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The council has announced plans to turn it into a visitor centre and unbelievably is going to build a lift shaft on the side of this 750 year old building! What a disgrace.

The Black Gate is once more going to be a museum - the same function as it had in this amazing photo. The Society of Antiquaries opened it up in January 1884 and it was a museum for decades. The Society moved out in 2009 as the collection and their offices/library had all been moved to the Great North Museum (via the former Museum of Antiquities) and the building was empty again, the first time since about 1883. An organisation called the Heart of the City Partnership was formed by the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle City Council and the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas and it secured some Heritage Lottery Fund money to update the interior and to improve access. There is currently only a spiral staircase going up internally and the main condition of the HLF money was to enable access for everyone, hence plans for a lift. Placing a lift externally was worked out with all the relevant authorities including English Heritage and the City Council's Conservation Officer as this would actually make the least physical impact on the building (with three exterior windows being turned into doors for the lift openings). The building contractors, Northern Construction Solutions Ltd, started in the Black Gate in May 2013 and will be finished approximately January 2014. Internal kit-out and the installation of brand new permanent exhibitions means opening will take place in about May 2014. The Black Gate and Castle Keep (which is now also run by the Heart of the City Partnership) will be run together as one 'Newcastle Castle'. It's a brilliant project - more information can be found on www.oldnewcastle.org.uk or on the Old Newcastle Project Facebook page.

What a load of politically correct rubbish you spout!. I would like to see a private householder apply for planning permission to install a lift shaft on a listed building, and get it! There are lots of historical buildings that disabled people will never ever get full access to due the listing and the aims to keeping the buildings as original as possible. The council has managed to circumvent its own rules on listed buildings with regrettably the support of English Heritage. Congratulations on destroying the ancient fabric of the building in the pathetic cause of 'diversity' and political correctness.

Each to their own, bikerbilly67. Like I say, it's a great project to put Old Newcastle back on the map and, when we open, I hope you enjoy our interpretation on the stories of the buildings and the people who lived there.

Looks like the eastern end of Campbell, up the hill off Elizabeth St, opposite where the police firing range was in the 1970s, perhaps? I worked on Campbell St but west of the railway near corner of Castlereagh St. (DMR) in the 1960s-80s.

Bankstown Babyboomer Thanks for the info; it's hard to picture this street without all the rubbish! AB

I can see what you mean NLI, it does have a very Dickensian feel to it. What we of the 21st century need to remember is that there was very little change in the mode of dress, means of transport and building methods between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The first supermarkets were opened in my lifetime and shopping malls and superstores are really a recent innovation. It is an excellent shot and very atmospheric!!

Swordscookie I'd agree, this pic is certainly pre-1900. Also, notice the cast-iron water pump in the foreground, of the type still seen around the country today. I like the gas lamp on the house corner too. Here's a view of the same location (approx) on Google Street-View maps.google.com/maps?q=Arundel+Square,+Waterford,+Ireland... All the building seen on the right have gone. Stuart.

Arundel Gate and castle was in the laneway on the extreme right in the picture.

Apologies, Arundel Lane is on the left

desmondg47 No problem at all, and very good of you to come back and revisit your information on this one ...