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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons 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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

‘Newcastle State Of Mind.’

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Inside the bustling Ship Inn.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

We had a lively audience in for the night.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Walking back into town.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Railway station at night.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

The bridge is also blighted by ‘love locks.’

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

View from the High Level Bridge.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

The famous Tyne Bridge in the distance.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

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.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Looking down from the bridge.

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Newcastle photos: bridges, graffiti, bars, homing pigeons and The Monochrome Set, April 2018

Waiting for the train in Newcastle’s splendidly curved trainshed.

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