10 things you must know about Newcastle
March 21, 2012
- Newcastle is named after a Norman Motte and Bailey castle, and later a fortified stone keep, built on the river Tyne in 1080 by the son of William the Conqueror
- The first lightbulb was tested in Newcastle in 1879 by Joseph Swan
- Newcastle United Football Club was founded in 1892 and they have been wearing black and white stripes since 1894
- Famous Geordies include: Ant & Dec, Sting, Cheryl Cole, Alan Shearer, Gazza, Jimmy Nail, George Stephenson and William Armstrong
- Stottie or Stottie Cake – is a thick round bread loaf famous in North East England and usually filled with Ham and Pease Pudding, available in Gregg’s stores.
- Broon – is slang for Newcastle Brown Ale, sometimes called ‘Lunatic’s Broth’
- George Stephenson’s famous ‘Rocket’ steam locomotive engine was built in Newcastle
- Always refer to the stadium as St James’ Park when speaking to locals
- The Tyne Bridge was designed to look like the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- The Great North Run, from Newcastle to South Shields, is the largest half marathon in the world
- The Angel of the North stands 65 feet high and has a wingspan of 175 feet and is a designated ‘Icon of England’
- The Baltic Art Gallery in Newcastle just hosted the Turner Prize, but what did it used to be until 2002? Answer: A flour Mill