 Our Newcastle |  | Hope this page will give a nice idea about Newcastle upon Tyne.
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A brief Introduction to Newcastle | 
Across the world, there are many towns and cities called Newcastle (at least 30) but, perhaps due to a longing for the real thing, they are all named after the original, ... because there is only one Newcastle upon Tyne. This great and historic city lies on the north bank of the river Tyne. Although it is compact and has a population of only about 300,000, Newcastle is the largest city between Leeds and Edinburgh, and is the regional capital of the North East of England.
Newcastle has a rich cultural heritage that dates back to the first century. The modern Newcastle is lively and attractive, and is made up of a large conurbation of neighboring towns, with excellent business and commercial infrastructure; superb educational, social and entertainment amenities.
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How to get here | 
It is easy to get to Newcastle, as it is well served by road and rail links. By train, Newcastle can be reached within 3 hours from London, and it is only 90 minutes away from Edinburgh. Newcastle's International Airport has direct flights to Heathrow and Gatwick in London, (about 45 minutes flight time), and many airlines operate daily direct flights to capital cities in Europe. The shopping is first-class; the nightclubs are lively and there is a host of restaurants that serve cuisine and beverages from all continents. Not surprisingly, Newcastle is one of the most popular cities in the world to study, work, play and live in.. |
A brief History | 
Newcastle was named after the Norman castle built in 1080 by Robert Curthose, eldest son of William the Conquerer. But Newcastle was not always called Newcastle. Its existence was first recorded around the first century AD, when the main island of the British Isles was part of the Roman empire. The area was the last frontier. To the south were conquered people and "civilisation", while to the North, were the Picts and the Scots, all intent on barbaric mischief.
To consolidate their conquest, the Romans realised that they had to control the crossing of the Tyne. And so, with typical military nuance, they built a fort on the north-side of the Tyne, and a bridge to link it to supplies and reinforcements in the south. That was around 120 AD and the Romans called the bridgehead, Pons Aelii. The exact location of this now non-existent bridge is well documented; it used to sit where the current Swing Bridge (built in 1876).
The fort was actually a staging station, the command post. The first line of defence was the wall, further north of the Tyne. Hadrian's Wall (designated a World Heritage Site) as it is now called, followed more or less the meanderings of the Tyne, and stretches from Carlisle in the West to Wallsend, right by the Tyne. Every twenty miles or so along the wall, was a fortified garrison.
Roman Fort along Hadrian's Wall
The rest, as they say, is history. Newcastle was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. During that period, the ability to transport raw materials up and down the river Tyne led to its rapid growth. Newcastle upon Tyne's fortune came first from wool and then from coal, then armaments and shipbuilding. Not everyone benefited from such prosperity though. Industrialisation brought new wealth for some but tremendous hardships for most. The people, the harsh life, and the beauty of the area are immortalised by Catherine Cookson in her numerous best selling novels. She was born in one of the most deprived areas within South Shields, a town about 10 miles south of Newcastle. Sadly she passed away at the age of 81 in June 1998. Visitors to the region can now visit Catherine Cookson County and discover the region's history for themselves.
Like every British city, Newcastle has witnessed great changes.
Most of the heavy industry and associated jobs have long since disappeared, but in recent years, the region has become the focus for investment and development. Many of the old industrial sites that were becoming eyesores have been bulldozed away to make room for new housing and leisure facilities; new businesses and modern manufacturing plants. The Quayside area by the River Tyne, once a squalid area, has also been redeveloped and is now a smart modern centre incorporating hotels, restaurants, leisure facilities and executive flats.
Despite the transformation, Newcastle remains a historic city, retaining many fine reminders of Newcastle's past. The Norman castle, after which the city was named; the medieval cathedral with its lantern tower and other historic churches, stand alongside the remains of Hadrian's Wall. Then there are the impressive Georgian and Victorian buildings, full of architectural grandeur, and nineteenth-century elegance. For example, Grey Street was described by John Betjeman as 'the most imposing facade in Western Europe'.
And, of course, the numerous bridges linkingNewcastle with Gateshead and the South. The most famous of these bridges is the Tyne Bridge, which has not only become a symbol of the city but was also the prototype for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There is a new bridge being erected now (Nov. 2000)- the Millenium Bridge, a pedestrian bridge.
The pleasant contrasts of old and new, shops and riverside, office and parkland, offer something for everyone, making the City of Newcastle an additional attraction to our students.
As one of the first industrialised cities in Britain, Newcastle acquired notoriety as a dirty and "rough" city, with many "no-go" areas. But do not be put off by peoples' stereotyped views about the city. The Newcastle of today is buzzing, fuelled by an unprecedented optimism for the future.
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|  | |  | | Newcastle Malayalees | Hope you would get a brief idea about Malayalees living in Newcastle upon Tyne by visiting this area.
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| | | | Newcastle Photographs | This is the place you could find more photographs of Newcastle
Enjoy... | |
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