January 31, 2010 River Tyne

This is the River Tyne this morning after yet another fall of snow this weekend. This is the view from the East Gateshead foreshore looking west along the River towards Newcastle and you can see St James Park at the centre on the horizon home of Newcastle United.

The River Tyne rises in County Durham & Northumberland because it splits into the South Tyne which turns up towards Alston in Durham and the North Tyne which heads north towards Bellingham and eventually Kielder Water the Biggest man made reservoir in the UK which holds 200 million cubic metres of water.

The River Tyne is 100km long about 62 miles from its primary source the South Tyne.

Here's a link to some great pictures of the Tyne on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&w=all&q=river+tyne&m=text

January 30, 2010 Tyne Tunnel 2

This wall mural is near the pedestrian tunnel in Jarrow and it hides the work going on to construct the 2nd Road Tunnel - you can see the cranes working on the new trench for the 2nd tunnel.

When complete there will be 3 tunnels under the Tyne between Jarrow & howdon on the North side.
1. The pedestrian tunnel was opened in 1951 and has two tunnels of its own, one for pedestrian and one for cyclist access - Its 4 escalators are still the largest wooden escalators in world at 200ft long and 85 ft high.

2. The Road tunnel was opened by the Queen in 1967 and is just over 1 mile long.

3. The new Road tunnel will be opened in February 2011

Here's a link :-

http://www.newtynecrossing.info/wps/wcm/connect/NTC

January 29, 2010 Swan House & Central Motorway

This is Swan House roundabout viewed from above the Central Motorway which can be seen disappearing underneath Swan House. It emerges onto the world famous Tyne Bridge.

Swan house itself has had a varied past - formerly BritishTelecom HQ and the Australian Emigration Office, having gone it decline it was renovated and converted into luxury apartments and now houses Metro Radio and Linekers Bar.

If you venture below Swan House you will not only find a motorway but there is also a reconstructed Edwardian arcade which was the Royal arcade before the motorway was built.

here's a link with more info http://www.timmonet.co.uk/html/body_swan_house.htm

January 28, 2010 Swan Hunters Cranes

This is a wider view of the Swan Hunter cranes looking across the river from Hebburn, what was the former Palmers yard across the Tyne to the Big yard at Wallsend.

Charles Palmer was a MP and a major local employer who set up the Palmer shipbuilding & Iron company which were major employers in Jarrow & Hebburn

You can read more about Charles Palmer & Palmer Shipbuilders at the following links :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmers_Shipbuilding_and_Iron_Company_Limited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Charles_Palmer,_1st_Baronet

January 27, 2010 Gallowgate End

This is the back of the famous Gallowgate End at St James Park home of Newcastle United - The picture is taken from the pub opposite which is called the Strawberry in case you wondered.

Anyway here's a link to the Unofficial website

http://www.nufc.com/

January 26, 2010 Swan Hunter's Cranes

These are the cranes which were at Swan Hunter's yard in Wallsend until 2007 when they were taken down and shipped to India.

There's lots of websites which will tell you all about the history of shipbuilding on the Tyne & at Swans - here's a link to one of many sites

http://www.swanhuntershipyard.co.uk/Swan_Hunters_Shipyard/Welcome.html

Here's a link also to a video of the cranes leaving the Tyne for Mumbai

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7988773.stm

January 25, 2010 Gateshead Sage by Night

The Sage is a Music venue which is in Gateshead on the South bank of the River Tyne - It features two Halls with a capacity of 1700 and 400 respectively - the building was designed by the famous Norman Foster and was opened in 2004. for more info here's a link :-

http://www.thesagegateshead.com/

January 24, 2010 Tynemouth Piers

The mouth of the River Tyne taken from near the end of the South Pier at South Shields - the pier on the left if on the North side of the river at Tynemouth.

January 23, 2010 Monument Metro Station

If you've been to Newcastle and seen the monument to earl Grey but not ventured below - well this is what lies beneath - the entrance to the metro station curves round this circular wall which hides the foundations of the monument in the ticket hall.

January 22, 2010 Central Arcade, Newcastle

This is the Central Arcade located just off Market street & Grainger street near Grey's Monument. Inside you'll find the excellent Windows music shop.

January 21, 2010 The Entrance to Eldon Square reflecting the Monument Mall and Waterstones Bookshop across the road.

January 20, 2010 Angel of the North

The Angel of the North in Gateshead with a few small figures in view to give it a sense of scale and perspective.

January 19, 2010 Bedes Window

This ia part of St Pauls church in Jarrow which dates back to AD681 where Benedict Biscop, Ceolfrith and then St Bede all studied - It was here that Bede wrote his famous Historia Ecclesiastica.

January 18, 2010 South Shields Groyne & Tynemouth

This is the view from between the piers at South Shields looking over the Groyne and across the River to Tynemouth where you can see Tynemouth Priory and Lord Collingwoods memorial.

January 17, 2010 A litterbox letterbox view of the Quayside

This is my 1st post taken from the Sage music venue and featuring the Baltic art gallery, Millenium Bridge and River Tyne - as well as some colourful Bins and a bit snow.

I will post a new picture of Tyneside every day so please bookmark my blog & come back regularly.