Due to its impregnable location between the river and the North Sea, Tynemouth has always been as much a fortress as a religious site.

The Priory dates back to the 7th century as an Anglian monastery and burial place of Oswin, sainted king of Northumbria. After it was destroyed by Danish raiders, the present Benedictine priory was re-founded on its site in c1090. When the Priory monks surrendered Tynemouth to Henry VIII in 1539 it was adopted as a royal castle, continuing to play a role in coastal defence against Napoleon and during the two World Wars.