quence, changing the name of the place from Monkchefter to that of Newcastle.

William, on this occafion, shewed a moderation not usual in his political conduct; for although he had been at vast expence in building this fortress, he was so far from levying it upon the town's people, that, on the contrary, he encreased and enlarged their liberties and privileges.

From that period, Newcastle rapidly encreased in population, trade, and wealth; whilst William, and fucceeding kings, conferred upon it many privileges and immunities; building, both for use and ornament, walls, monafteries, churches, and bridges; of which, with what other public buildings have fince been erected, we intend to present our readers with a circumstantial detail, in their order.

THE WALLS.

The wars and tumults, which in early times prevailed in this ifsland, made it neceffary to have recourse to the aid of walls, gates, and bars, not only for the protection of cities and towns, but almost of every private building of any consequence. The ifland being unhappily divided into two distinct independent kingdoms, by the river Tweed towards the east, and by an imaginary line in the western part, jealousy, interfering interests, national pride, and ambition, often were the causes of fierce and bloody battles between the two rival nations. The open country was foon over-run, while villages and unwalled towns fell an easy prey. Newcastle, by its trade and encreasing commercial consequence, being fituated near the northern borders of the kingdom, it

was

was judged a part of political wisdom to make it a powerful barrier against the incurfions of the Scots, a formidable enemy that the English had long to contend with.

At fo early a period, therefore, as in the reign of William Rufus, Hardying, in his Chronicle, informs us, that Newcastle upon Tyne was inclosed with a wall. It was built of stone, of great heighth and thickness, and for many ages was undoubtedly of great strength. As a proof of this, we have only to observe, that, although the northern counties were often invaded, and even over-run, by the Scots, yet they were feldom able, during the course of a century, to make themselves masters of Newcastle. It had several gates, wonderfully strong and massive; and was strengthened with towers and square turrets, which we will notice in their order. The wall was furrounded by a fofs or ditch on the land fide, which in some places is still visible, as on the outside of the wall that furrounds the Carliol Croft; but in most places it is at present level with the adjoining ground. The space, however, which it occupied, is still called the "King's Dykes." It appears to have been uniformly twenty-two feet, or a chain, in width. It is claimed as the property of the corporation, to whom every waste within their jurifdiction devolves, by the authority of their charter.

King John, who refided frequently in Newcastle, was a great benefactor to it, as he not only affisted the townsmen to strengthen their walls, but gave them charters for working coal, and for other articles of commerce. In the year 1299, during the reign of Edward I. a grant was obtained from that prince, to unite Pampedon, or Pandon, with Newcastle.

King Edward III. granted the custom of goods fold at Newcastle upon Tyne for seven years, to contribute towards the reparation of the walls. The same king also repaired them during his refidence here, anno 1334.

In the several subsequent reigns, grants for repairing the walls were obtained.

On the 17th of November, 1762, the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne, having stated in a petition to government, that that part of the town wall, which extended from the Sand-hill to Sandgate, was no longer necessary, nor of any use for defence, but a great obstruction to carriages, and hindrance to the dispatch of business, obtained an order of the privycouncil to remove it, but at their own cost.

TOWERS AND GATES.

When the walls had been completed, the town was divided into twenty-four wards, according to the number of gates and round towers in them, which were wont to be defended, in times of hoftility, by their particular warders. The names of the towers

At this period, so remote from the time of the building these towers, and when some of them have decayed through age, and others converted to places of public meetings for the different companies of freemen, it is unnecessary, and unentertaining, to give detailed accounts respecting them. We shall only take notice of fome of the most remarkable.

There was a turret, or tower, fifty-two yards to the fouth of the Close Gate, adjoining to the river Tyne. The Close Gate, after the fall of the bridge, in 1771, was converted into a temporary prison, but was lately taken down, by which the street is much more commodious for the passage of large waggons, and other carriages, though yet far too narrow.

From the Close Gate, there are one hundred and forty steps, on the top of the wall, as it afcends a very steep hill to White-Friar Tower, at the distance of fixty-nine yards. The common name of these is Break-neck Stairs, and is of very obvious etymology.

White-Friar Tower had its name from its vicinity to the house of the Carmelites, or White Friars. The fraternity of masons had their hall in the upper apartment of this tower; in the lower one was the meeting-house of bricklayers and meters. From the White-Friar Tower to the Postern Gate is two hundred and fourteen yards.

It is supposed by Bourne, that it was from this gate, in the reign of Edward III. that three hundred valiant townsmen sallied forth suddenly, in the night, upon a great army of Scots, who then lay encamped, befieging the town, put them to flight, and took earl Murray prifoner in his tent.

Next

Next follows Spital Tower, from its vicinity to West Spital, supposed by Bourne to have been built by the master and brethren of that hospital, for their protection.

Then we successively come to Stank Tower, Gunner Tower, and Pink Tower, and from thence to the West Gate. The three first having nothing remarkable to recommend them to attention, we shall omit further notice of them.

West Gate is still one of those strong entrances through the town wall. It had been, in former times, secured with massive gates, of oak beams, and iron doors. Through this lay the track of the Roman wall. This gate consists of four wards, and is faid to have been built by Roger de Thornton, a merchant, who, from very small beginnings, became equally distinguished for his wealth and munificence. This place was formerly a prison for unruly apprentices, and is at present the hall of the housecarpenters. In the year 1782, a foot-way was opened on the north side of this gate.

The historian Leland calls this gate " a mighty strong thing, of four wards, and an iron gate."

The next on the walls, from the West Gate, is Durham Tower, and the distance between them measures one hundred and one yards.

That next in order is Herber Tower; from thence to Morden Tower is one hundred and fifteen yards. This, in the year 1700, was fitted up as a meeting

F2

* The little wits of those times, envying his good fortune, pleased the lefs opulent, or probably less industrious neighbours of Mr. Thornton, with the following farcastic distich :

"At the West Gate came Thornton in,

" With a hap, and a halfpenny, and a lamb-skin."