The Black Gate from the west, The Old Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne
Henry II replaced the previous castle with a rectangular stone keep, commissioned in 1168, which was built between 1172 and 1177 at a cost of £1,144. A stone bailey, in the form of a triangle, replaced the previous wooden one. The master mason or architect, Maurice, also built Dover Castle. The great outer gateway to the castle, called 'the Black Gate', was built later, between 1247 and 1250, in the reign of Henry III.[4] During the civil wars at the end of King John's reign, it was under the control of Philip of Oldcoates.[5] Additional protection to the castle was provided late in the 13th century when stone walls were constructed, with towers, to enclose the town. The safety provided by the town walls led to the neglect of the fabric of the castle. In 1589, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I the castle was described as being ruinous.[6] From the early 17th century onward, this situation was made worse by the construction of shops and houses on much of the site.[6]
Size: 2848px × 4288px
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Photo credit: © Grazyna Bonati / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 12th, black, castle, century, city, gate, henry, ii, newcastle, protection, tyne, walls
