A view of the massive central station in Newcastle, as seen from on high, at the top of the Castle Keep (and using a big zoom!). Something slightly ironic about taking a photo of the station I arrived at earlier, but from the castle which itself sits right next to the railway viaduct that carried my train into the city.

A view of the massive central station in Newcastle, as seen from on high, at the top of the Castle Keep (and using a big zoom!). Something slightly ironic about taking a photo of the station I arrived at earlier, but from the castle which itself sits right next to the railway viaduct that carried my train into the city.

The Black Gate, which originally sported a portcullis and drawbridge, was created on the orders of Henry III and constructed from 1247 to 1250 CE, to supplement the adjacent Castle (see previous photos), essentially a large barbican for the castle. You'll notice it isn't actually black - the name derives from the 1600s, when it was no longer being used as a defensive structure and had been let out to tenants, the most prominent of whom was a merchant called Patrick Black. In the years between then and the 1800s it was allowed to fall into serious decline, before the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle leased it and set about restoring it, thankfully, or we may not have had this today. As I mentioned in the previous set of pictures of the castle keep, the two structures were divided by a Victorian railway viaduct in the 1800s (when the area around them was a bit of a slum), and since that carries the main Edinburgh to London rail line to this day, they are still divided by it. There's a small but lovely museum in the Black Gate - shout out to the staff there, who were very nice and friendly

The Black Gate, which originally sported a portcullis and drawbridge, was created on the orders of Henry III and constructed from 1247 to 1250 CE, to supplement the adjacent Castle (see previous photos), essentially a large barbican for the castle. You'll notice it isn't actually black - the name derives from the 1600s, when it was no longer being used as a defensive structure and had been let out to tenants, the most prominent of whom was a merchant called Patrick Black. In the years between then and the 1800s it was allowed to fall into serious decline, before the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle leased it and set about restoring it, thankfully, or we may not have had this today. As I mentioned in the previous set of pictures of the castle keep, the two structures were divided by a Victorian railway viaduct in the 1800s (when the area around them was a bit of a slum), and since that carries the main Edinburgh to London rail line to this day, they are still divided by it. There's a small but lovely museum in the Black Gate - shout out to the staff there, who were very nice and friendly

While in Newcastle I visited the castle, which gave the city its name. Originally around this spot the eldest son of William the Conqueror (aka William the Bastard, charmingly) was sent to build up defences against incursions from Scotland, and in regular Norman style created a Motte and Bailey, a wooden tower on a raised earthen mound, with moat and drawbridge, in 1080 CE, this being the "new castle" In the late 1160s, Henry II had the Norman structure replaced with a more robust stone fortification, and around 1250 Henry III added neighbouring Black Gate as part of the fortifications complex (pics of that to follow later). This sits right in the heart of Newcastle, within easy walking distance of the railway station, which you can see from the roof of the Keep, and indeed a 19th century viaduct for the railway line bisects the Keep and Black Gate now - both were allowed to decay badly in later centuries, but fortunately rescued and restored, now both well worth a visit if going to the city. The Black Gate does had a discreet elevator to help, but the Castle, understandably does not, so if you have mobility issues, there are a lot of steep steps

While in Newcastle I visited the castle, which gave the city its name. Originally around this spot the eldest son of William the Conqueror (aka William the Bastard, charmingly) was sent to build up defences against incursions from Scotland, and in regular Norman style created a Motte and Bailey, a wooden tower on a raised earthen mound, with moat and drawbridge, in 1080 CE, this being the "new castle" In the late 1160s, Henry II had the Norman structure replaced with a more robust stone fortification, and around 1250 Henry III added neighbouring Black Gate as part of the fortifications complex (pics of that to follow later). This sits right in the heart of Newcastle, within easy walking distance of the railway station, which you can see from the roof of the Keep, and indeed a 19th century viaduct for the railway line bisects the Keep and Black Gate now - both were allowed to decay badly in later centuries, but fortunately rescued and restored, now both well worth a visit if going to the city. The Black Gate does had a discreet elevator to help, but the Castle, understandably does not, so if you have mobility issues, there are a lot of steep steps