The booklet will be available from Tourist Information offices, libraries and customer service centres from 6th August.

You can download the booklet here (PDF, 1.3 MB, opens in new window)

The booklet will be available from Tourist Information offices, libraries and customer service centres from 6th August.

You can download the booklet here (PDF, 1.3 MB, opens in new window)

Development funding of £43,400 has been awarded to the Partnership to help progress the project that will see the restored ancient Black Gate, providing a new portal to the City’s rich history, culture and character.  The project aims to combine the Black Gate with its medieval neighbours - the Castle Keep and St. Nicholas Cathedral - to provide an outstanding and dynamic heritage asset that will tell the story of the remarkable history of the Newcastle and its countless generations of residents.

The HLF first-round pass* means that the City Council can now progress to the second round of the HLF application process and has up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for the £1.17 million of HLF support that it is seeking for the project.

Cllr John Shipley, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given its initial support for our project. The Black Gate, along with Castle Keep and St Nicholas Cathedral, form the medieval nucleus to Newcastle. This project will open up Old Newcastle to future generations, so they can understand and enjoy the fascinating history of their home city.”

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North East, Ivor Crowther said: "The Heritage Lottery Fund is pleased to be giving its initial support to this project which, if it goes on to secure a full grant, will not only rejuvenate Newcastle’s fascinating medieval heart, but will also provide Newcastle and its local communities with a fantastic new resource in which to explore its rich and diverse heritage.”

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said:

“The range of places that the Heritage Lottery Fund supports is tremendously varied – from the grandeur of Abbotsford in the Borders to the historic gem of The Walronds in the South West.  What’s exciting about these four projects is not just that they are all in wonderful places of historic importance, but that they will make a significant contribution to their local economies and to the quality of life of their local communities.”    

“Heritage can play an important role in economic recovery and we are anticipating an increased share³ of Lottery income from next year.  We know how welcome this investment will be during the tough times ahead.” 

Old Newcastle: ‘Where the Story Begins’, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – initial support for a £1.17m HLF bid, including £43,400 development funding
The Black Gate, Castle Keep and St Nicholas Cathedral form the medieval nucleus of modern Newcastle and a massive landmark in the city.  The project aims to revitalise the 13th-century Black Gate and bring it back into public use as a heritage, education and community resource.  

¹ A confirmed award means that money had already been earmarked by HLF for the project in question and that the full amount has now been secured. 

² A first-round pass means the project meets our criteria for funding and we believe it has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals.  Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

The full HLF national press release can be downloaded from here.

21st June 2010 saw Thomas Spence the utopian writer, land reformer and courageous pioneering campaigner for the rights of men and women, honoured when the Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne unveiled a commemorative plaque at Fenwick's Entry, the entrance to Broad Garth.

He founded a schollroom and debating society in Broad Garth and was born close-by on the Quayside.

Interested in the Commemorative Plaque Scheme? 

• More information on the scheme

Explore Newcastle's Commemorative Plaques:

• Using Google Earth (opens in Google Earth but you must have it installed)
• Using Bing Maps
• Using Googlemaps
• Using Googlemaps for mobile - enter the url http://www.exploreheritage.co.uk/go.php?trail_id=5 into the search box on Googlemaps for mobile

Thomas Spence advocated the allocation of land to the people to solve poverty and in a series of pamphlets that he sold on the street he outlined his revolutionary views .

In 1794 Spence was charged with high treason and spent seven months in prison.

Before founding the schoolroom Spence had been master of Haydon Bridge Free Grammar School in Northumberland.

• Registration Checklist
• Registration Form (including Insurance Summary and Organiser Agreement)
• Insurance Summary
• Organiser Agreement
• Risk Assessment Form
• Risk Assessment Factfile
• Your Outreach Team

http://www.williamarmstrong.info/armstrong-200-events

Events to celebrate the bicentenary of William Armstrong of Cragside will kick off in mid March during National Science and Engineering Week with a half-day conference in Newcastle upon Tyne looking at the economic, social and intellectual impact of Armstrong and his works – locally, nationally and globally.

The event, called Engineering for the World, will take place at the Literary & Philosophical Society in Westgate Street, Newcastle’s famous ‘Lit & Phil’, founded in 1793 – an organization over which Armstrong presided for 40 years (1860–1900).

Richard Sharp, the historian and treasurer of the Lit & Phil, will talk about Armstrong’s time as president. Bill Purdue, a visiting professor at Northumbria, considers how far Armstrong represents the image of the ‘New Northumbrian’. Dan Jackson reviews his life in relation to the martial traditions of northeast England. Henrietta Heald, Armstrong’s biographer, examines his record as an employer and entrepreneur.

For a full list of events visit:

Armstrong 200 Events

or

http://www.williamarmstrong.info/armstrong-200-events

The Shambles in York came top followed by Royal Crescent, Bath. Newcastle beat off competition from strongly tipped New College Lane in Oxford to get third place. In another category, Osborne Road was named fourth best “foodie” street in the awards which are based on votes cast by more by 11,000 people on 48 streets shortlisted by a panel of experts.

The nationwide poll was supported by VisitBritain, Lonely Planet and Harden’s Guide.
 

The results of the design awards were as follows:

The Award Results

Landscape

• Ellison Quad (Award Winner)
• City Library (Commended Finalist)
• Enslin Street, Walker (Commended Finalist)

Small Scale Development

• St Oswald’s Hospice, Day Services (Award Winner)   
• High Heaton Library (Commended Finalist)

Conservation

• High Level Bridge (Award Winner)   
• St Michael and All Angels Church, Newburn (Commended Finalist)

Refurbishment

• Eldon Square North (Award Winner)
• Tyneside Cinema (Commended Finalist)    
• Great North Museum (Commended Finalist)  
• Cooper’s Studio (Commended Finalist)

New Building

• City Library (Public Sector) (Award Winner)  
• Time Central (Private Sector) (Award Winner)
• Staybridge Suites (Commended Finalist) 
• Excelsior Academy (Commended Finalist)  

Sustainability

• St Oswald’s Hospice, Day Services (Award Winner)
• Riversgate, Walker (Commended Finalist) 

Accessibility  

• Tynside Cinema (Award Winner)
• Great North Museum (Commended Finalist)
• Excelsior Academy (Commended Finalist)
• Theatre Royal (Commended Finalist)

Lord Mayor's Special Award

• Enslin Street (Award Winner)

The People's Choice Award

• Staybridge Suites (Award Winner)
• High Level Bridge (Runner-up)
• St. Oswald's Hospice, Day Services (Runner Up)

More about the original shortlisted entries can be found at http://www.heritagepartnership.org.uk/lmda or alternatively at http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/lmda .

In a year that has seen a wonderful spread of celebratory events and commemorations all in honour of Charles Avison, The Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the Lady Mayoress unveiled the final heritage plaque commemorating Charles Avison in Rosemary Lane where for a period of time Charles lived and worked. The plaque was raised by Newcastle City Council at the request of the Avison Ensemble and can be seen on the Rosemary Lane facade of The Union Rooms.

Further information about the city heritage plaque can be found by going to http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/hes

Results will be published on the voting webpage on or just after the 9th December.

For the first time since its launch in 1994 The Lord Mayor’s Design Awards will invite the public to vote for their favourite shortlisted entry in “The People’s Choice” category in a bid to let the public celebrate the best projects which have enhanced how Newcastle looks and feels.

The Lord Mayor's Design Awards happens every two years and aims to encourage, promote and publicise the very best in architecture and environmental design and to help improve the built environment for us all. This year a new category, "The People's Choice" has been opened to the public vote to support your views and help us celebrate excellent design in Newcastle upon Tyne. All nominees for "The People's Choice" have been shortlisted for one of the Lord Mayor's Design Awards in categories such as Landscape, Small Scale Development, Conservation, Refurbishment, New Building and Sustainability.

You can vote online at http://www.heritagepartnership.org.uk/lmda . Voting opens at 9am on Monday 2nd November and closes at 5pm on Monday 16th November.

The winner of The People's Choice Award will be announced along with the winners and commended finalists of the other categories at the awards ceremony on 9th December 2009 and will be published on http://www.heritagepartnership.org.uk/lmda and at http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/lmda as well as through other press and media.

Newcastle started a day of remembrance, in honour of one of it's finest innovators, with a further service happening to mark the occasion at Westminster Abbey and an evensong at St. Nicholas' Cathedral.

Robert Stephenson was a civil engineering and locomotive pioneer who left a great legacy throughout the North East. The son of George Stephenson – ‘the father of the railways’ – Robert was born in Willington Quay, near Newcastle, in 1803 and died on 12 October 1859. Robert Stephenson and Company's first locomotive works were sited just south of Newcastle's Central Station, in South Street.