History of Newcastle upon Tyne facts for kids

The history of Newcastle upon Tyne goes back almost 2,000 years! Over this time, different groups like the Romans, the Angles, and the Norsemen have all been in charge. The city was first known by its Roman name, Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England. Because it's in a great spot on the River Tyne, the town grew a lot during the Middle Ages. It also played a huge part in the Industrial Revolution, becoming a city in 1882. Today, Newcastle is a big centre for shops, businesses, and culture.

Roman Settlement in Newcastle

The Black Gate, part of Newcastle Castle.

Newcastle's story begins around AD 120. This is when the Romans built the first bridge across the River Tyne. They called it Pons Aelius, which means 'Bridge of Aelius'. Aelius was the family name of Emperor Hadrian, who built Hadrian's Wall across northern England. Parts of Hadrian's Wall can still be seen in Newcastle today.

In AD 150, the Romans built a stone fort to protect the bridge. This fort was also called 'Pons Aelius'. It was located on a rocky hill where Newcastle Castle Keep stands now. Pons Aelius was mentioned for the last time in AD 400, in a Roman list of military outposts. After this, the Roman Empire in the west ended, and the Roman soldiers left.

Even though it had a bridge, Pons Aelius wasn't the most important Roman settlement in the north. Other places, like Corstopitum (modern-day Corbridge), were much bigger and more important for supplies.

Anglo-Saxon Times

The Angles arrived in North-East England around AD 500. There isn't much proof of an Anglo-Saxon village exactly where Pons Aelius was. The Roman bridge probably stayed, and maybe a small village was at its northern end.

The area became part of the kingdom of Northumbria in the 7th century. This time was known as the 'Golden Age of Northumbria', famous for its culture and learning. Monasteries were built along the Tyne and Wear valleys, like those at Monkwearmouth, Hexham, and Jarrow.

At some point, the site of Newcastle became known as Monkchester. We don't know why, as there's no clear record of a monastery there. In 875, Halfdan Ragnarsson, a Danish Viking, attacked and robbed many monasteries. It's thought Monkchester was also attacked then. Not much more was heard of it until the Normans arrived.

Norman Period and the New Castle

The Castle Keep

After William the Conqueror took over England in 1066, there was a lot of fighting in Northumbria. In 1080, William sent his son, Robert Curthose, north to protect the kingdom from the Scots. After his campaign, Robert went to Monkchester and started building a "New Castle."

This first castle was a "motte-and-bailey" type. It had a wooden tower on a dirt mound (the motte), surrounded by a ditch and a wooden fence (the bailey). This new castle gave Newcastle its name!

Later, in 1095, the Earl of Northumbria rebelled against the king. The king's army took back the castle, and it became property of the crown. This made it an important base for the king to control the northern lords.

The wooden castle was later replaced by a strong stone keep, built between 1172 and 1177 by Henry II of England. A stone outer wall (bailey) was also built. The main outer gate, called 'the Black Gate', was added between 1247 and 1250. This new, safer castle attracted local merchants, helping trade grow in the town.

Middle Ages: A Northern Fortress

During the Middle Ages, Newcastle was England's main northern fortress. It was a gathering point for armies fighting against Scotland. The border wars with Scotland lasted for centuries. For a short time, from 1139 to 1157, Newcastle was even controlled by the Scots.

In 1174, the Scottish king William the Lion was captured and imprisoned in Newcastle. Later, Edward I of England brought the Stone of Scone and William Wallace through the town. Newcastle successfully defended itself against the Scots three times in the 14th century.

Trade grew a lot in Newcastle during this time. By 1275, it was the sixth largest port in England for exporting wool. Other exports included timber, coal, and hides. Most of the trade was with countries around the Baltic Sea and Germany.

In 1265, the town was allowed to collect a 'Wall Tax' to build strong walls around the town. These town walls were finished in the early 14th century. They were two miles (3 km) long, 9 feet (3 m) thick, and 25 feet (8 m) high. They had six main gates and 17 towers.

In 1400, Henry IV of England gave Newcastle a new charter. This made the town a "county of itself," separate from Northumberland, and allowed it to have its own sheriff and choose its own leaders.

Religious Buildings in Medieval Newcastle

Several religious houses were built inside the town walls during the Middle Ages:

• The Benedictine nunnery of St Bartholomew was founded in 1086.
• The friary of Blackfriars (Dominican) was started in 1239. Much of this building still exists today because local trade guilds rented it after the monasteries were closed down.
• The friary of Whitefriars (Carmelite) was set up in 1262.
• The friary of Austinfriars (Augustinian) was established in 1290. English kings often stayed here when they visited Newcastle.
• The friary of Greyfriars (Franciscans) was founded in 1274.
• The friary of the Order of the Holy Trinity was established in 1360.

All these religious houses were closed around 1540 when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries.

Tudor Period: Changes and Coal

The wars with Scotland continued into the 16th century, keeping Newcastle important as a border stronghold.

During the English Reformation started by Henry VIII, the religious houses in Newcastle were closed. Their land was sold to the town and rich merchants. The Blackfriars building survived because craft guilds used it as their headquarters.

With fewer border wars, the town walls and castle were allowed to fall into disrepair. By 1547, about 10,000 people lived in Newcastle. At the start of the 16th century, wool exports were more valuable than coal exports. But throughout the century, coal exports grew a lot.

The plague hit Newcastle four times in the 16th century, causing many deaths. In 1600, Elizabeth I gave Newcastle a charter. This allowed a special group of electors to choose the mayor and other leaders. It also gave the Hostmen, who controlled coal exports, exclusive rights to load coal on the Tyne.

Stuart Period: Plague and Civil War

In 1636, Newcastle suffered a very serious outbreak of bubonic plague. It's thought to have come from the Netherlands on trading ships. The disease spread quickly, and authorities tried to control it by locking up infected families. Mass graves were dug. Out of an estimated 12,000 people, 5,631 died, which was almost half the population.

In 1640, during the Second Bishops' Wars, the Scots successfully invaded Newcastle. They occupied the town for a year, stopping trade on the Tyne.

The English Civil War began in 1642. King Charles I valued Newcastle's coal trade and put soldiers there. In 1644, Parliament blocked the Tyne to stop the king from getting money from coal. Coal exports dropped hugely, and London had a very cold winter without enough fuel.

Later in 1644, the Scots attacked again. They besieged Newcastle for three months. The Scottish commander threatened to destroy the steeple of St Nicholas church if the mayor didn't surrender. The mayor cleverly put Scottish prisoners in the steeple, saving it from destruction. The town walls were eventually broken through. For its brave defence, King Charles gave Newcastle the motto 'Fortiter Defendit Triumphans' (Bravely Defending, Triumphant) for its coat of arms.

After the Civil War, the coal trade quickly recovered. In 1689, the Lort Burn, which was an open sewer, was covered over. This channel became the modern-day Dean Street. The main road through Newcastle was narrow and crowded, especially on the steep street called the Side.

The Eighteenth Century: Growth and 'Geordies'

In the 18th century, Newcastle became a major printing centre, second only to London, Oxford, and Cambridge. It also became the world's biggest producer of glass.

In 1715 and 1745, during the Jacobite risings (when people tried to put the Stuart family back on the throne), armies marched towards Newcastle. But the citizens prepared well, strengthening the walls and gathering volunteers. These preparations were enough to make the rebel armies go another way.

Newcastle's actions in 1715, resisting the rebels and supporting King George I, might be why people from Tyneside are nicknamed 'Geordies'. Another idea is that the name comes from George Stephenson, who invented the 'Geordie lamp' for miners in 1815.

In 1771, a big flood destroyed much of Newcastle's old bridge, which had been built in 1250. A new stone bridge was finished in 1781.

Victorian Period: A New Look

Present-day Newcastle's beautiful buildings are largely thanks to the builder Richard Grainger and architects like John Dobson. In 1834, Grainger won a competition to plan a new central Newcastle. He built three new main roads: Grey Street, Grainger Street, and Clayton Street, along with many connecting streets. He also built the Central Exchange and the Grainger Market.

Grey Street, with its elegant curve, is considered one of the finest streets in the country. At its top, Grainger placed the column of Grey's Monument as a focal point.

In 1849, a new bridge called the High Level Bridge was built across the river. Designed by Robert Stephenson, it carried both road and rail traffic on two levels. This meant traffic no longer had to struggle through the narrow, steep Side street. Queen Victoria opened the bridge and, a year later, the new Central Station, designed by John Dobson.

In 1854, a huge fire started in Gateshead and spread across the river to Newcastle, destroying many homes and businesses. The narrow alleys that were destroyed were replaced by modern office blocks.

In 1876, the old low-level bridge was replaced by the Swing Bridge. This bridge could swing open horizontally to let large ships pass upriver. It was built by William George Armstrong, a local arms maker, so warships could reach his factory.

Industrial Powerhouse

Newcastle became a major city because of its key role in producing and exporting coal. The saying "taking coals to Newcastle" means bringing something to a place that already has plenty of it. In the 19th century, shipbuilding and heavy engineering were vital to the city's success. Newcastle was a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution.

Local Inventions and Industries

Many important inventions came from Newcastle and the surrounding areas:

• George Stephenson developed a miner’s safety lamp, which helped open deeper coal mines.
• George and Robert Stephenson were very important in developing early railways. George built Blücher, an early locomotive, and Robert helped design Rocket, a revolutionary train that led to modern locomotives.
• Joseph Swan showed a working electric light bulb about a year before Thomas Edison.
• Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine, used for ships and power generation. His ship, Turbinia, showed how fast a turbine could go.
• William George Armstrong invented a hydraulic crane and designed accurate field guns for the army.
• Mosley Street in Newcastle is claimed to be the first street in the world with electric street lighting.

Major industries that grew in Newcastle included:

• Glassmaking: A glass industry grew on Tyneside because local coal could be used to make glass. French refugees and Jewish emigrants set up glasshouses, producing high-quality glass.
• Locomotive Manufacture: In 1823, George and Robert Stephenson started the world’s first locomotive factory in Newcastle. They built trains for railways in Britain and abroad, including the famous Rocket.
• Shipbuilding: The need for coal ships helped Tyneside become a major shipbuilding area. As ships changed from wood to steel and from sail to steam, the local industry adapted. By 1800, Tyneside was the third largest ship producer in Britain.
• Armaments: In 1847, William Armstrong built a huge factory in Elswick, west of Newcastle. It first made hydraulic cranes, then guns for the army and navy.
• Steam Turbines: Charles Algernon Parsons founded his company in 1889 to make steam turbines. His turbines were used in warships and later in merchant ships and passenger liners. His company also made turbo-generators for power stations worldwide.
• Pottery: The Maling pottery moved to Newcastle in 1817. Its factory in the Ouseburn area became one of the biggest potteries in the world. It was known for using machines in pottery making and for its constant stream of new designs. The company closed in 1963.

City Expansion

Newcastle's boundaries have grown over time. In 1835, several nearby parishes like Byker and Elswick were added. More areas were included in 1904 and 1935. The most recent expansion happened in 1974, when Newcastle became a "metropolitan borough," adding places like Gosforth and Newburn.

Twentieth Century Developments

In 1925, work began on a new high-level road bridge to cross the Tyne Gorge between Newcastle and Gateshead. The Tyne Bridge was opened by King George V in 1928. Its steel arch and road deck quickly became a symbol for Newcastle and Tyneside.

During the Second World War, Newcastle was mostly spared the heavy bombing that hit other British cities. Although German planes targeted the armaments factories and shipyards along the River Tyne, they largely escaped serious damage.

In 1963, the city gained its own university, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. A School of Medicine had been established in 1834, which eventually became part of Durham University before becoming independent. In 1992, Newcastle got its second university when Newcastle Polytechnic became Northumbria University.

In 1978, a new rapid transport system called the Metro was built, connecting the Tyneside area. It opened in 1980. A new bridge, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (or Metro Bridge), was built for the Metro to cross the river. The Metro system was later extended to Newcastle Airport in 1991 and to Sunderland in 2002.

As the 20th century went on, trade on the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides declined. By the 1980s, these areas looked quite run-down. Local government decided to re-develop the Newcastle quayside in the 1990s. New offices, restaurants, bars, and homes were built, transforming the area into a lively place. This development has brought the focus of Newcastle back to the riverside, just like it was in medieval times.

In 2001, the newest addition to the Tyne bridges was completed: the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. This bridge is for walkers and cyclists. To let ships pass, the whole bridge rotates like a human eye. It's an important part of the re-developed quayside area, linking Newcastle and Gateshead.

Recent Changes

As heavy industries declined in the second half of the 20th century, parts of the city centre were demolished, along with many old, poor-quality houses. The city's political leader in the 1960s, T. Dan Smith, oversaw a huge building program of tall housing estates and allowed a quarter of the historic Grainger Town to be knocked down for a shopping centre.

However, much of the historic Grainger Town area still exists today and was restored in the late 1990s. Today, Newcastle is a busy centre for office and retail jobs. But close to the thriving city centre, there are still poorer housing areas. These were originally built for workers in the shipyards and other heavy industries along the River Tyne. Newcastle City Council has started plans to improve these areas, like the Ouseburn Valley.

Images for kids

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  Chancel of Newcastle Cathedral

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  Newcastle Grey Street, built in the 1830s.

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  The Armstrong Building, now part of Newcastle University.

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  Newcastle Civic Centre, 1969

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  The Millennium Bridge, linking Newcastle and Gateshead (at right)