Newcastle has changed so much over the years and from this collection of 13 historic photographs we hope to show you just how much.
For starters, the trams which used to scuttle across the region no longer exist. Running from 1901 until after the Second World War, at its height there were 300 trams in service in 1928. Gradually, they were replaced with bus and trolleybus operations which might explain the appearance of overhead wires in some of the post-1950s photos.
In the photos, Northumberland Street can be seen before it was pedestrianised with cars and public transport running from top to bottom. Cars can be seen driving up Grainger Street too and towards Grey’s Monument where it was once a mini-roundabout. Newcastle’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe, perhaps?
Even though decades and centuries have passed Newcastle’s streets are still instantly recognisable. The buildings largely remain the same except for different shop fronts and today are in some cases better maintained.
The photograph of Eldon Square, for example. Better known to us as Hippy or Goth Green, the square’s buildings appear run down in 1972 and noticeably surrounded by cars.
So let’s take a journey back through Newcastle’s past and see what has changed and what has remained.
1. Northumberland Street
A view of Northumberland Street Newcastle upon Tyne taken in 1935. The photograph shows Northumberland Street decorated for the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. Pearl Assurance Buildings are in the foreground to the right then the entrance to Northumberland Place with Amos Atkinson boot and shoe makers beyond. There is an advert for the Queen’s Hall Northumberland Place on the side wall of Amos Atkinson. Trams buses and cars are travelling down Northumberland Street. A B-class tram is on route 15 and carries an advert for Binns Department Store. (Newcastle Libraries)
2. Hippy Green
A 1972 picture of Eldon square taken from Blackett Street. The war memorial stands to the centre-right of the picture. (Newcastle Libraries)
3. Barras Bridge
: A view of ‘old houses’ on Barras Bridge taken in 1880. The houses are being used as shops and include a cooper and a carver/gilder. Three men are standing on the pavement in front of the houses and a fourth man is standing in the middle of the cobbled road in the foreground. (Newcastle Libraries)
4. Bigg Market 1970
A photograph of the market on the Bigg Market taken c.1970. In the foreground is a stall selling clothes and fabric. Two women are looking at the fabric and a third is making a purchase from the stall owner. Other stalls can be seen in the background. To the right of the stalls is the premises of Bainbridge ( L. Torday)