THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step inside the Black Gate for an hour of grisly, oddly funny medical history with Dr Jo Bath. Learn how quack doctors, arsenic remedies, and travelling performers shaped public life in Newcastle—and leave with surprising local stories to pair with your castle walk.
Step inside the Black Gate for an hour of grisly, oddly funny medical history with Dr Jo Bath. Learn how quack doctors, arsenic remedies, and travelling performers shaped public life in Newcastle—and leave with surprising local stories to pair with your castle walk.
Book with Newcastle Castle
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Newcastle Castle · Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Readying the mind for a history talk in an old stone gatehouse is its own kind of travel. The Black Gate at Castle Garth in Newcastle upon Tyne sits at the edge of the River Tyne and forms the eastern entrance to the medieval Newcastle Castle complex. On 17 April 2026, the Harbottle Suite on Floor 2 hosts Dr Jo Bath for 'A Twopenny Box of Pills': a one-hour talk that pulls open the curtain on quack medicine from the 18th century through Victorian scandal. Walk in through the reception on Floor 1, browse the small gift shop if you have time, then take the lift to the Harbottle Suite where doors open at 17.45 and the talk begins at 18.00. The venue is wheelchair accessible and the format includes a Q&A at the end, making it ideal for anyone curious about local oddities and medical folklore. Expect vivid stories about 'self-taught professors,' botanical doctors, and arsenic-based remedies that once made headlines in Elswick. The building itself is part performance and part artifact: heavy medieval stonework, arrow-slit windows and the raised walkway that looks out toward the city and the Tyne create a textured urban backdrop. That architectural frame gives Dr Bath’s material an added charge — the smells, sights and sounds of the city outside the windows remind listeners this history unfolded in streets not so different from the ones they occupy today. This is not a clinical lecture. Jo Bath, who bills herself as a historymonger and Doctor of Crime, brings forensic curiosity and showmanship, moving between case studies and broader social history. The result is an evening that pairs archival oddities — newspaper ads for 'merry Andrews' and lethal patent medicines — with clear context about how medicine and regulation evolved. For travelers who combine walking the castle precincts, riverfront promenades, and museum visits, this talk is a compact cultural kernel that enriches a short stay in Newcastle upon Tyne. It’s especially good as an early evening activity: brief, accessible, and anchored in a site you can explore before or after the lecture. Bring a notebook for details you’ll want to fact-check later, and allow time to visit the castle exhibits either side of the talk. Practical notes: check in at Black Gate reception on Floor 1; doors open 17.45; the talk runs 60 minutes with Q&A. The Harbottle Suite is accessible by lift. Tickets and booking via the provided referral link. Whether you’re a local or passing through, the talk ties urban places to human stories: greasy spoon ads, travelling performers, and medicines sold at market stalls. It’s ideal for history enthusiasts, students, medical professionals, or anyone with a taste for the strange chapters of life.
easy.
1 hour.
No special fitness required; suitable for most visitors able to navigate a short lift and indoor seating.
Check in at the Black Gate reception on Floor 1; staff will direct you to the lift and the Harbottle Suite on Floor 2.
Yes. The Harbottle Suite is accessible by lift and is located on Floor 2; the venue notes accessibility in its description.
Doors open at 17.45 and the talk starts at 18.00; arriving a few minutes early ensures you can visit the gift shop and be seated.
The talk runs approximately 60 minutes and includes time at the end for a Q&A session.
The event does not list age restrictions; content includes grisly historical cases, so consider suitability for younger children.
Book via the referral link provided in the listing; the Harbottle Suite event page contains booking and ticket details.
The Black Gate is part of the Newcastle Castle complex and retains heavy medieval stonework that frames the Harbottle Suite event space.
Respect the historic fabric by keeping bags and wet gear under control, and use public transport where possible to reduce congestion around the castle precincts.
Newcastle Castle is a historic Norman fortress in Newcastle upon Tyne that interprets the city’s medieval past through guided tours, special events and educational programmes. The site centres on a preserved Castle Keep and the adjacent Black Gate, offering visitors direct access to the architecture and stories that shaped the town. Newcastle Castle runs a programme of seasonal events, including theatrical performances, film screenings, themed talks and living history days, alongside regular Medieval Newcastle Tours and bookable school visits tailored to key stages. Visitors can purchase an Annual Pass Admission for unlimited visits across a year, or book single events such as mystery talks, horror screenings, family-friendly festivals and commemorative lectures. The venue hosts a range of ticketed experiences listed in advance, including author talks, Dungeons & Dragons–themed shows, historical lectures, horror screenings and community-focused activities during school holidays. Specialists and recognised guest speakers lead many talks and performances, while living history groups and performance companies contribute to reenactments and tournament days. For schools and groups, Newcastle Castle provides structured workshops, hands-on activities and guided tours that align with curriculum topics and local history learning outcomes. The site combines architectural interest with curated interpretation and a varied public events programme that appeals to families, students and history enthusiasts.
Book with Newcastle Castle