Space hoppers were introduced to the UK in 1969 and became a major craze with children for several years. The bouncing, inflatable space hopper was invented by Aquilino Cosani of the Italian company Ledragomma, and patented in 1968.

The half crown coin ceased to be legal tender on the 1st of January 1970, as part of decimalisation. The half crown had a value of two shillings and sixpence. The first half crown coin was ssued in 1549 AD, during the reign of Edward VI. 

'University Theatre' in Newcastle opened in 1970, later known as 'Newcastle Playhouse and following a major refit, now called Northern Stage.

John Dobson Street was opened on the 6th of May 1970. It the first major new road in the centre of Newcastle for over a 100 years, and named in honour of architect John Dobson, who played an important role in redeveloping Newcastle in the mid 19th century.

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Derwent Tower in Dunston, Gateshead, was opened in 1971. The 29-storey apartment block, nicknamed the "Dunston Rocket", was commissioned by Whickham Council and designed by the Owen Luder Partnership (who also designed Gateshead's "Get Carter car park"). It was a prominent landmark in Dunston.

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The Bank of England building on Pilgrim Street in Newcastle was built 1968-1971 by Fitzroy, Robinson & Partners. It was demolished in 2012.

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The film 'Get Carter', starring Michael Caine, premièred in Los Angeles. The film was set in Tyneside and featured several locations around Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham. It featured the Trinity Car Park in Gateshead, after which it was commonly called 'the Get Carter Carpark'. It also featured  Dryderdale Hall, near Hamsterley in County Durham.

On the 15th of February 1971, known as "Decimal Day", the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies. There was a huge publicity campaign in the run up to Decimal Day to prepare the public for the change to 100 new pence making a pound - rather than the 240 old pennys (12 d in a shilling, and 20 shillings in a pound). The new halfpenny, penny, and twopence coins were introduced on Decimal day (the 5p and 10p coins had been introduced back in April 1968 and were the same size, and value as the shilling and two shillings coins).

The House of Commons voted 356 to 244 in favour of joining the European Economic Community (EEC). The EEC (also called the European Single Market) aimed to bring about economic integration among its member states. It was created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957. Britain's membership became effective on the 1st of January 1973.

The first Christmas Window display at Fenwick department store in Newcastle went on display in December 1971.

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< a later Fenwick Window

Westgate House on Westgate Road, opposite Central Station in Newcastle, was completed in 1972. The  'Brutalist' style building was a 12 storey office block, part of which was built over the road.

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The Naess Crusader, built by Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd at the North Sands Shipyard, was launched on the 21st of December 1972. The bulk oil and ore carrier ship was built for Anglo Eastern Bulkships Ltd. It was Sunderland's longest ship at 291.74m in length.

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The World Unicorn was a massive tanker built at the Wallsend yard of Swan Hunter & Tyne Shipbuilders Ltd for Ludlow Navigation Co Ltd, London. The ship was launched on the 3rd of May 1973 and completed in February 1974.

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Darlington Railway Museum (now known as the Head of Steam) was opened on the 27th September 1975, by the Duke of Edinburgh, on the 150th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The museum tells the story of Darlington and the impact of railways. It is housed in the old North Road station building, built in 1842, on the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

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Eldon Square Shopping Centre in Newcastle was opened on the 16th March, 1976.

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Labour MP James Callaghan of the Labour Party became Prime Minister on the 5th of April 1976, following the resignation of Harold Wilson. Callaghan had defeated Roy Jenkins and Michael Foot in the leadership contest.

The historic Green Market in Newcastle moved into a new location on Clayton Street in 1976. The market was linked to the Eldon Square shopping centre.

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Exact date unknown

Rowley Station, originally built in 1845, was carefully dismantled in 1972 and rebuilt at Beamish open-air Museum. Rowley Station was reopened in July 1976 by Poet Laureate, John Betjeman. At Beamish the station is presented as a typical North Eastern Railway station in during the Edwardian period.

President Jimmy Carter (USA) visits Newcastle and Washington (Tyne & Wear) on the 6th of May, 1977. President Carter was given Freedom of the City and gave a public speech in the open space in front of the Civic Centre and St Thomas' Church. He then went to 'Washington Old Hall', the ancestral home of the first president of the United States, George Washington.

During the visit to Newcastle, part of the infill of Pandon Dene near the Civic Centre, subsided under the weight of the crowd!

Newcastle's first major punk gig took place on the 20th of May 1977, when The Clash played at Newcastle University Students' Union. It was a ticket-only gig, mainly attended by students, but punks outside fought with doormen as they tried to get in. It was reported that the band's front man Jo Strummer and drummer Topper Headon, ended up spending 2 nights in police custody in Morpeth. This was after failing to turn up for a court hearing for stealing towels, pillows and a key ring from the hotel they stayed in at Seaton Burn.

Sources: J Bath & RF Stevenson, 2013, and Chronicle live 19th May 2017.

In May 1978 a commemorative bowl was presented to the 1,000,000 visitor to Beamish open-air Museum in County Durham - about 6 years after the museum opened.

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The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Marton, Middlesbrough was opened on the 28th October, 1978. The opening marked the 250th anniversary of Cook’s birth. It is housed in a purpose-built building close to the granite urn marking the site of Cook’s birthplace cottage in Stewart Park, Marton. 

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In October 1979 there was a fire at St Mary's Church, which destroyed most of the church’s ornate carved furniture and stained glass. The fire ended the end of St Mary's as a working parish church, and the congregation moved to St Edmund’s Chapel on Gateshead High Street. Much of the stonework was left intact and later restored when the building took on other uses.

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