TYNEMOUTH, a parish in the eastern division of
CASTLE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, comprising
the chapelries of North Shields and Whitley, and the
townships of Chirton, Cullercoats, Monkseaton, Morton,
or Moortown, Preston, and Tynemouth, and containing
24,820 inhabitants, of which number, 9454 are in
the township of Tynemouth, 8 miles (E. N. B.) from
Newcastle upon Tyne. This parish is of great extent,
occupying the south-eastern section of the county; the
river Tyne bounds it on the south, in its course to the
ocean, which forms the eastern limit; on the north and
west are the parishes of Earsdon, Long Benton, and
Wallsend. It abounds with coal; there is also some
iron-stone, and the only limestone strata in the county.
In the time of the ancient Britons the village was
denominated Penbal Crag, or " the head of the rampart
on the rock:" from remains discovered in 1783, it is
conjectured that the Romans had a strong fortress here.
A chapel, composed of wood, was built by Edwin, King
of Northumberland, in 625; it was afterwards rebuilt
with stone by Oswald, in the eighth century, and dedicated
to St. Mary, and, having been repeatedly plundered
by the Danes, was refounded by Tostig, Earl of
Northumberland; in 1074 it was annexed to the monastery
of Jarrow, and both institutions were made
cells to the abbey of Durham. In 1090, it was elevated
into a priory for Black canons by Earl Mowbray, who
converted it into a fortress during the period of his
conspiracy against William Rufus, when it was again
nearly demolished, but rebuilt in 1110. After other
ravages, it became the occasional residence of the queens
of Edward I. and II., was afterwards plundered by the
Scots, and eventually surrendered in 1539, when its
revenue was valued at £511. 4. 1. After thedissolution,
the church continued parochial until the year 1657,
when, having become ruinous, a new parish church was
built at North Shields, and dedicated to Christ. Of
the ancient priory there are still some interesting and
venerable remains, principally in the early style of
English architecture, with some portions of earlier date
in the north aisle: they consist chiefly of a gateway,
exploratory turret, the eastern part of the church, and
other parts now conVerted into a magazine for military
stores; the tower having been appropriated as a barrack,
capable of accommodating about four hundred
soldiers: they stand within the walls of the castle, near
the east end of the village, on a peninsula of stupendous
rocks, at the mouth of the Tyne, against which the sea
sometimes breaks with great fury. The approach from
the west is by means of a drawbridge, and by a gateway
of square form, the whole being defended by a
double wall, extending to the shore, and a deep outer
ditch. During the civil commotions in the reign of
Charles, this fortress was defended by the Earl of Newcastle,
in 1642, but eventually captured in 1645; a
governor and deputy-governor are still appointed to it.
In 1672, Clifford's fort was constructed at the mouth of
the river, commanding the entrance to the harbour; and,
in 1758, barracks were erected near the village, for the
accommodation of one thousand men; but, at the general
peace, they were sold, and have since been converted
into dwelling-houses, which now constitute Percy-square.
This place consists principally of one long street, and is
much resorted to in the bathing season, having some
commodious and elegant baths, erected in 1807. At
Collercoats Sands is a mineral spring, which is in considerable
repute. The living is a discharged vicarage,
in the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and diocese
of Durham, rated in the king's books at £24. 19.4.,
and in the alternate patronage of the Duke of Northumberland
and Sir J. D. Astley, Bart. The church,
dedicated to St. Oswin, and formerly belonging to
the priory, is in ruins; the parish church is in North
Shields. His Majesty's commissioners for building
churches have proposed a grant for a new church at
Tynemouth. In 1825, Mr. Kettlewell bequeathed the sum
of £7000, to build and endow a school in this parish.