WALKING THE WALLS

Round about this time every year the Heritage Open Days take place. For 4 days it allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open or would normally charge an entrance fee. It also includes tours, events and activities related to architecture and culture.

Today I joined an organised walk - " Walking The Walls". There were 13 in my group and there were two other similar sized groups going around at the same time. We walked the line of the 13th and 14th century Town Wall looking at parts of the wall and the towers which still exist. It was a 3 hour walk and proved very interesting.

The Newcastle town wall is a medieval defensive wall, and Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was built during the 13th and 14th centuries, and helped protect the town from attack and occupation during times of conflict. It was approximately 2 miles long, at least 6½ ft thick and 25 ft high. It had six main gates: Close Gate, West Gate, New Gate, Pilgrim Gate, Pandon Gate and Sand Gate. It also had seventeen towers, as well as several smaller turrets and postern gates. The town wall was kept in good repair whilst there was a threat of invasion from Scottish armies, and the town was successfully defended on at least two occasions; but with the decline of the border wars between England and Scotland, the wall was allowed to deteriorate.

During the English Civil War, the Scots were able to breach the wall using mines and artillery. By the mid-18th century the wall had become obsolete and, as the town was redeveloped, large sections were demolished leaving only parts standing.

The Forum Challenge today is Shapes and Shadows. so I decided to use this shot of part of the wall and the remains of Ever Tower.

Steps today - 14,418