Tynemouth (Mouth of the Tyne River) in Northumberland

Today we visited the Tynemouth Castle and Priory- located on a steep headland overlooking the River Tyne and the North Sea. 

The barbican (strong hold) of the castle was built after 1388 to guard against the Scott's invasion.

The priory church was built in c. 1200 with slender lancet windows and soaring arches still visible today.  There is a preserved chapel built in the mid-15th century as a chantry for the powerful Percy family, Earls of Northumberland.

Down below the priory are the lighthouses on each side of the River Tyne.

The low tide shows how the the cliffs are at the edge of the priory. This made it a strong fortress.  The site served as a gun battery site during WWI and WWII to protect the surrounding industry and shipping ports.

Overlooking the harbor is a Statue to Admiral Collingwood - Naval hero from the Battle of Trafalgar- his ship stood for an hour against Napolean's fleet until the rest of the British got within firing range to win the battle.

The town of Tynemouth is quaint. We ate fish and chips with the locals at "Marshalls" - and saw a rare sight-in England - a stop sign-.