Why is newcastle called newcastle

Nicholas Church. Three main streets led to the gates in the walls. Four principal churches developed and the precincts of at least eight religious houses, a Benedictine nunnery and the four houses of the Austin, White, Grey and Black friars all stood within the medieval town,. Newcastle had an enormous strategic importance as a base and fortress in every period of conflict between Scots and English from Norman and early Plantagenet times to the second Jacobite rebellion.

Its role guarding the border to the North was augmented by the great medieval castles of the Northumbrian coast. The strategic importance of Newcastle was matched by its growing importance as the centre of what was to become known as the Great Northern Coalfield. An association which would in time involve powering a revolution and fostering the development of a means of transport which would change the world.

By the time of the Civil War Newcastle is established as not only a regional capital but as the second city in the land. The stirrings of the industrial revolution begin on Tyneside with the use of coal to fire the manufacture of glass.

Tyneside also continues to lead the country in the vital manufacture of salt. The increasing importance of coal for domestic and early industrial use was the catalyst for the development of waggonways - the precursor of railways. The town walls were removed along the quayside, allowing trade to burgeon, the first new early Georgian streets and buildings were added to the medieval backdrop.

Charles Avison inaugurated the first public subscription concerts in the town, Thomas Bewick established his workshop and published his delightful volumes, a Theatre Royal was built, and a Literary and Philosophical Society established.

The steam locomotive and with it the modern railway was originally developed not to provide public transport but to serve the coal industry.

The work of George and Robert Stephenson in the s and s developing the locomotive, most famously the Rocket, in their Newcastle works - the first purpose built locomotive works in the World - was arguably the most important industrial advance of the nineteenth century.

Within a few decades of the success of the Rocket at the Rainhill Trials railways had begun to cross not only Britain and Europe but were opening up North America and the sub-continent. The growth and achievement of the region was embodied in that of Newcastle itself. Its rise was meteoric — the population grew from 28, in to , in It contained some of the largest industrial complexes in Europe — especially the mighty Armstrong works employing people by the late nineteenth century. Newcastle also underwent, in the course of a decade, an architectural transformation unique to English cities.

Newcastle today is well known for its friendly community, close proximity to the coast and vibrant nightlife. Newcastle gained its current name in under Norman rule. With tensions rising in Northumbria, William the Conqueror sent his son Robert Curthose up north to defend against the Scots. To assist with this, a wooden castle was built on the River Tyne to act as the main crossing point.

Whilst the original wooden castle has been rebuilt throughout different periods, a castle remains in the same area today which is open to visitation from the public. Two theories surround the North Eastern local miner and engineer, George Stephenson. Stephenson also designed the Geordie safety lamps for miners which were used in the North East instead of Davy lamps, which were used by other mining communities.

Many people believe this theory is more plausible as strictly speaking, only Newcastle natives are classed as true Geordies, with locals from surrounding areas being referred to with other nicknames. The phrase has also gained recognition for being associated with Newcastle United, as the football club is often referred to as The Toon, with the fans also being known as Toon Army.

Newcastle is a city that is proud of its roots, and people that are born in the city as well as others that move from different parts of the world can still feel that pride today. Send a query. Lucky dip.

Any answers? Nooks and crannies. Semantic enigmas. The body beautiful. Red tape, white lies. Speculative science. This sceptred isle. Root of all evil. Ethical conundrums. This sporting life. Stage and screen. Birds and the bees.