Tynemouth Castle and Priory - Subsequent History

Subsequent History

The church remained in use as a parish church until 1668 when a new church was built nearby. The ruins of the church can still be seen. Beneath them is a small (18 feet by 12 feet) chapel, the Oratory of St Mary or Percy Chapel. Its notable decorative features include a painted ceiling with numerous coats of arms and other symbols, stained-glass side windows, and a small rose window in the east wall, above the altar.

In 1775 a lighthouse was erected on the headland (using stone taken from the priory), within the castle walls, as a guide to ships entering the River Tyne. The lighthouse remained in operation until 1895, when it was replaced by St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay. It was subsequently demolished in 1898.

At the end of the 19th century the castle was used as a barracks with several new buildings being added. Many of these were removed after a fire in 1936. The castle played a role during World War II when it was used as a coastal defence installation covering the mouth of the river Tyne. It is now managed by English Heritage, which charges a nominal admission fee. The restored sections of the coastal defence emplacements are open to the public. These include a guardroom and the main armoury, where visitors can see how munitions were safely handled and protected.

Although the promontory was originally completely enclosed by a curtain wall and towers, the north and east walls fell into the sea and most of the south wall was demolished. The west wall and the gatehouse remain in good condition.

More recently the site has hosted the modern buildings of Her Majesty's Coastguard. However the new coastguard station, built in 1980 and opened by Prince Charles, was closed in 2001.