The area grew with the Industrial Revolution with the discovery of coal, and in 1822 Spencer's Steelworks was opened.

The village's steelworks fell into decline after the First World War, and the area is now home to a country park and various leisure facilities.

Though some claim the area's name comes from the Old English for "New Fort or Castle" (burh or burg being the Old English for fort or castle), the name is more commonly thought to have come from the Dewley or New Burn, which runs through the area.

The Romans marked this ford with a framework of stones, and may have built a fort to command the crossing.

[6] The area has other Roman connections, with the route of Hadrian's Wall cutting across its northern half, before running toward Throckley.

[3] From the eighth century, Newburn was a royal vill or town, and Newcastle didn't become a more important settlement until Plantagenet times.

The Scottish Covenanters, led by Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven, planted guns at Newburn to protect them while fording the river, after which they defeated the English on the south side of the river at Stellahaugh, and subsequently occupied Newcastle upon Tyne.

[6] The name of Scotswood, one of the manufacturing areas between Newburn and the city centre, commemorates one of their positions.

[3] Prior to the early 19th century, the majority of employment in the Newburn area was for fishermen, keelmen and miners.

[6] The future railway engineers Joseph and George Armstrong both lived in the village from 1824, and found their first employment at nearby Walbottle Colliery.

Over the course of next hundred or so years his mill grew to take over much of Newburn as the demand for steel boomed with the growth of railways and other industries.

By the late 19th century, the works had spread to the east of the area along the banks of the Tyne to such an extent Newburn Hall was "embedded" in them.

[3][6] In the 1850s, the Newburn Brickworks was built as part of the North Wallbottle and Blucher Colliery Company.

The building still stands today, but the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service moved to West Denton in December 1980.

In the late nineteenth century there was a funfair, known as Newburn Hoppings, set up near the area.

But with the impact of television, the Imperial Cinema was one of many small picture houses to close down, shutting in 1961.

It was used as a bingo hall for a time, but is now owned by Industrial Engravers, producing signs, vehicle liveries and banners.

Originally constructed in 1855 as a pumping station, it lay derelict for a number of years but was protected from demolition by becoming a grade II* listed building, renovated in 1996 and converted into a brewery and public house.

The Keelman stands at the entrance to the Tyne Riverside Country Park and is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east from the neighbouring village of Wylam.

[16] The route of the wagonway can still be followed today in the form of a bridleway leading to the Tyne Riverside Country Park, developed in the 1980s.

However, it has bad accessibility and so there are plans to build a new library near Newburn's community centre.

The new library is expected to incorporate a doctor's surgery and pharmacy, costing £24 million, with a planned opening of 2012.

The museum is housed in buildings originally built in 1924 as a drill hall for the 4th Northumberland Fusiliers.

They were runners-up in the Northern Alliance Challenge Cup in 1951–52, 1952–53 and 1955–56, where they played the Newcastle United A team.

[24] The centre also houses a climbing wall, gym and day care, and provides facilities for archery, badminton and football, amongst other sports.