Where Kings Once Trod

I always get a kick out of standing in the exact same spot where someone famous once stood, or where something notable happened in the distant past. Most of us don't give a second thought to this when we're wandering our city streets or visiting an historic site; but I often do. A few days ago I found myself in the grounds of Blackfriars, Newcastle ... and came over all funny again.

What you see above is a modern-day shot of the site taken from the NW corner. What is left of the Blackfriars complex can be seen in the centre/right background, and the footprint of the monastery's church can be discerned in the foreground. Now place yourself a little beyond that tree and (roughly) facing up towards the camera. This is what you would have seen in front of you in medieval times:

(taken from the on-site info board)

Now, in that church on 19th* June 1334 there took place a meeting of the then king of England, Edward III, and the king of the Scots, Edward Balliol. It could be argued that it was Newcastle's greatest day - and will remain so until we win the Champions League (ahem).

Anglo-Scottish relations/wars/arguments in those days revolved around Scottish independence, of course. The First War of Scottish Independence spanned 1296-1328; then there was a brief interlude, before the Second War kicked off in the wake of King Robert the Bruce's death in 1329. Edward III used his influence to help Edward Balliol grab the crown north of the border in 1332, who promptly lost it, then regained it again in 1333 after English victories over the Scots at the Siege of Berwick and the Battle of Halidon Hill, respectively. So, by the spring of 1334 Edward III had his puppet ruler, Edward Balliol, dancing to his tune up in Scotland.

The big get-together at Blackfriars in June 1334 was essentially to make Balliol pay his English master homage - a sort of 'thank you' for helping him secure the Scottish throne. And for Novocastrians it was a chance to see the northern foe humiliated after years of aggravation. The ceremony was duly performed in "a public and solemn manner", with Balliol giving the necessary oaths, etc., and the so-called 'Treaty of Newcastle' was concluded. England also gained all the Scottish border counties ... albeit briefly, as it turned out!

Within months Balliol was ousted (again), the wars were reignited, and it all ended in a sort of awkward draw a couple of decades later in 1357. By then the treaty of 1334 was long-forgotten, and the town's 'greatest day' ultimately meant nothing.

However, you can still pop into Blackfriars and walk in the footsteps of the two kings of almost 700 years ago. Cool!

* Some sources give the date as 12th June.