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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: TriciaK on Friday 10 August 18 16:51 BST (UK)
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I hope this is an appropriate topic for this website.
We've recently returned to live in the NE, Gateshead. My hometown is Blyth from where ggfathers etc were merchant seamen.
I've always been interested in the rivers Blyth and Tyne as trading centres, and now especially the various Tyne Bridges, when they were built and why.
Can someone give me the names of books etc to read on the subject?
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Good website here http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/index.html
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If you can ever visit the South Shields ferry landing - go inside the waiting room. They have a very interesting board giving historical information regarding the river, bridges, ferry etc.
I am interested in the river too as some of my ancestors were Tyne pilots. This year I am pleased to note that the old Pilot office in South Shields will be featuring in the free Heritage Open Days. :)
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If you are already in Gateshead, then the Library on Prince Consort Road has a good local studies department. On the rare occasion I get to visit the North East, the staff have been really helpful and I should think they probably have info/books that would suit.
Boo
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Now you have started me thinking . . .
Can anyone tell me when the passenger lifts down to the Quayside stopped working?
Boo
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Sorry, I don't know that one Boo ..
I was just going to add that I think Newcastle library will be a good source to get information from too on the river and the bridges.
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Well RTL, that's me , you and Google who don't know!
I'll keep firking . . .
Boo
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'The River Tyne from Sea to Source' by Ron Thornton is rather nice
https://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Tyne-Sea-Source/dp/1903506034
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You may find this film interesting, I certainly did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-ylSgMC-4&frags=pl%2Cwn
Boo
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and the opening of the bridge
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-new-tyne-bridge-1928-online
I am really enjoying this one!
Boo
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There are a couple of terrifying photos here https://www.newcastleuncovered.com/building-of-the-tyne-bridge-1928/
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Yes, this does look quite scary ... I wouldn't be surprised if some died during this construction work .. certainly not a job for the faint hearted. :-\
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Yes, this does look quite scary ... I wouldn't be surprised if some died during this construction work .. certainly not a job for the faint hearted. :-\
Apparently just one life was lost (which is still one too many).
Boo
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Thanks for all the replies :) It will take me some time to get through them.
It's obviously a wide subject.
I love local history.
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I agree even just one was too many.
Thanks for posting the link showing the opening Boo. It was the first time I have seen this and I have enjoyed watching just now. :)
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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/forgotten-tragedy-tyne-bridge-worker-14293001
Just found this about the one person you mentioned who died.
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https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/janet-macleod-trotter/no-greater-love.htm
It is ironic that we have been discussing someone who accidentally fell to their death whilst working on the Tyne Bridge. Earlier this week I had started on the book on the link above. The story opens in 1903 and the opening scene concerns the forthcoming funeral of Mabel Beaton's husband who had fallen to his death whilst working in a Tyne shipyard. (No compensation or 'injury lawyers for you' in those days, alas) With the sudden loss of income Mabel is forced to sell off some of the family possessions in order to keep a roof over the family's heads. Eventually, it becomes necessary for them to leave their home and move into a cheaper Victorian slum dwelling and Mabel tries to eake a living working in a laundry and then by selling second hand clothes with the help from her mother-in-law in minding the children.
However, it is her daughter Maggie who becomes the centre of this story. Maggie grows up to become a suffragette. Maggie unites with other Tyneside women in this movement, some of whom who are of a different social class which in itself causes difficulties. She is also spurned by family and friends in her fight for social justice for women. However, after an initial clash she gains the support of the passionate minded George Gordon who is a militant trade unionist. The story leads on to the Great War and Maggie's 'courage and endurance is tested to the limit...'
I am thoroughly enjoying this book. I have read the 'Jarrow Trilogy' before by this author which is all about the life and background of Catherine Cookson in three volumes. These are fantastic reads which will easily give you a sense of being transported to another time. :)
The Jarrow Lass
Child of Jarrow
Return to Jarrow
http://www.janetmacleodtrotter.com/jarrow-lass.htm
http://www.janetmacleodtrotter.com/child-of-jarrow.htm
http://www.janetmacleodtrotter.com/return-to-jarrow.htm
I would recommend the above books to anyone interested in historical stories which feature life living on Tyneside and with references to many local places e.g. Newcastle and South Shields
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I must join Gateshead library.
There's something fascinating about bridges, especially those that open and close. I didn't realise the Millenial Bridge could be raised.
We lived in Hessle E Yorks near where the Humber Bridge was being built, very interesting. Sadly they had to put up a suicide barrier as there had been a few falls and suicides.
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I must join Gateshead library.
I haven't been there for some time, but last time I was there I was most impressed with the Local Studies section of Gateshead Library, and the staff were extremely helpful.
http://www.gatesheadlocalstudies.com/
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I joined this pm, and started to see what they have.
Another interest of mine is WW2 on Tyneside, so had a look at 'Tyneside in the Second World War' by Craig Armstrong. I've ordered it from Amazon.
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TriciaK, Google North-East Diary 1939-1945, and you will find a site which covers the entire north east during WW2. It has more information than you could wish for. Beware though, once you find it, like me, you will spend the rest of the day and probably tomorrow, unearthing absolutely everything which occurred. :)
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North-East Diary 1939-1945 http://ne-diary.genuki.uk/
Stan
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I've just had a quick look, and as you say I could be on there some time!
All that going on so nearby - as a child I wouldn't be told about it, but adults must have known.
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As a Purist your move has been from Northumberland to County Durham. Nothing wrong with that. Hope the Thought Police do not catch you.
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As a Purist your move has been from Northumberland to County Durham. Nothing wrong with that. Hope the Thought Police do not catch you.
Gaan canny with thi lass - at least she has moved back north away from those barbarians who live south of the Tees, or the Wear (?) or even the Tyne. !!!! ;D
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those barbarians who live south of the Tees, or the Wear (?) or even the Tyne. !!!! ;D
Careful now, this ‘barbarian’ lives south of the Tyne, but is still in Northumberland ;D ;D
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;D
You never know - I might well end up back in Blyth if husband goes first - he doesn't like the seaside.
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We went South of the Tyne today (£1.70 through the tunnel!). I wanted to look at the restored Roker lighthouse and underground passage and the new bridge across the Wear. The bridge was closed and parking was full at the pier.
I was so pleased to come back across the Bridge with all the others in view :)
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It's a wonderful sight, all 7 bridges.
Does any other river have so many, so close together?
Whenever I cross I remember the rhyme
The Tyne the Tyne
The coally Tyne
The Queen of aal the rivers.
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https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/blogs/best-modern-pedestrian-bridges
If you scroll down on this link you will see a piece on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and can view it in action.
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We are just back from 2 weeks holiday in Northumberland and Durham, searching for ghosts of ancestors, and birdwatching and beer. It was fascinating to discover that the Tyne is actually the North Tyne and south Tyne, and where we were staying was right at the source of the Wear. A lovely part of the country. I have a photograph taken about 50 years ago, of me, my brother, my father and grandfather on the Stepping Stones at Stanhope, and we recreated this photograph.
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It becomes the River Tyne at Watersmeet, which is about a mile or so west of where I live.
https://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/motw.html
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From Thurs 13 - Sun 16 September there are going to be free tours of the Swing Bridge in Newcastle as part of the ' Heritage Open Days.
Included in the tour is a viewing of the pump and engine room.
Each tour will last around 45 minutes and it is said that these tours are unsuitable for children under 12 and that appropriate footwear required (no heels).
Booking on-line is required. Only those with confirmed bookings and co.posted forms will be permitted access.
www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourisn/events/heritage-open-days
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www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourisn/events/heritage-open-days
link returns page not found.
I firkled and found this page:
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourism/events/heritage-open-days#/all
Which says that they are now fully booked.
Shame, but for those who are interested and able to get there, it would be worth putting a note in your diary for next year (booking seems to have opened on 1st August this year)
Boo
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Oh what a shame! I just came across this in the Heritage Open Days book. There are a number of tours through each day. Oh well, sorry about this folks - I suppose it was bound to be popular. I wonder if they have a cancellations list for interested people?
If not I suppose there is always next year for anyone interested and who can go.
Thanks, Boo.
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My hubbie's indirect ancestors were involved in the Newcastle bridge after it was destroyed by floods in 1771. John Stephenson built a temporary wooden bridge in 1772 which was replaced by a more permanent structure opened in 1781. It was immediately considered too narrow & John's son, David Stephenson was commissioned to widen it, work began in 1802 and the bridge remained until 1876. David Stephenson was an architect responsible for various buildings in Newcastle and was also involved in the design and rebuilding of several other bridges in the area. The link below is to a PDF about the rebuilding of the areas bridges after the Great Inundation of 1771
http://newcastle-antiquaries.org.uk/uta/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-Great-Inundation.pdf
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Interesting stuff, will have a read through that later. Thanks
Boo
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Yes very interesting - thanks Christeen.
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The Tyne Bridge. I always stood up in the train when coming home in the 1960s as it crossed the High Level Bridge. Looked out of the carriage window down river, and there was the Tyne Bridge. Once it crossed the halfway mark I knew I was home. :) In those years the river was full of ships.
Today, the Tyne Bridge has been featured on both channels in the news, showing black and white Pathe newsreels. Seen it 3 times today at different times. It does not look a massive bridge when viewed in 'real-life' but the newsreels showed workers on the top arch, as it was about to be connected to the other arch. They looked like ants, and not a sight of scaffold in place. !!! Having seen it 3 times today, and the last with BBC North-East, I noticed what appeared to be a large black and white scarf hanging down on the upriver side. 'Toon' scarf ?? As the newsreel is in black and white, - I hope it was not a Sunderland scarf.!! :o
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90th anniversary today.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/how-tyne-bridge-built-1928-12636060