It was a good place to go train spotting! In those s days it was 6d to go in! However, that is what started me studying Newcastle. The first one was built near Collingwood St by Robert Curthose, eldest son of William I. Curthose got his name from his short legs, Curt being curtailed and Hose meaning legs. The one standing was built for Henry II but he never once came to see it. No one ever lived in it because the chapel is in the dungeon and spirits were allowed to rise! Well John Dobson poked his nose in yet again and added the battlements! Over the centuries it has been used as a gaol, a rooftop garden, a brewery and a storeroom. Well worth a visit if you don't mind climbing the 23 - 25 stone steps to get in ! They even threw a donkey off the top as they wanted to see if it could fly having big ear. It landed killing 2 spectators.