Between midnight and 1am on Thursday 6th October, Police Constable John Ewart of the Newcastle Constabulary spotted flames coming from the upper windows of the Worsted Manufactory of Messrs. Wilson and Sons in Hillgate, Gateshead.
Where did the Great fire of Newcastle start?
Gateshead
On Friday 6 October 1854 a fire broke out in Gateshead. This fire slowly spread, eventually reaching a warehouse containing explosive materials. The fire then spread to Newcastle.
What started the Great fire of Newcastle?
The heat from the factory caused the sulphur to ignite and produce a huge burning flame and a huge explosion occurred. Firemen and soldiers battled with the blaze and by this time, many spectators in both Newcastle and Gateshead came out to watch the blaze.
How long did the Great fire of Gateshead last?
Great fire of Newcastle and Gateshead
| Ruins of the Bertram’s warehouse; St. Mary’s Church in the background | |
|---|---|
| Location in Tyne and Wear | |
| Date | October 6–7, 1854 |
| Location | Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 54.968°N 1.606°W |
How many people died in the Great fire of Newcastle?
With the fire out the full extent of the damage can be seen. You make your way to where your house was and can see that it is no longer there… You are thankful however, that your family is safe as you hear that 53 people have died in the fire and hundreds of people have been injured.
What is the meaning of Gateshead?
Gateshead. / (ˈɡeɪtsˌhɛd) / noun. a port in NE England, in Gateshead unitary authority, Tyne and Wear: engineering works, cultural centre.
What is the oldest pub in Newcastle?
The Old George Inn
If you’re looking for Newcastle’s oldest pub, then make your way to The Old George Inn which dates back to the 16th century boasting royal links. King Charles I was a regular visitor while in an open prison nearby and today they still offer a royal service in this truly spectacular building.
Who was blamed for the great fire?
French watchmaker Robert Hubert confessed to starting the blaze and was hanged on October 27, 1666. Years later it was revealed he was at sea when the fire began, and could not have been responsible. There were other scapegoats, including people of Catholic faith and from overseas.
Was Newcastle invaded by Vikings?
In 875 Halfdan Ragnarsson, the Danish Viking conqueror of York, led an army that attacked and pillaged various monasteries in the area, and it is thought that Monkchester was also pillaged at this time.
Which Newcastle Bridge is the oldest?
There are seven bridges over the Tyne between central Newcastle and Gateshead but there have been a number of bridges in the past that do not exist anymore. However the oldest current bridge, still standing and crossing the Tyne is actually at Corbridge, built in 1674.
Why is it called Gateshead?
From these earliest times Gateshead had been at the head of an important road or ‘gate’ from the south that terminated at the Tyne and this would suggest the name of the place is a reference to its location at the head of the ‘gate’.
What was Gateshead originally called?
For several centuries it was known as Pons Aelius, which translates as the ‘Bridge of Hadrian,’ denoting the Roman roots stretching back almost 2,000 years of both this city and the town of Gateshead, which grew up in tandem on the south side of the Tyne.
Is someone born in Gateshead a Geordie?
When referring to the people, as opposed to the dialect, dictionary definitions of a Geordie typically refer to a native or inhabitant of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, or its environs, an area that encompasses North Tyneside, Newcastle, South Tyneside and Gateshead.
What was the biggest fire in the UK?
In 1666, a devastating fire swept through London, destroying 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, The Royal Exchange, Guildhall and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
What was Newcastle called before the castle was built?
The settlement was known as Pons Aelius, or Aelian Bridge in Latin, ‘Aelian’ being the family name of Emperor Hadrian. In the wake of the Roman’s departure from Britain in 410AD, Pons Aelius was renamed Monkchester and subsumed into the influential Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria.
Who built the first town in Newcastle?
The continuity of the city’s history is illustrated by the building of the royal castle – founded in 1080 by Robert Curthose, son of William the Conqueror – on the same advantageous sandstone bluff high above the River Tyne as that used for the Roman fort. This was the new castle which gave the town its name.
What is Gateshead famous for?
Gateshead is the home of the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (opened 2002) and the site of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (2001), a tilting bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists in the shape of two intersecting parabolas.
Which is bigger Gateshead or Newcastle?
The Tyneside metropolitan area, which contains the borough of Gateshead, has a population of 829,300; the NewcastleGateshead urban core area has population of 480,400. The Metropolitan borough of Gateshead had a population of 200,214 in 2011.
WHY is Gateshead not a city?
Gateshead has been a town and borough in the shadow of Newcastle since medieval times. It could be willingly or unwillingly under its neighbour’s direct control. Since 1882 Newcastle has held the status of a city, reinforcing Gateshead’s role as a ‘suburb’.
Is Newcastle Scottish or English?
Since 1974, Newcastle has been a part of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. The city is located on the north-western bank of the River Tyne, approximately 46 miles (74 km) south of the border with Scotland.
What is the traditional food of Newcastle?
Some of the most famous dishes include singing hinny, pan haggerty, stottie cake and craster kippers.