98 A SKETCH OF OLD NEWCASTLE. 



" the monks of old," however interesting, could stand in 

 the way of a cattle market. 



Some persons have supposed that in days of yore New- 

 castle was more considerable in extent than in later years, 

 and that it had four churches. I cannot, however, find 

 any confirmation of this opinion. The borough records are 

 said to make mention of " Saint Mary, beyond the water," 

 (i. e. over the brook or pool) ; and a St. Katharine's and 

 St. Leonard's are also spoken of; but it is most likely 

 that these were only chantries belonging to the church of 

 St. Giles the Abbot, itself originally a chapel under the 

 mother church of St. Peter at Stoke. St. Giles's church 

 was probably an interesting structure, if we may judge 

 from the fine old massive tower of Early English which 

 still remains, joined on to the incongruous re-erection of 

 the last century an enormity which was perpetrated in the 

 year 1720. I have enquired in vain for a view of the 

 church as it formerly stood. If any such existed it has 

 been lost during the 150 years that have passed away 

 since it was levelled with the ground. It would, if found, 

 be a pleasing momento of old Newcastle. 



I must not pass over an amusing article which formerly 

 belonged the borough. Had the present meeting taken 

 place a score of years ago, I might have exhibited (what 

 I several times myself saw) a device of our ancestors for 

 making a quiet woman an iron bridle for scolds, an 

 article for which Newcastle was famous. I hope the 

 ladies will not misunderstand me ; I do not mean that 

 Newcastle was famous for its scolds, but for its bridle ; 

 though possibly some sharper in logic would contend for 

 the inference, that if Newcastle had a bridle for scolds it 

 must have had scolds for its bridle. Be it as it may, 



