Gateshead

Gateshead, a parliamentary and municipal borough in the county of Durham, on the right bank of the Tyne, opposite Newcastle, with which it is connected by three bridges. It was originally a Roman outwork, and grew into a borough before the 11th century. For centuries it was governed by the Bishops of Durham, but in 1695 it received the privilege of electing two stewards to manage its affairs, and in 1826 it became a muncipality. It returns one member to Parliament. The town consists of two principal streets nearly parallel, and from these diverge many others. They are fairly built, and a great fire in 1854 was followed by considerable improvements. Iron-works, foundries, locomotive-factories, ship-building yards, glass-works, chemical and soap manufactories and tanneries provide occupation for a large population. The North-Eastern Railway has its chief depot here, and in the neighbourhood are large coal-mines, and stone-quarries. There are a public park, an ancient cruciform parish church, and a grammar school.