Newcastle University Walking Tour

Places are limited for this the last walking tour of 2025. Please book your place asap by clicking the Booking Form link.

Come and join us on a walking tour of Newcastle University’s campus and its environs, uncovering the history of the buildings, their global and colonial links and what it means for us today.

The walk will take in some of the oldest and most important buildings on campus to reveal how they have been implicated in colonialism and engage with the histories of some of those of recent African descent whose lives have been influenced by Newcastle University, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Irene Ighodaro and Frederick Douglass.

What our participants say about the walks…

Wednesday 12th November at 2pm

2026 Calendars and Books

We are pleased to offer you the 2026 edition of African Lives in Northern England’s calendar. Documenting new characters who we have learnt about or expanded our knowledge of this year, the calendar is full of interesting information and beautiful pictures.

We also have newly printed copies of African Lives in Northern England, from Roman Times to the 21st Century, a book rich with information about influential African-descended people from the Northeast from past to present.

You can make purchases (Book: £5, Calendar: £8) by contacting us.

Award for equalities and anti-racism

On June 10th, our founder Beverley Prevatt Goldstein received the honorary award of Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University. The award is in acknowledgment of her contribution as an equalities activist and champion of anti-racism, including her leading role in the African Lives in Northern England Projects, raising awareness of influential people who have made an impact on our region. We are so happy that she has received this well-deserved recognition of her incredible work.

On 4th October, to mark Black History Month, Newcastle City Library hosted us for our event featuring engaging talks and short walks exploring figures of African descent and their connection to Newcastle. Participants also had the chance to vote for a character to be nominated for a plaque. The results will be revealed soon!

Plaque Unveilings…

In 2021 our calendar and booklet had highlighted Frederick Douglass and his plaque, the only one to a black person in the city of Newcastle. We are delighted that, assisted by Don O'Meara, the Project has been instrumental in two more plaques being installed.

On 25th June we had the pleasure of unveiling a plaque to Irene Ighodaro, a Sierra Leonean doctor and women’s rights advocate who lived and worked in Newcastle. The event (pictured above) was well attended, with members of Irene’s family present and was covered in an article by Newcastle Council.

On August 6th 2024 a plaque honouring Jack London, a trailblazing black British Olympian who won a silver medal in the 100m sprint at the 1928 Amsterdam games, was unveiled at his former home in Jesmond, Newcastle (pictured opposite). Read Newcastle Council’s article here.

Video footage of the plaque unveiling