Wednesday 24 June 2026 7.30pm NO NEED TO BOOK
This talk will consider the reaction to Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in Newcastle and Tyneside and trace how an originally lukewarm response was energised both from within and outside the region. The role of the Mining Institute will be discussed and the changing character of the exhibition explained. The talk will conclude with reflections on what the exhibition tells us about a changing world at the end of the nineteenth century.
Our Speaker
Michael Barke is a graduate of Liverpool (BA) and Glasgow (Ph D) Universities. He lectured in Human and Historical Geography at Northumbria University (formerly Newcastle Polytechnic) for many years before his retirement in 2016. He is currently the Hon Librarian of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne at the Great North Museum: Hancock and Chairman of Cullercoats Local History Society.
Venue
This event will take place at St George’s United Reformed Church on Newton Road, High Heaton NE7 7HP. It is on the corner with Boundary Gardens, the same block as Heaton Stannington’s football ground, Willow (formerly Grounsell) Park.
There are excellent public transport links including bus numbers 18, 38, 52 and 553, which stop right by the church.
There is car parking on the surrounding streets.
Booking
The event is free to Heaton History Group members and costs £2.50 for non-members. There’s no need to book. Just turn up on the night.
