May 11, 2010 Redburn Dene

This is part of the rejuvenated Redburn Dene in North Shields which was rejuvenated after the Tyneside riots of the 1980s on the Meadowell Estate. This structure sits on top of a hill immediately behind the Wet & Wild water park which is the largest indoor water park in Europe.
The Dene links Chirton to the river Tyne at the North Shields Commisioners Quay where the North sea ferry to Ansterdam leaves from and the dene is well worth a walk.

May 09, 2010

Another view across the mouth of the Tyne from North Shields looking towards the groyne at South Shields and the pier beyond. The foreground buoy is an old navigational aid removed from the river and now used to mark the route of the National Cycle Network Route 72.
NCN 72 is Hadrians Cycleway and runs from Ravenglass in Cumbria to Tynemouth.

April 30, 2010 The Low Lights

The Original Low Lights at North Shields can still be seen from inside the Harbour Walls which were originally inside the olld Cliffords Fort which can also be found nearby.
Built inside Clifford's Fort 1727-33 and extended 1775. Its white gable was painted black and its light window blocked to obscure it as a navigational landmark when converted to Almshouses in 1806-8

April 29, 2010 High Lights & Low Lights

These two buildings are the High & Low Lights found at North Shields and used as a navigational aid to safely guide shipping into the Tyne. When entering the river through the piers if you line up the two lights it keeps you safely in the shipping lanes and away from the treacherous Black Middens rocks.

Because of the difficulty of navigating ships into the mouth of the river past the dangerous Black Midden rocks, buildings were erected with permanent lights burning to be used as a guide by the mariners. The first of these was the Old High Beacon, built in 1727. In 1802 this was replaced by the High and Low Lights, placed respectively at the top and bottom of the steep bank alongside the river. The Old High Beacon, as well as the High and Low Lights, still exist today as private residences. In 1806 a market place was opened on New Quay. In 1870 work began on constructing a fish quay to provide shelter for the docked fishing boats. This quay is still in use today. 

April 27, 2010 the Wooden Dolly

The Wooden Dolly outside a pub of the same name just up from North Shields Ferry Landing.

An interesting part of the history of North Shields is that of the "Wooden Dollies". In 1814 the female figurehead of a collier brig was placed at the entrance to Custom House Quay, on Liddell Street, and stood there until 1850, when it was vandalised. A second figurehead was placed on the same spot. The "Wooden Dolly", as the figurehead was known, was used by seafarers as a source of good-luck charms, by cutting pieces of wood from her to be taken with them on voyages. Eventually the figurehead was defaced beyond repair and after 14 years was replaced by Wooden Dolly No. 3. This remained until 1901 when it was replaced with Wooden Dolly No. 4 in the shape of a fishwife. A fifth Wooden Dolly, also a fishwife, was placed in Northumberland Square in 1958 and still remains there. In 1992 a sixth Wooden Dolly, was placed where the first four had been, at the entrance to Custom House Quay, and can still be seen there, next to the Prince of Wales public house.

April 17, 2010 Two Reds - Two Shields

A view across the River Tyne from North Shields to South Shields where two red objects can be seen.

The Red Buoy in the foreground is on the North Shileds side just along from the Fish Quay - Four huge red shipping buoys salvaged from the river have been installed on the land to the east of the fort, reclaimed in the nineteenth century. These are also acting as markers at the confluence of two national and one regional cycle routes.

The red object on the South Shields side is the Groyne which dates back to the 19th century - 1866 - South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade is formed, using the watch house on the South pier as their base. They were the first brigade to make a rescue using the breeches buoy. Also this year an outbreak of cholera badly affects the town.

March 17, 2010 Earl of Zetland

This is the Earl of Zetland which served as a ferry in the Shetland Islands between 1939 - 1975. It is now a floating restaurant on the Royal Quays in North Shields.

March 14, 2010 Tyne Ferry

Two Ferries in fact taken from North Shields Ferry Landing this afternoon - the little one is the
Cross Tyne Ferry which runs from South Shields to North Shields every 15 minutes on the hour and half hour heading South and on the quarter hours heading North.
The big ferry is heading for Isjmuiden which is the Port of Amsterdam

February 27, 2010 HMS Ark Royal

HMS Ark Royal is the flagship of the Royal Navy and is currently visiting the Tyne and is berthed at North Shields Commisioners Quay.
The Ark Royal is the fifth ship to bear that name in the Royal Navy, the first being in 1587 built to the order of Walter Raleigh for Queen Elizabeth.
The current Ark Royal was built in 1978 in the Wallsend yard by Swan Hunters and has a displacement of 20,235 tonnes and is nearly 700 feet long. It is the sister ship of HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious which was also built on the Tyne.