The Green at Wallsend is:
- the oldest man-made feature in the Borough of North Tyneside after the Roman Wall
- the only surviving ancient village green in North Tyneside and the nearest village green to Newcastle city centre
- the central feature of The Green, Wallsend Conservation Area.
It is described in The English Village Green (Bailey, 1985) as, “surprising […] the old part of the town retains its village green in the face of all probabilities”. Even Pevsner, in The Buildings of England: Northumberland (1957), considers The Green “worth a stroll”.
Pride in its existence extends well beyond those fortunate enough to be its current residents, yet its presence and significance remain little-known outside the town of Wallsend.
The Green, Wallsend Residents’ Association was created in 2010, principally as a representative body to deal with North Tyneside Council and other public sector bodies that have the capacity to affect the environment of The Green. Local residents found that the acts of such bodies were generally uninformed, ill-considered and, if allowed to continue unchecked, would result in the death by a thousand cuts of the special character of the area. A precious and extraordinary semi-rural preserve on the outskirts of Newcastle is in danger of being turned by degrees into an ordinary urban street. The Green must have a strong local voice and the ability to prevent or challenge damaging municipal action.
The Association also promotes regular educational and social events for local residents. Its constitution and a membership application form, together with more information, can be found here.