Newcastle Keep.

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Newcastle Keep

a) Newcastle Keep was the first Castle to be built on old Fort Ruins in Newcastle. Robert, who was the son of William the Conqueror, built Newcastle Keep 1080. Newcastle keep was built to protect the last bridging point over the River Tyne. The bridge was the last crossing over the River Tyne before reaching the sea; this was because as the River got closer to the sea, the River became too wide to build across. The Castle was built to protect the bridge from the Scots because this bridge held the main route between England and Scotland. There were seventeen other Castles built in England to protect the country from the attacking Scots as well, these include Warkworth and Bamburgh. When Newcastle Keep was built, the Normans were talking over England. So Newcastle Keep was used to protect the Normans while they gained control of the local people.

Newcastle Keep was built in a specific position in Newcastle. It was built upon a high hill overlooking the bridge and the River Tyne; this was a good geographical and defensive tactic. If the Castle is on a high hill you can see for miles and you can spot attackers coming towards your castle and stop them. Also it is hard for attackers to climb up a steep hill to get to your Castle. The castle was built next to the river; this is a good place to build a Castle because when boats and ships come along the river, the Castle would send out Taxmen to collect tax from the transport progressing up the river.

Newcastle Keep was developed quite a bit in the time of 1168-1178. In this time Henry ii rebuilt the defence wall of the Castle in stone, this cost £1144. He also provided many other things, these included, the Keep, a Gatehouse built near the Keep, and a stone Curtain Wall. Later in the 13th Century King John was responsible for providing the Aisled Hall, also Henry iii added the Black Gate, which cost him £500 in 1247-50.

b) Unfortunately Newcastle Keep started to decline in 1280 when the town walls were built around the town. Newcastle Keep was built in the centre of the town and the walls were built around the outside about 100 yards away from the castle. When soldiers came to attack Newcastle Keep, they were too busy trying to get past the town walls and did not really care about the Castle anymore. The Castle became less important because of the walls being built, so the Castle "was left to decay"; this was a quote by the Sheriff of Northumberland in a 1334 report. This was a local reason why the castle declined.
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Newcastle was a part of Northumberland in the days when Newcastle Keep was constructed, and because Newcastle Keep was receiving all of the taxes from everyone going up and down the river, Northumberland complained. When Northumberland complained about Newcastle, in return the allowed Northumberland to use the Castle for whatever they wanted. The local townspeople of Newcastle were not happy with Northumberland being allowed to use their Castle, this started off a debate. Northumberland were using Newcastle Keep as a jail for criminals. So another reason why Newcastle Keep declined was because nobody really cared about the criminals ...

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