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Newcastle upon Tyne is one of England’s great cities. Many think of it simply as a product of the Industrial Revolution when abundant natural resources of coal, iron ore and water came together to create a Victorian industrial powerhouse. In fact, Newcastle’s long and proud history began in Roman times when Hadrian’s Wall marked the northernmost point of the Roman Empire. The first suitable bridging point the Romans found was 10 miles inland from the North Sea. They built Pons Aelius close to where the Tyne Bridge is today and it marks the birth of Newcastle upon Tyne as a settlement.
The exact significance of the early Roman occupation, possibly pre-dating the construction of the Wall, remains poorly understood, but recent development-led excavation has complimented the publicly-funded research of the late 20th century. The Wall itself passed through the heart of modern Newcastle, but its course has been lost either side of the fort. Following the withdrawal of the Roman army, the local inhabitants employed the decaying fort as a cemetery, eventually with its own Anglo-Saxon church.
After the Norman Conquest, the same strategic site was used to plant a castle of national significance, as the town became the King's northern bulwark against Scottish Aggression, and termed the ‘Eye of the North’. Prosperity followed the erection of a new bridge and as a result of its advantageous position as a port, the town developed an active waterfront, marketplaces and guilds. However, its location on the border between England and Scotland soon made a strong town wall essential, and as the nexus of the coal-trade to London and beyond, Newcastle retained its significance into the English Civil War. The protracted siege concludes the period covered here.
The exact significance of the early Roman occupation, possibly pre-dating the construction of the Wall, remains poorly understood, but recent development-led excavation has complimented the publicly-funded research of the late 20th century. The Wall itself passed through the heart of modern Newcastle, but its course has been lost either side of the fort. Following the withdrawal of the Roman army, the local inhabitants employed the decaying fort as a cemetery, eventually with its own Anglo-Saxon church.
After the Norman Conquest, the same strategic site was used to plant a castle of national significance, as the town became the King's northern bulwark against Scottish Aggression, and termed the ‘Eye of the North’. Prosperity followed the erection of a new bridge and as a result of its advantageous position as a port, the town developed an active waterfront, marketplaces and guilds. However, its location on the border between England and Scotland soon made a strong town wall essential, and as the nexus of the coal-trade to London and beyond, Newcastle retained its significance into the English Civil War. The protracted siege concludes the period covered here.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and background
2. The prehistoric period
3. The Roman Imperial Frontier
4. Post-Roman archaeology and context
5. The medieval town
6. Medieval material culture
7. The post-medieval town
8. Post-medieval material culture
9. Conclusions
2. The prehistoric period
3. The Roman Imperial Frontier
4. Post-Roman archaeology and context
5. The medieval town
6. Medieval material culture
7. The post-medieval town
8. Post-medieval material culture
9. Conclusions