Newcastle upon Tyne (pop. 300,125) is a commercial and manufacturing center of northern England. The city, usually called Newcastle, was formerly a center for mining coal. The expression “carrying coals to Newcastle” means taking something to a place that has more than it needs. Newcastle lies on the River Tyne, near the North Sea. It is named after a castle built about 1080 by a son of William the Conqueror, a king of England.
Coal mining and shipbuilding were the city’s chief industries from the 1700’s until the 1930’s. These industries have been largely replaced by the food processing industry and the manufacture of chemical products and heavy engineering equipment. The city is the home of Newcastle University.
