English Civil War
In 1643, during the English Civil War, the Royalist Mayor of Newcastle, Sir John Marley, repaired the keep and probably also refortified the castle. In 1644 the Scottish army crossed the border in support of the Parliamentarians and 40,000 Scottish troops besieged Newcastle for three months until the garrison of 1,500 surrendered.
During the 16th to the 18th century, the keep was used as a prison. By 1800, there were more than fifty houses within the boundaries of the castle housing several hundred people.
Read more about this topic: The Castle, Newcastle
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