Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne
Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, Independent subscription library in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The Literary and Philosophical Society contains over 200,000 books and 20,000 musical recordings spread across multiple rooms in a neoclassical building.
Founded in 1793 as a conversation club, the institution moved to its current Westgate Road location in 1825, designed by architect John Green.
The library holds collections in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, German, and Latin, supporting intellectual exchanges among Newcastle residents since the Georgian period.
The library opens six days per week, offering lending services to members while maintaining free access to reference materials for all visitors.
Joseph Swan conducted the first public demonstration of electric light bulbs at this location, making it the first building illuminated by this technology.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Inception: 1793
Website: https://litandphil.org.uk
GPS coordinates: 54.96933,-1.61394
Latest update: May 30, 2025 06:13
Newcastle upon Tyne and its neighbor Gateshead form a lively urban area in the northeast of England, where industrial history meets contemporary creation. The city retains traces of its medieval past with Castle Keep, a 12th-century fortress, while Grey's Monument reflects 19th-century political reforms. The Victoria Tunnel showcases the period when Newcastle was a major coal industry hub. For culture enthusiasts, the Great North Museum houses archaeological and natural history collections, the Theatre Royal has offered various performances since 1837, and BALTIC provides a space for contemporary art in an old grain mill. The two banks of the Tyne River offer contrasting experiences. In Newcastle, St James' Park has hosted local football matches for over a century, and Fenwick department store continues a 140-year-old shopping tradition. across the river in Gateshead, the Sage Gateshead offers musical programming in a modern building from 2004, and the Angel of the North, a large steel sculpture visible from the highway, has become a recognizable landmark of the region. This destination combines industrial heritage, Georgian architecture, and recent cultural projects.
Tup Tup Palace
128 m
Newcastle Town Hall
172 m
St John the Baptist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne
131 m
Westgate House, Newcastle upon Tyne
77 m
Waters Tomb About 2 Metres South Of Church Of St John The Baptist
124 m
George Stephenson Memorial
75 m
Statue of Queen Victoria
181 m
Hodgson Tomb About 15 Metres East Of Church Of St John The Baptist
121 m
Royal Station Hotel
89 m
The County Hotel
183 m
Bolbec Hall
19 m
St Nicholas' Buildings
140 m
Irving House
37 m
Neville Hall And Wood Memorial Hall
22 m
Clavering House
157 m
Union Club
90 m
Northern Assurance Buildings
128 m
33, Groat Market
172 m
35 And 37, Groat Market
176 m
Sun Insurance Buildings
45 m
Barclay's Bank And Collingwood Buildings
73 m
General Post Office And Area Balustrade
123 m
Former Hertz Rent A Car Building
93 m
Gate Pier Of The Old Grammar School
104 m
Lloyds Bank
86 m
Friar House
177 m
Accommodation Arch And Railway Viaduct Between High Level Bridge, Castle Garth And Central Station
173 m
7, Collingwood Street
111 mReviews
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