This may affift our enquiries in forming a conjecture when Newcastle first got the name of Monkchefter. The above mentioned hiftorian thinks that it was first so named towards the latter end of the feventh century. It was at this period that the monaftic life was introduced among the Northumbers by Aidan, who was that year made bishop of Northumberland, and had his feat at Lindisfern. The bishop of Hexham, Eata, mightily promoted this pious work, and the country feemed filled with mọnafteries, particularly the kingdom of Northumberland.

Bourne adds, that when the work of religion went on fo brifkly throughout the whole country, it is natural to fuppofe that this place (Newcastle), as it was convenient for the monaftic life, on account of its retirement, fo it was no lefs eligible on account of its strength and fortifications. Cotemporary his torians speak with enthusiasm of the numbers, fanctity, and devotion of the monks who inhabited Newcastle and Gateshead; and on thefe accounts, it became fo famous as to change its name to Monkchefter. Indeed, the prodigious number of the remains of monafteries, and other religious edifices, to be found at this day in the town, seems to justify the conjecture of Bourne, that it was from this it had, for feveral centuries, the name of Monkchefter. Very trivial and accidental circumftances have given rife to great events, and, not feldom, to the names of countries and cities.

History, however, informs us, that this place retained the name of Monkchefter till the building of the castle, when it again got another appellation, viz. Newcastle, which it retains to this day.

The

The occafion of building this once ftrong cattle, and the circumjacent fortifications, is variously accounted for. All, who have treated of the history of this celebrated town, agree, that the castle was built in the reign, and by one of the family, of William the Conqueror. As that fierce and intrepid prince had obtained the crown of England by invading the country, and overthrowing Harold in the terrible battle of Haftings, where that /unfortunate prince was killed by an arrow, which transfixed his brain, it was alfo his cruel policy to retain his conquefts by violence and oppreffion. For this purpose, he not only kept a standing force, confifting of fixty thousand men at arms, and other numerous bodies of infantry, but filled the whole kingdom with forts and castles, which he kept ftrongly garrifoned. Frequent were the revolts of the oppreffed and degraded Angles, or English; but always unsuccessful. In one of these infurrections, of which the duke of Northumberland was the chief, the standard of rebellion waved upon the walls of the caftle of Prudhoe, about ten miles above Monkchefter. William fent his fon Rufus, with an army, to crush the rebellion; but the rainy feafon fetting in, he found himself obliged to defer befieging that fortrefs, which was very ftrong, till the enfuing fpring; and, wintering his troops in Monkchefter, in order to keep them employed, fet about building the caftle, faying, "if we cannot take the old, we will, at least, build a new caftle;" from whence the town is faid to have got its name.

Others, with more probability, account for the erecting of this vaft fortrefs in a different manner,

They

* The old castle of Prudhoe.

They tell us, that Malcolm (furnamed Can-more, from his large head) king of Scotland, having invaded Northumberland with a powerful army, laid wafte the whole country to the banks of the river Tyne. At this time William was in Normandy, along with his fon Robert, quelling fome rebellion in that part of his paternal dominions. Upon his arrival in England, being apprifed of Malcolm's invafion, he immediately fent that prince with a powerful army against the Scottish chief. Unable, or unwilling to cope with Robert, who led a well-appointed army, Malcolm retreated towards his own country. Robert's inftructions limiting his duty only to drive back the invaders, and not to retaliate, he fet about building this mighty place of ftrength, with the defign, not only to be a powerful barrier against the incurfions of the warlike Scots, but alfo a place of arms for fecurity againft any infurrection that might happen among the inhabitants in the north.

The ancient Chronicle of Mailrofs fays, " that the Conqueror fent his fon Robert into Scotland againft Malcolm, in the year 1080, who having done nothing worth notice, upon his return, built New-caftle." Hence we may conclude, that the caftle was founded the fame feafon, towards the latter end of the year. Dugdale's Monafticon likewife informs us, that king William (the Conqueror) in the latter end of the year 1080, fent his fon Robert into Scotland against Malcolm; but, having marched as far as Egglefbreth, he returned, (having done no exploit) and built the new caftle upon the river Tyne. Such is the fubitance of thefe refpectable authorities, as to the occafion of building the caftle, and, in confequence,

Derived from the Gaelic, Ceann, head, and mor, large.

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

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

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

THE WALLS.

The wars and tumults, which in early times prevailed in this ifland, made it neceffary to have recourse to the aid of walls, gates, and bars, not only for the protection of cities and towns, but almoft of every private building of any confequence. The island being unhappily divided into two diftinct independent kingdoms, by the river Tweed towards the east, and by an imaginary line in the western part, jealousy, interfering interefts, 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 eafy prey. Newcastle, by its trade and encreafing commercial confequence, 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 inclofed with a wall. It was built of ftone, of great heighth and thickness, and for many ages was undoubtedly of great ftrength. As a proof of this, we have only to obferve, that, although the northern counties were often invaded, and even over-run, by the Scots, yet they were feldom able, during the courfe of a century, to make themselves mafters of Newcastle. It had feveral gates, wonderfully ftrong and maffive; and was strengthened with towers and fquare turrets, which we will notice in their order. The wall was furrounded by a fofs or ditch on the land fide, which in fome places is ftill vifible, as on the outfide 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 ftill 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 wafte 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 affifted the townsmen to ftrengthen 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.