The existence of a Norman castle at Tynemouth is known from the account of the rebellion in 1095 by Robert Mowbray, earl of Northumberland (from c.1080) against William Rufus when the castle was besieged for 2 months before surrendering. "...rex exercitu de tota Anglia congregato castellum praedicti comitis Rodberti ad ostium Tinae fluminis situm per duos menses obsedit...". There are no known later references. The site of this castle has not been proved. Most, but not all, authorities believe it was on the site of the C14 castle. Though some suggest that remains of its earthworks survive "in a sloping bank of earth some fifteen feet in height which lines the interior of the western wall", and in the mound (the ?C11 motte) south-east of the later gatehouse, these were probably part of the post-medieval fortifications.(SMR 134). Dated C11th.

Though (5) suggests the hospital was pre c.1220, the earliest documentary reference is 1293. (5) also considers it may have been partly under Tynemouth Priory and partly under Newcastle Nunnery, perhaps with nuns (sisters) serving in it, but this is nowhere explicitly stated. The hospital and the priory church may have been alternative burial grounds, and many people were buried here during the Civil War when access to the priory church was restricted. Latest recorded burial at the Spital was 1708. By the 18th century it was in ruins in pasture land. In 1885 the Duke of Northumberland gave the land for a park and during the laying out of this workmen rediscovered the hospital. "The building appears to have been of considerable size. Its chambers were paved with stone" and surviving mouldings were E.E. Tiled floor, 20x12 ft, was seen and re-covered. 2 stone coffins, limestone brass matrix and a few worked stones were among the finds which remain on site. A few skeletons and grave covers were also found. The discovery of a "200 year old skeleton" in Spital Burial Ground, Tynemouth Road, North Shields was reported in the Shields Daily News on 5th January 1885. This was possibly St Leonard's. During 2011 an evaluation excavation project was carried out by The Archaeological Practice Ltd. In conjunction with the local community following documentary research and a geophysical investigation. The possible remains of St. Leonard's Hospital or a later ancillary building were excavated. These remains were the ones first exposed in 1885. The building was of crude construction and its flagged floor may have incorporated a reused 15th century burial monument. This evidence suggests the building may be an ancillary building to the original hospital perhaps retained after the Dissolution and modified by the laying of a flagged floor incorporating material from the demolished chapel. Further investigations took place in 2012-2014. Dated C13th.

Human bones have been found under Front Street, Tynemouth, on a number of occasions during the laying of water mains or building operations. The record goes back at least as far as 1852, and there have been recent finds in 1951, 1974 and 1976. The bones have been discovered "within a short distance of the castle gates"; on the north side of the street; and most recently 1 to 2 feet below the pavement on the south side, in front of nos. 54 - 60. Radiocarbon analysis of a sample from the 1976 finds produced a conventional radiocarbon date of AD 1100 +/- 90 (HAR-1870; 850 +/- 90 BP) or, after calibration, A.D. 1170. However one chooses to interpret this date, the settlement of Tynemouth must postdate the cemetery. During renewal of water mains in 2005, human bones were found outside Nos. 55 and 56 Front Street. Some important questions emerge - how many years must elapse before houses would be built on a graveyard; is the foundation of Tynemouth related to the C11 priory, or is it refounded in C12 according to the Roberts' theory of resettlement after the Harrying, or neither of these? Dated C12th.

Incomplete grave-marker in medium-grained, micaceous yellow sandstone. Condition fairly good. Part of two broad carved faces survive. Edged by flat-band mouldings. A (broad) May have been divided into quadrants by a plain cross, and in the upper quadrant there are the remains of a probable triquetra knot. B (narrow) Surface largely lost - may have been uncarved. C (broad) Clear cross-arm. D (narrow) Broken off. 22.9 cm high x 17.8 cm wide x 10.2 cm deep. 10th C Found by G. Jobey during excavations in 1963, in rubble core of post- suppression building north of the north transept. Dated C11th.

Incomplete cross-head in medium-grained, massive, micaceous reddish sandstone. Condition good. Head type B10. Hemispherical boss in centre of both sides, projecting about 5.5 cm. A and C (broad) Both have punched and grooved interlace with a free ring enclosed in a plain flat-band moulding and crossed by bungled diagonals; dressing of boss and its outer roll moulding are very fine. B and D (narrow) plain. 37 cm high x 26.6 cm wide x 14 cm deep. Late 9th - early 10th C Donated to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle by C.J. Spence of North Shields, 1885-6. Obtained by him at the disposal of the collection of G. Rippon of North Shields in 1864. No details of find-spot given. Dated C9th.

Cross arm in coarse-grained, massive, micaceous red/yellow sandstone. Fairly good condition. Head type A10. A and C (broad) interlace in roll moulding. B and D plain. 19 cm high x 19 cm wide x 15.8 cm deep. Late 9th to early 10th-C. First described and figured in 1907 (3), but is probably the stone donated to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle in 1855, and said to have been found in excavations in the priory 2 March 1853. Probably the stone mentioned by (2) as having been forgotten for many years. Dated C9th.

Part of cross-shaft or architectural feature in coarse-grained, massive, micaceous yellow sandstone. Condition good but covered in paint or plaster. A (broad) 2 or 3 ribbon animals with double-outlined bodies. B and D broken away. C (broad) possibly recut. E (top) roughly split. F (bottom) smoothly dressed. 24.1 cm high x 43 cm wide x 12.2 cm deep. Found during excavation in 1963 incorporated into the wall of the Spanish Battery (2). Dated C10th.

Incomplete cross-shaft in coarse-grained, massive yellow sandstone. Worn, showing signs of re-use. A 2+ registers of double-stranded simple pattern E. B Probable closed circuit turned pattern D enclosed in roll moulding. C Dressed flat, traces of mortar. D Two and a half complete registers of closed circuit turned pattern D enclosed in roll moulding. 38 cm high x 29.8 cm wide x 20.3 cm deep. Late 10th - early 11th C. First mentioned by (1). Later noticed by M. Phillips in cutting for drain in Tynemouth Castle yard, in front of south-west gateway of large magazine, and due south of west front of ruins. Dated C10th.

Part of a cross-shaft in coarse-grained, massive yellow sandstone. Very worn in places. A (broad) face. Panel, with figure framed by two animals. B (narrow) face. Remnants of two panels of interlace. C (broad) face. Remnants of three panels: centaur; interlace; interlace? D. Chiselled away. 43.2 cm high x 28 cm wide x 21.5 cm deep. Late 10th - early 11th C. First mentioned in 1885-6. Donated to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. A.J. Stevenson. Recorded that it had been found c. 30 years earlier when an old house in Tynemouth was pulled down. Dated C10th.

"Bede mentions the monastery (5) so it was in existence by the C8. But if one can accept a later tradition (6) that King Oswin was buried there, then it was founded by 651".(3) In 800 it was sacked by the Danes who returned in 875 and completely destroyed it. Very little is known of its history.(1) There are no visible surviving structures. Excavation in 1963 (2) revealed evidence for 4 oblong timber buildings, no. 1 beneath the crossing of the medieval priory church, nos. 2- 4 just north of the church and earlier than the medieval features here, though later than 118. Though they could be pre- Conquest in date, and so could possibly be part of the Anglian monastery, no datable finds were recovered in association with them. A styca of Ethelred II (841-44) came from a post-Dissolution context and, on this and earlier occasions, 4 Anglo- Saxon cross fragments and a grave marker were found in or just outside the priory. Excavation in 1980 (4) revealed another, probably pre-Conquest, timber building. Cont. below. Dated C7th.