Structure Name: Newcastle Castle: The Keep

Description:
 

Square sandstone tower (c.19 metres by 17 metres) standing four storeys high, with a nineteenth century embattled roof. The principle entrance is approached via an external staircase, on the eastern side, leading to a moulded, arched entrance to the Great Hall. Each floor has a principle room with small rooms leading from it set into the thickness of the walls:

The vaulted ground floor is accessed via a street level entrance, leading to a garrison room, chapel, an ante chamber and a mezzanine chamber.

The first floor contains a large chamber (which today is used for museum displays) and the Queen's chamber.

The second floor is where the Great Hall is located, from which the King's chamber and a room containing a well can be accessed.

The third floor consists of a gallery that would have originally overlooked the roof of the Great Hall.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade I, Scheduled Ancient Monument

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Eastings: 425040m (view map)

Northings: 563870m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 10m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Street Address
 

Castle Garth
 

Post Code: NE1 1RQ

Structure Types Identified: CASTLE, DOMESTIC CHAPEL, KEEP, MUSEUM

Historical Background
 

After the seventeenth century bastion was built beside the keep, the castle area became a refuge for people wanting to live outside of the town authorities' jurisdiction.
 

Chronology:

• 1080   A predominantly wooden castle was built by Robert Curthose (the eldest son of William The Conqueror), c.1080. Very little survives of this structure beyond a spread of clay and the lower courses of a small rectangular building.
      Entities Involved:
            Robert Curthose: Commissioned work.
• 1168 - 1178   Castle refortified in stone. During this time the keep, curtain wall and North Gate were built. This building work cost £1,144.
      Entities Involved:
            King Henry II: Commissioned work.
• 1199 - 1216   The refortification begun by King Henry II was completed during the reign of King John. This work included the building of an aisled hall within the bailey.
      Entities Involved:
            King John I: Carried out work.
• 1247 - 1250   Barbican and gate (today known as the Black Gate) added to the castle defences.
      Entities Involved:
            King Henry III: Commissioned work.
• 1589   By 1589 the castle had decayed into a ruinous state.
• MID 17TH CENTURY   Castle refortified with bastions during the Civil War.
• 1809   Keep purchased by Newcastle Corporation.
      Entities Involved:
            Newcastle Corporation: Purchased keep.
• 1811   Roof and battlements added c.1811.
      Entities Involved:
            Newcastle Corporation: Commissioned work.
• MID 19TH CENTURY   Railway viaduct built through the middle of the castle area, between the Black Gate and the keep.
• 1847   The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne successfully campaigned to save the keep from being demolished in advance of railway work after which a program of restoration was carried out by Newcastle Corporation.
      Entities Involved:
            Newcastle Corporation: Commissioned restoration work.
            Dobson, John: Architect in charge of restoration work.
• 1848   The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne granted a long lease on the castle keep by Newcastle Corporation for a nominal rent.
      Entities Involved:
            Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne: Aquired lease for the castle keep.
• 1890s   Railway viaduct doubled in width.

Notes
 

The Castle Keep is today administered by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne on behalf of the City.

See http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/keep/ [last accessed 13/02/04].
 

References:

• Images of England
• Pevsner, N., Richmond, I., Grundy, J., McCombie, G., Ryder, P. and Welfare, H. (2001) The Buildings of England: Northumberland. London, Penguin Books, pp.434-438
• Tyne and Wear SMR

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

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