With a long history of kings and wars, Lords and Ladies, Palaces and Princesses, England is dotted by hundreds of castles and mansions boasting a golden age of knights in shining armor. Tynemouth Castle and Priory is one such located in Pen Bal Crag, a rocky headland on the North East coast of England overlooking the Tyne River. Once one of the largest fortified areas in England, the Tynemouth castle is one from a fairy tale. Standing proud atop a rocky cliff, overlooking the great expanse of blue and rolling green lawns at its feet it is a picturesque location ideal for a picnic.
Though its early history is unknown there have been Roman stones found at the site though no evidence to prove the Romans resided there. Believed to be founded in the 7th century, the Tynemouth castle and priory share a rich and eventful history. First as an Anglo-Saxon settlement, a royal palace, later as an Anglican monastery and after it was destroyed and was used as an artillery fort in the 19th century and a coastal defence during the World Wars. Though most of the walls of the priory have crumpled with time and almost nothing of the castle still remain, the panel less windows and giant walls that do remain tell the story of a legendary age.
The Priory served as the burial ground of 3 kings, St. Oswin; King of Deira in 651, Osred; King of Northumbria in 792 and Malcom III; King of Scotland in 1093 and commemorating this are the three crowns on the coat of arms of the town of Tynemouth and are still seen today. The moated castle towers, keep, gatehouse, ruins of the Benedictine priory and the newly refurbished gun room used in the world wars surrounded by the green lawns and stunning view of the lake makes the Tynemouth Priory the perfect place for a family day out.
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Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.
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