Tynemouth Priory and Castle

About the museum

The headland at the mouth of the River Tyne was home to an Anglo-Saxon monastery from about the 8th century, which was destroyed by Viking raids in the 9th century. A monastic community was re-established in 1083, and in 1090 the lands were granted to St Albans Abbey, making Tynemouth a priory. Building of the large priory church began soon afterwards, and its choir and presbytery were rebuilt in the Gothic style from about 1190.

The priory also had a military role. In 1296 Edward I allowed it to be fortified with walls and towers, and the great gatehouse was added in the later 14th century. The mid-15th-century Percy Chantry is the only part of the church that still has its roof. The priory was surrendered to the Crown in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the site then became a Tudor fortress that guarded the entrance to the Tyne.

The headland remained a garrison for centuries, with barracks and an ordnance depot added during the Napoleonic period. From the 1890s new gun emplacements and underground magazines were built along the cliff edge, and the site served as a coastal defence and fire command base in both World Wars. The army left in 1956, and many later military structures were cleared to show the older remains. Today the ruined church, the gatehouse, the Warrant Officer's House and the gun batteries can be visited.

Highlights

• Ruined priory church with its Gothic east end
• Percy Chantry, the only roofed part of the church
• Medieval fortified gatehouse
• Underground gun batteries from the World Wars
• Views over the mouth of the River Tyne

Permanent exhibitions

• Life in the Stronghold – An interactive exhibition in the Warrant Officer's House about life on the headland while it served as a military stronghold.
• Coastal gun batteries – Gun emplacements and underground magazines along the cliff edge show how the headland was defended in the two World Wars, with an audio account of air raids by a Second World War gunner.

Founded

601

Operated by

English Heritage

Admission & discounts

Prices depend on the date and are lowest when booked online until midnight the day before. Shown are the lowest advance prices on off-peak days without the optional Gift Aid donation (standard days: adult £8.50, peak days £9.26); tickets bought at the gate cost more (adult £9.00 off-peak, £10.00 standard, £10.90 peak). While parts of the priory are closed for maintenance, a 30% discount is applied automatically when booking. English Heritage members enter free, with up to six children free with an adult member. Visitors arriving by bus, train, Metro, ferry or bicycle get 20% off walk-up tickets.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most of the site is reached by a firm, level path, but the gatehouse entrance has steps, the paths include gravel and a cobbled driveway under the Barbican, and the gun battery is reached by steep steps. The priory ruins are about 40 metres across smooth grass, so manual wheelchair users may prefer to bring an assistant. A ramp serves the Warrant Officer's House, and the castle has a narrow spiral staircase of about 30 steps with no lift. Wheelchairs can be borrowed (call for details) and accessible toilets and handrails are available. Visitors with limited mobility can be dropped off at the entrance, and disabled parking spaces should be reserved in advance. There is an induction loop in the shop, Braille guides, and a selection of artefacts that can be handled. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing facilities are available. Some artefacts can be handled, and the Life in the Stronghold exhibition is interactive. A trail for families runs at times. Up to six children enter free with an adult English Heritage member.

Getting there & parking

The sat nav postcode is NE30 4BZ. Visitors who arrive by Metro, train, Shields ferry, bus or bicycle get 20% off walk-up tickets.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop sells English Heritage gifts. Toilets, including accessible toilets and baby changing, are on site. There are picnic benches, grass and a small sheltered garden with views over the river. Dogs are allowed on a lead, and there is a water bowl by the admission point.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit