3-017-238 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"The Building of the New Castle on the Tyne, 1080", from a picture by W. B. Scott, 1865. Engraving of a painting. 'The scene is laid in front of the great door of the Keep...Outside the parapet wall...is a scaffold for the workmen, forming the foreground of the composition. The labourers raising the coping-stone...represent the Saxon or Danish natives forced to labour by their Norman invaders. The oldest of these has been a man of some rank, and bears his degradation proudly. Behind...stands the eldest son of the Conqueror, Robert, who is supposed to have been present during the building...The lady, who has been riding out with the Prince along with the others seen in the inclosure below, leans on his shoulder, entirely uninterested in the discussion...Within the bailey are tents for the sale of meat and drink, as was usual during the building of large edifices in the Middle Ages...The natives, crowding in to look at the Norman horses and riders, are rudely and unceremoniously repelled by the groom, carrying the wild geese shot by the party, and by the man-at-arms. Outside, a jongler amuses the crowd...On the other side of the river, Gatehead is in ruins'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.