"During the excavations below the street level on the South side of the Keep by the North of England Excavation Committee in 1929, a Roman building was discovered, and the heaps of excavated soil remained beside the trenches for some months. A passer-by picked up a Roman coin from the loose soil in a fine state of preservation. The coin is a 3 AE of Tetricus II Caesar and Augustus 268-273 AD. Ob: C PIV ESV TETR((ICVS CAES)) Youthful bust radiate and draped to right. Rev: ((SP))ES AVGG. Hope moving left holding flower in right hand and catching up dress with left". Dated C3.

Exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries "A worn denarius of Vitellius, AD 69. Obv. ((A VITELLIVS GERM IMP)) AVG TR P, bust to the right. Rev. LIBERTAS ((RESTITVTA)), figure of Liberty". Found with roofing tiles and pottery "at the foundation level" of the wall now known to be the west wall of the Headquarters Building of the Roman fort. Dated C1.

In the medieval period a parochial chapel dependent on St. Nicholas. The earliest masonry suggests a chancel (with decorated C12 Norman chancel arch), a four bay aisled nave (semicircular arches on round columns) and west tower, of mid to late C12. Alterations and additions of C13 to c. 1300 included new north and south transepts, the widening of the north aisle, the lengthening of the chancel, the upper part of the tower and the south porch of the chancel. The C14 saw the addition of a south porch to the nave and the Trinity Chapel on the east side of the north transept (1380s endowment by Sir Adam de Athol). Thereafter there were no more enlargements, just many alterations, medieval and later. The tower was used as a gun platform in the Civil War. The south-west porch was given a baroque doorway in 1726. In 1844 the south transept was remodelled in the fashionable Neo-Norman style by Dobson. Restoration and addition of north hall and vestries in 1950s and 60s by Caroe & Robinson. Inside - the earliest part is the late 12th century chancel arch. The nave arcades may be of the same building phase. In 1788 the third pier of the north aisle was taken out and a new wider arch made. The roof was cleaned in 1844, which removed any decoration from the armorial bearings on the bosses. In 1866 Thomas Oliver restored the north arcade, removed the galleries and renewed the aisle windows. The small blocked clerestory windows on the south side look late 12th century. In the chancel south wall there is a double piscina of around 1300. The 1866 east window is meant to be a copy of the original. In the tower there are springers and wall ribs below the beams of the first floor, suggesting that a 15th century vault was removed. Fittings - a 15th century font cover, pulpit and choir stalls 1906-7 by Ralph Hedley. Carved royal arms of George IV over the high arch of the south-west door. Stained glass in north east chapel, east window of the Ascension, 1900 by CE Kempe (shows his trademark wheatsheaf). North window mid 19th century by Gibson. Other windows 1976. Clear glazing by L.C. Evetts with leading to Monkwearmouth hand-made glass. Monuments - an indent of the brass of Sir Adam de Athol (died 1387) and wife. In the north east chapel a monument to H. Griffith (died 1837) - a kneeling allegorical figure above a profile portrait by D. Dunbar. In 1726 a heavier peal of bells was installed made from the old bells and a statue of King James. These bells caused structural problems for the tower, which had to be repaired in 1960. In 1966 the bells were recast and re-hung to chime with electric change ringing equipment. The carved pulpit with the figure of St. Andrew dates to 1906. The choir stalls are by Ralph Hedley 1907. They feature 14 poppy heads. The organ was built in 1895 by Binns of Leeds. It was rebuilt in 1971 by Harrison and Harrison. The east window in the Lady Chapel is known as the Children's Window. It shows a [deaf] child signing the Lord's Prayer. Dated C12th.

At a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries A.M. Oliver exhibited "A Roman first(?) brass coin of Antoninus Pius, in poor condition, 'found in trench recently dug in the roadway immediately to the east of the queen Victoria statue in St. Nicholas's Square, Newcastle'; on the obverse is the laureated head of the emperor to the r. and on the reverse: a female figure to the l. holding a rudder in her r. hand, in her left arm a cornucopia; inscriptions illegible". Dated C2.

At a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries "Mr Clayton, on the part of Mr Thomas Gray, presented a coin of Nerva, the Roman emperor, who died A.D. 98. It was found in the Castlegarth, in clearing the site of the new street from St. Nicholas-square to the High level Bridge". Dated C1.

A relief carving, in local buff sandstone, of Mercury was recovered in 1847 during excavation for the foundations of the High Level Bridge on the crest of the hill in front of the castle. Slightly weathered and damaged. 0.436m high x 0.238 wide x 0.13 deep. A well-rounded figure, with an unusually large head, boldly executed in high relief. "He holds a money-bag in his right hand and a large caduceus in his left. He is naked except for a cloak, which hangs over his left shoulder and forearm. A goat reclines by his right foot and above his right shoulder is a cock". Dated C2-C3.

A relief carving, in local buff sandstone, of Fortuna was recovered from the north channel of the Tyne at the Swing Bridge in 1884. Rather worn and with some damage, it measures 0.44m high x 0.253 x 0.088. It consists of a draped female figure standing in an arched niche and holding in her left hand a cornucopia, and in her right "what appears to be a patera over a round altar by her right side". Though without wheel or rudder, the probability that it stood on the Roman bridge suggests that she is Fortuna and not Abundantia. Dated C3.

In the medieval period a parochial chapel dependent on St. Nicholas. Dates from early C12 (around 1130), Boyle listing extant structural remains to suggest a chancel with aisleless nave. The first tower probably C13. Considerably enlarged in C14, with north and south arcades of 4 bays and, at the end of the century, a north transept and chantry of the Holy Trinity, when the north aisle was widened. In the early C15 a west aisle was added to the north transept, and later the nave was reroofed, the south aisle rebuilt, and the church given a south transept and west tower. The work of the latter part of the C15 was probably the gift of Robert Rhodes, lawyer. The arms of the Rhodes family is on the ceiling above the font and on the outside of the south transept (three annulets and a greyhound and the legend 'orate pro anima Roberti Rodes' - pray for the soul of Robert Rodes). In 1848 the east and south walls of the chancel were removed under the direction of John Dobson. They were re-erected 20 years later in the grounds of a house in Front Street, Whitburn. A piscina, possibly C14, from St John's Church was donated to the Society of Antiquaries in 1844. It had been pulled down during excavation work. In 1639 the Scots broke the church's font given by John Bertram (Bourne, 1736, page 24). In the church there is a war memorial plaque to the pupils of St. John's School. The names are in alphabetical order unusually by Christian name (because the teachers knew the pupils by their first names) {www.newmp.org.uk}. In the chancel north window is the earliest known representation of Newcastle's coat of arms in glass, dating from 1375. Inside the church there is a 1888 Gothic monument to Richard Grainger (died 1861). The choir stalls were made in 1935 by Robert Thompson of Yorkshire and depict his trademark carved mouse. Lady Chapel north and one south aisle window designed by William Wailes (1808-1881). On the Lady Chapel Altar the reredos was installed in 1909 and repainted in 1969-70. The present organ was rebuilt in 1909 incorporating earlier pipework. Rebuilt again in 1997. The Credence Table was given in 1722. Above the pillars on the north side of the nave are shields of presumed benefactors who probably donated money in the 14th century. Only one shields can be identified with any confidence - it shows a W, HO or HU and a barrel (or tun). It is likely that this stands for W Hotun or Hutton. There was a William Hutton living in Newcastle in 1406. Reordering of 1965-73 by Dykes Bower provided the chancel screen and communion rails, with delicately turned widely spaced balusters. The font is partly restored and is said to have been the gift of Andrew Bates (appointed minister in 1689) to replace the destroyed medieval font. Pulpit - late C17 with unfluted Corinthian columns, diamond-studded arches of Jacobean style in the panels, acanthus leaf and pendant friezes. Restored by Dykes Bower 1969-70 with new pedestal and staircase. Two east windows in north transept of around 1946 signed G.E.R Smith (Nativity and Tree of Jesse). Facing them, a good but anonymous window of St. Barbara and St. George. East window in south transept with heraldic glass by Atkinson Bros c. 1906. Faith, Hope and Charity by H & M Barnett 1865. Monuments - south wall of chancel J. Taylor with frontal bust, by Dunbar 1835. Dated C12th.

South of Ryton church and in its own grounds is the onetime rectory, now two separate dwellings. Stone, with a slate roof, three storeys, nine bays. Though georganized in 1709 it is said to be "probably late C16 to early C17 in its masonry" with a west window of c. 1500 (2) or "late medieval" (1). House, now 2 separate dwellings. Early C18, incorporating remains of a late medieval house and with later alterations. Rainwater heads dated 1795. Coursed squared sandstone with quoins; roof of graduated Westmorland slate with stone gable copings. H-plan. 3 storeys, 2:5:2 windows.
East elevation: half-glazed central double door in bolection-moulded surround under pulvinated frieze and open scrolled pediment containing coat of arms; floating cornice above dated 1709. Half-glazed door under oblong fanlight in first of central 5 bays; casements to other ground floor central bays, the fifth having glazing bars. All other windows in central block sashes with flat stone lintels, irregular block jambs and sloping stone sills; outer bays under gables have similar windows except bays one and 2 on ground floor which have casements with glazing bars. Inner returns have blocked windows with stone surrounds. Cornice and coped parapet between gables. 4 tall ashlar chimneys; south ridge, right end and 2 at rear. Interior: fielded panelling and large bolection-moulded chimney-piece in principal room; scrolled and lugged architraves to doors leading from stair well; stair has double spiral balusters alternating with barley-sugar balusters and wide flat handrail. South wing: early C18 doors throughout; fragment of
stone spiral stair in rear at first floor; closed-string stair with moulded plank rails and wide grip handrail.

During "digging the foundation for the county courts in Newcastle" there was discovered 5 feet down "a well of Roman masonry...near the edge of the bank". To raise it to the desired level "a very strong wall in the form of a trapezium, and inclosing about ten square yards, had been constructed on frame work, of beams of oak, fixed perpendicularly and horizontally,...and filled up...with clear blue clay". It is possible that this was the pit (its sides 1.3 x 1.5 m) recorded by John Nolan in 1986, though he noted that there were no traces of masonry.