Topics > Newcastle City Centre > Streets > Side

Side


Side is a medieval street in Newcastle upon Tyne. The street today begins by the St Nicholas' Cathedral in the city centre and runs past the Black Gate and takes a steep descent down to Sandhill on the Quayside.  It's name derives from location on the side of a hill. It was very different in the past when the lower part of the street was divided by the Lort-burn river, which was later culverted (built over) in 1696. Admiral Lord Collingwood was born in the Side, Newcastle on 26th September 1748.

Account of the Side by Mackenzie (1827):

The north angle of the Sandhill opens into the Side. This name is plainly derived from the circumstance of its being erected on the side of a hill. The lower part of this street was anciently divided by the Lork-burn, up which the river flowed. The east side was called the Flesher Raw, probably because the fleshers, or butchers, had their shops there, as well as on the Butcher Bank. The west part bore the name of the Side: but in the year 1696, Lork-burn was arched at the top, and paved over, so as to form one street, which has since been called the Side. When the present width of this part of the street is considered, the space that the runner of dirty water would occupy, and the heavy projections with which the houses were disfigured, of which specimens still remain, we cannot entertain a very high idea of the taste of our forefathers for convenience and comfort. The Cale Cross, which stood on the north side of the Lork-burn, near the Sandhill, will be noticed hereafter.

The lowest or widest part of this street is called the Foot of the Side. About 90 years ago, it was "filled with shops of merchants, goldsmiths, milliners, upholsters, etc." and is still a place of considerable trade and bustle.

A little above the middle of the Side, the ascent becomes very steep. This, added to its extreme narrowness, and the dingy houses on each side, projecting in terrific progression, rendered the passage inconceivably gloomy and dangerous. Yet, before the erection of Dean Street, it formed the principal communication with the higher parts of the town. It was mostly inhabited by cheese-mongers, and dealers in bacon, butter, etc. whose goods were here kept cool, and effectually protected from the rays of the sun. The corporation lately purchased most of the houses on the west side, which were pulled down, and rebuilt in the modern style. This street is now considerably widened; but a few old houses on the east side still remain to attest its ancient appearance.

Just above the middle of the Side, there was a very narrow and steep flight of steps, that communicated with the eastern postern of the Castle. This ascent, which is called the Dog-Loup Stairs, has recently been widened, and rendered safe and commodious. At the head of these stairs, there was a large waste place, which was, until very lately, the common receptacle of filth. It is described in the account of Pink-Tower Ward as "a great waiste upon the Castle-hugh, sumtime called olde Laurence Acton's Waiste." This place still contains some remains of the outer fortifications of the Castle.

Streets Milburn House, Dean Street / Side Lort Burn 1696 Cathedral Church of St Nicholas St Nicholas Street Vermont Hotel (former County Hall) Sandhill Newcastle Castle Amen Corner Crown Posada
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The Side, Newcastle

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Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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043416 Phoenix Buildings, the Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1925

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Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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052637:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1900

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03822b:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1899

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03815b:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne 1900

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Dean Street and The Side, September 1848

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03822a:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1899

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003817:Lockhart's Cocoa Rooms the Side Unknown c. 1879-80

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Akenside House, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1968

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003812:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1880

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055263:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Reid Andrew pre-1874

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066686:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1887

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061207:Empress pub the Side Malcolm Maybury 1995

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058958:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Torday L. c.1970

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052627:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1886

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011331:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown c.1917

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003821:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Watson H.T. 1834

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029158:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1891/2

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014336:The Old Nags Head Inn Side c. 1880

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Milburn House Newcastle

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Milburn House

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The Crown Posada

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Lort Burn
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Lort Burn
- Lort Burn is one of Newcastle's hidden streams - it runs under Grey Street and Dean Street. Historical Importance: “The very early commerce of Newcastle appears to have been carried …
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Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Image taken from page 492 of 'Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings. With lives, portraits, and autographs of the writers, and notes on the songs. Revised edition'

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Image taken from page 843 of 'The Local Historian's Table Book of remarkable occurrences, historical facts, traditions, legendary and descriptive ballads, connected with the Counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham. Historical Division.

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from https://books.google.co.uk/bo…
A Descriptive and Historical Account of the Town and County of Newcastle Upon Tyne: Including the Borough of Gateshead. Eneas Mackenzie, 1827.
- Digitised Google eBook.

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Newcastle Castle
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Newcastle Castle
- In the 2nd Century AD, the Romans built a fort to protect the Pons Aelius bridge and supply route over the River Tyne. During the Anglo-Saxon age, the site was …
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
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Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
- Overview History Features Music Map Inside St Nicholas is the cathedral for the Church of England Diocese of Newcastle and is named after St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors …
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Image taken from page 63 of 'The City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne of to-day. ... With illustrations'

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003810:The Side Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1880

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Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Tor120, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Tor111, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Tor110, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Victorian postbox, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Head of the Side, Newcastle, 18th Century

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Foot of the Side, Newcastle, 18th Century.

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Newcastle, from the Side

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View in the Side (nos. 2 to 10)

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Vermont Hotel (former County Hall)
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Vermont Hotel (former County Hall)
- Overview Map Street View The Vermont Hotel, former County Hall building, is located on Castle Garth and Side (street) in Newcastle. The Classical-style County Hall was completed in 1910, designed …

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