to February, The Centre of Life hosts an outdoor ice rink in Times Square, just outside the Science Centre.Life Science Centre in Newcastle is a great day out for the whole family in Newcastle upon Tyne!

Click on this link http://www.life.org.uk/whats-on#.VM51TdKsWSo to find out what’s on whatever your age, including things to do for kids and parents, interactive science activities for everyone and special events for everyone from pre-schoolers to adults!

3. Great North Museum: Hancock

The Great North Museum: Hancock incorporates collections from the old Hancock Museum: the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT) (Newcastle University’s Museum of Antiquaries), the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery.

Highlights includes a life-size T-Rex dinosaur replica skeleton, a large-scale interactive model of Hadrian’s Wall, major displays showing the amazement and assortment of the animal kingdom, astonishing objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a life size elephant and a planetarium.

The Living Planet display houses hundreds of creatures and by using a mixture of touch screen technology and hands-on investigations, visitors van investigate these animals and find out where they live and hoe they survive in such extreme places as the arctic and the desert.

Love animal tanks and aquaria are combined into this major display where visitors can see wolf fish, pythons and lizards to name a few. The star objects include full size model of an elephant, a great white shark, a virtual aquarium, live animal displays, a polar bear, a giraffe and moa skeleton.

Click on this link to find out what’s on at the Great North Museum: Hancock http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/great-north-museum/whats-on/events

4. The Theatre Royal

Granted its Royal licence by King George III, the Theatre Royal Newcastle opened on Drury Lane off Mosley Street in 1788 and soon incorporated itself as one of England’s leading theatres. Three months before Queen Victoria arose on the throne in February 1837, the Theatre moved to Grey Street, a flagship building in Grainger and Dobson’s famous city plan. It features what is generally regarded as the finest Theatre façade in the UK, later combined with a fine 1901 auditorium by one of the great Theatre architects, Frank Matcham after the original interior had been destroyed by a fire in 1899.

The Grade I Listed Theatre today is both neo-classical monument and cultural engine with an annual audience of 350,000 and over 400 performances each year; the finest drama, the brightest West End musicals, the cream of the comedy circuit, award winning ballet and dance, family friendly shows, sensational opera – and (they think) the best Pantomime in the country!

Click on this link to find out what’s going on at The Theatre Royal: http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on

5. Laing Art Gallery

The Laing Art Gallery’s exceptional art collection focuses on British oil painting, watercolours, ceramics, silver and glassware. The collection has a designated status in recognition of its national and international significance.

The highlights include outstanding pictures by William Holman Hunt, Edward Burne-Jones, Paul Gauguin and Victor Pasmore, together with an important group of paintings by 19^th-century artist John Martin, who was born and brought up in the North East. Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Daniel Maclise also a feature among the 19^th-century paintings, together with significant pictures by local artists TM Richardson, Ralph Hedley and CN Hemy. 20^th century artists include Laura Knight, Ben Nicholson, David Bomberg, and Gillian Ayres, and there is a growing contemporary collection.

From  the extensive decorative art collection, Beilby enamelled glass is of particular significance and there are fine pieces of Newcastle silver reaching 400 years. The local glass collection features Sowerby studio glass together with Davidson and Sowerby pressed glass. Maling ceramics from the 19^th and 20^th century form an important part of collection of Japanese decorative arts and prints.

Click on this link to see what’s going on at The Laing Art Gallery: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing-art-gallery/whats-on/events

Skating@Life

Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear, NE1 4EP 

Take a spin (or a wobble) around Newcastle's only open-air ice rink. This year skaters can upgrade to a combo ticket and enjoy Night at the Toy Store, Life's new Christmas 4D Motion Ride! Find out exactly what toys get up to when the shoppers head home Visit Website

Young People’s Drama Festival

The Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 1ES

This is a great opportunity to for young actors (aged between 10 and 25) to get up on the main stage at The Customs House. Groups are asked to come forward to devise new pieces of drama under The Rotary’s motto ‘Service Above Self’.
For more information or to sign up contact Fiona Kelly on 0191 427 8188 or fiona@customshouse.co.uk. Also Check Out There website Click Here