Europa Nostra next year: Newcastle

The Industrial heritage of the Tyneside is on the agenda.

The city of stag and hen parties is so much more than bars and nightlife. It is also one of the premier cities filled with our industrial heritage, foremost of which is the Tyneside.

Piers of Newcastle
Coal mining was of course the first large-scale non-agricultural industry to arrive. It remained until the closure of the last pit in 1931. But ironstone, lime and lead were quarried as well, adding to the image of Newcastle and the region as a mining community. The most important industry was, however, shipbuilding. Shipyards, shipping industry and the long piers came to dominate the port. In 1859 Tyne Dock was opened with a capacity to hold 500 vessels. Nowadays the piers have turned into lively promenades, but the industrial heritage is still very prominent in the city’s image.

Theme 2008
The theme of the Europa Nostra Congress in 2008 will be Tyneside’s Industrial Heritage. Venues in both Newcastle and Gateshead will be the focus of the event, with the main congress and Awards ceremony being held in Sage Gateshead. The Congress will also include the opportunity for the interpretation and enjoyment of the area’s wider cultural heritage and delegates will have the opportunity to study and enjoy the Roman and Christian heritage of Northumberland and Durham, as well as the industrial heritage upon which the Conference is based.

A steering group has been established including representatives from Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, ONE North East, Nexus, University of Newcastle, University of Northumbria, English Heritage, CABE, North of England Civic Trust, the Robert Stephenson Trust, NGI and Europa Nostra.