Robert Stephenson Walking Tour
2023-02-23 11:30 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
An outdoor walking tour to celebrate the life and achievements of Robert Stephenson.
The Common Room, in conjunction with Newcastle City Guides, brings a special outdoor tour for a limited time only. We are celebrating the life and achievements of Robert Stephenson with a guided tour around key areas in Newcastle, ending at The Common Room where you can see the Robert Stephenson and Co. Bicentenary Exhibition in our world class heritage building.

Stephenson Survivors Worldwide (Talk)
2023-02-23 14:00 - 16:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us FREE for the Robert Stephenson & Co. Bicentenary celebration in collaboration with the Robert Stephenson Trust.
‘Stephenson Survivors Worldwide’, by Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator of Rail Transport & Technology, National Railway Museum
A major part of Robert Stephenson & Co. and latterly Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn’s production was locomotives for export. Anthony’s talk will look at some of the surprising survivors around the globe.
About the Robert Stephenson Trust
The Robert Stephenson Trust was formed in 1988, initially to help save the last substantial part of what had once been the works of ‘Robert Stephenson & Co’ until 1904.
Today the Robert Stephenson Trust promotes the achievements of one of the greatest engineers of the Nineteenth Century with the aim of making today’s generation aware of his achievements and inspire a new generation of engineers through his achievements.
Date and Timings
Date: Thursday 23rd February, starting 2pm
Guests are welcome to stay in our 5|Quarter café bar following the event.
Booking information
Each person attending must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: Lecture Theatre, The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact programme@thecommonroom.org.uk

ALL ABOARD! Family Fun Days (23rd - 25th February)
2023-02-25 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
ALL ABOARD!
Join us for a fantastic experience for families with different activities like making a train whistle, assembling a train with LEGO or discovering all the challenges of train operation using a Scaletrix. In addition, you can visit the Exhibition to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Robert Stephenson and Co. factory, the first company in the world dedicated to making railway engines and talk with some members of the Robert Stephenson Trust.

*Age recommended 5+. Children under 12 must be supervised.

The Common Room & The Lit & Phil - Joint Tour
2023-02-25 10:30 - 11:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join our guides as they take you on a joint tour of The Common Room and The Lit & Phil.
A joint tour of The Common Room and The Lit & Phil, led by Newcastle City Guides volunteers.
Join us on a guided tour of these two beautiful historic neighbours situated in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Candlelight Concert: Hans Zimmer's Best Works
2023-03-03 18:00 - 19:05, 2023-03-03 20:30 - 21:35 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Newcastle upon Tyne. Discover the music of Hans Zimmer in the beautiful Wood Hall, under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Robert Stephenson Walking Tour
2023-03-04 10:30 - 12:00
An outdoor walking tour to celebrate the life and achievements of Robert Stephenson.
The Common Room, in conjunction with Newcastle City Guides, brings a special outdoor tour for a limited time only. We are celebrating the life and achievements of Robert Stephenson with a guided tour around key areas in Newcastle, ending at The Common Room where you can see the Robert Stephenson Trust Bicentenary Exhibition in our world class heritage building.

The Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company (Talk)
2023-03-04 13:00 - 14:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us FREE for the Robert Stephenson & Co. Bicentenary celebration in collaboration with the Robert Stephenson Trust.
About ‘The Stanhope & Tyne Railroad Company’, by Rob Langham, author
Opening in 1834, the Stanhope & Tyne Railroad ran over some of Durham’s wildest landscape and used a mixture of gravity, stationary engines with wire ropes, horses and steam locomotives to move wagons along its length. This illustrated talk describes the railway and its history, including the financial downfall which nearly bankrupted Robert Stephenson.
About the Robert Stephenson Trust
The Robert Stephenson Trust was formed in 1988, initially to help save the last substantial part of what had once been the works of ‘Robert Stephenson & Co’ until 1904.
Today the Robert Stephenson Trust promotes the achievements of one of the greatest engineers of the Nineteenth Century with the aim of making today’s generation aware of his achievements and inspire a new generation of engineers through his achievements.
Date and Timings
Date: Saturday 4th March, starting 1pm
Guests are welcome to stay in our 5|Quarter café bar following the event.
Booking information
Each person attending must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: Lecture Theatre, The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact programme@thecommonroom.org.uk

Robert Stephenson, Engineer. From Willington Quay to Westminster Abbey
2023-03-04 14:30 - 16:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us FREE for the Robert Stephenson & Co. Bicentenary celebration in collaboration with the Robert Stephenson Trust.
UPDATE: due to unforeseen circumstances the talk topic has been changed from the Thomas Elliot Railway Engineer to Robert Stephenson, Engineer. From Willington Quay to Westminster Abbey by Hugh Fenwick.
About the Robert Stephenson Trust
The Robert Stephenson Trust was formed in 1988, initially to help save the last substantial part of what had once been the works of ‘Robert Stephenson & Co’ until 1904.
Today the Robert Stephenson Trust promotes the achievements of one of the greatest engineers of the Nineteenth Century with the aim of making today’s generation aware of his achievements and inspire a new generation of engineers through his achievements.
Date and Timings
Date: Saturday 4th March, starting 2:30pm
Guests are welcome to stay in our 5|Quarter café bar following the event.
Booking information
Each person attending must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: Lecture Theatre, The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact programme@thecommonroom.org.uk

Wine Tasting Evening in 5|Quarter
2023-03-09 18:00 - 19:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us on March 9th for an evening of wine tasting in our 5|Quarter bar.
Includes: 5 different wines (3 reds, 1 white, 1 rose) of 75ml glasses and light snacks – only £18 per person.
Delicious antipasti boards for 2 available to add on if you wish – £18
Includes: a variety of cheeses, cured meats, crackers and fruit
Event runs from 6pm-7:30pm.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Book your tickets now.

The Common Room & The Lit & Phil – Joint Tour
2023-03-11 10:30 - 11:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join our guides as they take you on a joint tour of The Common Room and The Lit & Phil.
A joint tour of The Common Room and The Lit & Phil.
Join us on a guided tour of these two beautiful historic neighbours situated in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

An evening with Faber: Eliza Clark and Dizz Tate
2023-03-15 19:30 - 20:45 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
New writing North have teamed up with their friends at Faber to host a literary evening with two of Faber’s most exciting new novelists. Join us here at The Common Room to listen to Eliza Clark and Dizz Tate in conversation, as well as a drinks reception and book-signing. Guests will also receive an exclusive New Writing North X Faber book-bag containing the new hardback of Brutes by Dizz Tate, a voucher to pre-order Penance by Eliza Clark, and more…
Ticket includes a glass of wine/soft drink and goodie-bag.
Head over to New Writing North to get your tickets and find out more!

Candlelight concerts: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
2023-03-16 18:00 - 19:05, 2023-03-16 20:30 - 21:35, 2023-03-24 20:30 - 21:35 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Newcastle. Discover the music of Taylor Swift in the beautiful Wood Hall under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Thomas Elliott Harrison – Railway Engineer (Talk)
2023-03-22 11:30 - 13:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us FREE for the Robert Stephenson & Co. Bicentenary celebration in collaboration with the Robert Stephenson Trust.
RESCHEDULED from 4th March
Thomas Elliott Harrison – Railway Engineer
by John Addyman
President of the North Eastern Railway Association
About the Robert Stephenson Trust
The Robert Stephenson Trust was formed in 1988, initially to help save the last substantial part of what had once been the works of ‘Robert Stephenson & Co’ until 1904.
Today the Robert Stephenson Trust promotes the achievements of one of the greatest engineers of the Nineteenth Century with the aim of making today’s generation aware of his achievements and inspire a new generation of engineers through his achievements.
Date and Timings
Wednesday 22nd March at 11:30am
Booking information
Each person attending must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: Lecture Theatre, The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
About The Common Room
The Common Room is a charity formed in 2017 to restore the Grade II* listed Neville Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne (home to The Mining Institute since 1872), and its significant archive and collections documenting centuries of engineering, mining, and wider scientific innovation.
Thanks to National Lottery players, an £8.9m grant has enabled us to spend over £7 million restoring the building, and around £2m to support our running costs, preserve our collections, and to drive our mission: to use our unique heritage to inspire the next generation of innovators and engineers.
Find out more at thecommonroom.org.uk

Progress in Design and Manufacture: The Steam Locomotive 1825-1830 (talk)
2023-03-22 14:00 - 16:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us FREE for the Robert Stephenson & Co. Bicentenary celebration in collaboration with the Robert Stephenson Trust.
About ‘Progress in Design and Manufacture: The Steam Locomotive 1825-1830’, Dr Michael R Bailey MBE, railway historian and archaeologist.
Recent archaeological and archival research into some of the earliest locomotive products of the Stephenson factory has revealed further understanding of the circumstances under which designs evolved resulting in such rapid progress being made in the critical years before and after the opening of the Stockton & Darlington and the Liverpool & Manchester Railways. Improved understanding of material technology and manufacturing processes improved reliability to allow the locomotive form to progress, and, in turn, the growth of railway networks to proceed.
About the Robert Stephenson Trust
The Robert Stephenson Trust was formed in 1988, initially to help save the last substantial part of what had once been the works of ‘Robert Stephenson & Co’ until 1904.
Today the Robert Stephenson Trust promotes the achievements of one of the greatest engineers of the Nineteenth Century with the aim of making today’s generation aware of his achievements and inspire a new generation of engineers through his achievements.
Date and Timings
Date: Wednesday 22nd March, starting 2pm
Booking information
Each person attending must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: Lecture Theatre, The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.

Do It The Safety Way!
2023-03-22 16:30 - 17:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us for National Lottery Open Week for ‘Do It The Safety Way!’, our Live Science and History Show.
With live demonstrations, and real artefacts from our archives, discover the deadly dangers of the pit, and the inventions which helped keep miners safe! ⛏️

Candlelight concerts: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
2023-03-24 18:00 - 19:05 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Newcastle. Discover the music of Taylor Swift in the beautiful Wood Hall under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Head over to the Fever website to book your tickets now.

All Aboard - Family fun day
2023-04-04 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us for a fantastic experience for families with different activities like making a train whistle, assembling a train with LEGO or discovering all the challenges of train operation.
Booking information
Each child attending must have their own ticket. Parents may attend without a ticket but register their name on arrival. Reserving tickets will guarantee you a space for the workshop but there might be more space during the day.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Times:
10am- 12pm
1pm – 3pm

All Aboard – Family Fun Day
2023-04-05 10:00 - 15:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us for a fantastic experience for families with different activities like making a train whistle, assembling a train with LEGO or discovering all the challenges of train operation using a Scalextric.
Booking information
Each child attending must have their own ticket. Parents may attend without a ticket but register their name on arrival. Reserving tickets will guarantee you a space for the workshop but there might be more space during the day.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Times:
10am- 12pm
1pm – 3pm

Candlelight Concert: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
2023-04-05 18:00, 2023-04-05 20:30 - 2023-05-06 21:35 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Newcastle upon Tyne. Discover the music of Hans Zimmer in the beautiful Wood Hall, under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Head over to the Fever website to book your tickets now.

DO IT THE SAFETY WAY! - Live science show
2023-04-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-04-11 14:00 - 15:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Our Live Science and History Show. Free tickets available now!
With live demonstrations, and real artefacts from our archives, discover the deadly dangers of the pit, and the inventions which helped keep miners safe! ⛏️
Booking information
1 ticket per person attending.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Age recommendation: 5+
Additional information
Location: The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
About The Common Room
The Common Room is a charity formed in 2017 to restore the Grade II* listed Neville Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne (home to The Mining Institute since 1872), and its significant archive and collections documenting centuries of engineering, mining, and wider scientific innovation.
Thanks to National Lottery players, an £8.9m grant has enabled us to spend over £7 million restoring the building, and around £2m to support our running costs, preserve our collections, and to drive our mission: to use our unique heritage to inspire the next generation of innovators and engineers.
Find out more at thecommonroom.org.uk

All Aboard – Family Fun Day
2023-04-12 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us for a fantastic experience for families with different activities like making a train whistle, assembling a train with LEGO and more.
Booking information
Each child attending must have their own ticket. Parents may attend without a ticket but register their name on arrival. Reserving tickets will guarantee you a space for the workshop but there might be more space during the day.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Age: recommended 5+. Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Time slots:
10am- 12pm
1pm – 3pm

Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
2023-04-18 08:45 - 21:45, 2023-04-28 08:00 - 21:30, 2023-04-28 18:00 - 19:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Newcastle. Buy your tickets now to discover the music of Taylor Swift in our beautiful Wood Hall under the gentle glow of candlelight.

History of Lead Mining in the North East - Les Turnbull Book Launch
2023-04-26 14:00 - 15:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us at The Common Room with NEIMME to celebrate the launch of Les Turnbull’s new book The History of Lead Mining in the North East.
Les Turnbull’s book ‘The History of Lead Mining in the North East of England’ was first published in 1975. This fourth edition has been greatly enlarged by the addition of new chapters and the volume is now printed in colour throughout. This is a companion volume to ‘Coals from Newcastle’ and is an essential guide to the mineral mines of the northern Pennines.
The first half of the book provides an historical introduction and a description of all the principal processes involved in the mining, dressing and smelting of lead ore. Throughout, it deals with the communities established in the dales and the lives of the men and women connected to the industry. The second section provides ideas from exploring the region by car and on foot. There are numerous historical and contemporary photographs as well as maps to aid those who wish to explore the industrial archaeology of the lead dales.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase at £15.00 alongside Les’s other past publications.
Booking information
Each person attending, including adults accompanying children, must have their own ticket.
Tickets are free, but if you would like to make a small donation to support the charitable work of The Common Room, it would be hugely appreciated.
Additional information
Location: The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SE
Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Our building is fully accessible – if you have any queries about accessibility, please contact luca.cepollaro@thecommonroom.org.uk
