Newcastle, Castle Garth, Moot Hall 1

HER Number:
6540

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Newcastle, Castle Garth, Moot Hall 1

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SE

Class:
Civil

Site Type: Broad:
Meeting Hall

Site Type: Specific:
Moot Hall

General Period:
Medieval

Specific Period:

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
The Moot or County Hall was in use for Court of Sessions for Northumberland before 1600. It was altered between 1604 and 1625. Above the entrance at the north end of the west side of the building was a stone crest bearing the arms of England quartered within those of Scotland. By this time the building had Jacobean-style heavily mullioned windows, suggesting extensive remodelling of the medieval structure at this time. The Moot Hall continued to be used for the regular sittings of quarterly assizes and as a place "for ordering of matters relating to the County of Northumberland". Quarter Sessions Papers 1680-1715 include regular accounts for the cleaning and repair of the building and Grand Jury Room. The Half Moon Battery was possibly regarded as part of the Moot Hall at this time.

Easting:
2510

Northing:
6386

Grid Reference:
NZ25106386

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
J. Nolan, 1990, The Castle of Newcastle upon Tyne after 1600, Archaeologia Aeliana, Series 5, Vol XV; N. Pevsner and I. Richmond, second edition revised by G. McCombie, P. Ryder and H. Welfare, 1992, The Buildings of England: Northumberland; W. Collard and M. Ross, 1842, Architectural and Picturesque Views in Newcastle upon Tyne, p 24