Gateshead

Gateshead, a large town and county borough on the south bank of the river Tyne is home to around 200,000 people. Its origins appear to be Roman when it was the end of the roman road at the Tyne river crossing from the south to Hadrian's Wall. This was confirmed in 2000 by the discovery of an extensive roman settlement and medieval industrial remains in the Bottle Bank area of the town. Once extensive forests covered the area and it was the hunting ground for the Prince Bishops of Durham. However over time the forests were lost to the coal industry and despite being a centre for heavy industry throughout the centuries, Gateshead was always overshadowed by its wealthier and more powerful neighbour, Newcastle. Today Gateshead still has an extensive light industry and trade area on the Team Valley and is a busy modern town. It has an internationally renowned sports stadium, the Metro Centre - largest retail complex in Europe and a reputation for supporting the Arts. The Gateshead Quay is currently under development to provide world class music, leisure and arts facilities. Gateshead includes the mainly urban areas of Central Gateshead, Felling, Dunston and Blaydon and the more rural districts of Ryton, Whickham, and Rowlands Gill in the Derwent Valley.