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- Oct 22, 2022, 11:00am
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 35 m
- EnglandNorth TynesideTynemouthTynemouth Castle55°1’4” N 1°25’16” W
Tynemouth
October 22, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Tynemouth is a coastal town in the county of Tyne and Wear located around 8 miles east of Newcastle, and part of its metropolitan borough of North Tyneside. It is situated on the north side of the mouth of the River Tyne (hence its name) and the headland here has been settled since the Iron Age; the Romans may have occupied it as a signal station and in the 7th century a monastery was built in Tynemouth and later fortified.
We start at the popular weekend market at Tynemouth as it is located inside the Metro Station; lots of LPs for sale and well worth a visit. We walk into town passing the King's Priory School; at the top of the High Street on the outskirts of a small park is the Queen Victoria Statue and at the other end is the distinctive clock tower and drinking fountain - there is a good view of the Promenade and Long Sands Beach from here.
We are very close to Tynemouth Castle and Priory; the moated castle-towers, gatehouse and keep are combined with the ruins of the Benedictine priory where early kings of Northumbria were buried. Now managed by English Heritage, it is very beautiful. We walk towards the Tyne and see the Tynemouth Piers; there are actually two constructions - North and South - that have protected the mouth of the River Tyne from the ravages of the North Sea since Victorian times; before their construction, it was impossible for shipping to leave the river when an easterly gale blew.
A little further along is the Collingwood Monument; Lord Collingwood is sometimes referred to as the forgotten hero of Trafalgar as he was second-in-command to Admiral Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. He assumed command of the British fleet after the death of Lord Nelson, transferring to HMS Euryalus, and then led the fleet and completed the battle plans that he and Nelson had created together. The four cannons are from Collingwood's flagship, the HMS Royal Sovereign, during the Battle of Trafalgar.
This area is definitely worth a second visit to explore it more thoroughly!Read more