Side is a medieval street in Newcastle upon Tyne. The street today begins by the St Nicholas' Cathedral in the city centre and runs past the Black Gate and takes a steep descent down to Sandhill on the Quayside. It's name derives from location on the side of a hill. It was very different in the past when the lower part of the street was divided by the Lort-burn river, which was later filled in and built over in 1696. Admiral Lord Collingwood was born in the Side, Newcastle on 26th September 1748.
Lord Collingwood is probably the greatest sailor Britain ever had. Lord Nelson was the Admiral who has been lauded as the man who defeated the French at the Battle of Trafalgar, but he was actually dead for most of the battle and it was Lord Collingwood who led the navy. He was a sailor who almost never set foot on dry land.
The lowest or widest part of this street is called the Foot of the Side. About 90 years ago was filled with shops of merchants, goldsmiths, milliners, upholsters, etc. and is still a place of considerable trade and bustle but now bars, restaurants and art galleries have replaced the earlier businesses.
Just above the middle of the Side, there was a very narrow and steep flight of steps, that communicated with the eastern gate of the Castle. This ascent, which is called the Dog-Leap Stairs, has recently been widened, and rendered safe and commodious. This place still contains some remains of the outer fortifications of the Castle.
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