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Local Information for Gateshead

Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear in north-east England on the south side of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne which covers the North Bank. It is the main settlement in the metropolitan borough of Gateshead. Gateshead and Newcastle are linked by ten bridges which are shared by the two towns.

In 1068 William the Conqueror defeated Malcolm III of Scotland and his allies on Gateshead Fell.

In 1553, in the reign of Edward VI Newcastle briefly annexed Gateshead, and made another attempt in 1574.

Ambrose Crowley a Quaker nail-manufacturer moved in 1691 to Winlaton, where he set up furnaces and forges on the River Derwent. The river was ideally suitable for tempering steel as the sword-makers of Shotley Bridge also found. Crowley not only produced high-quality nails, but also iron goods such as pots, hinges, wheel-hubs, hatchets and edged tools. He could also make heavy forgings like chains, pumps, cannon carriages and anchors up to four tons in weight....More