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Elswick

Elswick is an area in the West End of Newcastle, bordering the River Tyne. Elswick was originally a separate small rural town in Northumberland but became part of Newcastle in 1835 as the city expanded. It has a rich industrial heritage including Elswick Lead Works (established 1778) and Armstrong's Elswick Works (founded 1847). Neighbourhoods in the ward of Elswick include the Adelaide Terrace area, Bentinck Estate, Condercum and Denhill Park, Cruddas Park, Elswick Triangle, Gill Street and the Courts, Grainger Park, Jubilee Estate, North Benwell, the St John's, the St Paul's area, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle College, and the Metro Radio Arena.

In Roman times the Vallum, a defensive barrier behind Hadrian's Wall, reached its easternmost limit in Elswick. The Wall itself carried on as far as Wallsend.

The township of Elswick had originally formed part of the Barony of Bolam and was owned by Tynemouth Priory from 1120-1539, with a fishery present on the site. One of the earliest references to the coal mining industry of the north east occurs in 1330, when it was recorded that the Prior of Tynemouth let a colliery, called Heygrove, at "Elstewyke" for a rent of £5 per year. Elswick Colliery had 3 pits working from 1860 onwards. Elswick was owned by the Crown from 1539 to 1628, until it was sold by Charles I.

The Priors held a mansion in the middle of Elswick which was later occupied by Elswick Hall. Having been rebuilt a number of times, the last rebuild took place in 1810. The grounds of Elswick Hall became Elswick Park in 1881. Elswick changed significantly in the late 19th Century with the extension of the railway from Carlisle to Newcastle in 1839 and the establishment of Armstrong's manufacturing works in 1847. Population increased rapidly during this period with the construction of Tyneside flats from Scotswood Road to accommodate the workforce.

The Elswick works was founded in 1847 by engineer William George Armstrong. It manufactured hydraulic machinery, cranes and bridges and, later, artillery. In 1882 the company merged with the shipbuilding firm of Charles Mitchell to form Armstrong, Mitchell & Company. Armstrong Mitchell merged again with the engineering firm of Joseph Whitworth in 1897, forming Armstrong, Whitworth & Co.

Elswick station was opened in 1889 to serve the area. It was located at the western end of the Elswick Works, whose workforce made up a significant proportion of travellers. The area suffered as a result of the inter-war and subsequent depressions, culminating in the demolition of the Elswick works. The station was closed and then demolished in 1967.

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Newcastle upon Tyne West End Skinner Burn Scotswood Road Elswick Works - Vickers Armstrong Map and Aerial View Elswick Shipyard Buddle Road, Benwell - Elswick Church of St Paul Church of St Stephen, Low Elswick Elswick at War Elswick Leather Works (1863 - 1971) Elswick Road Elswick Township, 1848 Elswick, Historical Account, 1890 Map and Aerial View RC Church of St Michael Rye Hill Skinnerburn Road St Aidan's Church Westmorland Road

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Elswick

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

054668:Elswick Library Elswick Road Elswick Walton Des 1983

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

047225:Elswick Methodist Chapel Maple Terrace Elswick 1905

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

025244:John Knox Church Elswick Road/Beech Grove Road Elswick Unknown c.1900

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

002020:Firemen Elswick Works Elswick Unknown c.1910

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

070714:The Lake Elswick Park Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown Undated

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

070669:Elswick Park Elswick Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown Undated

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064413:Accounts Dept Vickers Armstrong Ltd Elswick Works Elswick Unknown c.1940

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064235: Elswick Road, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064406:27 Shop Vickers Armstrong Ltd Elswick Works Elswick Unknown c.1940

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064404:Sherman Tank Vickers Armstrong Ltd Elswick Works Elswick Unknown c.1950

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064230:Elswick Lead Works Elswick Unknown 1900

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

064232:Laying electric tram lines, Elswick Road, Elswick, 1901

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

054667:St. Anne's Convent School Elswick Road Elswick Unknown 1983

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

050723: Elswick Harriers, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Barras, Robert, 1902

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

037375:Elswick Park Elswick Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown c.1910

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

034707:Railway Cottages Elswick Dept of Environmental Health c.1935

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

022690:Carnival Dance Vickers-Armstrong-Whitworth Apprentices Welfare Club Elswick Institute Elswick Evening World c.1930

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

017702:Shot Tower, Associated Lead Manufacturers Ltd, Elswick Lead Works, Elswick, 1968

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

048001:Water Street Elswick Unknown c.1920

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

036400b:Catholic Apostolic Church Gloucester Street Elswick Dept of Environmental Health c.1964

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

034715:Back Elswick East Terrace Elswick Dept of Environmental Health c.1935

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

067406:St. Michael's Church Westmorland Road Elswick Unknown c.1980

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

055655: The O'Higgins at Elswick Yard, Armstrong Works, 1897

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

030566: Sultan Osman, Elswick Shipyards, c. 1912

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

030435:High Elswick Tavern Cross Cromwell Street 1966

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

036258:Mill Lane Elswick Dept of Environmental Health 1963

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

025343:Lancaster Street, Elswick, 1975

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

008893:The Elswick Newcastle upon Tyne 1855

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

066125:Retirement photograph Vickers Armstrong Ltd Elswick Works Elswick Unknown c.1950's

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

067705:Cruddas Park Elswick Unknown c.1990

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

061911:Blue Man Elswick Road Maybury Malcolm 1995

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

054725:Bentinck Road School Bentinck Road Elswick Unknown c.1918

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

053590:Gloucester Street Elswick Halliday Fred 1913

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

051867:Noble Street Elswick Unknown 1957/8

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

043574:Sinton's Mill Westgate Road/Mill Lane Elswick Unknown c.1870

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

022368:Westmorland Road Elswick Unknown 1973

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

015434:Central Hall Maple Terrace Elswick Unknown 1966

from TWAM (flickr)

The Gables

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

008726:Sinton's Mill Westgate Road/Mill Lane Elswick c.1855

from Newcastle libraries (flickr)

Skinner Burn
- Skinner Burn is a 'hidden' stream which feeds into the River Tyne. The valley of the Skinner Burn was gradually infilled from the 18th century and the stream was culverted …

Elswick through the years In Maps and Pictures (pdf)
- By St James’ Heritage & Environment Group and West Newcastle Picture History Collection, 2017 (ISBN 978-0-992183-3-0). "This book is the result of a joint project between St James’ Heritage & …