From Wiki:

The headland towering over the mouth of the Tyne has been settled since the Iron Age. The Romans occupied it. In the 7th century a monastery was built there and later fortified. The headland was known as PEN BAL CRAG

The place where now stands the Monastery of Tynemouth was anciently called by the Saxons Benebalcrag

— Leland at the time of Henry VIII

The monastery was sacked by the Danes in 800, rebuilt, destroyed again in 875 but by 1083 was again operational.^[3]

Three kings are reputed to have been buried within the monastery – Oswin – King of Deira (651); Osred II – King of Northumbria (792) and Malcolm III- King of Scotland (1093). Three crowns still adorn the North Tyneside coat of arms. (North Tyneside Council 1990).

The queens of Edward I and Edward II stayed in the Priory and Castle while their husbands were campaigning in Scotland. King Edward III considered it to be one of the strongest castles in the Northern Marches. After Bannockburn in 1314, Edward II fled from Tynemouth by ship.

A village had long been established in the shelter of the fortified Priory and around 1325 the then Prior built a port for fishing and trading. This led to a dispute between Tynemouth and the more powerful Newcastle over shipping rights on the Tyne which continued for centuries.

We packed our bags, had breakfast and checked out of the hotel before setting off for Tynemouth in glorious sunshine.  We enjoyed a short walk around the Spanish Battery and the towering Collingwood monument before visiting Tynemouth Priory & Castle.  The site contains interesting history including gun batteries that were used in the first and second world wars and a former coast guard station (not open to the public).  It was all very photogenic.

After the visit we strolled into town and had lunch in a bakery tea room which was sadly due to close down the following week and be turned into a Fish and Chip shop.  After lunch we left Tynemouth, following the coastal route towards Alnwick where we stopped briefly to visit Barter Books.  Some things just have to be done

After a purchase or two we resumed our journey to the Coach House at Crookham.  It was lovely to see Leona again and the place still feels like home from home.  We dined in as we always do when we visit; the food is so good and there are always interesting people to talk to so there is no reason to look elsewhere.