Apr 17, 2010
The Heart of a City
The Mobile Media and Media Ecologies module (MMME) requires our consideration of ways in which ‘cutting edge’ interactive and mobile technologies might play a role alongside traditional interpretive signage in disseminating context-specific information and media for tourists and ‘the general public’ in and around the area of the Castle Keep, Black Gate, and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle.
I have to admit – I’m no great fan of ‘History.’ The word ‘History’ evokes for me period-drama images of kings and queens, castles and peasants, heavy stone engravings, cosy explanations and linear timelines of ‘important’ dates.
I am however interested in contemporary notions of our collective heritage: ‘Where we are coming from?’ and ‘Where we are going?’
The historic ‘Old Town’ comprising the Castle Keep, Black Gate and Cathedral is in many senses birthplace of the City of Newcastle so I decided to visit the city’s local history library and try to get some sense of how a city is ‘born’.
Rather than turn this blogpost into my own phony-historic sketch of Newcastle I’d like simply to share, in a scrapbook fashion, various clippings and notes:
In 1168 the burgesses of Newcastle were fined 100 marks for compelling a knight to swear, which was an infringement of the then laws of honour; but the sum was remitted for their services in the king’s Castle.
King Henry I. granted laws, customs and privileges to this infant community.*
*An ancient parchment register, in Northumberland House, contains an article entitled, “These are the laws and customs which King Henry granted to his burgesses of Newcastle.”
“In the borough there ought neither to be given merchet, heriot, blood-wit or stengedwit.”
“No foreigner be allowed to cut fish to sell.”
“Whosoever shall hold land in the borough a year and a day justly, and without claim, if the claimant be within the kingdom, he is not bound to answer such claimant.”
“Every burgess may have a furness and mill.”
“No foreigner ought to buy cloth to buy, unless he be of the custom of the borough.”
“A burgess may carry his corn out of the country whithersoever he pleases without licence.”
1. Hue and Cry to be raised against obstinate offenders against the peace of the town, who are to be punished by the extremity of law; one half of the fines imposed on such persons by the Mayor and twenty-four of the town to go to the King, and the other half to the Corporation.
