Silver Street

A former medieval street in Newcastle upon Tyne which ran along the north side of the churchyard of All Saints’ Church before the redevelopment of lower Pilgrim Street and the All Saints area. (Dog Bank ran along the south side of the churchyard). It was called All Saints or All Hallows Street, and then later Silver Street. It was a thoroughfare between the ancient Towns of Newcastle and Pandon in Medieval times. It was initially an afluent area, where merchants and lawyers lived, but later became a ‘slum’ when when the wealthy familes moved out to the suburbs.

“At this place Pilgrim Street becomes narrower; and further down, on the east side, is Silver Street, which leads down a very steep hill, impassable for carriages, to Pandon. This street appears to have had several names: it was anciently called All-Hallow-gate, as also Temple-gate, it should seem from the circumstance of its communicating with All Saints’ church. It occurs too in old writings with the name of Jew-gate, which, as well as its present name, probably originated in the same cause, that is, from the place being principally inhabited by Jews who dealt in silver plate. There is at present a Presbyterian meeting-house in this street. Below Silver Street, and on the west side of Pilgrim Street, there is a long descent, by steps, to the foot of the Butcher Bank. This passage is called George’s Stairs.” (Eneas Mackenzie, 1827)