Some Facts About Newcastle

by Ayaz Ahmad Online Business Analyst

Newcastle upon Tyne, commonly known as Newcastle, is the most prominent city in Tyne and Wear, North East England. Renowned for its nightlife and Geordie accent, this vibrant city is one of the top city break destinations in the UK. While its nightlife and party persona needs no introduction, here are some other facts about Newcastle that might surprise you.

Historical Fact

Newcastle is situated on the Northern edge of the River Tyne which is why it is known as “Newcastle upon Tyne”. Its history spans back to almost 2000 years when Romans had the superior command and rule here. Newcastle was officially termed and granted the status of a city on 3rd June 1882.

Industrial Revolution In Newcastle

The industrial revolution brought out its original beauty and changed the entire location of Newcastle over time. This city is renowned for its cultural and traditional values. Many tourists visit Newcastle to seek the excellence that the town has to offer. The ancient buildings and bridges are widely admired and observed by modern-day architects because of their unique structure and heritage.

The Seven Famous Bridges

From east to west, Newcastle has an amazing miscellany of bridges. They are:

The Redheugh bridge
The King Edward VII Bridge
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
The High Level Bridge
The Swing Bridge
The George V Bridge (or Tyne Bridge) and
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

These seven bridges are considered to be the most influential architecture, both locally and globally. The extraordinary structure of these bridges never fails to seize the attention of visitors. And so it became the blueprint for other countries to build bridges inspired by Newcastle.

Remarkable Architecture

The Tyne Bridge and Gateshead Millennium are famous because of their extremely unusual design.

One of the interesting facts about the Millennium bridge is that it is the world’s first-ever bridge! Moreover, The Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas is also one of the most ancient buildings located in Newcastle.

Climate Of Newcastle

During winters, Newcastle has recorded temperatures that go beyond the freezing point. It is known as the coldest city in England, and one of the driest cities in the UK.

Newcastle looks dazzling when the city is covered with snowfall, but the locals face many difficulties when going out in the winters. Due to the cold, the climate of Newcastle is generally arid which causes skin issues, including some minor illnesses.

St. James Park

With a seating capacity of 52,305, St. James Park is the eighth largest football stadium in England. It is one of the oldest football stadiums where football matches has been hosted since 1880.

Furthermore, various notable events like the 2012 Olympics, Rugby Leagues Magic Weekend, Rugby Union World Cup, test matches, and music concerts have been organised here.

Popular Inventions

Windscreen wiper was invented in Newcastle, by a Newcastle United fan as he drove home in a storm from FA Cup Final match in 1908.

Newcastle Brown Ale is also a laudable product of Newcastle, and is America’s most imported British ale! There are many other things that you might not know were invented right here in Newcastle:

Lucozade
Incandescent light bulb
Light switches
Aeroplane joystick
Lifeboats
Domestos

Birthplace Of Celebrities

Newcastle is the birthplace of many famous personalities including the internationally acclaimed comedian Rowan Atkinson (AKA Mr Bean), TV presenters Ant & Dec, and singers Cheryl and Sting.

The World’s Top Ranking University

Newcastle University is one of the best universities in the world. According to QS World 2016 university rankings, it ranked in the top 1% of the best Universities worldwide.

The Angel Of The North Statue

Completed in 1998, it is a 20 metres (66 ft) tall steel sculpture of an angel, having 54 metres (177 ft) wings across. According to Gormley, the wings are 3.5 degrees forward angled to create “a sense of embrace”. It is Britain’s largest sculpture and is said to be the most massive angel sculpture in the world.

Why Are People From Newcastle Called Geordies?

The coal miners & carpet fitters Newcastle are called Geordies because of their fidelity to Hanovarian King George during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. The Jacobites declared that Newcastle and its surrounding areas favoured King George and were “for George”. Therefore, the term Geordie was used as a derivation of the name George.