The New Castle for which the city was named was first established in 1080 at a strategic crossing-point of the [[River Tyne]] and a medieval borough was chartered to serve the castle. In 1400 Newcastle became 'the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne' - that is, it was removed from the authority of the Sheriff of [[Northumberland]] and became a county in its own right. It became a city in 1882, and St Nicholas's church was elevated to become a [[cathedral]] in 1906, when the [[diocese]] of Newcastle was formed from the diocese of [[Durham]]. | The New Castle for which the city was named was first established in 1080 at a strategic crossing-point of the [[River Tyne]] and a medieval borough was chartered to serve the castle. In 1400 Newcastle became 'the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne' - that is, it was removed from the authority of the Sheriff of [[Northumberland]] and became a county in its own right. It became a city in 1882, and St Nicholas's church was elevated to become a [[cathedral]] in 1906, when the [[diocese]] of Newcastle was formed from the diocese of [[Durham]]. |