Great Fire of Gateshead and Newcastle, 1854

"Who knew that Gateshead and Newcastle even had a Great Fire? This topic has now replaced the Great Fire of London in our Year 2 curriculum. Such a fantastic session with loads to draw on afterwards. Thanks, Richard!" - Rebecca, North Tyneside teacher

6th October, 1854 saw one of the worst disasters to have ever (quite literally) shaken the Victorian Quayside - the Great Fire of Gateshead and Newcastle.

Join That History Bloke as we find out about workers in Victorian times using artefacts, actions and songs - can you identify what belonged to the sailor, the policeman, the miner, the Rector, the school children, the builder or the cloth-worker?

Learn about how the lives of these Quayside folk were changed forever by the Great Fire as you take a virtual and interactive tour of the Quayside in the comfort and warmth of your own classroom! Piece-together the events of that awful night... can you be the firemen and try to put the flames out before they spread? Can you be the watching crowd and gasp in excitement at the unfolding diaster? Can you be the buildings of Newcastle themselves and help to stop the spread before the whole city catches fire?

This half-day session is based on the tours that we used to lead on location at the Quayside. Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control, venues that we used to use during our tours have since closed their doors to the public... Fear not - That History Bloke has developed an in-school version instead that is just as much fun and has been incredibly popular.

Designed to go alongside or even replace the Great Fire of London topic that many schools cover in KS1, this local topic has so much scope to develop learning even further after your session.

Simply contact me (press the orange button!) to make a booking or make further enquiries...