The industrial revolution of the 19th century literally changed the world. But did you know that it all began in a very small part of northern England called Tyneside?

The birthplace of the industry

Tyneside lies on the river Tyne, just south of Newcastle. Coal had been mined in this area since the 14th century, but it was the local availability of iron ore, which, together with coal, provided the lifeblood for shipbuilding, locomotive engineering and manufacturing.

A number of the great industrial pioneers came from Tyneside, including George Stephenson, often referred to as the "Father of the Railways". In 1829, Stephenson developed one of the most famous early locomotives, called the 'Rocket'.

Electricity

Another great industrial pioneer from Tyneside was Joseph Wilson Swan. He designed the first usable electric light bulb in 1879 and established the world's first electric light bulb factory in Newcastle. Mosley Street in Newcastle's city centre became the first street in the world to be lit by electric light. By 1881, Swan's light bulbs had arrived in London and 1,200 of them were used to light up the Savoy Theatre in front of an astonished audience.

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