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Newburn and District Boy Scouts Association presents SHOWTIME 1964 An all Scout entertainment in the West School Hall, Walbottle Campus 25th to 28th November 1964 
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Text from ChronicleLive 1st January 2012.  Across the Tyne to Newburn. Photo A Curtis (2014). Newburn and Walbottle are villages in Tyne and Wear and both suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne. Newburn is situated on the banks of the River Tyne, and is built rising up the valley from the river. Historically, it was larger than Newcastle upon Tyne as it was the most eastern fordable point of the River Tyne, so had strong Roman links along with Walbottle. The name Walbottle dates back to 1176 as as "Walbotl", which is derived from the Old English botl (building) on the Roman Wall. Both villages transformed with the Industrial Revolution, when large collieries and a steelworks opened. But these industries declined and Newburn is now home to a country park and various leisure facilities.
Here are ten interesting facts about the villages:  Window above doorway to Tyne Improvement Commission's Bewick House, Newcastle. Photo A Curtis (2014). Bewick House in Bewick Street, Newcastle, close to Central Station, was built to provide offices for the Tyne Improvement Commission. It clearly was of no interest to have a location nearer to the river which probably reflects the more commercial interests of the Commission and the more general move of the city to the north in the mid C19th.
In 1854, the commissioners started a programme of development and improvement of the river that continued well into the C20th and laid the foundations for what was to become the modern-day Port of Tyne. Within 70 years, the River Tyne was deepened from 1.83 metres to 9.14 metres and over 150 million tonnes dredged from it. The North and South Piers at the river's entrance were built, together with the Northumberland, Tyne and Albert Edward Docks, and the staithes at Whitehill Point and Dunston. The results of these developments could be seen in 23 million tonnes of cargoe being handled by the Port by 1910. On 31st July 1968 the Tyne Improvement Commission was dissolved and replaced with the Port of Tyne Authority, constituted on 28th June, and one of the UK’s largest trust ports. The newspaper article from 1897, transcribed below, describes 'above bridge developments' of the 'great improvement scheme'. To focus my mind on the Wylam Waggonway for the Puffing Billy Festival I decided to create a map of the waggonway so that I could discuss some things that interest me along its route. As always I am particularly interested in finding clues to the past which can still be seen today. This will be an ongoing blog and I will add to it as I feel inspired. View Wylam Waggonway in a larger map Key to map above:
Red: North Wylam, Newburn & Scotswood Railway where it diverges from the route of the former Waggonway. Blue: approximate route of Wylam Waggonway (1859 Map) Green: Mineral line (single track) closely parallel to railway line (double track) - possibly on the original waggonway line. Purple: Early Throckley Waggonway (1859 map) Pink: Later Throckley Waggonway (1897 map) Yellow: Throckley Isabella Mineral Railway (1897 map) Light Blue: North Walbottle Waggonway (1859 Map) Yellow Pin: Named feature |
AuthorAndy Curtis Archives
February 2023
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