In 1600 the population of Newcastle was about 18,000.
The Quayside was chiefly inhabited in the early 18th century by people who made their living by shipping e.g. merchants, hostmen and brewers. It was a great place of business for the coal trade . The river was a hive of activity. The famous keelmen of the Tyne carried coal in their small boats called keels to the larger ships, waiting down river to take the coal to places like London.
The streets largely contained signposts of taverns, ale houses, coffee houses etc; there were 34 taverns on the Quayside.
The old Tyne Bridge was nothing like the bridge of today. It was in a different position’ near to the current Swing Bridge and upon the bridge there were houses, shops, a chapel and even a prison. There was a narrow, rough cart way on the bridge, which formed the main route to Scotland.
