Shieldfield fort
Shieldfield fort
HER Number
285
District
Newcastle
Site Name
Shieldfield fort
Place
Shieldfield
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
Class
Defence
Site Type: Broad
Fort
Site Type: Specific
Artillery Fort
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Stuart 1603 to 1714
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Description
The fort was certainly in existence early in 1644 and probably built after 1639. A contemporary description of "Sheiffield Fort" describes it as square in plan, standing to a moderate height with a four-cornered Bastion at every angle and a wooden drawbridge at its entrance. In February 1644 it fell to the Scots and in the autumn of that year was heavily damaged, subsequently repaired in 1648. It was still visible in late 19th century between Christ Church Shieldfield and Ridley Villas, at which time is was said to measure 67 yards x 67 yards.
Easting
425550
Northing
564850
Grid Reference
NZ425550564850
Sources
<< HER 285 >> C.S. Terry, 1889, The Scottish Campaign in Northumberland and Durham...1644, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XXI, pp. 159-60
C.S. Terry, 1889, The Siege of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the Scots in 1644, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XXI, pp. 207, 212
Common Council Books, 1648, Shieldfield Fort, 589/5 (1650-9), p. 113 - Tyne and Wear Archive Services
T. Oliver, 1830, Newcastle upon Tyne
R.J. Charleton, (date unknown) Newcastle, pp. 56, 371
M. Ellison & B. Harbottle, 1983, The Excavation of a 17th-Century Bastion in the Castle of Newcastle, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5, XI, 138-9
J. Brand, 1789, Newcastle upon Tyne, I, 442 and n.
A. Morgan, 1995, Bygone Shieldfield
Tyne and Wear Museums, 2004, Ridley Villas, New Bridge Street, Newcastle - Archaeological Assessment; The Archaeological Practice Ltd. 2014, 95-113 New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Evaluation, NPA Ltd., 2010, Back New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Evaluation
C.S. Terry, 1889, The Siege of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the Scots in 1644, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XXI, pp. 207, 212
Common Council Books, 1648, Shieldfield Fort, 589/5 (1650-9), p. 113 - Tyne and Wear Archive Services
T. Oliver, 1830, Newcastle upon Tyne
R.J. Charleton, (date unknown) Newcastle, pp. 56, 371
M. Ellison & B. Harbottle, 1983, The Excavation of a 17th-Century Bastion in the Castle of Newcastle, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5, XI, 138-9
J. Brand, 1789, Newcastle upon Tyne, I, 442 and n.
A. Morgan, 1995, Bygone Shieldfield
Tyne and Wear Museums, 2004, Ridley Villas, New Bridge Street, Newcastle - Archaeological Assessment; The Archaeological Practice Ltd. 2014, 95-113 New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Evaluation, NPA Ltd., 2010, Back New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Evaluation