Newcastle City Centre Cathedral & Castle

History & Heritage in Newcastle

The Grade 1 Listed Castle Keep in Newcastle city centre near the High Level Bridge on Saint Nicholas Street stands as one of the finest surviving Norman castle keeps in England and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument in Newcastle. The castle in Newcastle dates from 1168 and was founded by Henry II. The castle's position in Newcastle is typical of defensive castles, in this case on a promontory overlooking the River Tyne. Archaeological evidence has pointed to much earlier activity on this promontory stretching back to the prehistoric period. The Pons Aelius Roman Fort also stood here prior to the Norman castle.

The very name of the city, New Castle, is linked to the construction of the Norman moat and bailey castle by Robert Curthose, son of William the Conqueror in 1080, later rebuilt from 1168 to 1178 by Henry II. The Black Gate which you will see just to the side of the Castle Keep in the Castle Garth area was added later by Henry III in 1247.

Newcastle Castle Keep is open from 10am Monday to Saturday and from 12noon on Sundays both until 5pm, last entrance 4.15pm.

Nearest Newcastle Metro Station is Newcastle Central Station.

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Newcastle Cathedral

The first St Nicholas Parish church on this site situated very near the castle in Newcastle was built in 1080, instigated by the Normans. The exterior of the beautiful Newcastle Cathedral you see today with its distinctive stone crown has changed little since the 15th century. The interior however was cleared of its tombs and monuments in the late 1700s. After St Nicholas church became a cathedral relatively late in 1882 when a new diocese was formed in Newcastle, the Victorians set to work on adding the stunning stained glass and wood and stone carvings.

The patron saint St Nicholas after which the cathedral in Newcastle and many other historic churches in the North East take their name, is renowned as the patron saint of children and lover of the poor. Saint Nicholas famously has links with the origin of Father Christmas, an image which developed most strongly in America after the American Revolution.

The Newcastle Cathedral Shop is well worth a visit for a range of fine gifts, ornaments, cards and Newcastle souvenirs and the Cathedral Refectory serves a choice of home cooked meals, drinks and snacks at great value prices.

Newcastle Cathedral Shop and the Cathedral Cafe are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm. The nearest Newcastle Metro station near Newcastle Cathedral is Newcastle Central Station.

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Newcastle Cathedral Church of St Mary

Essential viewing alongside the older Anglican Cathedral in Newcastle is the historic church of St Mary, the Catholic Cathedral in Newcastle completed in 1844 and designed by the famous Victorian architect Augustus Pugin (1812-1852) whose work also included the Houses of Parliament. The Catholic Cathedral in Newcastle is located near Central Newcastle Station on Clayton Street West. Pugin converted to Roman Catholicism and was commissioned to design a number of Catholic churches in Britain. This acclaimed Victorian architect is credited with influencing the Victorian gothic revival in architecture and Pugin also had much influence on John Ruskin, William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement as a whole. For lovers of Pugin's fine gothic architecture and his intricate carvings, a visit to St Mary Catholic Cathedral in Newcastle is a must.

The magnificent Great East Window, a highlight inside the cathedral, is Pugin's design with much of the carvings done by Pugin's protg George Myers. The cathedral's crypt containing the coffins of the first two priests of St Mary, William Riddell and William Fletcher, who both died in the typhus epidemic which killed many in Newcastle in 1847 and 1848, was discovered as recently as 2003. St Mary cathedral in Newcastle is also famous for its beautiful five pipe organs. Visitors are most welcome and the Cloister Cafe and Restaurant is onsite.

Cloister Cafe & Restaurant, Newcastle Catholic Cathedral is open Monday to Friday 7.45am to 5.30pm. Saturday 8am to 5.30pm, Sunday 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Nearest Newcastle Metro station is Central Station.

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Historic Parks in Newcastle

Historic public parks in Newcastle and across Britain were often donated as gifts by wealthy Victorian and Edwardian industrialists to their local communities or set up by public bodies during these eras. Newcastle Parks include several parks with such a heritage such as the stunning Leazes Park west of Haymarket which was opened in 1873 as the very first public people s park on Tyneside originally equipped with one of the popular and stunning glass Palm Houses which sprung up around Britain's parks after London s Great Exhibition and famous vast glass house. Recently refurbished and with the refurbishment or reintroduction of many of Leazes Park's original features such as the bandstand, replica boat hut, the ornate Jubilee gateways and new park furniture, this historic Victorian park in Newcastle also boasts an onsite boating lake, bowls and tennis club.

Kids will love the Pets Corner, boating lake and play area at Jesmond Dene park spread across a wooded valley just north of Newcastle city centre. The Newcastle industrialist Armstrong also influenced the development of this historic park in Newcastle in the 19th century.

The oldest park in Newcastle is Town Moor to the north of Haymarket pushing up towards Gosforth and Newcastle Racecourse. This historic Newcastle park covers 400ha and has a history stretching back to the 12th century. Newcastle s famous Victorian shipping magnate William Armstrong donated a large are of land 2km to the north east of Newcastle city centre which became Armstrong Park and adjacent is Heaton Park. Both these historic Newcastle parks date from 1887.

Other historic Victorian and Edwardian Newcastle parks around the city include Elswick Park dating from 1881 and the popular Exhibition Park within walking distance of the city centre. Exhibition Park was the site of the historic Royal Jubilee Exhibition in 1887 when the park s name was changed from Bull Park. The original bandstand from that Victorian exhibition can still be found in this popular Newcastle Park which is the site for the nearby Great North Museum Newcastle and numerous events throughout the year. Other onsite activities in Exhibition Park Newcastle include a playground, boating lake, crazy golf, a park cafe, a military vehicle museum and a skate park. This Newcastle Park is within walking distance of Haymarket and Monument Newcastle Metro Stations.

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