Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne grew around a royal castle on the northern bank of the Tyne. Its bridge, quays and walls made it a leading town of England's northeastern borderland. Coal from the surrounding mines was shipped downriver and along the English coast by sea, supplying London and other growing markets; merchants known as hostmen played a central role in the growing coal trade.

During the Civil War the Royalist port became a target for Scottish forces allied with Parliament. In 1644 they besieged and captured Newcastle, gaining control of the valuable coal trade on the Tyne. The town's commercial importance endured beyond the fighting, and its river continued to carry the fuel that helped warm homes and support industry farther south.