The Castle is built on the site of the fortress which
gave the City of Newcastle its name.  Use of the site
for defensive purposes dates from Roman times, when
it housed a fort and settlement called Pons Aelius,
guarding a bridge over the River Tyne.  In 1080, a
wooden motte and bailey style castle was built on the
site of the Roman fort, which was the 'New Castle
upon Tyne'.  The stone Castle Keep was built between
1172 and 1177 by Henry II.  Nothing remains of the
Roman fort or the original motte and bailey castle.
 The Keep is a Grade I listed building, and a
Scheduled Ancient Monument.

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