While in Newcastle I visited the castle, which gave the city its name. Originally around this spot the eldest son of William the Conqueror (aka William the Bastard, charmingly) was sent to build up defences against incursions from Scotland, and in regular Norman style created a Motte and Bailey, a wooden tower on a raised earthen mound, with moat and drawbridge, in 1080 CE, this being the "new castle" In the late 1160s, Henry II had the Norman structure replaced with a more robust stone fortification, and around 1250 Henry III added neighbouring Black Gate as part of the fortifications complex (pics of that to follow later). This sits right in the heart of Newcastle, within easy walking distance of the railway station, which you can see from the roof of the Keep, and indeed a 19th century viaduct for the railway line bisects the Keep and Black Gate now - both were allowed to decay badly in later centuries, but fortunately rescued and restored, now both well worth a visit if going to the city. The Black Gate does had a discreet elevator to help, but the Castle, understandably does not, so if you have mobility issues, there are a lot of steep steps

While in Newcastle I visited the castle, which gave the city its name. Originally around this spot the eldest son of William the Conqueror (aka William the Bastard, charmingly) was sent to build up defences against incursions from Scotland, and in regular Norman style created a Motte and Bailey, a wooden tower on a raised earthen mound, with moat and drawbridge, in 1080 CE, this being the "new castle" In the late 1160s, Henry II had the Norman structure replaced with a more robust stone fortification, and around 1250 Henry III added neighbouring Black Gate as part of the fortifications complex (pics of that to follow later). This sits right in the heart of Newcastle, within easy walking distance of the railway station, which you can see from the roof of the Keep, and indeed a 19th century viaduct for the railway line bisects the Keep and Black Gate now - both were allowed to decay badly in later centuries, but fortunately rescued and restored, now both well worth a visit if going to the city. The Black Gate does had a discreet elevator to help, but the Castle, understandably does not, so if you have mobility issues, there are a lot of steep steps

While in Newcastle I visited the castle, which gave the city its name. Originally around this spot the eldest son of William the Conqueror (aka William the Bastard, charmingly) was sent to build up defences against incursions from Scotland, and in regular Norman style created a Motte and Bailey, a wooden tower on a raised earthen mound, with moat and drawbridge, in 1080 CE, this being the "new castle" In the late 1160s, Henry II had the Norman structure replaced with a more robust stone fortification, and around 1250 Henry III added neighbouring Black Gate as part of the fortifications complex (pics of that to follow later). This sits right in the heart of Newcastle, within easy walking distance of the railway station, which you can see from the roof of the Keep, and indeed a 19th century viaduct for the railway line bisects the Keep and Black Gate now - both were allowed to decay badly in later centuries, but fortunately rescued and restored, now both well worth a visit if going to the city. The Black Gate does had a discreet elevator to help, but the Castle, understandably does not, so if you have mobility issues, there are a lot of steep steps