TYNEMOUTH CASTLE

Northumbria

Tynemouth Castle's impressive situation on its rocky headland squashed between the North Sea and the Tyne Estuary is its greatest asset.  This is a place of North-Eastern legend, close by is "Geordie's Hole" from which Newcastle-folk get their "Geordie" nickname.

The Castle surrounds the Priory which dates from the 6th century (two Saints; Oswin and Henry of Coquet lie here).  The Castle was initially built as a motte and bailey to protect the Priory around 1080 probably by Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, and it was this early motte Castle that was besieged in 1095 for two months by the King and then subsequently for another six by Mowbray, then once again by the King who removed Mowbray from the equation permanently this time.

A stone replacement was built by Prior Adam around 1296 which was strong enough to deter a Scottish Army in 1297.

The stone Castle we see today dates mostly from the 14th century and is of the Gatehouse and curtain wall type; indeed it once possessed 3200 feet of curtain walling!  The Castle was constructed by successive Priors and was kept in good condition until the Dissolution when the Castle passed to the Crown.  During the reign of Elizabeth I brick-faced earth bastions were added to the Castle (one of which is pictured in the right centre of the photo above).

In the Civil War the Castle was taken and lost by both Parliament and King on several occasions, although it was already in poor condition so little effort was made by either side to fight for it.

In 1783 the War Office adapted the Castle with "a hideous superstructure of bricks" which was mostly destroyed after a fire in 1936.

The Castle and Priory are both owned by English Heritage and the windswept desolation of this outpost has a very special magic.

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© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
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2001