Historical Background

The Roman Occupation - During the construction of Hadrian’s Wall in the second century AD the Tyne was bridged somewhere near the current site of the Swing Bridge. The bridge, and the fort at its northern end, were known as Pons Aelius. Next to this fort was a vicus,—a village that would have housed those people who were providing goods and services to the garrison. This was the beginning of the settlement that would become Newcastle. Roman occupation ceased with the collapse of the Empire early in the fifth century AD. Few Roman remains have been found in central Newcastle, because subsequent development of the city has destroyed them. Further out of the city, however, the sites of Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, and Segedunum have yielded a wealth of information, and both of these places aree worth visiting. Relics of this period can also be seen in the Museum of Antiquities at Newcastle University.

The Dark Ages - Some time after the departure of the Romans, the settlement on the north bank of the Tyne became known as Munecacaestre or Monkchester. This name suggests the presence of a monastery, but no firm evidence exists to prove it. In fact very little is known of the town during this turbulent period of raids and invasions from the Scots, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Vikings. Monkchester appears to have been less important than the nearby monastic settlements of Jarrow (a recreation of which can be seen at Bede's World),
and Monkwearmouth, but by the tenth century it had developed into a port and trading centre.

The New Castle - In 1080 construction of the New Castle that would give the city its modern name was begun by Robert Curthose. The first castle was built of earth and timber, and it was not until 1168, under the orders of Henry II, that work on a stone structure commenced. The keep, (see picture) which can still be seen today, standing next to the main east coast railway line, dates from this time, although it has been added to and altered since. The Black Gate, which stands close to the keep, was built around 1250.

The Middle Ages - In 1400 the population of Newcastle was about 4000. Many of the inhabitants grew crops, and kept cattle which they would daily drive out to the common lands of the Town Moor for grazing. Industry had begun, however. Fulling and tanning were carried out in the Pandon area, and shipbuilding probably started in the thirteenth century. But what really brought prosperity to the area was coal mining, which had been practised on a small scale since pre-Roman times. The phrase “like taking coals to Newcastle” which has entered the language to describe a futile exercise, shows just how closely the commodity and the area have always been linked.

Victorian Newcastle - The prosperity of Victorian times is still evident in the city. During the early years of Victoria's reign much of the city centre we can see today was designed and built by three visionary local men, Richard Grainger, John Clayton, and John Dobson, all of whom have streets named after them. The magnificence of Grainger Street, the curving grandeur of Grey Street, the splendour of the Theatre Royal, and the imposing Central Station were all built in the 1830s and 40s. In the 1890s Tynesider Charles Parsons invented the steam turbine, which (with only minor modifications to the original design) is still used in ships and power stations today.

Modern Times - Today Newcastle is a thriving city of a quarter of a million people, at the heart of the social, cultural, sporting, economic, and political life of the north-eastern region. It has undergone many upheavals in recent years. The loss of coal mining from the area, and of most shipbuilding from the river (between the wars an incredible one quarter of all merchant shipping launched in the world was built on the Tyne) were bitter blows. The city has not only survived, however, but has continued to prosper, attracting new jobs to replace some of those lost by the demise of the traditional industries. In spite of competition from the nearby Metro Centre, Newcastle still boasts bustling shops, particularly in the Eldon Square Shopping Centre and Northumberland Street, and is virtually unsurpassed for nightlife, having recently been voted the eighth best party city in the world by American travel experts Weissman Travel (it was the only UK city to make the top ten). In the sporting arena, Newcastle United continue to be one of the country's top football clubs, and the city is the starting point for the Great North Run, which annually attracts the world's top distance athletes, and tens of thousands of fun runners. All in all, Newcastle in the early years of the 21st century is a great place to live, and a great place to visit.

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