New Gate

New Gate once stood on the northern stretch of Newcastle’s medieval town wall, built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The gate itself dates to the fourteenth century or earlier and long served as a prison. It gave its name to Newgate Street, though the structure was demolished in 1823. The south front was the oldest part, built in a style matching Alnwick Castle’s inner ward. The north front acted as an outwork with galleries on each side for defence. Three ancient shields adorned the north front: St George’s cross, the royal arms with fleurs-de-lis, and Newcastle’s own arms. For centuries the gate held prisoners, starting in 1399. In 1746 Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, entered Newcastle through New Gate after defeating the Jacobites at Culloden. By 1820 the grand jury declared the gate out of repair and unsafe. Workmen began demolishing it in June 1823, removing wings one by one. A plan to keep the ancient gateway as a carriage road and hall was rejected. Instead, the remaining walls were blown down with gunpowder in September 1823. During demolition, a perfectly preserved portcullis was found and taken to Blagdon Hall. Several cannon-balls were also discovered embedded deep in the masonry. A playful satire circulated privately among workers during the destruction. Today only the name survives in Newgate Street, but the gate’s story remains part of Newcastle’s past.