The curtain wall between Ficket Tower and Pilgrim Street Gate is said to have been 137 yards in length. In the late 18th century it was pierced by a "foot-passage" close to the Gate to improve communication with Northumberland Street. This stretch of wall was finally demolished in 1824 to make way for Blackett Street, and its line is actually under the street.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
The curtain between Ficket Tower and Pilgrim Street Gate is said to have been 137 yards in length. In the late 18th century it was pierced by a "foot-passage" close to the Gate to improve communication with Northumberland Street. This stretch of wall was finally demolished in 1824 to make way for Blackett Street, and its line is actually under the street. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, curtain east of Ficket Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1548
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1548 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 15-16
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 16-17
Illustration T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pl. xxx
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Claire MacRae
Crossref
1507,1546
DAY1
03
DAY2
19
District
Newcastle
Easting
424840
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564430
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
Description
An antiquarian account describes this as "the most eastern of the single-chambered bastions", i. e. it presumably closely resembled the towers on the west part of the town wall. In the only known illustration it appears very delapidated, with its north (external) front much obscured by a strange little house. It was for a time occupied by a nailor called Bates, and was finally demolished in 1824 or 1825 to make way for St. James' Chapel in Blackett Street.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
Stood west of Greys monument. GBR describes this as "the most eastern of the single-chambered bastions", i. e. it presumably closely resembled the towers on the west part of the town wall. In the only known illustration it appears very dilapidated, with its north (external) front much obscured by a strange little house. It was for a time occupied by a nailor called Bates, and was finally demolished in 1824 or 1825 to make way for St. James' Chapel in Blackett Street. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, Ficket Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1547
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1547 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 15
M.A. Richardson, 1843, Local Historian's Table Book, Historical Division, III, 333
G.B. Richardson, 19th century, The Walls of Newcastle, 173 -Newcastle University Library Unpublished MS
Illustration, T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pl. xxviii
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 17
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
2015
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
1507,1545
DAY1
04
DAY2
17
District
Newcastle
Easting
424700
EASTING2
2484
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
5
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
564430
NORTHING2
6443
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
Description
The curtain wall between Bertram Momboucher and Ficket Towers was 132 yards long. It is shown in an early 19th century illustration breached on the west side of Ficket Tower and in a generally dilapidated condition. It was demolished in 1824 for the formation of Blackett Street, and its line lies beneath the buildings on the south side of the street.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
The curtain between Bertram Momboucher and Ficket Towers was 132 yards long. It is shown by TMR breached on the west side of Ficket Tower and generally dilapidated by the early C19. TMR's view of a turret and the inside of the curtain looking east along High Friar Street may represent part of this stretch. It was demolished in 1824 for the formation of Blackett Street, and its line lies beneath the buildings on the south side of the street. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, curtain east of Bertram Momboucher Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1546
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1546 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 15
Illustration, T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pl. xxviii
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 16-17
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
1507,1544
DAY1
04
District
Newcastle
Easting
424700
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
4
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564430
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
Description
It is presumed that this tower was of the same pattern as the towers west of it on the circuit, but there is no published description. It was used as a military prison before its demolition in 1824 for the construction of Blackett Street. Its site is beneath the buildings on the south side of the street.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
It is presumed that this was of the same pattern as the towers west of it on the circuit, but there is no published description and MAR's illustration is regarded by Holmes as suspect. According to GBR it was used as a military prison before its demolition in 1824 for the construction of Blackett Street. Its site is beneath the buildings on the south side of the street - the entrance to the shopping centre opposite the war memorial. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, Bertram Momboucher Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1545
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1545 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 15
Illustration, M.A. Richardson, 1843, Local Historian's Table Book, Historical Division, III, 293
G.B. Richardson, 19th century, The Walls of Newcastle, 171 -Newcastle University Library Unpublished MS
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 16
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
1507,1543
DAY1
04
District
Newcastle
Easting
424590
EASTING2
2470
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
4
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
564450
NORTHING2
6443
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
Description
The curtain wall between New Gate and Bertram Momboucher Tower measured 126 yards. In 1765 it was pierced just east of the Gate by a footway to give access to Sidgate from inside the town. The whole stretch of town wall between New Gate and Pilgrim Street Gate was demolished in 1824 for the formation of Blackett Street, and the line of this stretch lies under the south side of the street.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
The curtain between New Gate and Bertram Momboucher Tower measured 126 yards. In 1765 it was pierced just east of the Gate by a footway to give access to Sidgate from inside the town. The whole stretch of town wall between New Gate and Pilgrim Street Gate was demolished in 1824 for the formation of Blackett Street, and the line of this stretch lies under the south side of the street. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, curtain east of New Gate
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1544
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1544 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 14-15
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 16
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Claire MacRae
Crossref
1507,1542
DAY1
04
DAY2
19
District
Newcastle
Easting
424590
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564450
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
Description
New Gate, the largest of the gates on the wall, gave access from the town to the north and north-west. It consisted of a three storey tower flat on the back, and with projecting octagonal corner towers on the front. Beneath was a rib- vaulted passage, flanked by guardrooms and protected by a portcullis. A barbican was added on the north side (as also at the West Gate), probably in the 14th century. Edward III's arms (England quartered with France, fleur de lis semee) on the front of the barbican, suggest that this structure was added after 1340, though others have quoted a document of 1390, referring to "novam portam", as indicating a later date. From 1399, when Newcastle became a county of itself, until 1822 the gate was used as a gaol. It was finally demolished in 1823.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
New Gate, the largest and strongest of the gates on the wall, gave access from the town to the north and north-west. It consisted of a three storey tower flat on the back, and with projecting octagonal corner towers on the front. Beneath was a rib- vaulted passage, flanked by guardrooms and protected by a portcullis. A barbican was added on the north side (cf. West Gate), c1390. GBR used Edward III's arms (England quartered with France, fleur de lis semee), on the front of the barbican, as evidence to suggest that this structure was added after 1340, though others have quoted a document of 1390, referring to "novam portam", as indicating a later date. From 1399/1400, when Newcastle became a county of itself, until 1822 the gate was used as a gaol. Wings were added to both sides of the south tower in 1702 and 1706. In 1777, John Howard a reformer, noted that New Gate was a far more comfortable prison than the Castle Keep. The rooms, he said, were airy and clean and strewn with sand. There was plenty of firing and candles. Every prisoner (debtors and felons) had a chaff-bed, two blankets and a cover lid. A doctor regularly saw the prisoners, which was highly unusual. By 1820 the gaol was in disrepair, too small and insecure and the medieval gateway was obstructing traffic. Application was made to Parliament for a new gaol and the Newgate was demolished. In 1895 a set of iron fetters (shackles for the ankles) believed to be from Newgate prison were found near the vestry door of St Andrew’s church and donated to the Society of Antiquaries. Some iron keys and the debtors alms-box (donation box) from Newgate also survive. A statue of King James I stood over the entrance. It was finally demolished in 1823. The stones were used to build a new prison according to Thomas Oliver. The portcullis was moved to Blagdon. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, New Gate
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
HER Number
1543
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1543 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 13-14
M.A. Richardson, 1841, Local Historian's Table Book, Historical Division, I, 51, 402; II, 54, 161; III, 125, 181, 270-4; V, 276
G.B. Richardson, 19th century, The Walls of Newcastle, 155, 159, 163, 167-9 , Newcastle University Library Unpublished MS
T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pls. iii, xxxiii, xxxv, xxxviii, xl
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 15-16; Nigel Green, 2009, Tough Times & Grisly Crimes, page 16
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
2015
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Good
Crossref
1507,1541
DAY1
17
DAY2
18
District
Newcastle
Easting
424500
EASTING2
2459
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
4
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
564400
NORTHING2
6445
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
SAMNUMBER
32756
Description
Most of the easterly part of a stretch of curtain 100 yards long between Andrew Tower and New Gate survives on the north side of St. Andrew's Church. Built of rubble, not ashlar, it stands to wall walk height and retains part of a turret, with typical corbels and stumps of the outside stair. The outer face is now wholly masked by the buildings along the south side of Gallowgate, but was seen in c. 1896 by an antiquarian, Holmes who published a description. The gap between its west end and Andrew Tower was presumably made in 1818 when the churchyard was enlarged, and the east end probably broken off when New Gate was demolished. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 1
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
Most of the easterly part of a stretch of curtain 100 yards long between Andrew Tower and New Gate survives on the north side of St. Andrew's Church. Built of rubble, not ashlar, it stands to wall walk height and retains part of a turret, with typical corbels and stumps of the outside stair. The outer face is now wholly masked by the buildings along the south side of Gallowgate, but was seen in c. 1896 by Holmes who published a description. The gap between its west end and Andrew Tower was presumably made in 1818 when the churchyard was enlarged, and the east end probably broken off when New Gate was demolished. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, curtain east of Andrew Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
SITE_STAT
Scheduled Monument, Listed Building Grade I
HER Number
1542
Form of Evidence
Ruined Building
Sources
<< HER 1542 >> Illustration, T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pl. xx
C.H.H. Blair, 1937, The Walls of Newcastle...illustrated...by George Bouchier Richardson, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XIV, pl. xviii.1
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town wall of Newcastle, in Gallowgate, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 109-112
SURVIVAL
40-59%
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
1995
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Claire MacRae
Crossref
1507,1540
DAY1
17
DAY2
19
District
Newcastle
Easting
424500
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564400
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
SAMNUMBER
32756
Description
The two available illustrations show this tower to have resembled the others on the west side of the defences, i.e. semi-circular, with oversailing corbels on the exterior, a crenellated parapet, and loop(s). Because it stood on the edge of St. Andrew's churchyard, the vaulted ground floor room had been used as a charnel house for many years before its demolition, with part of the curtain, in 1818 to enlarge the burying area. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT
SITEASS
It would be good to excavate and mark it out.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
The two available illustrations show this tower to have resembled the others on the west side of the defences, i.e. semi-circular, with oversailing corbels on the exterior, a crenellated parapet, and loop(s). Because it stood on the edge of St. Andrew's churchyard, the vaulted ground floor room had been used as a charnel house for many years before its demolition, with part of the curtain, in 1818 to enlarge the burying area. Demolished between 1827-1830. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, Andrew Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
SITE_STAT
Scheduled Monument
HER Number
1541
Form of Evidence
Demolished Building
Sources
<< HER 1541 >> Illustration, M.A. Richardson, 1842, Local Historian's Table Book, Historical Division, II, 256
Illustration, T.M. Richardson, 1880, Memorials of Old Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pl. xx
C.H.H. Blair, 1937, The Walls of Newcastle...illustrated...by George Bouchier Richardson, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XIV, p. 127 and pl. xviii.1
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
2015
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Good
Crossref
1507,1539
DAY1
17
DAY2
18
District
Newcastle
Easting
424430
EASTING2
2450
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
4
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
564360
NORTHING2
6440
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
SAMNUMBER
32755 32756
Description
Two stretches of the curtain wall survive along the 100 yard length which originally connected the Ever and Andrew Towers - a short piece between Ever Tower and St. Andrew's Street, and a second from St. Andrew's Street into the churchyard. The break between them was made in 1810 for what was then called Heron Street to connect Darn Crook to Gallowgate, and the demolition of the wall in the churchyard a little later. (See HER REF. 1541) The curtain adjacent to Ever Tower appears to have been largely refaced on the inside. Of the stretch in the churchyard the outer face is masked by a modern building. On the inside there is a row, with a gap in the middle, of projecting corbels which may have supported the overhanging flagged wall walk.SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 1
SITEASS
There are some problems of interpretation to resolve, and recording to do.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
Two stretches of the curtain survive of the 100 yard length which originally connected the Ever and Andrew Towers, - a short piece between Ever Tower and St. Andrew's Street, and a second from St. Andrew's Street into the churchyard. The break between them was made in 1810 for what was then called Heron Street to connect Darn Crook to Gallowgate, and the demolition of the wall in the churchyard a little later. (See SMR 1541) The curtain adjacent to Ever Tower appears to have been largely refaced on the inside. Of the stretch in the churchyard the outer face is masked by a modern building. On the inside there is a row, with a gap in the middle, of projecting corbels which Brewis believed were to support the overhanging flagged wall walk. GBR shows this, with an inner parapet and its return, - the latter is surely part of redressing the broken end of the wall here. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, curtain east of Ever Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
SITE_STAT
Scheduled Monument, Listed Building Grade I
HER Number
1540
Form of Evidence
Ruined Building
Sources
<< HER 1540 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 13
P. Brewis, 1934, The West Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Between Durham and Ever Towers, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XI, p. 5 and pl. iii.3
C.H.H. Blair, 1937, The Walls of Newcastle...illustrated...by George Bouchier Richardson, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XIV, p. 127 and pl. xviii
SURVIVAL
40-59%
YEAR1
1995
YEAR2
1995
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Good
Crossref
1507,1538
DAY1
15
District
Newcastle
Easting
424430
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564360
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Newcastle
SAMNUMBER
32755
Description
Its awkward siting at an angle where the wall changed direction to East-South-East has been used as evidence that it predated the curtain and walls to the South-West. Semi-circular in plan, with a rectangular room and 3 arrow loops, and stairs in both directions to the wall walk. The back wall stands to top of the vault, the rest only to below the tops of the loops. The outside of the tower is deeply buried. This was the meeting house of the Company of Paviors, Colliers and Carriagemen, who repaired it several times in the 18th and early 19th centuries, then leased it in 1845 to a tanner who demolished the vault and built all over it. The tower was rediscovered and the interior cleaned out in 1930s. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 1
SITEASS
Again no original door remains. Excavation of the build-up against the exterior is highly desirable.
Site Type: Broad
Town Defences
SITEDESC
Its awkward siting at an angle where the wall changed direction to ESE has been used as evidence that it predated the curtain and walls to the SW. Semi- circular in plan, with rectangular room, 3 arrow loops, and stairs in both directions to the wall walk. Back wall stands to top of vault, the rest only to below the tops of the loops. The outside of the tower is deeply buried. GBR's drawing shows it complete, with over-sailing corbels, ? garderobe and crenellations. The meeting house of the Company of Paviors, Colliers and Carriagemen, who repaired it several times in the 18th century and early C19, and then leased it in 1845 to a tanner who demolished the vault and built all over it. The tower was rediscovered and the interior cleaned out in 1930s. Dated C13th.
Site Name
Newcastle town wall, Ever Tower
Site Type: Specific
Town Wall
SITE_STAT
Scheduled Monument, Listed Building Grade I
HER Number
1539
Form of Evidence
Ruined Building
Sources
<< HER 1539 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, p. 12, pl. opp. 2
G.B. Richardson, 19th century, The Walls of Newcastle, 147 -Newcastle University Library Unpublished MS
S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 15
P. Brewis, 1934, The West Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Between Durham and Ever Towers, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XI, fig. 17
C.H.H. Blair, 1937, The Walls of Newcastle...illustrated...by Georeg Bouchier Richardson, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XIV, p. 127 and pl. xvi.2
H.L. Honeyman, 1939, A New Plan of the Ever Tower, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, IX (for 1939-42), pp. 37-38