There are four castles in Tyne and Wear, a metropolitan county in North East England. One is a gatehouse, one is a keep, one is an enclosure and one is an artillery fort.
All four of Tyne and Wear's castles are Scheduled Ancient Monuments. A Scheduled Ancient Monument is a "nationally important" archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The purpose of a castle was not simply militaristic, but was also considered to be a stamp of authority over the population of an area and a status symbol. Some would have acted as centres of trade and administration for a manor. The earliest castle in Tyne and Wear is Tynemouth Castle.
Read more about Castles In Tyne And Wear: List of Castles
Famous quotes containing the words castles and/or wear:
“Where are our castles now, where are our towers?”
—Sir Thomas More (1478–1535)
“And still we wear our uniforms, follow
The cracked cry of the bugles, comb and brush
Our pride and prejudice, doctor the sallow
Initial ardor, wish to keep it fresh.
Still we applaud the President’s voice and face.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)