Commons of Newcastle upon Tyne. King and Council. The people of Newcastle request...

Petitioners

Commons of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Addressees

King and Council.

Nature of request

The people of Newcastle request the revocation of a charter lately granted to the Bishop of Durham allowing the loading and unloading of goods on the Tyne within his bishopric. They state that the Bishop intends to create a market town at Gateshead, where no customs will be payable as it lies within the franchise, and state that whereas the people of Newcastle currently pay the king £100 a year for their fee farm and almost the same amount in taxes as York, if the charter is not revoked all the commons will move to Gateshead and the town will lie waste, paying nothing.

Nature of endorsement

[None]

Places mentioned

Newcastle upon Tyne, [Northumberland]

Northumberland

River Tyne

Gateshead, [County Durham]

York.

People mentioned

[John Fordham], Bishop of Durham.

For an earlier petition from the Bishop of Durham see SC 8/250/12493

• Ancient Petitions Relating to Northumberland, Ed. C.M. Fraser, (Surtees Society, vol. CLXXI, 1961), pp.257-9 (no.230) (full edition and discussion of petition)
• Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. V, 15 Edw III - 5 Hen V, 1341-1417, (Public Record Office, 1916), pp.290-1 (grant to the Bishop of Durham allowing loading of ships on the south bank of the Tyne)
• Calendar of Close Rolls, Ric II, vol. II, 1381-1385, (Public Record Office, 1920), p.455 (order to the Bishop to respect the charters of Newcastle)