Northumberland Yesterday and To-dayTerry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
History
Northumberland Yesterday and To-day
Terry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
Northumberland (England) -- Guidebooks; Northumberland (England) -- History
There is but little left of Tynemouth Castle, which was built as a
protection for the monastery against the attacks of the Danes. It
stands in a commanding position on a neighbouring cliff, and is now
used as barracks for garrison artillery corps. During the days when
Scotland harried the English borders, the Priors of Tynemouth
maintained a garrison here; and later, in Stuart days, Charles I.
visited the North, and the fortress was strengthened just before
the outbreak of the Civil War. It was captured, notwithstanding, by
Leslie, Earl of Leven, after he had left Newcastle. Colonel
Lilburn, left in charge as governor, shortly afterwards avowed
himself on the side of King Charles; but he speedily paid for his
change of allegiance, for the Castle was re-taken by a force from
Newcastle under Sir Arthur Hazelrigg, and Lilburn lost his life in
the fight. The Castle has long been used as a dep ôt for the
storage of arms and ammunition. Behind the Spanish Battery which
commands the entrance to the Tyne stands a statue of the famous
North-countryman, Admiral Collingwood.
Connected with Tynemouth, by the fact that a small chantry
belonging to the Priory once stood there, is St. Mary’s Island. One
may walk unhindered at low tide across the rocks to this favourite
place, but where the chantry stood there is now a lighthouse with a
powerful lantern, flashing its welcome light to the seafarers
nearing the mouth of the Tyne, and extending
“To each and all our equal lamp, at peril of the sea, The white
wall-sided war-ships, or the whalers of Dundee.”
Between Tynemouth and St. Mary’s Island lie Cullercoats, Whitley
Bay, and Monkseaton, and together these places make practically one
extended seaside town, stretching for three or four miles along the
sea-front, and joined by a fine parade which leads to open links at
Monkseaton. Of these places Cullercoats is most noteworthy. This
picturesque fishing village, with quaint old houses perched in
every conceivable position on the curve of its rocky bay, is,
needless to say, a favourite camping ground for artists. The
Cullercoats fishwife, with her cheerful weather-bronzed face, her
short jacket and ample skirts of blue flannel, and her heavily
laden “crees” of fish is not only appreciated by the brotherhood of
brush and pencil, but is one of the notable sights of the district.
At Cullercoats is struck a note of the most modern of modern
achievements—the Wireless Telegraphy Station (225 feet); and here,
too, is situated the Dove Marine Laboratory, looked after by
scientists on the staff of the Armstrong College at Newcastle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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