Town Moor

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The Town Moor is around 400 hectares of open space within the city boundary of Newcastle upon Tyne; it is used mainly as pasture land. which is an unusual feature set against the urban landscape which surrounds it. Two artificial mounds were created by the spoil from urban demolition and re-generation in the 60's and these now provide a great recreational facility for winter sports when snowfall levels permits.

winter fall-out

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the shattered remnants of cheap plastic sledges and toboggans litter the frozen ground on Newcastle's Town Moor.

Toon dogs

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these dogs were on the Town Moor today enjoying the snow; they are wearing coats in the
colours of the local football ( soccer) team, Newcastle United, who are sometime called The Toon which is derived from the Geordie way of saying "Going into town" which is "Gannin into toon."

winter evening on the town moor

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The Town Moor is an area of common land of around 400 hectares within the city boundary of Newcastle upon Tyne; it is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath ( in London) combined. The Moor is used from time to time to graze cattle. A large travelling fair called the Hoppings is held there every June.

the Hoppings, Newcastle Town Moor

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click to enlarge
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what is claimed to be Europe's largest travelling fair is held in the last week in June on the Town Moor in Newcastle upon Tyne. A similar claim is made of the Nottingham Goose Fair.

The name has several possible origins but my preference is a derivation from the Anglo-Saxon word "hoppen" which means funfair.

The fair is supposed to have been cursed by an old gypsy woman who was thrown off the moor and as a result swore a curse that it would rain during the fair every year, this often does happen , which can be seen in the distant sky in the photo .
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The Town Moor on which the fair is held is a large area of common land; larger than Hyde park in London, completely surrounded by the City. It is not laid out as a park, it being more an area of rough pasture upon which Freemen of the city have the right to graze cattle.
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This photo, taken at dusk, tries to capture these special elements of Newcastle life.
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