Grade I listed · Newcastle upon Tyne

Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs

Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs is a Grade I listed building in Newcastle upon Tyne, first listed on 30 March 1987. It is one of 52 Grade I entries among 722 listed buildings in Newcastle upon Tyne; 41% of Newcastle upon Tyne’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs
Grade	Grade I — exceptional interest
List entry number	1320260
Date first listed	30 March 1987
Local planning authority	Newcastle upon Tyne
Location	54.96671, -1.61314 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1320260

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Newcastle upon Tyne will require for your works on Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs

Name	Grade	Distance
Bonded Warehouses	II	44 m
Stephenson'S Works - Erecting Shops Etc. J T Dove, Showroom, Nos 2-14	II	81 m
Former Coppersmiths' shop and warehouses with offices attached	II	102 m
Former Robert Stephenson and Company Fitting Shop	II	112 m
Town Wall	I	113 m
Number 20 and Building to Rear (Number 18 Now Demolished)	II*	146 m
Hawthorne Works Now J T Dove Ltd (Building Materials)	II	172 m
House South of Clavering House in Occupation of Messrs Turnbull	II	175 m
Turnbull'S Warehouse	II	183 m
Clavering House	II	196 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs listed?

Yes. Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1320260, first listed on 30 March 1987. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Town Wall North of the Close and Breakneck Stairs?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Newcastle upon Tyne, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.