Church of St. Nicholas, churchyard

HER Number

6642

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Church of St. Nicholas, churchyard

Place

Newcastle

Map Sheet

NZ26SW

Class

Religious Ritual and Funerary

Site Type: Broad

Cemetery

Site Type: Specific

Churchyard

General Period

MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Medieval 1066 to 1540

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

Northkyrkestile (1430), Odeschere (1366). Two medieval floreated grave covers were found in around 1886 - they dated to 12th century and 13th century. Bourne lists the inscriptions on the tombs, monuments and graves, including a description of a monument to Henry, Earl of Northumberland. The lane to the north side of the churchyard was called Ratunrau (1292), Ratounrawe (1335), Ratunrawe (1393) and Rattenrawe (1425) - means Rat's Row. The churchyard is said to be haunted by the spirit of Martha Williams who was murdered in the churchyard by two graverobbers {Kirkup 2009}.

Easting

425010

Northing

564030

Grid Reference

NZ425010564030

Sources

H. Bourne, 1736, The History of Newcastle upon Tyne, pp 62-73; P.F. Ryder, 1994, St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne - An Archaeological Watching Brief, November/December 1994; Pre-Construct Archaeology, March 2007, An Archaeological Evaluation at the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear; Rob Kirkup, 2009, Ghostly Tyne and Wear, pages 47-50; Alan Morgan, 2004, Beyond the Grave - Exploring Newcastle's Burial Grounds, pp 15-16; David Heslop, 2016, South Churchyard, Assessment; New Visions Heritage, 2018, St Nicholas Churchyard, Archaeological Evaluation