A few Saturdays ago I posted photos of Newcastle uponTyne’s bridges. Today here are some more photos I took on that grey, gloomy day. This time they are of Newcastle’s Castle Keep and Black Gate.
Our first sight of the castle was as it appeared behind the railway line:
The Castle was was built in stone during the reign of Henry II, between 1168 and 1178, at a cost of £1,144. There was an earlier castle on the site, a wooden motte and bailey castle built by William the Conqueror’s son, Robert Curthose. This was replaced by the stone castle – hence the name of Newcastle! It stands high above the River Tyne – Newcastle upon Tyne.
This is the Castle Keep, which is the only remaining part of the 12th century Castle:
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is open to the public, but we didn’t have time that day to go inside. On our next visit to Newcastle, we will make time to have a proper look at the Castle Keep!
The Gatehouse to the Castle is still standing – the Black Gate. It was added to the Castle site in 1247 by Henry III. The wooden footbridge was originally a drawbridge.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
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It almost looks as though some of the bricks on Castle Keep are newer than others. Interesting structures.
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Carolyn, some of the bricks are much newer because the Keep has been restored several times – 1810, 1812 and 1848, and more recently between the 1960s and 1980s when crumbling outside stonework was replaced and the interior cleaned. (see the Castle Keep website – http://www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk/keephistory/keep_history3.htm)
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Gosh those are beautiful! I especially love the passage that used to have a drawbridge. It’s all so medieval.
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Trish, it’s the medieval aspect that is so attractive, I think – and the sense of history.
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I am so thrilled at the sight of castles. Not only because of the historic events surrounding them, but the beauty that seems to render me speechless.
My eldest son lived in an old 16th C. castle outside of Prague during the late 1990s. In exchange for living there, he and several others worked on the restoration. He also took lots of photos. (He’s a photographer).
He did say that the castle was VERY cold, but he did enjoy the experience.
Thanks for sharing, Margaret….
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT and
MY WEBSITE
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I so love seeing this gorgeous old structures. We don’t get to see that detail here.
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Beautiful pictures. I love to visit historical sites.
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It is amazing to think of all of the history that has passed in and around those buildings!
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I really like the architecture! Looks rather foreboding.
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Wonderful!
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It’s amazing to think how long the castle has been there and of the men and women who walked it’s halls! Thrilling. I love the look of the Gatehouse. I’m glad it’s taken care of and kept up.
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Very cool. A real castle, like the kind you imagine in childhood. Here’s My Saturday Snapshot
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What a wonderful sense of history you can feel even in the photos.
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What exactly is a castle keep? I read about them all the time but never thought to wonder what they are.
The photograph, with its juxtaposition of new and old, is a little unnerving. Thankfully the castle was judged valuable enough to preserve.
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It’s a fortified tower – see more on wikipedia, or on the link in my post, which takes you to a plan and history of this keep.
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