Black Gate Wall Murals

The Black Gate Wall Murals are a neat find in the centre of Newcastle on the Side, painted by Rothbury based artist John Craggs.

Unveiled in 2014, the mural is mounted on the walls of an old air raid shelter just underneath the Black Gate and depicts familiar scenes from the city's history. The area used to be home to a handful of shops and a pub, but was largely known as a slum. Craggs undertook hefty historical homework filling a sketchbook with a plethora of pencil drawings before sharing it with Newcastle City Council who signed off the scenes ready for public view.

The unveiling of the artwork coincided with the refurbishment of the Black Gate and was an insight into the enticing past of the heritage of the medieval castle and the city in which it was situated.

The mural is made up of replica posters and familiar visual images like maps and men and women from Roman, through to medieval times, WWII and beyond; soldiers, sailors, tinkers and cobblers and a lovely lassie drawing on her pipe!

There's a Thomas Bewick-style image of an engraving of the old Tyne Bridge after the great flood of 1771 and music hall advertisements, a peep at the Toon's elusive Vampire Rabbit and a hat tip to Teddy Boys and nights on the tiles in Brothel Creepers.

A lovely little find. If art's your thing, look out for Invader Street Art.