In the 19th century, cannon were mounted on the rooftop and fired on ceremonial occasions.
One was used regularly as the ‘noon gun’, firing at the midday in response to a telegraph signal from Greenwich Observatory in London. After a number of accident – in one of which a gunner was killed – the practice of firing the cannon was eventually discontinued in the 1850s and the guns were later removed.*
*Information from Newcastle Castle guidebook (Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne).
great views from the top especially the first couple.
Thanks Ayush
I like your new profile picture.
Well, the view of the castle keep itself is far nicer.
The weather was also nicer when I photographed the keep.
It might be difficult for readers to take it in the variety of the views but I suppose that was why the commanding site was chosen for the Keep in the first place. If it’s any consolation, the weather was like that when I was last up there.
I would really have loved to get a photo of the Black Gate with the Cathedral in the background. But the Black Gate was shrouded in scaffolding… Sighs…