Bringing the West End’s History to Life
The Big Local History Alternative Event is organised by St James’ Heritage & Environment Group in partnership with Newcastle City Libraries and Information Service. It replaces the event planned for September 2020 in the West End Library, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The “alternative” programme comprises five illustrated talks, a film and an exhibition showcasing different aspects of the heritage of the west end of Newcastle.
Our thanks to the speakers who agreed to record their talks, and to everyone who helped to set this up under difficult circumstances.
Illustrated Talks
To play one of the talks, click on the arrow in the middle of the image. if you have difficulty playing it, use the links below:
The Grand and the Majestic: remembering Benwell’s Cinemas
A talk by John Taberham
What’s in a Name? : love, power and politics in the street names of Pendower
A talk by Richard Bliss
A Survivor’s Tale: a selection of some of the oldest surviving buildings in West Newcastle
A talk by Ian Farrier
Scot’s Wood: medieval Scotswood and its deer park
A talk by Rosie Serdiville
An 18th Century Housekeeper in Newcastle: baking cakes and brewing medicines
A talk by Sue Ward
Talks from Local History Month 2021
This event was held during the covid pandemic, when we couldn’t hold events in person
For Local History Month 2021 recorded four talks and a film about aspects of the history of Newcastle’s Outer West. Click on the talk below to open it in YouTube.
Canary Island by John Taberham
A short film made by John Taberham of St James’ Heritage & Environment
Group about the munitions factory at Lemington Point where hundreds of women worked in dangerous conditions during the First World War.
To Lemington By Rail by Les Turnbull
A talk by Les Turnbull exploring the rich railway heritage of the Lemington area and in particular the 18th century railway from Callerton, Walbottle and Throckley. Les is a volunteer at the Mining Institute and is recognised as an authority on the history of the Northumberland and Durham Coalfield.
A Passage of Tyne by Andrew Curtis
This talk by Andy Curtis of Heddon on the Wall Local History Society takes you on a stroll up-river from Newburn looking at shipwrecks, ceremonies at the Tide Stone and the Ryton ferry boat accident of 1877.
The Battle of Newburn : whish side would you be on? by Rosie Serdiville
Parliament or king – which side would you be on? Local historian Rosie Serdiville asks which side local people might have taken during the English Civil Wars.
Battle of Newburn : A View from the winning side by John Sadler
John Sadler takes on the role of Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven, to tell us why the Scots were sure they could win Battle of Newburn in 1640.
The May 2021 local history month programme of events can be found by clicking here
The full St James Heritage and Environment YouTube channel is here
St James' Heritage and Environment Group 