Newcastle's history is tainted by a dark past, much of which occurred in the city's infamous Bigg Market area. In the 18th and 19th centuries, this notorious district was a hub for criminal activity, with gangs, prostitution, and violence rampant. The city's dark side was further fueled by the infamous "Scruton's Alley," a narrow passageway where murderers, thieves, and con artists lurked, preying on unsuspecting victims. The alley's sinister reputation was so notorious that authorities eventually demolished it in the late 19th century. Despite its efforts to shed its grim past, Newcastle still bears the scars of its dark history, with echoes of its notorious past lingering in the city's folklore and architecture.
