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Jon spent his childhood up North and only moved down South for his Uni gap year, then permanently when he started work at Micro Focus. He’s been back many a time but had never visited Tynemouth Priory and Castle. It stands proud on the North banks of the Tyne, visible from South Shields.
We made our way there through the Tyne Tunnel – the old one heading there! We found a car park and walked up to the Castle and the entrance into the grounds.
This place was amazing. The castle had in parts been restored, not very sympathetically but it was a means to an end in those days. After walking through the Castle Gatehouse, you then saw the ruined Priory standing tall in front of you.
After walking through the first wall, you are faced with a huge ruined wall that would have featured some amazing windows. It was pretty much invisible from the castle … Callum is stood at the bottom for scale!
In addition to the ruins, there is an artillery fort and coastal defence. The huge gun was there to protect the Tyne during World War 1 and 2.
Standing on the coastal defenses, there are some stunning views looking back over the Priory. The gravestones are fascinating. As we’ve seen at St Mary’s Church in Whitby, some of the gravestones are well weathered destroying the inscription but leaving this most amazing pattern on the stone. Others are left intact and still readable.
From Tynemouth Priory, you get a great view down over South Shields and you could just about see the Lighthouse at Marsden Rock – it was a little hazy. Looking North, you are looking up towards Cullercoates and Whitley Bay.
After a fabulous visit to the Priory we headed back to the car. Callum went the long way around as he decided to walk the moat down the car park … only to get the very end and realise there wasn’t a gate or way out! Back he had to go and down the pavement.
We took a drive up the coast heading through Cullercoates (Spanish City was undergoing major renovations), Whitley Bay and eventually stopped for an ice cream in Blyth.
