African Footsteps
Royal Station Hotel, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 5DH
This accessible walk shines a light on our heritage linked to place and people.
The walk starts at the Royal Station Hotel, a Grade 2 listed building where we will enjoy the songs of Paul Robeson, learning about his life and glimpsing the Grade 2 listed interior of the hotel.
The nearby Grade 1 Railway Station, with its barrel-vaulted roof, the first of its kind, highlights the significance of the railways in enabling abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass to increase support from the North East citizens against enslavement in North America.
A short walk will take us to St John the Baptist Church, reputedly the oldest church in Newcastle, where stories of birth, marriage and death unfold. In 1950 the 'wedding of the year' was celebrated here between a Nigerian doctoral student and his childhood sweetheart, with their son being baptised here, a year later. Fifefield, an 18th century working class resident of Newcastle, originally from the Caribbean, and 'much respected' according to his obituary, is buried here .
This taster walk, enriched by readings and song, with links to online resources and further walks, provides historical accuracy and encourages a deeper understanding of the people and places of our region.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1100, 1200,1300, 1400,1500,1600
Location & directions
Royal Station Hotel, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 5DH
- Directions:
- A member of the project team will be at the foyer to welcome you and guide you to the bar/restaurant of the hotel where we will gather. Online resources will be available while waiting for the tour which will start promptly on the hour.
- Contact on day:
- Beverley Prevatt Goldstein
- Telephone number:
- +447950717406
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There is an accessible entrance to the Royal Station Hotel. The main entrance has stairs.
Additional information
Tours will take place on the hour. Please arrive ten minutes before the hour so that the tour can leave on time. Online resources will be available for 15 minutes preceding each hour.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 10
- Est. tour duration:
- 0 hour(s) 40 minute(s)
