Newcastle

 Extract from The New Travel Book -
North of Watford Gap - John Brown
..
 

 Rather like Durham with its cathedral, there is one focal point that you can always keep in view when taking in the sights of Newcastle, and that's the Charles Grey Memorial. A huge column that sits at the top of Grey Street and dominates all. Built in celebration of this city's most famous son Earl Grey (quite like his tea occasionally).The gritstone Doric column towers 134ft above the city and is topped with a square platform and guard rail, on top of which sits a 13ft Portland Stone statue of the great man. There was, I noticed, a small door in the base of the column, this apparently leads via 164 steps to the foot of the statue. The view from the top of the column is said to be spectacular. I think I'll take their word for it, even if this stairway is open to the public, here's one boy who won't be checking out the view. Created by the sculptor Edward Hodges Baily (of Nelson's Column fame), it was erected in recognition of Grey's unstinting efforts in ensuring the Great Reform Act of 1832 became law. Whatever the background for building this monument, it's certainly neck-strainingly impressive. As is Grey Street, the wide avenue bearing his name, that leads gently away from the city towards the River Tyne.