Introduction

On Friday 24 August 1838, the editors of the Newcastle Courant reflected on the events of the foregoing week in their town. They declared that, ‘Newcastle has never before been thronged with so many visitors’. Among their number were such distinguished figures as the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, the Marquis of Northampton, the members of parliament for the district and a host of eminent scientists including Herschel, Sedgwick and Buckland. By day they had flocked in their hundreds to the Central Exchange, the New Music Hall, the Literary and Philosophical Society, the County Court Rooms, the Surgeon's Hall and the Academy of Arts to hear lectures, debates and reports by the leading scientific figures of the time. By night the Old Circus, the Large Assembly Room and the Green Market, decorated with ornamental lights, fountains, evergreens and flowers, accommodated them for lavish dining, promenading and a ball hosted by the mayoress. In case visitors indulged themselves too much, the entertainment was juxtaposed with a range of more thought-provoking diversions including an exhibition of models at which manufacturers, inventors, designers and engineers showcased specimens of their latest plans and ideas, ¹ and promenaders at the Green Market were said to have been fascinated by a ‘calculating boy’ who demonstrated impressive feats of numeracy in response to questions from assembled guests. At the end of the week, a day was set aside for visits to places of interest in the wider region. Some 200 visitors embarked on a ‘geological excursion’ to the coast at Tynemouth where they breakfasted in a specially erected marquee before setting out to inspect the coastal geology. ² Meanwhile another 400 set out in special trains to view the new bridge and railway at Durham Junction, their departure cheered by crowds of spectators and accompanied by the firing of cannons, flag-waving and music from the South Shields band. ³