The Church of St Nicholas was built as a church in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Norman church next to the Castle that gives Newcastle its name. The lantern tower (also known as a crown spire) was added in the 15th century and is one of only four in Britain. It was in 1882 that the church became a cathedral when the Diocese of Newcastle was created. Much of the interior furnishing dates from that period though there are interesting earlier details such as a 15th century font a mediaeval window and a range of memorials and wall tablets.