Tyne and Wear
Newcastle Bridges (by Chris Williams CC0)
The Tyne and Wear has not existed as county in its own right, since 1986 and its districts are now independent authorities. However, as the metropolitan county continues to exist, it has been included on this site to provide a geographic frame of reference for the authorities within it.
Tyne and Wear's major cities are famous for their cosmopolitan nightlife and artistic and cultural attractions, such as the Baltic Art Gallery and Sage Music venue.
'Newcastle is a spacious, extended, infinitely populous place; 'tis seated upon the River Tyne, which is here a noble, large and deep river, and ships of any reasonable burthen may come safely up to the very town. As the town lies on both sides the river, the parts are join'd by a very strong and stately stone bridge of seven very great arches, rather larger than the arches of London Bridge...'
County Town: | Newcastle-upon-Tyne - distance from London: 280 miles (450 km) |
Nearby Counties: | Durham, Northumberland |
Train Operators: | East Coast |
Nearest Airport: | Newcastle |
Major Roads: | A1, A69, A194 |
Highest point: | Currock Hill (258 m) |
Rivers: | Tyne, Wear |
Local Delicacies: | Newcastle Brown Ale - a strong beer with a nutty sweet flavour. |
The Meaning of Tyne & Wear
The county is simply named after the two rivers that flow through it. The naming of the city of Newcastle is more interesting, however. During Anglo-Saxon times the area around the Roman fort of Pons Aelius, was known as Monkchester, after a small community of monks living there. The name Newcastle was later adopted during Norman times when Robert Curthose (eldest son of William the Conqueror), built a castle on the site of the Roman fort. He called the building his 'New Castle' and the name has stuck ever since.
Map of Tyne & Wear
North East England
Towns & Cities in Tyne & Wear
Gateshead, Houghton le Spring, Jarrow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, South Shields, Sunderland, Whitley Bay, Washington
Attractions in Tyne & Wear
Arbeia Roman Fort
| Bede's world
| Bowes Railway Centre
| Baltic Centre
| Gibside
| Shipley Art Gallery
| Sunderland Museum
| Wildfowl And Wetlands Trust