Walk the Walls Route St Andrews Church 1153 .Grade 1 listed building. 12th Century Chancel Arch.Noteable features: the Lepers Squint, the choir stalls of Austrian oak, the Giordano painting and the mediaeval font cover, some of the finest in England. The last addition was the South porch in 1726, others were the Trinity Chapel, widened aisles, lengthened chancel and the addition of both trancepts. Looking at the church to your right you will see a mini roundabout, here stood the mighty 'Newgate' one of the northern entrances to the Town. The church suffered severe damage at the Siege of Newcastle. It stands now, after centuries of alterations, the oldest church in Newcastle. Begin at the Church entrance on Newgate Street. Leave by walking through the Churchyard exit at the rear of the Church where stands a portion of the City wall. You are now on Gallowgate. Turn left and at the next corner you will see on your right St. James Park. Home of Newcastle United Football Club. In front of you is Gallowgate bus concourse, further on past the roundabout are The Newcastle Breweries. City Wall 1095. Turn left (into St. Andrews Street) and cross the road toward the pub. At this point in the wall during the 1644 siege of Newcastle, heavy Scottish cannon fire breached the wall. Before reaching the pub, on your right, you will see an alley. Look along the alley, you will see The Heber Tower and a well preserved section of the city wall running parallel with Stowell Street. Either walk the alley or preferably walk back out into China Town. China Town (Stowell Street) Having viewed the wall come out of the alley turn right, walk past the pub, keeping it to your right. Now walk along Stowell Street into Newcastle's China Town. (Restaurants, food super markets and atmosphere). The whole area you are now in once formed part of the grounds of Blackfriars Monastery. Blackfriars Monastery.1260 (open daily) Open daily. Grade 1 Listed building. Fully restored. (Facilities) Exhibits. Walk along Stowell Street towards Bath Lane and near the end you will see on your left Monk Street there you will see the entrance to Blackfriars Monastery. A fraternity founded in 1215 were called Black Friars because they wore a black cloak and hood covering their white cassock. Heber and Durham Towers. Back onto Stowell Street turn left. Walk toward the junction with Bath Lane. Before you reach the junction with Bath Lane you will see where Stowell Street cuts through a perfectly preserved section of the City wall and the Heber Tower. At Bath Lane before turning left, look right around the outside of the wall stands the Old Fever Hospital. Turn left and walk along side the wall, passing Durham Tower. Stop and rest at the grassed area in front of the wall. One of the many photo spots. Pink Lane (The West Gate) Walk toward the junction with Westgate Road (the oldest 'named' street in Newcastle), you will see The Vesta Tilley Pub on the opposite corner. Here stood The West Gate until 1811. Turn left at the junction. Then immediately cross the road toward the car park. Now with the pub behind you walk away from it and the next right will be Pink Lane. (Named after The Pink Tower) Turn right and walk down Pink Lane. Walking the Lane you are walking the course of the wall. Crossing Clayton street you are at the place where The Pink Tower stood. Continuing down the cobbled lane an opening/street on your right is exactly where 'Forth Gate' stood in the wall allowing access to the 'countryside' outside the wall. At the end of Pink Lane at the junction with Neville Street stood 'Gunner Tower' you will now see the massive portico of The Central Station in front of you. Cross and look at the right hand corner of the portico. Here stood 'Stank Tower' Designed by local architect John Dobson. The Portico dates from 1863. extended c.1890.Opened 1850 by Queen Victoria.. The design is of the classical style with ornamental work of the Doric Order. Go into the portico and into the Station. Inside there are cafes and other public refreshment facilities. Turn left and wander through the pedestrian area to the easterly exit. Coming out of the exit turn right. With The Royal Station Hotel on your right, walk toward the traffic lights. You are now walking on the course of the Roman Wall. Continue past the entrance to the hotel and cross the road in front of you. The second building is the Headquarters of Newcastle's Literary and Philosophical Society. The Literary and Philosophy Building 1825. A grade II listed building. Open daily (not Sun.). Guided tour (subject to staff availability) 0191 277 8011.Nearby is a plaque describing the course of The Roman Wall at that point. Literary and Philosophical Society. The Lit and Phil. is a modern subscription lending library, founded in 1793 with the aim of teaching and educating the population of Newcastle. It has a large collection of books, a children's library, an extensive fiction collection, current academic journals and popular magazines, as well as 19th century periodicals. Past Presidents include Robert Stephenson, Joseph Swan. Out of The Lit & Phil: Turn left...WALK BACK. and on your right you will see on the other side of the road a monument dedicated to George Stephenson. You are now to cross the road to the monument and cross the road at the other side of the monument to get to St John's Church. Walk back toward the hotel. 'Cross over to the monument.' Stephenson's Monument- 1862. Railway Pioneer. Many comments have been made on the way the railway pioneer has his back to the Main Railway Station. At his feet are four occupations which endorse the success of the North East at that time. The railway engineer, the track- layer, the coal miner and the blacksmith. Whilst on the traffic island (monument area) you will see in front of you on Westgate Road the Wetherspoons Pub and the graveyard of St.John's Church. You need to be (safely) on the same side of the road as the Church. Cross over and visit the Church. St. John's Church 15C (added to in 1848) See the excellent woodwork and stain glass windows--City Crest. Come out of the main entrance Church turn right. Cross Grainger Street. Some distance in front of you will see Cowen's Monument. Walk on toward the monument, follow the pavement as it bears right onto Fenkle Street. You will now be outside , Cowens Monument, The Old Assembly Rooms and Cross House. Cowen's Monument 1906 Popular MP for Newcastle 1873-1886 and owner of Newcastle Chronicle Newspaper, gave money for Tyne Theatre and Opera House. First in the North to Show 'Talkies'. Old Assembly Rooms built 1774-1776'A banqueting centre of unique elegance' Tel: (0191) 232 8695 & 232 4165 Still used for functions, has Georgian style ballrooms with ornate ceilings on the first floor with seven magnificent 'original' crystal chandeliers. Open daily. Cross House. 1900 First built 1775 as a mansion. In 1755 the First (second oldest provincial bank in UK) replaced the mansion. Demolished and rebuilt 1911with recent refurbishment showing fashionable Portland Stone. Tragic fire in 1911, 11 died. Continue on Fenkle Street, continue walk toward Clayton Street (the next junction). Clayton Street (mid 19th C) Continue to the junction with Clayton Street and turn right. Continue along Clayton Street. Part of Grainger's new town. The tall neo-classical structures are at least twice the height of Grainger's previous buildings. Visit the shops. Many of which are charity related. Larger shops include Woolworth's and Poundstretchers. At the end of Clayton Street turn left onto Newgate Street. Newgate Street and 'The Gate' Turning left continuing to the junction with Low Friar Street (bridge over road on the left). At that junction stood a Gallows and a large outdoor market.17c. The area was later, long after the markets demolition, marked with a large white cross believed to signify the centre of the old Town within the walls. On the opposite side of the road is the south entrance to the Eldon Shopping Mall. At Low Friar Street 'The Gate' recently opened... a sparkling gigantic new multi million pound, sport, leisure, restaurant and shopping complex. Walking further on, on Newgate Street will pass or call into the Co-op store... Co-op department store. 1931-32 (Facilities, café). Very dignified frontage with twin towers and simple lines. Walk on a little and you are back at St. Andrew's Church. You have completed the walk. Thank you .