as-1899
1888: A rare early piece of St. James' Park, Newcastle, memorabilia
An auction catalogue, dated 4th July 1888, of property in Gallowgate and Strawberry Lane, Newcastle, immediately adjacent to the present Newcastle United St. James' Park Football Ground.
This 120 year old catalogue, printed on thick blue paper, with a large detailed tipped-in plan of the property for sale (shown below as the third illustration), is in virtually unmarked condition, without damage, although with a touch of wear on the front outer cover. Folded as originally issued, it unfolds to 4 pages, each 18 x 11 inches, 46 x 28 cms.
Although not unique, in that several copies will have been printed at the time for those attending the auction, it could well be that the example offered here for sale is the only one still in existence.
Any major collection of memorabilia relating to the establishment of St. James' Park football ground should obtain this rare and original item - another example may never again appear for sale.
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Football was first played officially at St. James' Park, Newcastle,in 1880 when Newcastle Rangers in September of that year took over an enclosed ground close to Leazes Terrace. The pitch was immediately referred to as St. James Park.
In 1886, Newcastle West End football club took over the lease at St. James' Park. The following few years saw Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End clubs vie for supremacy with East End emerging and essentially becoming the Magpies on the same site.
The site shown on the enclosed 1888 auction plan of property close to the ground still exists as a commercial site and can easily be traced on any modern map. The South-east corner of the present St. James' Park is where the words "Castle Leazes" is
shown on the 1888 auction plan.
In short, this auction sale and consequent change of site ownership and redevelopment took place at the exact time that major changes were taking place in the development of what was to become the home of Newcastle United.
The auction catalogue also shows the names of all the tenants on the site at the time and some of these families are undoubtably the earliest football supporters in Newcastle and the North East.
If your surname is one of the following your great great
grandparents could have regularly stood behind the goal at the Gallowgate End: Atkinson; Bell; Carver; Dawson; Handysides; Hedley; Houseman; Johnson; Kay; Lindsay; McGurk; McMaster; Nixon; Robson; Slater; Smart; Thompson; Trundle; Vineberg; Weightman.
This 122-year old auction sale catalogue and attached plan may well be the earliest document still in private hands with links to the establishment of football at St. James' Park.
Don't miss it if you're a collector of Newcastle United or St. James' Park memorabilia - it's unlikely that the chance will ever come your way again.
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