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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