Castle Garth, The Black Gate
Castle Garth, The Black Gate
HER Number
8882
District
Newcastle
Site Name
Castle Garth, The Black Gate
Place
Newcastle
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
Class
Defence
Site Type: Broad
Castle
Site Type: Specific
Castle
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Description
Gatehouse of castle; now museum and private library. Mid C13; early C17 alterations; restored 1883 for the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings; roof of pantiles. Oval plan lower part, upper octagonal, with square front projection. 4 storeys and attic: 3 bays. Central arch below 6-light Jacobean window with cusped niches either side; floors above
have windows of 4 and 3 lights, all square-headed, stone-mullioned and transomed, with label moulds. Similar style 2-light windows in side bays; wood cross window inserted at right in second floor. Slits above many-chamfered base courses. Steeply-pitched hipped roof has central dormer; 2 end chimneys. Rear stone stair with open landing on first floor and Jacobean-style wood balcony is part of C19 adaptation. Pointed barrel vault to passage through gate with side guard chambers,
which have ribbed vaults. Drawbridge slots to receive counterweights. Sources: W.H. Knowles, 'The Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne' Archaeologia Aeliana 4th series II pp. 40-48; R.B. Harbottle and M. Ellison, 'An Excavation in the Castle Ditch, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1974-6.' Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series IX. A scheduled ancient monument. LISTED GRADE 1 AND SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT
have windows of 4 and 3 lights, all square-headed, stone-mullioned and transomed, with label moulds. Similar style 2-light windows in side bays; wood cross window inserted at right in second floor. Slits above many-chamfered base courses. Steeply-pitched hipped roof has central dormer; 2 end chimneys. Rear stone stair with open landing on first floor and Jacobean-style wood balcony is part of C19 adaptation. Pointed barrel vault to passage through gate with side guard chambers,
which have ribbed vaults. Drawbridge slots to receive counterweights. Sources: W.H. Knowles, 'The Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne' Archaeologia Aeliana 4th series II pp. 40-48; R.B. Harbottle and M. Ellison, 'An Excavation in the Castle Ditch, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1974-6.' Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series IX. A scheduled ancient monument. LISTED GRADE 1 AND SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT
Easting
425013
Northing
563928
Grid Reference
NZ425013563928
Sources
Department of National Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest, 24/141; Grace McCombie, 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead - Pevsner Architectural Guide, p. 67-69; W.H. Knowles, 'The Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne' Archaeologia Aeliana 4th series
II pp. 40-48; R.B. Harbottle and M. Ellison, 'An Excavation in the Castle Ditch,
Newcastle upon Tyne, 1974-6.' Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series IX; Barbara Harbottle, 2009, The Medieval Archaeology of Newcastle in Diana Newton and AJ Pollard (eds), 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead before 1700, page 26; Liz Humble, 2007, The Heart of the City Conservation Management Plan; Myles Birkett Foster, 1873, The Black Gate and St. Nicholas Cathedral, watercolour painting TWCMS: 2006.1889; Purcell Miller Tritton, April 2012, Black Gate - Heart of the City Partnership Ltd - Conservation Management Plan; Purcell Miller Tritton, April 2012, Black Gate - Heart of the City Partnership Ltd - Heritage Impact Assessment; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2013, Evaluation at the Black Gate; CP Graves and DH Heslop, 2013, Newcastle upon Tyne - The Eye of the North, An Archaeological Assessment, pp 107-9; RA Brown, HM Colvin and AJ Taylor, 1963, The History of the King's Works, Vol 2 pp 746-7; B Harbottle and M Ellison, 1981, An excavation in the castle ditch, Newcastle upon Tyne 1974-6, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th Series, Vol 9 pp 75-250; WH Knowles, 1926, The castle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, Series 4, Vol 2, pp 48-51; B Harbottle, 1974, Excavation and survey in Newcastle upon Tyne 1972-1973, Archaeologia Aeliana, Series 5, Vol 2, p 59; J Brand, 1789, The History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne, Vol 1, p 160; Purcell Miller Tritton LLP, 2010. Black Gate: Conservation Statement; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1024936
II pp. 40-48; R.B. Harbottle and M. Ellison, 'An Excavation in the Castle Ditch,
Newcastle upon Tyne, 1974-6.' Archaeologia Aeliana 5th series IX; Barbara Harbottle, 2009, The Medieval Archaeology of Newcastle in Diana Newton and AJ Pollard (eds), 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead before 1700, page 26; Liz Humble, 2007, The Heart of the City Conservation Management Plan; Myles Birkett Foster, 1873, The Black Gate and St. Nicholas Cathedral, watercolour painting TWCMS: 2006.1889; Purcell Miller Tritton, April 2012, Black Gate - Heart of the City Partnership Ltd - Conservation Management Plan; Purcell Miller Tritton, April 2012, Black Gate - Heart of the City Partnership Ltd - Heritage Impact Assessment; Northern Counties Archaeological Services, 2013, Evaluation at the Black Gate; CP Graves and DH Heslop, 2013, Newcastle upon Tyne - The Eye of the North, An Archaeological Assessment, pp 107-9; RA Brown, HM Colvin and AJ Taylor, 1963, The History of the King's Works, Vol 2 pp 746-7; B Harbottle and M Ellison, 1981, An excavation in the castle ditch, Newcastle upon Tyne 1974-6, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th Series, Vol 9 pp 75-250; WH Knowles, 1926, The castle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, Series 4, Vol 2, pp 48-51; B Harbottle, 1974, Excavation and survey in Newcastle upon Tyne 1972-1973, Archaeologia Aeliana, Series 5, Vol 2, p 59; J Brand, 1789, The History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne, Vol 1, p 160; Purcell Miller Tritton LLP, 2010. Black Gate: Conservation Statement; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1024936