Recently, our young journalists took a trip to Newcastle’s Northumberland Street to see the progress of the new developments there.

The redevelopment project, which is expected to be finished by next year, will “create an elegant and high-quality environment that is inspired by the street’s Medieval history and will reinforce its position as the region’s most vibrant and important high street, setting it apart from other streets.”

Our young journalists were tasked with telling a story through photographs to show the past, present, and future of Northumberland Street through five categories: Culture, Food, Redevelopment, Greenery, and Architecture.

Here’s how they got on:

Culture

How do Newcastle’s shopfronts and adverts showcase the city? The mixture of new and old, from the new birdcage-style seating to the older tree fences, shows an ever-changing city.

Food

Walking up and down Northumberland Street, our young journalists noticed that almost every cafe and fast food restaurant was part of a much larger chain. In fact, The Coffee Trader, the only independent coffee shop on the street, is located on Northumberland Place, just off Northumberland Street proper.

Redevelopment

With Northumberland Street’s redevelopment not due to finish until next year, pedestrians are required to walk around the work sites. This means the walkways are tight, which disrupts some shops. A long-planned redevelopment may take a longer time to see things take shape, bringing some frustrations.

Greenery

The early spring sees the awakening of daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms. Everything looks better when the flowers start to bloom.

Architecture

Northumberland Street is full of history; Fenwicks has been operating there since 1882. Seeing the mixture of older architecture with modern shops makes for very dynamic images.

This project was made possible by the Million Hours Fund.