Then & Now: Ouseburn’s Green Spaces | Exhibition & Walking Trail | Heritage Open Days

Tuesday 12 September: 13:00-16:00 & Thursday 14 September: 13:00-16:00

For Heritage Open Days 2023, Ouseburn Trust would like to welcome you to an exhibition of rarely-glimpsed images from the our archive. The exhibition will directly compare images taken from the same point of view during the early days of the 1900s up to now, showing the radical transformation of the area's natural environments across time.

Historically, the Ouseburn Valley was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Newcastle: coal was brought to the Tyne along the Victoria Tunnel, and clusters of glass, lead, iron, soap and lime factories crowded beneath a series of rail routes beside mills and potteries. By the middle of the 20th century, the area had fallen into dereliction and was heavily marked by the intensity of industrial activity. Today, however, it is part of a wildlife corridor and an area of notable ecological value.

Come and explore the shifting landscape and environmental heritage of the Ouseburn Valley, including:

- The original grand plans for City Stadium that led to its name, now a mellow green space well-used by local residents.
- The former Quayside Branch railway cutting, now a precious wild habitat.
- The construction of the Ouseburn Culvert, now home to a bandstand and meadow at its entrance.
- Views of Victorian terraces and industrial buildings, now places where people meet and animals graze.

Then set off to explore the green spaces for yourself with our trail book, and see if you can follow all the clues to make it all the way around!