Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, pigeon fanciers, night views and The Monochrome Set, April 2018 -

I had the good fortune to be able to visit the grand city of Newcastle earlier this month, and although the trip was exceedingly short, I still managed to grab some photos which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Java Jim’s Coffee House on Cloth Market hasn’t dispensed a cappuccino for many years.

Next door was the equally-closed Balmbras Motown Bar, occupying a once-popular music hall.

‘Newcastle State Of Mind.’

The Keelmen’s Hospital in City Road, Newcastle, was a charitable foundation for sick and aged keelmen and their families.

Completed in 1701, the hospital was funded after the keelmen agreed to contribute one penny a tide from the wages of each keel’s crew and Newcastle Corporation made land available in Sandgate.

The building is now on the Heritage at Risk register.

I bumped into these chaps on the way to the Cluny venue. Both racing pigeon enthusiasts, the birds were transported with the help of a converted old pram chassis.

The Cluny occupies a former flax spinning mill, and has an award winning bar and two live venues, the Cluny and the Cluny 2.

We were playing the Cluny 2 venue, which used to be the Round Theatre.

Opposite the venue is the wonderful Ship Inn, a traditional pub serving fabulous ales and an outstanding vegan menu.

Inside the bustling Ship Inn.

To the right can be seen the cunning Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne.

Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning structure was designed by architect WilkinsonEyre and structural engineer Gifford. The bridge is sometimes referred to as the ‘Blinking Eye Bridge’ or the ‘Winking Eye Bridge’ due to its shape and its tilting method.

My old chum Helen McCookeryBook opened for the band. It was great to see her play live again.

Monochrome Set in action (live pics by Viola Spanu).

We had a lively audience in for the night.

Walking back into town.

We went for post-gig drinks (and ample medicinal Jager shots) at the Head Of Steam pub in 2 Neville Street.

Railway station at night.

We decided to take in a couple of Newcastle’s famous bridges on the way back to the hotel, passing the castle that gave the city its name.

Walking across the High Level Bridge, a road and railway bridge spanning the River Tyne between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead.

A grade one listed structure, it is considered the most notable historical engineering work in the city, and was built by the Hawks family from 5,050 tons of iron.

Designed by Robert Stephenson to form a rail link towards Scotland for the developing English railway network, the bridge was officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1849.

The bridge is also blighted by ‘love locks.’

The bridge is reminiscent of New York’s Williamsburg Bridge.

View from the High Level Bridge.

The famous Tyne Bridge in the distance.

The 1976 Queen Elizabeth II Bridge carries the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Walking up to the iconic Tyne Bridge, which is ranked as the tenth tallest structure in the city.

Wikipedia reports:

The Tyne Bridge was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson, comparably to their Sydney Harbour Bridge version. These bridges derived their design from the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City.

The bridge was completed on 25 February 1928, and officially opened on 10 October by King George V and Queen Mary, who were the first to use the roadway, travelling in their Ascot landau. The opening ceremony was attended by 20,000 schoolchildren who had been given the day off.