The Dunston riverside was once a hive of activity, with lots of ships waiting at the river mouth to be loaded with coal from the Keel boats as early as 1671. The Keel men had to be strong, as the Keel boats carried 20 tons of coal with just a square sail and two large oars, they did four or five trips a day, manned by two men and a boy. When the Dunston Staithes were built, sadly, the Keel men were made redundant.
The land on the bank of the Tyne alongside Dunston Coal Staithes is called St Omer's Haugh. On the east side of the Team, Historically it belonged to the medieval hospital of St Mary in Newcastle who presumably named this land in honour of Omer, Bishop of Therouanne who died in 670AD
The Dunston Staiths were built by the North Eastern Railways. The first pile was driven on 26th August 1890. There was no formal ceremony when they were opened, just a few officials of the mineral traffic department were present. They were opened on Monday 16th October 1893, and the first steamer loaded at 7.20 a.m. was called 'The Holmside'.
It is said that the Dunston Staithes are the largest timber structure in Europe and probably in the world, although there is no proof of this. The structure is made of North American pitch pine timber, no longer available, from the once unlimited forest. Most of the timber used was 20 metres long, 14 inches deep and 14 inches wide. The total weight of timber is 3,200 tons,
The Staithes are 526 metres long with 4 railway tracks, 6 loading berths (3 on each side), with two chutes to each berth. The gradient from West to East is 1 in 90. The main structure was £33,130.19s.lld The railway known as the permanent way was £247.5s.0d., additional timber £2,433,19s.2d. The total cost £210,000., which was a lot of money in 1890.
In the early 19th Century, Waggonways were used to transport the coal from the North Durham coal-fields, of which there were quite a few. Dunston, at that time, would largely be agricultural, supplying food for Newcastle and Gateshead. Meat, such as pork, lamb, mutton and beef, as well as milk, vegetables, grain and hay, but the more industry increased, the food was produced locally. Ships came into the Tyne at Dunston from all over the world to collect their cargo, the crews would need feeding, so the Dunston shops did very well in those days. Some of the crews would stay at the Seaman's Mission, which is now the Community Centre. As the Staithes became more and more of a success, the farmers started to charge for crossing their land.
There were four Waggonways, but the first was, Whickham Grand Lease, running from Bucks Hill, Whickham, to Lobley Hill, then, on to Dunston pass the Dun Cow and down Ravensworth Road. It was built by a Consortium of companies and handled about 100.000 tons of coal each year. These Waggonways were the forerunner to the Railways as we know them.
The first steam engine in the North was built by George Stephenson in 1814. Between 1699 -1724/5, there was a Dunston Way running from Blackburn Fell and Gibside to Dunston, it is, in part a footpath, now known as Keelmen's Walk. There was also a Ravensworth Way built by Liddell's of Ravensworth, it ran from Lamesley and Eighton to the Team, then on to Dunston.
The scale of the operations were quite large, for after just one year, coal shipments had increased from 20,000 tons to 130,000 tons per annum. In 1894, 1,289,000 tons were shipped from Dunston in 1,037 vessels. The Staithes were so successful that in 1898, the North Eastern Railways Company decided to build an inner Staithe, to double their capacity, with a tidal basin for the retention of vessels. Up to 20 ships would wait in the Tyne to be loaded.
To build the basin, islands had to be removed and shallows deepened. In the process, flooding would occur until these operations were completed.The rivers had a poor reputation at that time, as anyone who lived in Dunston would tell you. In fact, the river Team, (The Gut - as it was called), was said to be the most highly polluted river in the Country..
The land on the bank of the Tyne alongside Dunston Coal Staithes is called St Omer's Haugh. On the east side of the Team, Historically it belonged to the medieval hospital of St Mary in Newcastle who presumably named this land in honour of Omer, Bishop of Therouanne who died in 670AD
The Dunston Staiths were built by the North Eastern Railways. The first pile was driven on 26th August 1890. There was no formal ceremony when they were opened, just a few officials of the mineral traffic department were present. They were opened on Monday 16th October 1893, and the first steamer loaded at 7.20 a.m. was called 'The Holmside'.
It is said that the Dunston Staithes are the largest timber structure in Europe and probably in the world, although there is no proof of this. The structure is made of North American pitch pine timber, no longer available, from the once unlimited forest. Most of the timber used was 20 metres long, 14 inches deep and 14 inches wide. The total weight of timber is 3,200 tons,
The Staithes are 526 metres long with 4 railway tracks, 6 loading berths (3 on each side), with two chutes to each berth. The gradient from West to East is 1 in 90. The main structure was £33,130.19s.lld The railway known as the permanent way was £247.5s.0d., additional timber £2,433,19s.2d. The total cost £210,000., which was a lot of money in 1890.
In the early 19th Century, Waggonways were used to transport the coal from the North Durham coal-fields, of which there were quite a few. Dunston, at that time, would largely be agricultural, supplying food for Newcastle and Gateshead. Meat, such as pork, lamb, mutton and beef, as well as milk, vegetables, grain and hay, but the more industry increased, the food was produced locally. Ships came into the Tyne at Dunston from all over the world to collect their cargo, the crews would need feeding, so the Dunston shops did very well in those days. Some of the crews would stay at the Seaman's Mission, which is now the Community Centre. As the Staithes became more and more of a success, the farmers started to charge for crossing their land.
There were four Waggonways, but the first was, Whickham Grand Lease, running from Bucks Hill, Whickham, to Lobley Hill, then, on to Dunston pass the Dun Cow and down Ravensworth Road. It was built by a Consortium of companies and handled about 100.000 tons of coal each year. These Waggonways were the forerunner to the Railways as we know them.
The first steam engine in the North was built by George Stephenson in 1814. Between 1699 -1724/5, there was a Dunston Way running from Blackburn Fell and Gibside to Dunston, it is, in part a footpath, now known as Keelmen's Walk. There was also a Ravensworth Way built by Liddell's of Ravensworth, it ran from Lamesley and Eighton to the Team, then on to Dunston.
The scale of the operations were quite large, for after just one year, coal shipments had increased from 20,000 tons to 130,000 tons per annum. In 1894, 1,289,000 tons were shipped from Dunston in 1,037 vessels. The Staithes were so successful that in 1898, the North Eastern Railways Company decided to build an inner Staithe, to double their capacity, with a tidal basin for the retention of vessels. Up to 20 ships would wait in the Tyne to be loaded.
To build the basin, islands had to be removed and shallows deepened. In the process, flooding would occur until these operations were completed.The rivers had a poor reputation at that time, as anyone who lived in Dunston would tell you. In fact, the river Team, (The Gut - as it was called), was said to be the most highly polluted river in the Country..
In 1938, 4 million tons of coal was exported from the Staithes. The coal waggons were pushed by steam engines up the gradient, to the Staithes. It was a very skilled job to shunt the wagons onto the Staithes, as the driver worked "blind" from behind, and had to make sure they were on the right track. The men had their own signals, maybe a touch of a cap, or some other gesture, but there was nothing written down, so the driver had to depend on them.
Once on the Staithes, and at the berths, the "teamers" and "trimmers" were waiting in the colliers to level the coal, as it came down the chutes, to keep the ship level. The empty wagons rolled back to the Railway siding by gravity. It was not a pleasant place to work, as it was noisy, oily and very, very, dirty. There were occasionally some very serious accidents, because of the poor lighting. They worked by candlelight until the electricity arrived in 1930. Some of the men lost their limbs, some were crushed between the ship and the Staithes, however, it was still considered a privilege to work there. Trimmer's and teamer's jobs were nearly always handed down from father to son, or some-one in the family. They
were the "elite" of the Staithes, very well paid, as in 1930 they earned around 8 to 10 per week, I don't think anyone knew how much they really earned, (not even the Tax Man).
Going back to the engine driver for the moment, if they didn't gauge the end of the track just right, the trucks could fall over the edge. In the year 1928, that is exactly what happened. The engine travelled a little too far, crashed through the end buffers and two trucks fell over the edge. If you can imagine the engine shunting (pushing from the rear) a set of 12 trucks, all loaded with 20 tons of coal, then it is not hard to imagine the great difficulties in retrieving the trucks. It took a crane of considerable size to lift such a vast weight.
During the Staiths "glory days", in 1929, 140,000 tons of coal per week was loaded. In 1970 it's production dropped to just 3,500 tons per annum. Trade had steadily declined from the end of the second World War, it was never to recover. The run-down was gradual, but they closed as working Staithes in 1977, and finally in 1980.
In 1990 after they were refurbished by Gateshead Council with help from Central Government grants. The Staiths were opened as a walkway, on part of the riverside site, which was part of the National Garden Festival. The river Tyne was also cleansed for this event and now, happily, salmon swim up the river to spawn..
Restoration of the Staithes...
May 2014...
The restoration of the staithes has begun after decades of uncertainty over its future survival. The first new timbers have been grafted on to Dunston Staithes on the Gateshead riverside as the first move in a £450,000 restoration programme. Dunston Staithes, was hit over the years by a series of arson incidents, putting the structure at risk.
In December 2013, owners the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust was given a grant of £418,900 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional cash coming from English Heritage. Now work has started in replacing six-metre long fire-damaged timbers in the first eight of the 526-metre long structure’s 98 frames.
These frames, on the land-based section of the staithes, have been damaged by several small-scale fires. Five timbers in each frame will be repaired. Bottom timbers will be renewed and parts of other beams replaced.
It has not been possible to use American pitch pine - the timber used in the original construction - because it cannot be acquired from sustainable sources. Instead ekki timber, which is from sustainable supplies, is being used. Found in Africa, ekki is also known as red ironwood and is very hard. Sniffing the bark is used as a traditional treatment for headache.
The work is being carried out by Blaydon-based contractors Owen Pugh.
“It is wonderful that the work has started. Seeing the first timber piece go in was a joyous moment,” said trust manager Martin Hulse. “The staithes are an iconic symbol of the region’s industrial heritage.”
When work on the eight frames is complete next month, the contractors will tackle the top deck of the staithes where planking will be renewed. The programme is then expected to move on in July to damage caused by a major fire in 2010 on a section over the river surface.
“This will be quite challenging technically, with beams under the decks being replaced,” said Mr Hulse.
It is hoped that once this phase is complete, at least part of the staithes will be available for the September Heritage Open Days event.
The last time the staithes was open to the public was during the 1990 Gateshead National Garden Festival. Meanwhile, drilling work has been carried out across the whole structure to look for rot.
The next big issue for the staithes will be how to repair the gap left by the worst of the arson blazes, in 2003, when more funding will be needed.
The Dunston monument is the last of the many staithes along the Tyne which played a crucial role in the river’s dominance as a coal exporter.
Dunston Staiths Cone...
June 2014..
Cone is a new artwork by Wolfgang Weileder situated on the Dunston, Cone is the first large scale installation piece that has been developed from the Jetty Project: Art & Sustainability a collaborative research investigation funded by the AHRC and coordinated by Newcastle University and Manchester University. At 9m high and 7m diameter Cone takes as it’s aesthetic influence the shape of the historic coal fired Bottle Kiln that was once an integral part of the industrial heritage of the North East of England. Placing the Cone on top of the Dunston Staiths reinforces the historic
significance of industrial change and the sustainability debate. Cone creates a temporary, inhabitable space that is both a sign and a symbol of what is past and what is the future for the interpretations and debates of public art in the context of sustainability.
Through artwork such as this, we’re looking at how fine art projects can make a meaningful contribution to the debate around urban sustainability as well as being exciting works of art in their own right,” says Weileder, Professor of Contemporary Sculpture at Newcastle University.
Cone is constructed from Aquadyne a 100% recycled material that is manufactured solely from waste plastics. Used largely in the building industry as a drainage product Aquadyne is environmentally friendly and carbon positive.
The cone was in place from 3rd July 2014 to 15th September 2014
View pictures of Cone [Here]
Heritage Open Day, September 2014..
Dunston Staithes took part in the Heritage Open Days of 2014 where every year on four days in September, the bunting is unfurled and buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors. It is a once-a-year chance to discover the often hidden or forgotten gems on our doorsteps and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities that bring local history and culture to life. View pictures of Heritage Open Day HERE
Dunston Staithes Lite Show 2016..
Below Dunston Staithes lite show for the official opening of the staithes for 2016 season.
Staithes Food Market..
On Saturday 11th June 2016 the Staithes started hosting a monthly food market, the market runs on the second saturday of each month when the Staithes are open to the public. The idea was started by Liz Hall and Sally Vleugels in assocoation with TWBPT.
View pictures of the 1st food market HERE and the 2nd food market HERE
You can join the Staithes Food Market facebook site for more info and opening dates HERE
Dunston West Staithes...
These Staithes stood just west of Dunston Power Station.
In 1912, a dug-out canoe was found at the West Dunston Staiths, it dated back to Neolithic times*.
On the 17th July, 1912, during excavation of the foreshore prior to the building foundations of the new (West Dunston) staiths, the contractor came across the end of a submerged 'dug-out' buried in the silt and sand, lying about five feet below the bed of the river...and about 12 feet below high water.
It was recorded as follows: "Oak log-boat, length 4.27 m, breadth 0.91 m. Rounded bow in all three planes, and rounded transverse section. Slot at rear for transom. Starboard edge is worked, with a vertical hole in it, probably where a transverse member was trenailed to both sides of the sheer for lateral strength and to act as a thwart". It was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle in 1912, and in 1952 the Ordnance Survey noted it as "recorded as surviving in one of the Black Gate guardrooms in a poor state of preservation". It is now lost.
* The Neolithic period was the New Stone Age circa 5000 BC.
Written & Researched By Ethel Baker
These Staithes stood just west of Dunston Power Station.
In 1912, a dug-out canoe was found at the West Dunston Staiths, it dated back to Neolithic times*.
On the 17th July, 1912, during excavation of the foreshore prior to the building foundations of the new (West Dunston) staiths, the contractor came across the end of a submerged 'dug-out' buried in the silt and sand, lying about five feet below the bed of the river...and about 12 feet below high water.
It was recorded as follows: "Oak log-boat, length 4.27 m, breadth 0.91 m. Rounded bow in all three planes, and rounded transverse section. Slot at rear for transom. Starboard edge is worked, with a vertical hole in it, probably where a transverse member was trenailed to both sides of the sheer for lateral strength and to act as a thwart". It was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle in 1912, and in 1952 the Ordnance Survey noted it as "recorded as surviving in one of the Black Gate guardrooms in a poor state of preservation". It is now lost.
* The Neolithic period was the New Stone Age circa 5000 BC.
Written & Researched By Ethel Baker