About Newcastle
 Below
you will find an overview of the city of Newcastle and the surrounding
area.
For further information about Newcastle visit the VisitNewcastleGateshead
site or explore some of the links at the bottom of this page.
http://www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com/
 Newcastle
upon Tyne: The City
If you have not been to Newcastle before, you should note that this
capital city of the North East of England is on the river Tyne, hence
Newcastle upon Tyne, in the heart of the Geordie-speaking North East
of England. It should not be confused with Newcastle in New South Wales;
nor for that matter, Newcastle in Staffordshire, Shropshire, Gwent,
or County Down, Northern Ireland.
 Despite
its busy urban atmosphere, Newcastle is also a city of open spaces,
with numerous parks; Exhibition park and Leazes park are adjacent to
the University, and the Town Moor is a large moorland park where the
Hoppings, Europe's largest travelling fair, takes place each June.
Newcastle is an historic city of impressive architectural grandeur.
The Norman castle, after which the city was named, the medieval cathedral
(St. Nicholas) with its lantern tower and other historic churches stand
alongside the nineteenth-century elegance of Grey Street - described
by John Betjeman as 'the most imposing facade in Western Europe'. The
Quayside area by the River Tyne has been developed in recent years into
a modern centre incorporating hotels, restaurants, leisure facilities,
executive flats, the new law courts, and on the Gateshead side the splendid
BALTIC centre for contemporary art. There are numerous bridges across
the River Tyne, the best known being the Tyne Bridge which has not only
become a symbol of the city but was also the prototype for the Sydney
Harbour Bridge. The impressive new millenium bridge is a must see!
 Newcastle
is the centre of one of the most naturally-beautiful and historically-rich
parts of England. Northumbria is steeped in the history of violent clashes
with invading Scots and marauding Vikings and, in addition to the relics
of the Roman occupation almost 2,000 years ago, including Hadrian's
Wall, there are many castles, some of which are still occupied. The
most famous of these are Alnwick, Warkworth, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh
overlooking the rugged North Sea coast. The hills, moors and dales of
the Northumberland National Park draw those who seek the beauty of peaceful,
unspoilt countryside. Holy Island and the Farne Islands, famous for
their beauty and wildlife, offer a popular day out.
Places of Interest
The following places are particularly popular with tourists, all accessible
on local public transport. Newcastle is only 1hr20mins on the train
to Edinburgh and 55 minutes to York, ideally located for day trips.
Within 30 minutes of Newcastle:
Durham Castle & Cathedral:
The stately Castle of the bishops was founded by the Conqueror
in 1072 and was originally a system of defensive earthworks of the 'motte-and-bailey'
type. Eventually the Castle's military functions ceased and successive
Prince Bishops resided there, restoring and modifying it into the impressive
building it is today. Now, with the Cathedral, it is a World Heritage
Site. The building of the Cathedral dates from the 11th century. It
is considered by many to be the world's finest Norman cathedral. The
whole church was designed to be vaulted, and the ribbed vault of the
north choir-aisle (before 1096) is the oldest in England; the main choir
vault was renewed early in the 13C. The Galilee was added as a Lady
Chapel by Bishop Puiset (1153-95). Dr Johnson described the Cathedral
as one of "rocky solidity and indeterminate duration". Visitors are
also able to see the Bede Altar and the Shrine of St Cuthbert.
Hadrian's Wall:
Built under the governorship of Aulus Platorius Nepos (ad 122-126)
after the evacuation of Inchtuthil on the Tay and the abandonment of
Scotland beyond the Tay, the Wall forms a zone of fortification extending
across England for 73.5 miles. It was patrolled from so-called 'milecastles'
(c. 1620 yds apart), between which were smaller turrets at every 540
yrds, and was garrisoned by infantry and cavalry in 17 large forts.
Tynemouth Priory & Castle:
The prominent headland at the entrance to the Tyne estuary has for centuries
been strategically important. The Priory was once one of the richest
in all England, with a presbytery 22 metres high, whose soaring arches
still impress. At the east end of the church is the Percy Chantry with
its wonderful interlaced rib-vault design.
Beamish Museum
An open air museum, it vividly recreates life in the North of England
in the early 1800s and 1900s. Costumed staff welcome visitors to the
turn of the century Town with shops, houses, working pub, newspaper
office, garage, sweetshop and sweets factory. Guided tours are given
underground at a real "drift" mine in the Colliery Village and a row
of pit cottages shows how the pitman and their families lived.
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
Sunderland is renowned as the birthplace of stained glassmaking in Britain.
It was introduced in the 7th century by the Christian scholar Benedict
Biscop, who brought craftsmen from France to create stained glass windows
for St Peters Church, Monkwearmouth. The industry has been a part of
Sunderland's heritage every since. You can see a range of exhibitions
at the centre as well as demonstrations of hot glass blowing and stained
glass making.
Within 1 hour of Newcastle:
Alnwick Castle:
The seat of Duke of Northumberland. It is one of the most imposing examples
in England of medieval fortification, and is most recently famous because
its grounds were used as the set for the Harry Potter films. The enceinte
walls were erected by Eustace Fitzjohn (d. 1157). The outer ward is
entered by a striking Gatehouse (c. 140), preceded by a barbican. The
inner ward retains its 14C gatehouse, enshrining a Norman arch and covering
its original dungeon.. Within are shown the Library, with the Sherborne
Missal (1400), the Northumberland Household Book (1512), and a Caxton's
'History of the Troye'; the Music Room and Drawing Room, with many priceless
paintings; and the Dining Room, in which are the Celtic Witham sword
(2C AD), and the Corbridge Lanx, a massive sculptured silver dish unearthed
at Corstopitum in 1734, perhaps made in Delos c. 400 BC. The 14C Postern
Tower houses a collection of Roman and British antiquities. In the Stables
is a magnificent state coach (1825). The grounds were laid out by Capability
Brown contemporaneously with his work for the Northumberlands at Syon
Park.
Holy Island and Lindisfarne Priory:
St. Aidan (d. 651), a missionary from Iona, was consecrated first bishop
in Lindisfarne in 635, and under him and his successors, the island,
separated from the mainland by a channel covered at high tide, became
a lamp of Christianity. A shining proof in the form of the Lindisfarne
Gospels (c. 698) can be seen in the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle city
centre, currently on loan from the British Museum. St. Cuthbert was
made bishop in 684 and was buried on the island. When the Danes descended
on Holy Island in 875, the monks fled with hid body. In 1083 a Benedictine
Priory was founded here as a cell to Durham, and to this belong the
existing ruins, described in Marmion. A museum preserves stones of the
Anglian and Danish periods. The Castle was restored by Sir Edwin Lutyens
in 1903, and the small walled garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll.
Cragside House:
A Victoria mansion designed by R. Norman Shaw, in 405ha of grounds created
by the 1st Lord Armstrong. It was the first house in the world to be
lit by hydro-electricity; the system was developed by Armstrong with
man-made lakes and underground piping. He also planted millions of trees
and shrubs and built 40 miles of drives and footpaths. The Power Circuit,
a 1.5-mile circular walk, includes the restored Ram and Power Houses
with their hydraulic and hydro-electric machinery and the Iron Bridge,
one of the first steel bridges in the world. The breathtaking Garden,
the Orchard House, and the 19th century clocktower can all be seen by
visitors. Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle
"Barney" is a thriving market town which developed in the protective
shadow of Bernard Balliol's castle (built 1125). The Josephine and John
Bowes Museum, opened in 1892, was built in the style of a French chateau
to house the art collections of John Bowes, landowner, industrialist
and MP, and his French wife. It now houses Britain's largest collection
of French paintings as well as ceramics, furniture, textiles and local
antiquities.
Raby Castle
Home of the Vane family since 1626, it was earlier held by the powerful
Neville family, makers of Kings. They eventually lost influence in 1569
following their involvement in the ill-fated Rising of the North in
support of Mary, Queen of Scots. Though besieged during the Civil War,
the Castle thankfully survived and remains a superb example of both
defensive and domestic architecture.
Wallington Hall
The family home of the Trevelyans. Rooms range from elegant mid-Georgian
to the Victorian nursery, and the 19th century Central Hall contains
paintings by William Bell Scott, Doll's house collection and Children's
Room. Particularly attractive is the terraced walled garden and conservatory.
Warkworth Castle
An impressive example of an English fortified residence. Home of Harry
Hotspur, the famous warrior immortalised in Northumbrian ballads and
by Shakespeare in 'Henry IV', its history extends back to the 12th century.
Its magnificent eight-towered keep dominates the sitem, which overlooks
the River Coquet. There are many chambers, passageways and dark staircases
to explore. Restaurants, Pubs and Clubs
With many restaurants in the city, you can sample cuisine from around
the world, as well as enjoying vegetarian food, traditional fare and
local specialities. Happy Hours mean that you can often eat at half
price. Traditional English pubs are still very much in evidence, particularly
on the Quayside, and there are also many smart new wine bars and restaurants
especially in the Jesmond area (metro stop 'Jesmond' or 'West Jesmond').
The city has numerous night clubs, one of which is located on the liner
moored beneath the Tyne Bridge. A list of restaurants in Newcastle city
centre will be available in the delegate pack.
Your host - Newcastle upon Tyne: The University
Newcastle University is one of the top 15 UK research universities,
measured by the volume of externally-funded research. It is one of the
leading participants in EU programmes and has a high level of funding
from industry. Facilities include the Robinson Library, reputed to be
the richest university library in the UK, the Walton Library (Medical
and Dental), an Open Access Centre with 144 places for computer assisted
language learning, an Audio-Visual Centre providing multimedia teaching
and video-conferencing over SuperJANET, and an 18 hole golf course at
Close House in the Tyne Valley. The University was voted the University
of the Year by The Times in September 2000.
The University has its origin in a School for medical practitioners
(later the College of Medicine) which started in 1834 and the College
of Physical Science (later Armstrong College) founded in 1871. Both
these separate and independent institutions later became part of the
University of Durham, whose 1908 Act formally recognised that the University
consisted of two Divisions, Durham and Newcastle, on two different sites.
By 1908, the Newcastle Division was teaching a full range of subjects
in the Faculties of Medicine, Arts, and Science, which also included
agriculture and engineering. In 1937, the Armstrong College and the
College of Medicine were merged into King's College. Continued growth
of both the Durham and Newcastle Divisions eventually led to the separation
in 1963 when the University of Newcastle upon Tyne came into being.
Today, the University has over 17,000 students and 5,000 staff, located
on a 45-acre site in the city centre as well as number of laboratories,
farms and centres on outlying sites.
The University is situated right in the city centre with excellent
metro (Haymarket stop), bus and train links. Newcastle is on the East
Coast Main Line, and is just off the A1M for those who wish to drive.
The nearest airport is Newcastle International and there is a direct
metro train link between the airport and the campus. Shops and restaurants
are also within walking distance.
The University of Newcastle upon Tyne has a long history of teaching
and research in linguistics. In the days when the University was part
of the University of Durham, eminent scholars such as Charles Randolph
Quirk were teaching English language and linguistics here. After the
University came into its separate existence in 1963, Barbara Strang,
a well known historian of English language, held the first Chair in
English Language and Linguistics. She led the Tyneside
Linguistic Survey during the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s,
Noel Osselton, the lexicographer, held the Chair in English Language,
and Richard Bailey, the Chair in Anglo-Saxon Civilisation.
In the meantime, the University has had a range of linguistics expertise
in various departments. Most notably, Ruth Lesser, a leading psycholinguist,
held the first Chair of Speech & Language Pathology in the Department
of Speech until 1995. Lesley Milroy, also in the Department of Speech,
held a personal Chair of Sociolinguistics until 1998. In the School
of Modern Languages, Anthony Lodge held the Chair in French Language
until 1995, and the sociolinguist Anthony Edwards held the Chair in
Education until 1997.
Currently linguistics teaching and research at Newcastle University
is conducted in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
(ELLL), the School of Education,
Communication, and Language Sciences (ECLS),
the School of Modern Languages (SML),
and the Language Centre.
Travel and Transport
Newcastle has one of the best integrated transport systems in the
country, centred upon its rapid transit system, the Metro. The Newcastle
International Airport is linked to the city centre by Metro (Duration:
25 minutes to Haymarket; Frequency: every 10 minutes). You can fly to
Newcastle directly from all major European cities as well as via London
and other British cities. The fastest train journey from London to Newcastle
is only 2 hours and 40 minutes. There are also coach links with major
towns and cities in Britain and a variety of ferries to Scandinavia
and Germany.
Weather
The weather in England is subject to frequent changes, but an average
temperature of 10oC is expected in early April. You should bring water-proofs
with you.
Football
If you are a football lover, you will feel the kindred spirit as soon
as you arrive in the North East of England. You are most likely to see
the 'Black and White' Newcastle United supporters, known as the 'Toon
Army' around the University area, as the stadium is immediately adjacent
to the university. (You may even come across the odd Manchester United
fan, although they should be ignored at all costs..!)
Tourist Information
The address of our local Tourist Information Centre is as below:
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Central Library
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1.
Tel: 0191 261 0610 or 0191 261 0691
Online Links
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