Photographs Of Newcastle

2015-02-27T10:28:00.359Z

Hello and welcome to my photographs of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England and surrounding areas. I am constantly updating older pages with new photos and adding new pages to this site.

The full list of parts of Newcastle that I've photographed can be seen in the rather unwieldy sidebar over there on the left. You can also browse this site two other ways. The first way is by labels (see sidebar,again) which means if you click on the label "Byker" you will see all photographs from that area. The second way is by area. Each of the following 6 areas Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Durham and South Tyneside have their own link list and interactive map.

You can also sign my guest map, play the Whereabouts in Newcastle Quiz, join me on my Walking the River Tyne Westwards Project, see some Old Photos of Newcastle and Reader Submitted Old Photos of Newcastle.

Leave a comment or email me (email link in the sidebar) if there is a part of Newcastle you would like to see featured here in the future.

New Pages in recent weeks

2nd February 2012 - Derwent Tower (Dunston Rocket) Demolition Photos
23rd January 2012 - Neptune House - The Old Fish Market
10th January 2012 - New whereabouts in Newcastle quiz.
13th December 2011 - Sandyford - Dinsdale Place - Graffiti 2011
2nd December 2011 - New whereabouts in Newcastle quiz.

Updated Pages in recent weeks

31st January 2012 - Redheugh Bridge
31st January 2012 - Civic Centre
31st January 2012 - The Baltic Arts Museum
31st January 2012 - Sage Gateshead
31st January 2012 - River Tyne and The Quayside 3
31st January 2012 - The Quayside Market
27th January 2012 - The Tyne Bridge
27th January 2012 - The Swing Bridge
27th January 2012 - Ouseburn - Old Maynards Sweet Factory
22nd January 2012 - Laing Art Gallery
20th January 2012 - Downing Plaza Construction (Former S&N Breweries Site)
20th January 2012 - Spillers Tyne Mill Demolition Photos
16th January 2012 - Percy Street
16th January 2012 - Castle Keep - Black Gate
16th January 2012 - The Guildhall
10th January 2012 - Ouseburn Street Art and Graffiti
10th January 2012 - Pets Corner Regeneration. Some photos of the recently arrived Alpacas added.
10th January 2012 - Exhibition Park. New panoramic photo added.
5th January 2012 - Ouseburn - Old Maynards Sweet Factory
5th January 2012 - All Saints Church. A photo has been added of the wheelchair entrance that has been cut out of the wall kindly sent in by reader Pete Besthood.

Below are a few of the most popular photos on this site. Mouseover to find out what page they are from or click on them to be taken to that page.

All images on here are © newcastlephotos.blogspot.com/ please contact me if you wish to use any of my photographs for any purpose.

Derwent Tower (Dunston Rocket) Demolition Photos

2012-02-02T10:06:00.000Z

Demolition has begun of the Derwent Tower (Dunston Rocket) in Gateshead.
Workers have spent the past 10 months stripping out the interior of the tower block designed by Owen Luder.

Demolition is set to last around 18 months and I will try to get back for some more photos every week or so during the demolition but that's not a promise as I rely on public transport to get there.

Read more at The Chronicle Demolition begins on famous Dunston Rocket.

See my photos of the tower and the old Tudor Crisps tv advert which featured the tower here Derwent Tower (Dunston Rocket).

1st Februaury 2012

More photos as and when.

Neptune House - The Old Fish Market

2012-01-23T18:06:00.002Z

The present Fish Market, a Grade II Listed Building, was built between 1878 and 1880 to a design by city engineer A.M. Fowler replacing the former one in The Guildhall which was enclosed and converted into a news room (1897-98).

The sculptor for Neptune and Fishwives was George Burn and the sculpture stands 1.2m high and 2.8m wide. Neptune is seen standing on two dolphins, trident in hand with two Fishwives on either side traditionally dressed and holding fish and baskets.

George Burn was also the sculptor for the memorials to the Tyne Scullers, Harry Clasper, Bob Chambers and James Renforth, and the monument to Colonel Edward Moseley Perkins and the Head of Garabaldi.

In the 1970's the building was converted into a cold storage facility for a company called Saninsena. It then briefly became the offices of an advertising company in the 1980's. And in 2000 it was converted into a nightclub called Sea and now it is still a nightclub known as Riverside.

Description courtesy of SINE and Steve Ellwood.

OLD PHOTOS OF Neptune House

Landscape photo looking down from the High Level Bridge on to the Fish Market and the Close.
View from the south.
(Image from August 1973)
©SINE Project

Where in Newcastle Part 34

2012-01-10T10:12:00.002Z

Just a bit of fun and there will be no prizes for guessing the correct answer but whereabouts in Newcastle is this picture taken?

Click and drag your mouse between the 2 Stars below the picture to reveal the answer.

*Downing Plaza on the old S&N Breweries site*

Sandyford - Dinsdale Place - Graffiti 2011

2011-12-13T14:02:00.001Z

This newer graffitti has replaced the Harley Davidson Graffiti in Dinsdale Place.

Where in Newcastle Part 33

2011-12-02T07:30:00.001Z

*Looking up from the quayside to The Free Trade pub in Byker*

HMS Ledbury

2011-11-23T07:58:00.001Z

HMS Ledbury (M30), the third ship of the name, is a Hunt-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. She was launched on December 1979 and commissioned on 11 June 1981, the second ship of her class. She cost £65 Million at time of building, which was the most expensive cost per metre for any class of ship built by the Royal Navy. Most of this cost went into the research and development of Ledbury's Glass Reinforced Plastic Hull.

These photos were taken on the 24th October 2011 when she been docked in the Tyne for a few days.

HMS Ledbury arriving on the Tyne 20th October 2011

HMS Ledbury leaving Newcastle Quayside 25th October 2011

On board the HMS Ledbury

More information:
HMS Ledbury (M30): Wikipedia
HMS Ledbury: Royal Navy
Evening Chronicle: HMS Ledbury docks on the River Tyne

Fenwicks Christmas Window 2011

2011-11-09T12:36:00.003Z

This years window has the strapline "Once Upon a Time - Celebrating 40 years of Fenwicks christmas stories".

All these photos were taken quite early in the morning before it was switched on so forgive me for the odd appearance of my cameras flash reflecting in the windows. Every time that I have passed the window this week during opening hours I've not been able to get near enough to get beter shots due to the sheer number of visitors.

~~I will add some videos in the next week or so if I can get near enough!~~ First video added at the bottom of the page.

Fenwicks Christmas Window 2007
Fenwicks Christmas Window 2008
Fenwicks Christmas Window 2009
Fenwicks Christmas Window 2010

Willington Gut

2011-11-04T18:31:00.001Z

The stream that trickles through Richardson Dees Park, Wallsend Civic Hall Grounds and Wallsend Burn eventually opens out into Willington Gut before it enters the river Tyne.

Willington Viaduct

Iron railway viaduct over Willington Dene, spanning a distance of c.320m with seven spans, supported on stone piers. Construction began in 1837 by John and Benjamin Green for Newcastle and North Shields Railway Company.

Willington Mill

Willington Mill, also known as Kitty's Mill, was one of England's first steam powered flour mills. The Victorians regarded it as the most haunted building in the North of the Country. The building is now listed and is used as a canteen for the rope works along side.

Willington Quay Boat Club

OLD PHOTOS

Landscape photo of the Rope Works, Willington Mill and the Willington Viaduct.
View from the southeast.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo, looking out from under the A187 road bridge towards the Willington ropeworks, Willington Mill and the Willington Viaduct.
View from the south.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking from under the Willington Viaduct towards the rope walk.
View from the southeast.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking at the span of the Willington Viaduct.
View from the southwest.
Image from 6 July 1961.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking at the length of Willington Viaduct, with the ropery below.
View from the southwest.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking from under the A187 road bridge towards the rope works, Willington Mill and the Willington Viaduct.
View from the south.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking under the Willington Viaduct towards the rope works.
View from the south.
Image from October 1972.
©SINE Project

Landscape photo looking at the length of Willington Viaduct.
View from the east.
Image from 3 August 1981.
©SINE Project

More Information:
Willington Dene and Willington Quay
Monkchester: Willington Quay Photos
Workmen unloading raw material from a barge in Willington Gut for Messrs Hood Haggie's rope works, January 1933
Willington Mill's ghostly past explored in book
Willington Dene and Willington Quay
North Tyneside - Willington Gut Footbridge

Heaton Park in the Snow Nov 2010

2011-11-01T13:12:00.001Z

A few older photos I recently found on an old hard drive which were meant to go up here a year ago!
Here's hoping we don't have another nasty winter this year but I'm not holding my breath.

Walker Comprehensive School

2011-10-14T09:35:00.000+01:00

Walker Technology College was founded in 1932 as two Central Schools that were designated as Technical Schools in 1946. In 1967 the present comprehensive school was formed by the amalgamation of Walker Technical High School for Girls with Welbeck Road Secondary School for Girls and Wharrier Street Secondary School for Boys. For twenty-one years it existed as a split-site school, but following a large building programme the whole school moved on to this one site in September 1988.

The School was designated as a specialist Technology College by the DfEE from 1 September 2000 and this provided an opportunity to build on the technological investment that had been made. The name was changed from Walker School to Walker Technology College from September 2000.

In September 2011 a new school was opened at the nearby Waverdale Avenue and I'd read somewhere that these old buildings were due to be demolished soon. As good a time as any to take a few photos.

Description harvested from Walker Technology College.

View Larger Map

Where in Newcastle Part 32

2011-09-26T19:02:00.000+01:00

*Taken at Strawberry Lane looking at the back of the offices on the corner of Gallowgate and Percy Street*

RMS Mauretania at Swan Hunters

2011-09-23T09:39:00.000+01:00

Swan & Hunter Ltd. was a small shipbuilding company, but under the direction of the very ambitious George Burton Hunter they were determined to break into the top flight of world shipbuilding. Hunter opened negotiations with Wigham Richardson & Co Ltd., whose Neptune Yard was upstream of Swan’s Wallsend Yard, about a possible merger. This was finally agreed to on 26th May 1903 and a new company, Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., was formed.

RMS MAURETANIA was one of the most famous ships ever built on Tyneside and this set shows some fantastic photographs of the construction.

Photograph of the nearly completed vessel Mauretania in September 1906. The West shed used to build the “Mauretania” was 728 ft long x 95 ft wide x 130 ft high complete with a glass roof. It survived until 1959.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This is a view from the aft looking forward at the Mauretania, showing the installation of the forward coal bunkers – an original Magic Lantern slide is dated 04/04/1905.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Photograph taken from the stern showing completed bunkers and the decks taking shape on the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Work proceeding on the double bottoms on the construction of the Mauretania. Note the hydraulic riveting machine in the foreground to the right.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Boiler room of The Mauretania after the conversion to oil burning, 1921.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Photograph showing the assembly of a turbine rotor. Each of the blades were cut to length by hand and there were over 3 million blades in Mauretania’s turbines.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

The aft launch cradle in position. This photograph shows some of the workmen who built the vessel.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Photograph of a completed low pressure rotor with staff to indicate scale on the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This photograph is taken in Canada Dock in Liverpool, 1909. The gentleman in uniform is Mauretania’s first Chief Engineer, John Currie.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Transportation of large components. This photograph illustrates the progress made in the use of steam between the “old” traction engine and the “new” turbine casing for ships.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

A complete propeller assembly at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co. for the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Photograph of one of the four original propeller bosses for Mauretania at Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This is another illustration of the size and weight of the anchor chains of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This is the boat deck of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Heres a view of the promenade deck of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Here's Mauretania at full speed, built by the shipbuilders Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, at the Wallsend shipyard.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Here is a stern view showing the disposition of propellers of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Here's the special state room on D deck of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

People attending the official launch party of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This is one of the first class pantries on board the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

First and second class kitchens on RMS Mauretania

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

View of the engine room controls. The inner wheel you can see towards the middle of the photograph was used to control steam to the low pressure turbine for manoeuvring. The outer wheel was used for ocean steaming and controlled the main steam flow to the high pressure turbine.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

On board the RMS Mauretania, was housed this spectacular verandah café. It was situated on the boat deck where passengers could sit and drink their coffee in the open air - looking out to sea.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

The children's dining-saloon and nursery on the shelter deck of the Mauretania, was decorated with paintings illustrating nursery ryhmes by the artist J. E. Mitchell of Newcastle.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

There were 9 decks in the Mauretania and this was the Grand Entrance on the boat deck.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

The observation room was based on the promenade deck. Here passengers could view the vessel forging ahead, but had protection from the strong winds that were caused by the great speeds that Mauretania travelled.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Heres a view of the navigating house on board the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This is the second class dining room on the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This photograph shows the bookcase in the library of the Mauretania. Situated on the boat deck, along with a lounge, music room and smoking room, the library was one of many first-class facilities on board the ship.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Heres a view of the second-class drawing room on the RMS Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Heres a view showing the second- class promenades of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This section of the Mauretania was the lead from the boilers to the base of one of the funnels, to exhaust the smoke and flue gas.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Turbine machinery for the Mauretania, in the erecting shop of the makers, the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company Limited.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

This shows one of the four bladed propellers of the Mauretania, manufactured by Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company Limited (as can be seen on one of the blades to the right).

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

View of the stern of the ship showing the propellers.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

A view of the bridge front of the Mauretania.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

A view of the deck onboard the Mauretania, with a young boy and girl skating along the deck.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Here is a man stood next to a bower anchor, which were usually attached one each side of the bow. This was one used on the Mauretania and the gentlemen helps demonstrate how large these anchors actually were.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Mauretania off the Tyne on her final voyage to Rosyth, where she was broken up. From a collection of Quarter plate glass negatives of photographs taken by James William Coleby, of Willington Quay.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Mauretania leaving the Tyne for sea trials. From a collection of quarter plate glass negatives of photographs taken by James William Coleby, of Willington Quay.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Heaton Park Redevelopment 2011

2011-09-22T08:25:00.001+01:00

A rather neglected and run down part of Heaton Park around House of Adam and Heaton Road has been tidied up as part of the Ouseburn Parks regeneration.

September 2005
The area was once a bowling green(before my time) and the shed remained in a derelict state for many years.

March 2007

February 2008
By this time the shed was demolished and the council put some goals up. The pitch was unusable though due to all the holes in the ground.

2nd March 2011
Work began on clearing the site early in the new year.

28th March 2011

30th August 2011
What a difference! I think it's a shame they did'nt keep the football pitch though as there is not many places to have a kickabout when the park is full which it often gets on days with decent weather but you can't have it all I suppose.

Corbridge

2011-09-07T11:07:00.003+01:00

Corbridge is a village in Northumberland, situated 16 miles (26 km) west of Newcastle and 4 miles (6 km) east of Hexham. Villages in the vicinity include Halton, Acomb, Aydon and Sandhoe. It grew from the Roman town of CORSTOPITUM, a supply town for the troops on Hadrian's Wall. From the beginning Corstopitum provided much of the building stones used in the construction of many of the village buildings, including the church, Vicar's Pele and nearby castles.

In the thirteenth century Corbridge was second only to Newcastle in wealth and its citizens were heavily taxed to help pay for Edward 1's Scottish wars and its mediaeval street plan is much the same today.

The scene of stormy events in the past. In 796 Ethelred, King of Northumbria was slain here. In 918 King Regnald The Dane defeated the English and Scots armies here. In 1138 King David I of Scotland occupied the town. In 1201 it was searched by King John. It was three times burned, by William Wallace in 1296, by Robert the Bruce in 1312 and in 1346 by King David II of Scotland.

As far back as 1827 Corbridge was a place renowned for its small shops and several of the decorated fronts still survive. Today Corbridge is still known for its quaintness and unique boutique shops and is an ideal base to explore the beauty of Northumberland.

Description harvested from This Is Corbridge, Corbridge - Wikipedia and various information boards around the village.

See also Keys To The Past: Corbridge for more history.

Front Street

Hill Street - The Blue Bell

Hill Street - The Golden Lion (Link)

Hill Street - United Methodist Chapel

Hill Street

Main Street - Bridge House

Main Street - The Angel Inn (Link)

Main Street - Low Hall

Main Street - Monks Holme (Link)

Main Street Pant

Main Street

Market Cross

Market Place Pant

Middle Street - The Black Bull (Link)

Middle Street - Lloyds TSB

Princes Street - Cross House

Princes Street - Methodist Church (Link)

Princes Street - Town Hall

St Andrews Cottage

St Helens Street - Parish Hall (Link)

St Helens Street

St Helens Street- The Wheatsheaf Hotel (Link)

Corbridge Railway Station

Station Road - The Dyvels Inn (link)

Watling Street

More information:
Corbridge - Wikipedia
GENUKI: Corbridge, Northumberland Genealogy
Homepage | Corbridge United Junior Football Club
The Village Plan

View Larger Map

Corbridge - St. Andrew's Church and Vicars Pele

2011-09-01T14:27:00.001+01:00

The Church of England parish church of St. Andrew is thought to have been consecrated in 676. St Wilfrid is supposed to have built the church at the same time as Hexham Abbey was constructed. It has been altered several times throughout the centuries, with a Norman doorway still in evidence, as well as a lych gate constructed in memory of the soldiers killed in the First World War.

Text harvested from Corbridge - Wikipedia

St Andrews Church

Kings Oven

This is the pavement of the communal oven for the baking of the villagers' bread and meat. It was first recorded in 1310 as the Kings Oven in the then Royal Borough of Corbridge, and was last in use in the 19th century

Vicar's Pele

There are only three fortified vicarages in the county, and one of these is in Corbridge. The Vicar's Pele is to be found in the south-east corner of the churchyard, and has walls 1.3 metres (4 ft) in thickness. It was a three-storey pele tower, with one room to each storey, built in the churchyard in 1318, and used as the vicarage for the adjacent church. It is built largely from sandstone taken from the Roman fortress at Coria nearby. It was in use as a vicarage until the early 17th century. The original interior has been gutted.

Text harvested from Corbridge Vicar's Pele - Wikipedia

Vicar's Pele - Old Market Cross

Which, mounted on a roman altar from Corstopitum, stood for some 600 years in the market place. It was removed in 1807, and restored and re-erected on it's present site in 1975.

St Andrews Church history here St. Andrew's Church - Corbridge, Saxon Church of St Andrews, Corbridge and here Corbridge Parish Council.

More on Vicars Pele here Corbridge Vicars Pele, SINE Project, Structure Details for Vicar's Pele Tower and here castleuk.net - Vicar's Pele Corbridge St Andrews Church.

Corbridge Bridge and River Tyne

2011-08-26T14:51:00.002+01:00

A recent visit to Corbridge left me with too many photos to put on one page here is the first of 2 or 3 posts coming in the near future.

The seven-arched bridge was completed in 1674 and is the sole bridge from source to mouth of the Tyne to remain standing after the severe flood of 1771. Originally built for pack-horse and coach traffic, it was widened in 1881.

A few photos from a visit in 2006.

And a few photos already published on my Riding Mill to Corbridge leg of my Walking the River Tyne Westwards Project.

The River Tyne: Riding Mill to Corbridge

2011-08-20T19:10:00.000+01:00

Part 7 of my Walking the River Tyne Westwards Project is from Riding Mill to Corbridge passing through an area known as Farnley Scar on the way.

It's around the 3 mile mark and almost all of the walk is along the banks, or within earshot, of the Tyne making it one of the most enjoyable stretches of the project so far. There are some stepping stones, a few steep staircases and one steep climb and descent at one point making this walk suitable only for the reasonably fit.

For long stretches of this walk along side the more sensible path there was usually the option of following a path closer to the river which was less clearly defined, muddy and crumbling in parts(dangerous) but with bonus of a better view as you walk.
I walked a mixture of both paths. The choice is yours... :)

The starting point is by the Tyne picking up from where we left off on the last leg(Bywell to Riding Mill).

After a short while you come across where the Riding Mill Burn meets the Tyne and the path bears off to the left to follow the burn for a short while until you can cross the stepping stones over the burn.

A couple of minutes after the stepping stones the path comes to a T junction. Take a right turn and follow the path through the woods alongside the river Tyne.

Soon after crossing a couple of small footbridges the path leaves the woods and opens out a little.

Keeping the fence to your left soon the path opens out a little more. Cross the stone wall and follow the track slightly uphill.

You are now in Farnley Scar. Take the time to admire the views over the lakes to your left as you stick to to the path alongside the fence.

Shortly after the lakes the main path turns off to the left but you follow the smaller path straight ahead marked with the yellow waymarker. The path now heads steeply uphill to pass over an old disused railway tunnel.

Once you reach the top of the hill you start the descent back down by a series of hills, stairs and finally a set of ladders which brings you back to ground level next to the other end of the previously mentioned disused railway tunnel.

Following the path you turn left down another fight of stairs which takes you down to river level.

After a short while the path opens up and you pass Corbridge Rugby and Corbridge Cricket Club on your left.

You soon come to a lane which leads you to Corbridge Bridge which is the end of this walk. I ignored the lane and instead followed the footpath at the beginning of the wall on your right to get back down alongside the Tyne for the final short stretch into Corbridge.

As you near the bridge cross the stone stile onto the end of the lane I mentioned before and turn right onto Corbridge Bridge which is the end of this walk.

Next up is Corbridge to Hexham which is probably the longest walk on this project. Hopefully it won't take me another year to get that walk done like it has this one!

Photos of Corbridge Village will follow on this site soon.

The route on Google Maps

View River Tyne walk 7: Riding Mill to Corbridge in a larger map

Byker Estate page 2

2011-08-11T11:47:00.001+01:00

Although I have covered the estae before here the estate is currently undergoing a paint job and a general tidy up so I thought it was worth another visit.

All the following photos were taken in May, June and July 2011.
Street names with a ? afterwards may not be 100% correct due to the maze like nature of the estate. If you know better please pipe up in the comments and let me know and I will edit them.

Chirton Wynd

Jubilee Terrace

Headlam Street

Jubilee Terrace

Chirton Wynd

Grace Street

Chirton Wynd

Jubilee Terrace

Benson Place

Felton Green

Raby Way

Headlam Street

Michaelgate

St Michaels Mount

Carville Rise

Brinkburn Street

Raby Street

Raby Street - Once the Hare & Hounds

Raby Street

Gordon Road

Brock Square?

Gordon Road

St Michaels Road - The old Health Centre and Library

Dibley Square?

Bolam Coyne

Kendal Street

Gordon Road

Dibley Square?

Raby Cross

Ayton Rise

Whickham Gardens

The Brow

Ayton Rise

Raby Way

Lilburn Close

Tom Collins House

Byker Bank

Low Fold

Clive Place

Bolam Coyne

Finchdale Terrace

Quayside Seaside

2011-07-27T21:09:00.001+01:00

Newcastle’s Quayside has been transformed into a seaside haven for the summer months by Business Improvement District Company NE1.

One of the most iconic places in Newcastle City Centre is now home to 800 square metres of beautiful sandy beach complete with palm trees, deckchairs

Read more here Quayside Seaside.

Stavros S Niarchos (Tall Ship)

2011-07-07T12:18:00.000+01:00

The magnificent Stavros S Niarchos paid a visit to Newcastle Quayside in the first weekend of July 2011. It was open to the public but I did'nt have the time to go on board.

More information on the ship can be found here Tall Ships Youth Trust.

The Hoppings 2011

2011-06-24T10:30:00.001+01:00

I nearly did'nt make it to The Hoppings this year due to being a little unwell of late but I squeezed in a visit on the second last day. The only time of day that I could visit was early afternoon when it was'nt properly open and it resembled a bit of a ghost town.

First up is a video shot by YouTube user paullanagan. The video shows the showmen starting to arrive at Newcastle's Town Moor with their loads for the Hoppings 2011 fairground. Footage filmed on Sunday June 12th 2011 between 7am and 3pm. During this period, mostly living wagons arrived.

Another video from YouTube user paullanagan. Check his Channel out for more videos of The Hoppings.

Spillers Tyne Mill Demolition Photos

2011-06-15T12:11:00.027+01:00

Demolition began on the local landmark a couple of weeks back in eraly June 2011. As with the Central Library demolition a couple of years back it is being broken up on chunk at a time...a very slow process.

Pre-demolition photos of Spillers are available here Spiller's Tyne Mill.

2nd June 2011

14th June 2011

A short video showing the demolition process.

15th June 2011

22nd June 2011

26th June 2011

28th June 2011

2nd July 2011

8th July 2011

14th July 2011

19th July 2011

24th July 2011

14th August 2011

4th September 2011

18th September 2011

28th September 2011

6th October 2011

11th October 2011

18th October 2011

23rd October 2011

6th November 2011

A short video shot by Youtube user AlansVids1

8th November 2011

22nd November 2011

1st December 2011

8th December 2011

27th December 2011

6th January 2012

15th January 2012

18th January 2012

More photos as and when.

Internal photos taken before demolition are available at the following sites

Gosforth High Street on Race Day

2011-06-13T17:40:00.001+01:00

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Percy Street c1882

2011-06-13T17:38:00.000+01:00

Percy Street, looking south, including number 38, Johnson Hedley, wholesale confectioner.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Sandhill

2011-06-13T17:36:00.002+01:00

Sandhill, looking north-west towards the railway viaduct. Includes numbers 38-41, premises of B J Sutherland and Co, flour, grain, and provisions merchant; H and W Robertson, hay and straw merchants; J Richardson, hairdresser; J Edminson, corn and salt dealer and Newton and Co, india rubber merchants.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Stockbridge 1880

2011-06-13T17:35:00.000+01:00

The info with the photos just says Stockbridge, looking east. I'm not sure where that was but I'm guessing it would be in the Quayside area.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Sandgate 1882

2011-06-13T17:32:00.002+01:00

Sandgate, looking east. Includes corner of Milk Market, number 12, the Three Bulls Heads

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Mansion House Quay - Barge Day

2011-06-13T17:30:00.002+01:00

Barges at the Mansion House Quay Newcastle.
"The protection of the river was demonstrated each year on Barge day when the Mayor, in his capacity as President of the Court of Admiralty, inspected riverside staithes etc. This system survived until 1974 when the office of Alderman was abolished.
Read more on the Newcastle City Council Website
The barge in this photograph was the Lord Mayors barge.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

The Side 1880

2011-06-13T17:23:00.000+01:00

The Side, looking east, featuring number 86, the birthplace in 1786 of Admiral (later Lord) Cuthbert Collingwood.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Castle Garth 1881

2011-06-13T17:21:00.000+01:00

Castle Garth Stairs, (site of many clogmakers shops), looking towards the Castle Keep.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Castle Garth

2011-06-13T17:18:00.003+01:00

Castle Garth, looking towards St Nicholas Cathedral from the corner of Dog Leap Stairs.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Black Gate [c1880]

2011-06-13T17:17:00.001+01:00

Black Gate, close-up of the gateway with a woman leaning against a shop doorway

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Black Gate 1886

2011-06-13T17:15:00.003+01:00

Black Gate, looking northwards towards St Nicholas Cathedral.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Quayside Fish Market

2011-06-13T17:14:00.001+01:00

Quayside, possibly near the Fish Market, fish seller and small crowd gathered around.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Elswick Road - The Gables

2011-06-13T17:09:00.000+01:00

The Gables was the home of the Richardson family, owners of the Elswick Leather Works and was built in the mid 1870's.

The Gables was purchased in 1919 from the Richardson family and became the Princess Mary Maternity Hospital. This then moved to new premises in Jubilee Road and it was decided that The Gables should be totally independent. In 1948 the NHS decided not to take The Gables over in its rationalisation of local health services and by 1950 it was in financial difficulties. It was then forced to close and was sold to the Salvation Army who renamed it the Hopedene Nursing Home. This was closed in 1974.

After that it operated as a hostel which closed in 1994.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Mouth of the River Tyne (Dates Unknown)

2011-06-07T07:58:00.000+01:00

Two aerial views of the mouth of the river on entrance to the Tyne.

Photographed by Turners Photography Ltd.

Turner’s was established in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1900s. It was originally a chemists shop but in 1938 become a photographic dealer. Turners went on to become a prominent photographic and video production company in the North East of England. They had 3 shops in Newcastle city centre, in Pink Lane, Blackett Street and Eldon Square. Turner’s photographic business closed in the 1990s.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Newcastle Tyne Bridges, 19th June 1967

2011-06-07T07:54:00.000+01:00

Note the very light traffic flow on the Tyne Bridge and the Castle covered in scaffolding for restoration.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Swan House Roundabout, 19th June 1967

2011-06-07T07:51:00.000+01:00

Swan House under construction at the junction of Mosley Street and Pilgrim Street, on the road to the Tyne Bridge. Swan House was intended to be the General Post Office Telecommunications headquarters.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Bamburgh Castle and village, June 1973

2011-06-07T07:48:00.000+01:00

Looking west towards the village and St Aidens, the 13th century parish church. The castle was extensively restored by Lord Armstrong at the end of the 19th century.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

St Mary's Island 1972

2011-06-07T07:46:00.000+01:00

St Mary’s Island looking inland over St Mary’s Bay. The lighthouse was opened in 1898 and cost £8000 to build. Note the breakwater and promenade south of the causeway has not yet been built.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Newcastle Airport September 1972

2011-06-07T07:44:00.000+01:00

A new North East Regional Airport Committee was formed in April 1963, paving the way for the major developments seen in this photograph. Construction of the new terminal was completed in 1966 and officially opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson on February 17 1967. The 1960s saw a boom in demand for foreign sunshine holidays, especially to Spain.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Newcastle Civic Centre, 31st July 1963

2011-06-07T07:41:00.000+01:00

The Civic Centre, under construction in this shot, was designed by the city architect, George Kenyon and completed in 1967. The building was formally opened by HM King Olav V of Norway on 14 November 1968.

Note the old street pattern to the right, with Buist’s large car showroom on St Mary’s Place. Roads such as Simpson Street and Lovaine Crescent will soon be cleared to make way for Northumbria University campus buildings.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Cruddas Park 31st July 1963

2011-06-01T11:32:00.000+01:00

The controversial high rise flats in Cruddas Park near completion in 1963. New residents were reassured by the modern facilities offered including: ‘kitchens with electric cookers and washboilers, with tiles around the working areas and above the stainless steel sinks.’

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

St James Park, 31st July 1963

2011-06-01T11:28:00.004+01:00

The stadium was urgently in need of development but progress was mired in disputes between the club and the council. You can spot the Strawberry pub behind the Gallowgate terraces.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Gateshead July 1971

2011-06-01T11:26:00.002+01:00

The new flats in St Cuthbert’s Village near completion centre left. There are claims that film star Britt Eckland lived in the village ‘before she made it big’. Bensham Road runs through the middle of the image. Regent Court, the huge H shaped block of flats, can be seen on High West Street, in the top right quarter.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Dunston, Gateshead July 1971

2011-06-01T11:23:00.000+01:00

Dunston Power Station, dominates the centre left of the photograph with Vickers Engineering Works across the Tyne. The Newcastle to Carlisle railway line bisects the image and you can pick out an engine on the line almost in the centre of the shot. Work on the Metro Centre began in 1984 on the large area derelict land on the left. The famous Dunston ‘Rocket’ flats can be seen on the horizon.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Byker, Newcastle, September 1970

2011-06-01T08:21:00.004+01:00

The Ouseburn and Glasshouse Road Bridge can be picked out on the left edge of the image with Brough Park dog stadium on the right. Spillers Flour Mills is the building reflecting the light in the lower middle of the image.

Photo courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

John Readhead and Sons, South Shields 6th May 1963

2011-06-01T08:17:00.002+01:00

This shot shows the graving docks and slipways. The company celebrated its centenary in 1965 and was still employing around 1,000 people. New orders for a fleet of cargo express liners for the Cunard Steam Ship Company meant a healthy future ahead. Running anti-clockwise the ships shown are No.1 Dock, Shell Supplies; No.2 Dock, Wandsworth; No.3 Dock Ambesta; No. 4 Dock, British Oak; East Quay, British General and Sunriver.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Newcastle Civic Centre, March 1969

2011-06-01T08:12:00.001+01:00

A fine image of the newly completed Civic Centre with St Thomas Church in the foreground. Roads such as Simpson Street and Lovaine Crescent have been cleared to make way the Northumbria University campus buildings rising in the background.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Where in Newcastle Part 31

2011-05-31T07:47:00.001+01:00

*Part of the old Quayside railway line next to St Lawrence Square in Byker*

Gateshead 1975

2011-05-30T12:16:00.001+01:00

With the Tyne bridges bottom centre, this shot looks over Gateshead to the north east. Gateshead International Stadium can be seen top centre. The stadium was originally opened in August 1955 and was then known as the Gateshead Youth Stadium. You can pick out the A184 Felling by-pass running into the distance.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Tynemouth Castle 12th September 1917

2011-05-30T12:13:00.001+01:00

During the First World War Tynemouth Castle was a major coastal fortress and the control centre of the Tyne defences, which stretched from Sunderland to Blyth. It also served as the command base for coastal defences from Hartlepool to Berwick during World War II.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

North Shields - Albert Edward Dock 14 September 1917

2011-05-30T12:09:00.001+01:00

This image is taken from a glass plate in the Gladstone Adams collection. Adams was a noted commercial photographer and served in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Newcastle City Centre 17th September 1917

2011-05-28T13:43:00.002+01:00

This image comes from the Gladstone Adams collection. Grey’s monument and Eldon Square can be picked out lower centre left. St James Park and Leazes Park stand out clearly centre right.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Swan Hunters dry docks, Wallsend 26th March 1987

2011-05-28T13:27:00.004+01:00

From left to right the docks hold a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, a Royal Navy warship, a Nigerian registered cargo vessel and an off shore supply vessel.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Charlotte Pit, Benwell around 1935

2011-05-28T13:16:00.004+01:00

Lower Condercum House can be seen in the background with Condercum Road the first street to the right of the colliery. The pit employed over 400 people in 1934 but closed in 1939.

Photo courtesty of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' photostream

Byker Scrapyard Fire

2011-05-19T16:18:00.008+01:00

A huge fire broke out in the former Shepherds scrap yard on Byker Bank and Albion Row in Byker at around 12-30 this afternoon.

Here is a short video that I shot with my camera just under 2 hours later.

The first 4 photos were taken in Byker within the first 30 minutes.

The following photos were taken some time later around 2 o'clock

Footage from the Northumbria Police helicopter of the Byker Bank scrapyard fire.

More information:
Byker scrapyard fire in pictures
BBC News - Newcastle scrapyard fire prompts evacuations
Live coverage of major fire in Byker, Newcastle - ChronicleLive

Charlotte Square

2011-05-18T09:28:00.001+01:00

Charlotte Square was built in 1770 by architect William Newton. It was the first London -style housing development associated with a garden to be built in Newcastle.
William Newton was also responsible for building The Assembly Rooms and St Anns Church amongst his many projects. A list of his work can be seen here Wikipedia - William Newton

The square itself and its garden have recently been restored to create an attractive and fully functional public space.

Description harvested from Newcastle.gov.uk - Blackfriars and the Surrounding Areas

Richard Grainger Memorial

2011-05-10T07:48:00.001+01:00

Tucked away in the bottom end of Waterloo Street lies this memorial to Richard and Rachael Grainger.

Richard Grainger (1797–1861) was a builder in Newcastle upon Tyne. He worked together with the architects John Dobson and Thomas Oliver, and with the town clerk, John Clayton, to redevelop the centre of Newcastle in the 19th century. Grainger Street and the Grainger Market are named after him; sometimes the whole area of Newcastle developed in the Neoclassical style around Grey Street and Grainger Street is referred to as Grainger Town.

Text borrowed from Richard Grainger - Wikipedia which has a lot more information on his life.

See also my photos of The Grainger Market, Grainger Street, Grey Street and his gravestone is viewable at St James' Church, Benwell.

Aerial Photos Of Newcastle

2011-04-29T16:06:00.001+01:00

An ex-Byker lad called Brian Clark who recently sent me some Old Photos of Byker to share with you has also sent in the following aerial photos of Newcastle.
Brian's son, Philip, has a company based in Phuket, Thailand called Helicam, taking photographs from the air and ground with remote controlled equipment, you can see the website here... Helicam.

Thanks Brian.

Ouseburn and the Quayside

The Angel of the North

Bamborough Castle

Delaval Hall

The Quayside

St Mary's Lighthouse

Old Photos of Byker

2011-04-16T11:57:00.001+01:00

An ex-Byker lad called Brian Clark sent in these old photos of Kendal Street and Raby Street in Byker.

Brian says "My Parents ( Clark ) moved into No. 228 Shipley Street, Byker in 1944 when I was 4 years old. Later on in 1947 we moved a couple of streets away into 178 Kendal Street because this flat had two bedrooms instead of one like the first one.

I started school at the Byker Church of England then moved into Bolam Street Juniors school 1951 & stayed until leaving school at the age of 15. I then enrolled into the Newcastle College of Art & Industrial Design. After five years in College & marrying into the Melville family.

I found a job working for Design Group in Gosforth. During this period 1964 we moved to Walkergate … then Heaton 1977 … then Forest hall late 1988.

In 2006 our family, including 3 sons plus their families, all moved out of England to start living in Phuket, Thailand.

My third son Philip has a company based in Phuket, Thailand called Helicam, taking photographs from the air & ground with remote controlled equipment, you can see the website here... Helicam"

This photo, from about 1960, is taken from the back of 178 Kendal Street, looking down towards Raby Street. It shows a view looking over all the back yards and you may just make out Nan’s General dealer shop in the centre.

A view from the top of Carville Road. Taken around 1965.

My wife’s family also ran Melville’s Bakery at No. 88 Raby Street. Dating from the early twenty’s until about 1957. The only photo of the shop front ever taken dates about 1933.
The people in the photo are left to right Cissy Anderson, Thomas Melville 7 years old and Mary Melville about 19 year old.

Brian used the photo to make a 3D scale model of the interior of the shop including the fully dressed window.

The lady sitting with the model is Mary Mellville aged around 90 years old at the time this photo was taken.

If anyone out there wants to get in touch with Brian or his family send me an email and I will pass it on.

Ryton

2011-04-13T10:18:00.000+01:00

Ryton is a semi-rural small town near the western border of Tyne and Wear. Once an independent town in County Durham it became incorporated into the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. It has a population of 15,742.

History
Traditionally, Ryton's economy was built upon agriculture and coal mining. Some think that coal-mining was taking place in the area as early as Roman times, however it was not until 1239 when Henry III granted that coal may be mined outside the walls that mining became extensive. The agriculture industry on Ryton was mixed and included both pastoral farming and arable farming.

As well as its coal industry, Ryton formerly contained the lead-smelting reverberatory furnaces of the Ryton Company, whose mines were on Alston Moor. This business was amalgamated into the London Lead Company in 1705.

Ryton soon became a place of migration for the wealthy, who wanted to escape the urban sprawl of the Industrial Revolution in Gateshead and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

A reminder of Ryton's affluent past is found in some of the old mansions at old Ryton village, a place rich in rural qualities because of its proximity to Ryton willows on the banks of the River Tyne.

After the decline of the coal industry during the second half of the twentieth century Ryton became increasingly suburbanised and is now used as a commuter village for those that work in the more urban areas of Tyneside.

Geography
The neighbouring village of Crawcrook is a nexus of coal mining nostalgia also. Remnants of several old pits across Ryton and Crawcrook, including Emma, Clara and Addison can still be found. Within a couple of hundred metres of both Crawcrook and Ryton main street there is rich countryside.

Perhaps the most impressive section of this countryside is Ryton Willows Local Nature Reserve located on the banks of the Tyne, just past Old Ryton Village. It consists of 43 hectares of grassland, ponds, woodland and locally-rare rare species of flora and fauna. Because of this it has been designated as a site of special scientific interest.

Other areas of countryside include nearby Stargate pond and Addison and Hedgefield woods. It is at Addison woods that Alexander Graham Bell made one of his pioneering telephone calls.

Further up the Tyne Valley, past the village of Crawcrook and into the border of Northumberland, there are rural market towns such as Prudhoe, Corbridge and Hexham.

Other features of Ryton
The earliest record of a church in Ryton is in 1112. However, the oldest surviving church is The Holy Cross church, the oldest building in Ryton, that dates back to 1220. The most striking feature of the church is its 13th-century broach spire which is 36 m tall. Other well known artefacts include a 13th-century Frosterly marble effigy of a deacon holding a book.

There have been a number of prominent rectors of Ryton. These include Thomas Secker (1727), later the Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles Thorp (1807) Virtual Founder and first warden of the University of Durham and The Hon. Richard Byron (1769) brother of William Byron, 5th Baron Byron and great-uncle of Lord Byron.

Ryton's village green has a rich history with religious and social significance. It is at this green that both John Wesley and Charles Wesley preached. The green, like many greens in similar villages, played host to an annual fair which would include jugglers, dancers and local stalls.

The old pinfold dates back to the 12th century. During the second half of the twentieth century the pinfold was restored.

The annual Ryton Music Festival, held over February and March, has been held in the village for more than sixty years. It offers a variety of music and drama including choral singing and mime.
Description harvested from Ryton - Wikipedia

Ferndene Park

With Ryton Towers in the grounds.

Elvaston Road

The Jolly Fellows Inn

Ryton Methodist Church

Hexham Old Road

Main Road

Ryton Cemetery

Station Bank

Old Pinfold

The Pinfold was used to keep stray animals and the owners were charged a fine when they came to collect their animals. The pinfold dates back to the 12th century, the design is thought of as a rarity as the pinfold is located on a hill where a stream once ran through, providing drinking water for the animals, which in many pinfolds was the responsibility of the owner. Ryton Heritage Group restored the pinfold in 1974.

The Market Cross

The Market Cross was erected in 1795 and renewed in 1951 probably replacing a much older mediaeval structure.

The Ryton War Memorial

The White House

In the 18th century several large houses were built by wealthy businessmen and engineers. The White House once housed the 'Penny Savings Bank', probably the first in the country.

The Ryton Hotel

The Ryton Park Country House Hotel

The Half Moon Inn

Ryton Comprehensive School

Ryton Holy Cross Church

Founded in 1220, the church is a Grade 1 Listed building. The area around is dominated by the church spire which can be seen for many miles up and down river and across the valley, although strangely it cannot be seen from most of Ryton itself.

Barmoor Lane

A couple of wells which, I think, are part of East Grange Farm.

More information
Ryton Local History Society Index Page
Ryton And District War Memorials Project
Full text of "History of the parish of Ryton"
Ryton, Tyne and Wear - Wikipedia
Holy Cross, Ryton.
GENUKI - Ryton
Ryton on Tyne - a set on Flickr
Old photos of Ryton - Ryton Cross Inn C.1910, River Tyne at Ryton, Holy Cross Church Ryton 1880, Ryton village green and cross C.1910, Ryton Rectory C.1910, Ryton Post Office and Grocer 1910 and Fountain and Ryton Hotel c1900.

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Newburn - St. Michael and All Angels Church

2011-03-21T18:31:00.000Z

St Michael and All Angel's church was built in a commanding position above the village, over the course of 30 years, beginning in 1070. It is situated on the site of an earlier wooden built church, which was burned down in 1067. Around the time of the fire, the body of Copsi, an appointee of William the Conqueror, was found dead at the church door. Parts of Hadrian's Wall were used in the construction of the new church. The church was partially damaged in another fire in 2006.

Both of George Stephensons Marriages were held here and William Hedley, another Tyneside railway pioneer, is buried here too.

Description harvested from Newburn - Wikipedia

More information:
Newburn Parish - St Michael's Newburn
Mackellar Architecture Limited - St Michael and All Angels, Newburn, Church Fire Reparation
The Journal - The 'grave slab code' baffles experts
Open Churches Trust: Churches - Newburn
BBC Tyne - Rising from the ashes. Article about 2006 fire.
History of Battle of Newburn which featured the church.
GENUKI: Church Records - Newburn, Northumberland Genealogy
St Michael & All Angels, Newburn - Tyne and Wear | Diocese of Newcastle

View Larger Map

Burradon and Camperdown

2011-03-11T10:26:00.003Z

Burradon is a village in North Tyneside around 5 miles to the north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is adjacent to Camperdown and the two villages are closely linked. Camperdown was once known as Hazlerigge

History
Burradon has been occupied since the 5th or 6th century B.C. In 1317 John de Weetslade (Camperdown) joined a rebellion against the King. The rebellion failed and John was stripped of his land, which was granted to William de Heslerigge.

Between 1820-1828 a small coal pit was sunk and marked the beginnings of the community, as it is known today. From 1829–1858 the centre and culture of village life moved from the old medieval settlement surrounding the farm to the ever expanding colliery village of Camperdown. In 1860 a mining disaster made the community famous countrywide. From 1895-1914 living conditions gradually improved and the mining families took control over their own affairs with the building of a Co-op store and working men's social club.

Economy
In 1820-1828 a small coal pit was sunk by Lord Ravensworth & Partners and marked the beginnings of the community, as it is known today. From 1829–1858 the centre and culture of village life moved from the old medieval settlement surrounding the farm to the ever expanding colliery village of Camperdown. In 1860 a mining disaster made the community famous countrywide. The colliery closed in November 1975. Little remains of the colliery except for the old Seaton Burn wagonway which was the boundary between Burradon and Camperdown

Burradon Mining Disaster
On 2 March 1860, an explosion took place at Burradon Colliery killing seventy-six men and boys. The disaster became of national interest and significance. At this time laws were inadequate at ensuring the safe operation of collieries and the families of disaster victims would have to rely on charity rather than compensation.[1]

The inquest and newspaper coverage of the disaster (mostly the involvement of the Newcastle Chronicle) took issue with who should be responsible for both compensation and mine safety in what was to become a hotly contested debate. A group of the more senior Burradon miners: Maddox, Carr, Urwin (and Baxter Langley, editor of the Newcastle Daily Chronicle) had been at the forefront of a campaign to set up an insurance scheme for miners hurt or killed down the pit. The mine owners procrastinated on this proposal. The mineworkers had enlisted the help, and won great respect, from the editor and owner of a local newspaper, who supported their case with everything at their disposal. The anger felt towards the mine owners and the vigour with which the subsequent trial was fought was all the greater because the disaster had been predicted

Read about its history in a series of articles ranging from prehistoric discoveries to present-day life at The Burradon and Camperdown Community Website.

Description harvested from Burradon, Tyne and Wear - Wikipedia

Burradon Farm, Farmhouses and Cottages

Burradon Recreation Ground

Burradon Primary School

Burradon Road

Front Street

The Travellers Rest

Fryers Millennium Green

Church Of The Good Shepherd

Camperdown Social Club

Grey Horse Inn

The Camperdown

Halfway House

The Burradon Colliery Memorial

Station Road

Reader Bob Carrick now living in the US sent in this picture regarding Hazlerigg and Burradon Coal Company's coal prices taken from a programme of The Mikado at the Gosforth Presbyterian Church about 1930.

Old Photos Of Burradon

More information:
Burradon and Camperdown Community Website
Burradon and Camperdown News. No longer updated.
Burradon and Camperdown Forum on Facebook.
Burradon - Past and Present video
Burradon/Camperdown You Tube Channel

Dial Cottage (George Stephenson's Cottage)

2011-03-07T18:45:00.000Z

George Stephenson(Wikipedia) was 23 years old when, with his wife Fanny and their baby son Robert Stephenson, he moved to Dial cottage, Killingworth in 1804.

He lived here when he was the engineer at Killingworth Colliery. It was in workshops at the rear of this cottage, that the famous 'Rocket' locomotive was built. The cottage is now a private residence but it does open to the public on Heritage Open Days. George Stephenson also made the sun dial over the front door, which gives the cottage its name.

More information:
George Stephenson the Father of the Railways
Who was George Stephenson?
Wikipedia - George Stephenson's Dial Cottage

Where in Newcastle Part 30

2011-03-07T10:58:00.000Z

*The stairs leading down to the Quayside opposite the Copthorne Hotel*

Burradon Tower House

2011-02-25T21:15:00.000Z

Burradon Tower was originally a three storey Tower House approximately 7.5 metres in height, 7.7 by 6.9 metres wide. It had a single chamber on each floor and was thought to be built in the 16th century by Bertram Anderson who acquired the Manor in 1548 and whose family continued in occupation into the 17th century.

Tower Houses were a type of defensible house and were a particular characteristic of the Borders region of England and Scotland, and virtuall every parish had at least one of these buildings. They were constructed from as early as the 13th century and up until the end of the 16th century.

They were permanently occupied by the wealthier or aristocratic families of the time, and such secure buildings were needed due to the often dangerous and war like conditions which prevailed in the Borders during this period.

Around 200 examples of the Tower House have been identified of which half were elements of larger houses.

Burradon Tower is a scheduled monument protected by law under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1970

Description harvested from an English Heritage information board at the site.

Tower House - The Burradon and Camperdown Community Website has a lot more on this particular Tower House.

More information:
Burradon Tower - Wikipedia
SINE Project, Structure Details for Burradon Tower
Burradon Tower | British Listed Buildings
The Gatehouse website record for Burradon Tower
Photographs of North East England and Derelict Places - Burradon Pele tower has some internal photos.

Shoulder To Shoulder (Newcastle Lego Men)

2011-02-22T20:54:00.005Z

Installed in 1999 at a cost around £270,000 Shoulder To Shoulder consisted of 52 concrete figures that were designed to act as a safety barrier to protect pedestrians from heavy traffic around the Haymarket Metro station.
The statues also had a water feature which did'nt work too well, often soaking unaware passers-by when it was windy, and it was turned off permanently some time later. The statues quickly became known as the Lego Men and you would have been hard pushed to find someone that did'nt have an opinion on them.

They were removed in 2008 when the Haymarket Metro Station underwent a facelift. This was to be a temporary measure according to a council spokesman A few of the statues are being taken out to allow access to the Metro station for the rebuilding, but will be put back. They never made it back to the Haymarket.

Ideas for the relocation of the statues have included Exhibition Park, Great Park housing estate near Gosforth and Hadrian’s Way coast-to-coast trail. In the meanwhile they lie on an unsecured bit of wasteland near the Central Motorway.

I quite liked the statues themselves but the cost and the choice of location I was'nt so keen on. I reckon they would look good in a park or playground. Maybe somewhere like Harbottle Park in Byker which is currently undergoing a big re-vamp.

Articles in the Evening Chronicle:
Lego men leg it
'Lego Men' could return at housing estate
Controversial Lego Men stored in wasteland
Newcastle Lego Men sculptures for sale on eBay
Lego Men prize for Chester-le-Street woman
Shoulder to Shoulder Ray Smith Artwork (1 x 'legoman')

Gateshead Riverbank Path Collapse

2011-02-10T20:42:00.002Z

I'm a little slow with these photos as it happened almost a month ago. I forgot I had them until I found them when looking on my hard drive for some other photos. Better late than never, eh?

A popular riverside path disappeared in a mudslide sparking a rescue operation.

Emergency services were scrambled to Gateshead when about 25m to 30m of riverbank was seen to collapse into the Tyne last night.

The slide wiped out part of the path which runs through the Sculpture Trail, just west of Brett’s Oils, leaving a mound of mud in the river.

Rescuers searched the area because of concerns that someone could be trapped in the mud.

Firefighters and police combed the spot, which lies between the High Level and Metro Bridges, opposite Newcastle’s Copthorne Hotel. Read more at the Evening Chronicle
Path mudslide sparks big rescue operation