378 purchased by the corporation in 1809 for 600, and is now under the charge of the Newcastle Society of Antiquaries, who have fitted up a portion of it as an antiquarian museum. Near the castle is St Nicholas church, now forming the cathedral of the diocese of Newcastle (instituted in 1882). The church, which is principally Decorated, consists of nave, aisles, chancel, and transepts, the total length of the interior from east to west being 245 feet, and the width at the transepts 128 feet. The principal feature of the church is the lantern tower, a later addition and a very fine specimen of Early Perpendicular. The church has been frequently repaired, and underwent extensive renovation (1873-76) at a cost of 30,000. Among other interesting old churches is St Andrew s church, erected in the llth century, principally Norman, with a low square tower and a peal of six bells. During the siege by the Parliament ary army in 1644 it was greatly damaged. St John s church is a stone building of the 14th century with an ancient font. Of the nine conventual buildings at one time existing in Newcastle or its immediate neighbour hood, a few fragments of the monastery of the Black Friars still remain, and the chapel of the hospital of St Mary at Jesmond forms a picturesque ruin. The most important public buildings are the corporation buildings, including a large public hall, and a corn ex change, erected (1863) at a cost of 100,000; the guild hall, originally a hospital called the Maison de Dieu, and afterwards used as "the stately court of merchant ad venturers," re-erected in 1658; the moot-hall (1810) for the meetings of assizes and sessions and the transaction of county business; the exchange (1860); the central news-room and art gallery (1838); the assembly-rooms Plan of Newcastle. (1774, re-erected 1876); the barracks (1806); the market (1835); the central railway station, opened 1849, at a cost of 130,000; the police courts (1874); the general post office (1876); the Wood memorial hall (1870), used for the meetings of the North of England Institute of Engineers; the custom-house ; the theatre royal; Trinity house, with a chapel dating from 1491 ; and the (branch) Bank of England. The Grey monument in Grey Street, an Ionic column sur mounted by a statue of Earl Grey, was erected in 1836 to com memorate the passing of the Reform Bill; the Stephenson monument near the railway station was erected in 1862. The principal educational establishments are the colleges of medicine and of physical science, affiliated to the university of Durham ; the royal free grammar school, founded in 1525, and rebuilt by the town council in 1870 out of the funds of the hospital of St Mary ; the school of science and art in connexion with South Kensington, opened in 1879 ; and Allan s endowed schools, founded in 1705, and reorganized by the charity commissioners in 1877. Among the clubs and similar institutions are the Literary and Philosophical Society, founded in 1793, possessing buildings erected in 1825 at a cost of 16,000 ; the Society of Antiquaries, founded in 1813, with a museum in the castle ; the Natural History Society ; the Tyneside Naturalists Club, established in 1846 ; the Mechanics Institution, 1824; the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers, 1852 ; the Fine Arts Society ; the Farmers Club ; the Northern Counties Club; the Union Club ; and the University Club. There is a public library and news-room, erected at a cost of 20,000. The benevolent institutions include the infirmary (originally founded in 1751 and enlarged in 1801 and 1851), the dispensary (1777), the fever house (1803), the lying-in hospital (1760), the eye infirmary (1822), Trinity alms- houses (1492), the hospital of the Holy Jesus (1682), the
