Grey’s Monument is a huge part of Newcastles history which everyone knows about. But did you know you can actually walk up to the top and reach the viewing platform. Well we took the trip up the winding steps to see what newcastle looks like from the top of Grey’s Monument.
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00:00 Grey's Monument, an iconic landmark in central Newcastle at the top of Grey Street in Granger
00:07 Street. To most, it's a place to meet up or somewhere to sit enjoying some lunch in the
00:12 summer but this landmark has a lot of history. The monument was completed in 1838 and it was
00:18 built to commemorate Charles Grey II Earl Grey who was the British Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834.
00:25 More specifically, Grey's Monument celebrates the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832
00:31 which recognized the system of parliamentary constituencies and increased the number of those
00:35 eligible to vote. Grey's Monument was actually meant to be a lot taller than it is because not
00:40 enough funds were raised but the column still stands at 134 feet and behind that little door
00:46 is the steps to climb to the viewing platform at the top. Sometimes during the year, Grey's
00:51 Monument is open to the public and we had the chance to climb the 164 steps to see a bird's
00:57 eye view of Newcastle. I have a feeling I'm gonna have to stop halfway because that is a lot of
01:03 stairs but we will see. I am very excited to see the views from the top definitely. The steps up
01:11 to the top weren't very steep but you do become a bit dizzy walking around the winding staircase.
01:18 All the way up there is tiny little slits in the wall where you can see out onto the streets below.
01:23 There isn't much to see through them but you can start to tell how high up you actually are
01:28 and it is a bit nerve-wracking when it kicks in how high up you will actually be when you get to
01:33 the top. I'm now at the top of Grey's Monument. I am very out of breath, it is not for the faint-hearted
01:40 but I am very excited to see what Newcastle looks like from right up here. It is actually
01:47 mad to think that I am like at the top of Grey's Monument. So yeah, let's look at these amazing views.
01:53 The views from the top of the monument are incredible and you can see almost every part
01:59 of Newcastle. Looking around the viewing platform you can see so far in the distance
02:05 and you can even see the Balt Lake along Gateshead's Quayside. On the other side looking over Old
02:10 Eldon Square you can see the seats right at the top of St James's Park. You also get a great view
02:16 of all the changes that are being made across Newcastle with the new building work and looking
02:20 right down on Granger Street was such a strange experience but Newcastle looked amazing from that
02:26 high up. So now I'm on my way back down Grey's Monument. I can't believe the views up there.
02:34 It is actually mad to think. When I was up there it was kind of a bit like
02:39 how am I actually up here but it was an amazing experience. One that I'll never forget definitely.
02:46 When we got back on the ground it was very hard to comprehend that we had stood on the top of
02:53 Grey's Monument and saw some great views of the city but I did have to sit down after climbing
02:59 up and down all of those steps.
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