Ponteland Historian August 2020

Rocket Man with Cousin Jacks, Robert Stephenson in Colombia 1824-1827

The Robert Stephenson Trust has just published this book. You can find out more at robertstephensontrust.blogspot.com

This book reveals for the first time in nearly 200 years the details of Robert Stephenson’s great Colombian adventure. It sets out the reasons behind his decision to abandon his father George, his friends and the management of the embryonic locomotive factory in Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne which bore his name and of which he was the Managing Director, for a speculative venture in South America in which he would be responsible for finding and extracting silver from mines first started during the Spanish occupation. The year was 1824 and he had yet to reach 21 years of age.

Robert did not return to England until 1827, but that event triggered a burst of creative energy and flair for a series of ground-breaking locomotive designs, starting with the ‘Rocket’ in 1829 for the competitive trials for the choice of engine for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway which his father had engineered and constructed in his absence. 

The narrative uses many extracts from Robert’s original letters to his boss Richard Illingworth, who was based in Bogotá, courtesy of the University of Indiana, whose Lilly Library holds the originals. They describe vividly the difficulties he encountered, the anxiety he felt about what was happening in England in his absence, the problems of managing some of the workmen all of whom were from Cornwall, the lack of materials, the regular bouts of illness, and the frustration with the Mining Company in London who questioned his judgements. 

On the journey home he was shipwrecked and very nearly drowned. 

The character of one of England’s greatest mechanical and civil engineers cannot be fully understood without appreciating the impact his three years in Colombia had on him. In his lifetime he played down the trials and tribulations, but this new insight is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how great men use adversity to advance their creative brilliance.

The book is illustrated with the water colour paintings of Charles Empson, who accompanied Robert as an interpreter and companion. His own anecdotes have been included as a counter-point to Robert’s more formal correspondence. 

Most of the mineworkers were from Cornwall, and there are many references to them, not always flattering. The book describes their circumstances in the 1820’s and explains what attracted them to sign up for 3 years and embark on a voyage to a far-away country. Anyone who might have had Cornish ancestors in Colombia should read this.

Robert Stephenson Trust Newsletter Spring 2016

Click Here

NESCO

Ian Burdon writes...........................

 

Many innovations during the Industrial Revolution were pioneered in North East England.  One which is perhaps less-well known to the public at large than railways and iron ships is electricity supply.

One of the projects which the Friends of Discovery are involved with relates to a most important aspect of this Region's industrial development – the economic supply of electricity. Access to cheap and reliable electricity was to have massive effect, not only on the economic development of this part of the Country, but on many other parts of the Empire and its Dominions also.

A significant number of important features in large-scale electricity production and distribution were conceived and developed here in the North East.  Aided by far-sighted and technically gifted engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs, the North Eastern Electric Supply Company (NESCo) grew from small beginnings in 1899 on Tyneside into a Company which led the field right up to Nationalisation and the integration of UK-wide electricity supply in 1947.

The abundancy of coal in the region, supplemented by innovations such as the application of the steam turbine to electricity generation, the use of 3-phase supply systems, unitised boiler and turbine-generator arrangements, reheat in the steam cycle, centralised control of the transmission and distribution network, electrical protective systems for plant and transmission lines and Reyrolle’s metalclad switchgear were responsible for the development of the electricity supply industry here in North East England.  These were just some of the innovations that were first applied in the NESCo area of supply – which ultimately stretched from the Scottish border down through the industrial area of Teesside and into North Yorkshire – well ahead of the rest of the UK.

There is no official history of the Company, although some books have been written on the work of a few of the participants in the Company’s activities.  Much material is now lost due to the passage of time and the disappearance of many of the organisations involved pre-nationalisation.  Research work I have undertaken in recent years has discovered that a not-inconsiderable amount of remaining archive material is fragmented and dispersed amongst former employees of NESCo and its post-nationalisation successor company NEEB, not just in the Region but much further afield.

I am increasingly concerned that much of this information, not just on the Company itself, but on the manufacturing companies which supplied plant and equipment, even the Company’s lawyers, might be lost forever unless it is located, identified and catalogued in the near future.

The electricity supply industry can truly be classified as one of which changed the world in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  Companies and individuals in North East England were very important players in that industry and I believe that it is important that the major contribution made by NESCo and its associates should not be lost to future generations.

Please get in touch if you would like to support this project, maybe by donating relevant material or by getting actively involved in the pursuit, recovery and cataloguing of records and artefacts. I shall get back to you when I have a sufficient number of responses. If there is a reasonably positive response, I will organise a meeting where we can discuss how we might take things forward.

Ian Burdon (Ian.burdon@live.co.uk)

Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel

Friends of Puffing Billy

The Friends of Puffing Billy

Dear All ,

The Friends of Puffing Billy – Chairs address , Feb 2016

It has been some two years since the memorable events of the 200thAnniversary of Puffing Billy

in 2013 , along the route of what used to be the historic Wylam Waggonway . During that year ,in conjunction with Beamish Museum and numerous other organizations a series of associated events  took place at schools , centres and parks at Wylam , Heddon on the Wall , Throckley ,Walbottle , Newburn and Lemington.

 

The Wylam Waggonway route is now into its 48th year of use as a Walk and Cycleway . In two years time it will see its 50th Anniversary in 2018 of another chapter in the circa 270 year history of this historic rail route . The Waggonway was the railway that saw the birth of the first practical steam locomotive which set the World Railway Revolution alight and eventually saw the trials of the early Diesel locomotives that ushered in the second railway revolution of British railways. The Wylam Waggonway in the last ten years or so , has seen a tremendous rise in the numbers ofpe ople using it. The importance and popularity of the Wylam Waggonway looks set to continue with the new housing developments on the west side of Newcastle , with potentially 3,500 new homes projected . Another exciting prospect is the development of the new Visitor Centre for Hadrian's Wall , which it is hoped will see an additional annual 250,000 visitors along Hadrian's Way , part of which joins the Wylam Waggonway through Heddon on the Wall , Newburn and Lemington.

 

Due to the demands of other work and other causes on the time of the officers of the Friends of Puffing Billy , the financially trying years of 2014 and 2015 have been relatively quiet. Despite this , the funds of the Friends of Puffing Billy stand at an amount of £1,434.41 in the black.However , in the face of continuing funding difficulties , work has been ticking away on a project arising from the 200th Anniversary Event . The idea is to commemorate Puffing Billy & the Railway Pioneers at the Wylam and Lemington ends of the Waggonway which will involve the local community and schools.

 

The Officers of the Friends of Puffing Billy Elected in 2013 have kindly volunteered to continue in their roles . The Friends of Puffing Billy wish to thank all of those people and organizations that supported the200th Anniversary Events and made it such a success. We look look forward to their continuing support .

Yours faithfully ,

Tom Martin . Chair – Friends of Puffing Billy

Union Chain Bridge Friends Annual Report

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2015
The Trustees present their Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 30th September 2015 The provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (March 2005) amended 2008, is used in preparing this Annual Report and Financial Statement, so far as it is applicable to the Trust’s circumstances.
Constitution
The Friends of the Union Chain Bridge is a registered charity in England and Wales (registration in Scotland is pending) constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under a Constitution dated the 4th May 2015. The conversion of the charitable trust into a CIO was approved at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the charity held in the Village Hall, Paxton on the 29th January 2015.
The Objects of the Charitable Trust
The objects of the Trust are:
1. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical, natural and man-made environment by promoting the historical and architectural heritage of the Union Chain Bridge (“the Bridge”) in the parishes of Horncliffe, Northumberland, England and Hutton, Berwickshire, Scotland and of the natural environment in which the Bridge is situated.
2. To advance the education of the public, in particular in relation to the history and architecture of the heritage of the Bridge by developing public interest in the architecture, history and heritage of the Bridge by means of publications, public lectures and exhibitions and co-operation with schools and other educational establishments and other bodies and societies.
All the activities of the Trust to date have been in full accordance with the objects of the Charity. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
 select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
 observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
 make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
 state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
 prepare the financial statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate tom
presume that the charity will continue in operation

It will be appreciated that, as the charity is in its infancy and, particularly, as yet without investments and/or investment income , the financial statement set out on page 5 is basic and that the majority of the methods and principles set out in the SORP are as yet inapplicable to the charity’s accounts. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Meetings
The Trustees meet in accordance with a meeting calendar; they currently meet on a monthly cycle but additional meetings are arranged as required. Their business is conducted in accordance with the Constitution dated the 5th may 2015. There is no formal committee structure but ad hoc committees and working groups are appointed from time to time to deal with specific aspects of business delegated to them. The vast majority of business, however, is dealt with by the full Trust body.
Review of Progress and Achievements for 2014/2015
In the sixteen months since the formation of the Trust at a public meeting held in Paxton House on the 25th June 2014, the Trustees have been active in promoting the interests of the Trust in furtherance of their principal objective – namely, the full repair and restoration of the Union Chain
Bridge in advance of its bicentenary in July 2020.
As is mentioned earlier in this report, the charity’s first Constitution was replaced by a more comprehensive trust document earlier this year, following approval at an extraordinary General meeting in January. The perceived role of the Charity had changed fundamentally since its formation as an unincorporated body. It became clear that it was expected to play a significant part in attracting grant funding and NCC indicated that they expected that local charities involved with projects such as this should have incorporated status for various financial and legal reasons.
Accordingly, the membership agreed to convert the charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (effectively the same as a limited company but within the control of the Charity Commission rather than Companies House) and this conversion was completed on the 5th May. The charity is now registered as a charity in England and Wales and application has been made to register with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
Although the Bridge is the joint responsibility of Northumberland County Council (NCC) and Scottish Borders Council (SBC), the former authority is the lead authority for purposes of day-today maintenance of the Bridge and for taking forward the repair and restoration project towards completion before July 2020. A close and co-operative working relationship has been established with the principal NCC officers involved with the project – James Fell, Heritage and Events Development Manager and Simon Rudman, Highways Asset Manager – and with their SBC counterparts. Trustee representatives are to meet James Fell and Simon Rudman with the Leader of NCC and SBC representatives at Northumberland County Hall on October 27th, to discuss the role
of the Friends in the project and to elaborate on the specific initiatives which they see the Friends undertaking; a verbal report on the outcome of this meeting will be made at the AGM.
Trustees have also been involved in meetings with the representative of the Scottish Culture Minister and the two national heritage bodies involved with the Bridge; Historic England (formerly English Heritage) and Historic Scotland both of which have expressed concern at the continuing deterioration of the structure. One of several anomalous situations arising from the Bridge’s unique geographical situation is that each body is concerned with only that half of the Bridge falling within its national jurisdiction; and while Historic England consider that the state of their half warrants it being placed on their Heritage at Risk register, the Scottish half is not on Historic Scotland’s equivalent Buildings at Risk register - an anomaly that may be resolved on review this year.
One of the principal reasons for the formation of the Friends body, was NCC’s desire to have in place a local community heritage group to assist it in its application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for grant funding towards those parts of the project which would qualify for assistance from that body. NCC have appointed consultants, Consult Robinson, to prepare and submit funding applications to HLF. The Trustees were involved with the consultants during the preliminary stages of the submission and expect to assist in the Stage 1 application which is to be submitted before the end of 2015.
The Trustees were pleased to be able to arrange a meeting, in August, with the newly-elected MPs representing the two riparian constituencies; Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed and Calum Kerr, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. The two MPs were able to set aside political differences to commit themselves to the project and we look forward to their continuing support, along with that of John Lamont MSP, who had previously signified his support.
Important links were established during the year with two iconic bridges; two Trustees visited the Tees Transporter Bridge at Middlesbrough in January when they received a detailed briefing on the local authority’s experiences with the HLF bidding process and funding control; and two Trustees visited the site of the new Forth Crossing, to seek to forge a link between the newest and the oldest Scottish vehicular suspension bridges. Considerable and continuing interest in the restoration project was generated by that meeting.
It is a principal function of the Friends to promote and publicise the Bridge’s unique engineering, architectural and historic heritage not only locally but also further afield. Amongst the 400+ individual membership are Friends from all corners of the British Isles as well as from Japan and the Americas. A corporate membership scheme, aimed at encouraging local businesses to support the project has also recently been launched. For the second year, the Trust participated in Heritage Open Days on the 12th and 13th September with an information stall on the Northumberland side.
Despite mixed weather, the stall attracted over 60 visitors. Other promotional media include the Trust website at www.unionbridgefriends.co.uk, an active facebook page and membership newsletters.
An education outreach to first/primary and middle schools in the area has recently been launched and it is intended to structure Bridge visits by participating schools to fit within the National Curricula.
Finally, to ensure that the Friends remain within the public eye in their local community several social and cultural events have been organised. A successful and well-attended ceilidh was held in Horncliffe Memorial Hall in September; a charity Dinner and Auction is to be held in Paxton House on the 7th November; a piano recital by Harris Playfair and Heather Cattenach is to be given in Paxton House on February 26th 2016; and a performance by the music department of The Berwickshire High School is to presented within the school concert hall on February 19th 2016.
Membership Renewals
Membership renewal notices will be issued on a calendar monthly basis, starting shortly. Members’continuing support for the work of the Trust will be greatly appreciated.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2015
2014

Incoming Resources
Membership Subscriptions (individual) £1143
Membership Subscriptions (corporate) £510
Miscellaneous contributions and donations £3311
1982 Total incoming resources £4964
Resources expended
Printing and stationery, postages and
Miscellaneous items £719
669 Total resources expended £719
1313 Net Incoming/(Outgoing) Resources £4245
1313 Net Movement in Funds for the Year £4245
-- Total Funds brought forward £1313
Total Funds carried forward £5558

Friends of Union Chain Bridge AGM

The Second

ANNUAL MEETING

of

The Friends of the

UNION CHAIN BRIDGE

will be held in

Horncliffe Memorial Hall

Main Street, Horncliffe

on

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28^th   2015

at 6.30pm

The formal business will be followed by a talk by Linda Bankier, Berwick Archivist, on

The Bridges of the Lower Tweed

All Welcome

Refreshments

THE 6th INTERNATIONAL EARLY RAILWAYS CONFERENCE

Early Railways

THE 6th INTERNATIONAL EARLY RAILWAYS CONFERENCE

© Northumberland Archives, ‘The Coal Waggon’, ZMD 78/14

The next Conference has been arranged for the 16 – 19 June 2016 (Thursday evening to Sunday lunchtime), to take place at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northern England. The opening lecture will be given in the magnificent lecture hall of the North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers (NEIMME), the other papers will be heard in the Live Theatre on the Quayside, a modern and spacious tiered auditorium. Further details will follow.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Researchers into the history and archaeology of early railways who would like to present their findings are invited to indicate their intention to the organising committee by the end of May 2015. A 300-word synopsis should be submitted for consideration by the end of September 2015.
The standard length of papers is 30 minutes, with shorter presentations and papers welcome. As before, it is intended to publish the proceedings. Proposals for papers, which are encouraged on such topics as economic, business and social history as well as on technical subjects, and any queries, should be sent to:
early.railways.conference@gmail.com

Chain Bridges and Welsh Iron

Chain Bridges and Welsh Iron

essay by Stephen K. Jones, adapted by Jane Joyce
from The Development of Chain Bridges in Wales (and beyond) using Welsh iron (2015)

Introduction

Wales played a significant role in the development of the suspension bridge in the first half of the 19th century. It is home to two outstanding examples of the period Thomas Telfords Menai Suspension bridge and Conway Suspension Bridge. It is also home to the much rebuilt but pioneeering Llantysilio chain bridge and some of the prolific output of Captain samuel Brown, whose Union Bridge used Welsh Iron.

 

The huge industrial complexes in the valleys of South Wales were producing iron in unprecedented quantities, and British engineers were exploring ways to use it to construct bridges of ever-greater span. Chains of iron were ideal for supporting 'modern' suspension bridges, which featured horizontal decks designed for road traffic. Captain Brown's Newbridge chainworks (Brown Lenox) at Pontypridd in South Wales was in the forefront of this development.

 

This adaptation of Stephen K. Jones' essay focuses on the work of the two engineers who dominated chain bridge constructed in Britain in this period. Captain Sir Samuel Brown (1776-1852) was responsible for a large number of suspension bridges (built and proposed), of which three important examples survive. Thomas Telford (1757-1834) knew Brown and shared his confidence in suspensions bridges.

 

Stephen K. Jones's research is focused on the Newbridge chainworks and on Brown's papers held in the National Archives of Scotland. His research for the touring exhibition sponsored by ICE Wales Cymru — Web of Iron — has resulted in two permanent exhibitions. One is at the Chain Bridge Honey Farm Visitor Centre, Horncliffe, near Berwick upon Tweed. The other is at the Thomas Telford Centre, Prince's Pier, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey.

Friend of Union Chain Bridge Newsletter Spring 2015

Welcome to our Spring Up-date. Those of you who are following the progress of the project in the local news will be aware that Scottish Borders Council has pledged £550,000 to the refurbishment of the Bridge, which, with Northumberland County Council’s allocation of £500,000, means the project has more than £1m behind it so far.

Extraordinary General Meeting

Overwhelming support was given at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Paxton Village Hall in January for the conversion of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge from an Unincorporated Association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Our application for charitable status is currently in the hands of the Charity Commission and we await our official charity number. Thank you to those of you who were able to come along to that meeting.

Heritage Lottery Fund Bid Bid

In February the Trustees were invited to comment on the ‘Project Enquiry Form’, which is a short, 1,000 word application to the Heritage Lottery Fund prepared by Consult Robinson and commissioned by Northumberland County Council. This outlined the application based on capital works including repairs to the deck, masonry, parapets, hangers and chains, traffic calming and also community heritage projects including education, interpretation, marketing, a celebration on completion of the restoration and co-ordination. It was expected that this application would be made in February and would be based on the engineering report prepared for NCC in 2010 which estimated the costs of repair as £4.7 million. However NCC has postponed making the application in order to review those figures based on a second engineering report which we and they hope to receive in April.

Meeting with Historic Scotland

In March the Trustees initiated a meeting with Historic Scotland and here follows a report on that meeting from John Home Robertson:

"Heather, John, Ted and Stephen met David Fleetwood of the Scottish Government Historic Environment Department and Andrew Martindale and Thomas Knowles of Historic Scotland on the bridge on 5th March, following correspondence between John and Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Scottish Culture Minister.

They explained that Historic Scotland can pay grants of up to 25% of eligible repair and restoration costs up to £500k. Since this is a cross-border structure, they would have to ensure that their money is spent on the Scottish part of the bridge, but they saw no difficulty in satisfying that requirement, and they can pay the grant through either Northumberland County Council or Scottish Borders Council.

Obviously they could not prejudge an application for funding, but they clearly fully appreciate the historic importance of the bridge, and they seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating with partners on both sides of the border - they suggested an early meeting with both local authorities, their counterparts at English Heritage and the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge.

Altogether an extremely positive and constructive meeting. Let's hope that English Heritage will match the £500k that could be available from Historic Scotland."

The Trustees intend to arrange a meeting with representatives of English Heritage in the near future.

Corporate and General Membership

We have drawn up plans to launch Corporate Membership and forms will be available soon. We hope that if companies take up the opportunity to become corporate members their businesses can be advertised on promotional materials and on our website. Please email unionbridgefriends@gmail.comfor more information.

We will be asking regular members to renew their membership on 1st October 2015 and so if you became a member last summer you will benefit from a few extra months’ membership and unfortunately if you became a member in late autumn or winter you might lose out on a couple of months’ membership.  However, it has been thought sensible to fix a particular renewal date and the membership fee per person will remain the same (£5). Those who have become members should have received a car sticker, postcard and leaflet. If anyone has not received these please let us know and we’ll get them to you.

Berwickshire Naturalists Talk

Looking ahead, Professor Roland Paxton – who is one of our patrons - has accepted an invitation from the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club to give a talk about the Bridge in Hutton Village Hall on 20 May at 2pm. Those who are not members of the Berwickshire Naturalists are welcome to attend as guests and are asked to pay £2 per head.

Railway films

UNION CHAIN BRIDGE RESTORATION PROJECT

NEW YEAR UPDATE – JANUARY 2015

Here is a re-cap for anyone who has recently joined the Group or anyone who is interested in the Union Chain Bridge.

Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council aim to restore the bridge in time for its bicentenary in 2020.  NCC has put aside £500,000 for the restoration.  Scottish Borders Council will discuss its contribution at a meeting on 12^th February 2015.

Consultants appointed by NCC will make an initial approach to the Heritage Lottery Fund.  They are Carol and Frank Robinson from Consult Robinson.  Please see www.consultrobinson.co.uk for more information.  Some of the Trustees met them on 17^th December.

The UCB Friends Group currently has 295 members – including a descendant of  Captain Sir Samuel Brown – which is a great demonstration of support for the restoration of the bridge.  The Group aims to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) in the New Year.

Aside from this, the Friends have made a visit to the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge to learn how its restoration was carried out.  Here follows a report from Ted Cawthorn: -

“On the 28^th November Trustees John Home Robertson and Edward Cawthorn, together with James Fell the County Council’s Heritage Officer and Frank Robinson the Heritage Lottery Fund Bid Consultant appointed by NCC visited the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, where they were briefed by the Middlesbrough Council Team responsible for the Council’s successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid towards the restoration and refurbishment of the 100 year old iconic structure and winding machinery and its development as a heritage feature.  The Transporter Bridge, which dominates the Middlesbrough skyline, was opened on the 17^th October 1911 and is the longest transporter bridge in the world, with a total length of 259 metres and a maximum height from the river of 69 metres.

The Middlesbrough Council Officers gave an interesting, detailed and cautionary account of their experiences with their bid and the processes involved in establishing the principle of eligibility for HLF assistance, and were happy to be associated with the Union Bridge bid and to maintain a continuing relationship with the Friends”.

Trustees John Home Robertson and Stephen Gallico have recently been to two meetings, firstly with an official at the Scotland Office to discuss the possible involvement of the Westminster and Edinburgh Governments with the project, and secondly with representatives of a major construction contractor who have offered to help in various ways.

Heather Thompson

Chairman, Friends of the Union Chain Bridge

Pont Island News 2014 published

The Ponteland Local History Society has just published its 11th edition of "Pont Island News" which is being distributed free to members. The edition is also available to others price £4.00 including postage or electronically as a PDF file price £1.00 

This edition includes a "Dissington Hall" history by Michael & Gill Brown, an item entitled "The Curate, a Vicar and Five Engineers" by J Michael Taylor and a biography of the engineer "Robert Nicholson" by Michael Money

Readers will also find interesting Michael Taylor's item entitled "RAF Woolsington and RAF Ponteland" and the rev. Peter Barham has written an item "Commemorating the First World War- A few local churches"

Other items relating to the First and Second World Wars have been written by Patricia Stephenson and Muriel Sobo: "Two War Veterans",  "Caterpillar Club", "Family loss in the wars of the twentieth century" and "The Somme"

© The copyright of each article remains with the author and of each illustration with the artist.

ISSN 1468-1390

Railway Films

New future for Dunston Staithes?

One of the biggest and most impressive landmarks to Tyneside’s industrial past could be saved from an uncertain future thanks to joint funding.

The enormous wooden Dunston Staiths, that once played a crucial role in the transport of millions of tons of Tyneside coal, could be brought back into public use following the announcement of crucial support from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). English Heritage has offered Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, which owns Dunston Staiths, a grant of £176, 819 to carry out investigative works and repairs to the first six bays of the structure which test out techniques that can be used in the rest of the monument. Dunston Staiths is a scheduled monument which is on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register.  Work is likely to start on site early in 2014.

The Trust has also been awarded initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund which includes a development grant of £48,200. This will allow the Trust to develop project plans further that aims to bring the first 38 bays of the 1, 709ft long staiths into public use and linking them to the Keelmans Way and Saltmarsh Gardens. The Saltmarsh garden is one of the few remaining areas of Saltmarsh in the Tyne area and as a result is of significant conservation interest. The mudflats, which were naturally created when the staiths closed and dredging ceased, provide an undisturbed roosting area for a range of bird species including grey heron, lapwing and redshank.

Secretary of Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, Martin Hulse, said: “Dunston Staiths is one of the great icons of the River Tyne and is an incredible feat of engineering. We are keen to hear from people who used to work on the structure to help bring the structure back to life. Most of all I am looking forward to the day when we can open the gates and let people back on the Staiths as the view from the top is incredible.”

The 130 year old staiths is now reckoned to be the largest timber structure in Britain, a title it also held when built by the North Eastern Railway at a cost of £210,000. Constructed of pitch pine the staiths shipped over 1.5 million tons of coal in its first year alone and peaked at almost 4 million tons a year in 1939.

Downturn in coal trade meant that by 1973 coal shipments were down to 400,000 tons and in 1977 coal shipments ceased. The staiths were officially closed in 1980 and a later attempt to reopen them failed. The structure found a new role as one of the centre pieces of the Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990 but its deteriorating condition and two major fires has since left the structure closed and with an uncertain future. Opportunities for public access have been limited to a small number of organised visits.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture, Cllr Linda Green, said: “Dunston Staiths are probably the biggest monument to the coal industry that played such a massive part in centuries of Tyneside history. We’ve been working hard with Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust for some time now in order to secure a positive, long term future for the structure.

“These announcements of support from bodies as respected as the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage is great news. There’s a lot of hard work still to do and more funding to secure, but perhaps the day when the public can once again appreciate Dunston Staiths up close is not too distant.”
Carol Pyrah, English Heritage’s Planning & Conservation Director North East said: “We have been supporting the Council and the Trust for some years with specialist advice and our grant gives the Trust the chance to test techniques for repair on the first 6 bays.  Conservation of such a unique monument is a complicated business and English Heritage’s involvement will ensure the best conservation brains are working to find out the right way to repair it.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “We at the Heritage Lottery Fund are delighted to be giving our initial support to this project that aims to bring the historic Dunston Staiths back to life and back into use for local people. It’s great to know that plans include conserving not only the wooden structure but also helping the surrounding natural environment to thrive. We are looking forward to seeing these plans progress over the coming months.”