£200m plan to safeguard Newcastle's locomotive legacy
Nov 10 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
Historical interest
THE development site is one of considerable historical and archaeological interest.
There could be Roman remains as part of the site potentially lies within the civilian settlement around the fort of Pons Aelius. And there is the possibility of medieval features given the close proximity of the medieval town wall and ditch. The land was probably within the precincts of the 13th Century Friars of the Sack and the 14th Century Carmelite Friary.
The western part of the site was owned by the medieval hospital of St Mary and 50 metres to the east of the application site is a significant section of Newcastle's medieval wall along Orchard Street.
Forth Banks followed the line of the Skinnerburn and was dominated in the 18th Century by glasshouses, potteries, lime and brewing industries. Leslie Terrace was constructed in 1825 to provide workers’ cottages. But it is for the role of the area in the development of the railway industry that the area is best known, hence the name Stephenson Quarter.
Robert Stephenson opened this engine works in 1824 at South Street. This was followed by the opening of the Hawthorn engineering works on Forth Street.
Push for status
THE role of the area in building some of the earliest locomotives and providing many countries with their first railway engines has led to moves to begin a push for World Heritage site status.
This means that not only surviving 19th Century buildings but also below-ground archaeology would be important, said Jules Brown, co-ordinator of Newcastle Conservation Advisory Panel.
"The panel strongly encourages the archaeological aspects of this development to take account of the potential future drive for World Heritage status," he said.
The panel has suggested an independent assessment of the international significance of the site and its potential to be added to the World Heritage site waiting list.
Mr Brown said that 20 South Street would be the best location for a permanent railway heritage centre.
