The rich and diverse history of the Tyne and Wear region is reflected in its architecture. Make sure you visit its famous landmarks.

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Arbeia Roman Fort Baring Street, South Shields NE33. Tel: 0191 4561369	Remains of gateway, fort wall and defences. Return to Menu
Bessie Surtees House 41-44 Sandhill, Newcastle NE1 3JF. Tel: 0191 2611585	Built in the mid 17th century, number 41 Sandhill, Newcastle Upon Tyne, is best known as the scene of one of England’s most romantic elopements: that of Bessie Surtees and John Scott - later to become Lord Chancellor of England - in 1772. At first appearance a beautiful and fine surviving Tudor house, No. 41 is in fact, an amalgamation of rescued elements from a number of semi-derelict properties installed at No. 41 in the 1930’s. However these elements include a splendid moulded ceiling on the first floor. The property is open to the public, but it is also the north of England headquarters of English heritage. Return to Menu
Bridges Across The Tyne	High Level Bridge (1845-1849) Designed by one of Tyneside's most famous individuals - Robert Stephenson - the High Level Bridge was designed as a unique and ingenious means of catering for both the revolutionary locomotive engine and for road traffic. Testimony to this edifice as a ‘wonder’ of the industrial revolution in Britain is that few repairs have been carried out on the bridge despite the volume of modern traffic. Swing Bridge (1868-1876) Designed to accommodate the growing number of ships being built at Sir William Armstrong’s famous Elswick works, the Swing Bridge offered a continuity of river crossings at that point of the river which had began with the Romans. It was then the largest such bridge in the world, and the first vessel to pass to was to take on board the largest gun that had ever been manufactured. Still hydraulically powered by its original engines the Swing Bridge has the same Armstrong machinery operating it as has London’s Tower Bridge. Tyne Road Bridge (1925-1928) Perhaps our greatest and most prominent landmark, the Tyne Bridge is a symbol of Tyneside known throughout the world. It was built both to accommodate and to augment an increasing traffic problem. There is a consistent misconception, stated with understandable local pride, that The Tyne Bridge’s equally respected counterpart in Sydney, Australia, was modelled on that spanning the Tyne. Perhaps it is to our misfortune that, in direct contradiction, we modelled ours on a design first commissioned for Sydney. Nevertheless, the Tyne Bridge was the largest single-span bridge in Britain at the time of opening. Return to Menu
Castle Keep Saint Nicholas St., Newcastle NE1 1RQ. Tel: 0191 2327938	Little remains today of the castle which gave Newcastle its name, yet what remains is impressive. With its origins going back at least as far as the 11th century, and now unable to play its original role as the defensive structure, the Keep and adjoining gatehouse - the Black Gate - remain in "splendid isolation" as powerful architectural symbols of the city's historic role: as bastions against invasion. Ironically, however, what - with its battlements - is so romantic a vision is a product of 19th Century "good taste". Abandoned and neglected since the English Civil War (1642-1646) the castle by 1809, was regarded as little more than a "crumbling ruin". a growing interest in history and a desire to smarten up the city, led to considerable renovation, including the building of its now so familiar battlements. Return to Menu
Central Station Newcastle upon Tyne NE1	Built between 1845 and 1850 to John Dobson's design, and being the principle railway station on the historic Newcastle-Carlisle line. Dobson noted that "Railway buildings ought to do much for architechture, being a new class of structures erected for...the present generation...They are especially public works..and might do much towards improving the tastes of the public". Return to Menu
City Walls Newcastle Upon Tyne	Built mainly throughout the 13th Century, the walls of the city were a strong deterrent against the ambitions of many potential invaders. And, in 1540, it was to be said that: “The strength and magnificence of the walling of this town far passeth all the walls of the Cities of England, and most of the towns of Europe”. From being defensive and defining of the city’s territorial status, much of the wall was demolished in the 18th century due to it being a: “great obstruction to carriages and hinderance to the dispatch of business”. Nonetheless, there remain some fine sections of the wall, defining still, the boundaries of the old city*. Reference to the many former towers along the length of the wall can be found in the names of Newcastle’s modern thoroughfares i.e. Pink Lane, Mordern Street, Carliol Square. Return to Menu
Dial Cottage Great Lime Rd, West Moor, Killingworth NE12 0DQ. Tel: 0191 2622627	Stephenson's family lived here in 1802-1824 Return to Menu
Earl Grey Monument Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.	Built in 1838, Grey’s Monument commemorates the Reform Bill of 1832 and honours also, a great liberator of the business community. By ensuring that the Reform Bill was passed, Earl Grey enfranchised the middle classes, thereby giving them a say in the business of Parliament. The streets which emanate from Grey’s Monument - designed and constructed by *John Dobson and Richard Grainger - represent a new era of prestige and - more importantly - that Political Voice, which was at the very heart of the Reform Bill. *See Central Station Return to Menu
Grey Street and “Graingertown” Newcastle Upon Tyne	Nicolas Peusner, the great architectural historian, said that Grey Street was “one of the best streets in England” and “the best of *Graingers (Richard) City streets”, an opinion voiced by the famous nineteenth century politician W.E. Gladstone, when he said that: “it was the finest street in modern times.” And Grey Street with its elegant curvature - seen at best, perhaps in the early evening light with its sandstone exteriors glowing - is surely something wonderful. Hastening down John Dobson Street - what has this to do with such a great man? - we enter an architectural age of beauty and elegance. Linger in the town centre and be inspired by art at its best in what is becoming known as “Graingertown”, and remember also Richard Grainger’s equally gifted and inspired friend John Dobson: together they transformed Newcastle. Return to Menu
Monkwearmouth Station Museum North Bridge St., Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 Tel:0191 5677075 Original mid 19th Century station.	Newcastle Cathedral Church of Saint Nicholas St Nicholas Square, Newcastle NE1. Built primarily in 13th and 14th centuries but late additions in 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.	Penshaw Monument Sunderland. Built 1844 to commemorate 1st Earl of Durham Return to Menu
Saint Andrew's Parish Church Talbot Road, Roker, Sunderland SR6 0DY. Tel: 0191 5673726	Saint Mary's Lighthouse St. Mary's Island, Whitley Bay NE26 4RS. Tel: 0191-200 8650 Open to the public.	Saint Paul's Church and Monastic Site Church Bank, Jarrow NE32 3DZ. Tel: 0191 4897052 Anglo Saxon Church, and remains of the home of the venerable Bede. Return to Menu
Saint Peter's Church Saint Peter's Way, Sunderland SR6 0DY. Saxon tower. Bede spent his early years here.	Segedunum Roman Fort Buddle Street, Wallsend. Tel: 0191 295 5757 Eastern end of Hadrians wall.	Souter Point Lighthouse Coast Road, Whitburn, South Shields SR6 7NH. Tel: 0191 529 3161 19th Century lighthouse and buildings. Return to Menu
Tynemouth Castle and Priory Tynemouth, North Shields NE30 4DD. Tel: 0191 2520933 Dates from 7th Century, burial place of Kings of Northumbria.	Washington Old Hall The Avenue, District 4, Washington NE38 7LE. Tel: 0191 4166879	Winlaton Cottage Forge Church Street, Winlaton, Blaydon NE21 6AR. Tel: 0191 4143223 Return to Menu

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