Tyne and Wear sits on the same latitude as Scandinavia. So along with Northumberland, this is the coldest area of England, so pack an extra jumper, if you’re visiting these parts. We don’t get weather quite as cold as Sweden, due to the Gulf Stream which warms our weather. Without it, like Scandinavia, we would have snow six months of each winter!
Mostly taken up by two neighbouring cities, this is home to the vibrant city of Newcastle, and the equally busy town of Gateshead. Like all urban areas, this has not-so-desirable parts (one review says that ‘Gateshead-proper’ is on the rough side’). But that could be said of all main towns, and actually it has beautiful parts too, and nice surrounding countryside.
Gateshead actually has a very arty side, so it’s a shame the government website writes that ‘it boasts the biggest shopping mall in Europe’, which is likely sending all the artisans out of business.
Newcastle is of course known for its football team, but also people here take their art and politics very seriously. Here and Gateshead are both overlooked by the gigantic Angel of the North statue. Many people don’t like it, saying it could cause traffic accidents, and looks like a Nazi propaganda statue.
The Port City of Sunderland
Nearby Sunderland is of course known for its rich shipbuilding history, and used to employ thousands of people. Sitting on the North Sea (the coldest on earth), this port city even has its own patron saint: Benedict Biscop founded a local monastery, with the ruins now a Grade 1 listed building and World Heritage Site.
Sadly (like most northern cities), it’s lost most of its wealth (mostly due to coal, salt and ships making it easy to import sand from the Baltic Sea – to make glass, like used for London’s Crystal Palace).
In recent years, Sunderland has had a massive regeneration project. However sadly like so many cities, this appears to be about turning former shipyards not into homes or public spaces, but into shopping centres with multiplex cinemas, car parks, a casino, ten-pin bowling and luxury apartments.
In recent years, Tesco bought a big area of ‘brownland’ in the city centre, and said it would only sell to Sunderland Arc (who wished to build homes, office space and a new Crown & Magistrate’s court) if it could have alternative space in the city (who runs our cities – councils or supermarkets?)
The Sunderland Empire Theatre is where Carry On actor Sid James died of a heart attack while on stage in 1976. There is a rumour that Les Dawson refused to play there again, after seeing Sid’s ghost in his dressing room.
The Nearby Coastal Resort of Seaburn
Most people live south of the river, which extends out to coastal areas including Seaburn (a quiet affluent resort where painter LS Lowry spent his holidays). He holds the record for rejecting honours (five times, including a knighthood). Devoted to his mum, he apparently explained ‘There seemed little point, once Mother was dead’.
Relaxing Green Spaces in Newcastle
Despite being an urban duo, Tyne and Wear spaces are not short of green space. Newcastle’s ‘green lungs’ are in Town Moor, a green oasis in the heart of the city, which at over 400 acres, is larger than London’s Hampstead Heather. And the smaller Leazes Park also offers a serene retreat, the trees providing sanctuary for both people and birds.
The Bridge That Links Newcastle & Gateshead
Tyne Bridge in northwest England is known as the place that links the cities of Newcastle & Gateshead. Located in one of the coldest areas of England (sitting on the same latitude as Scandinavia), the bridge is also home to a colony of around 700 kittiwakes, who use the bridge for nesting. Built in 1928, it was originally built to help keep the skills of shipbuilders alive, during a serious recession.
It’s often said it’s based on the design of Sydney Harbour Bridge, but the Australian bridge was built 3 years later. It was a risky business, with many buildings demolished to make way for the bridge, and sadly one man even died during construction, when he fell into the river.
Built from steel and granite, the bridge was cited as a major feat of engineering, and opened by the then King, with great fanfare. It took almost 3 years to build, and is now known worldwide as one of the best bridges.
More so than the equally famous statue ‘Angel of the North’, which greets motorists in both cities from the side of the road. Some say this could cause car accidents, and others say it resembles a Nazi propaganda statue.
Built using £800,000 of National Lottery funds (which surely could have funded something more useful), locals often call it the ‘Gateshead flasher’.