View across the River Tyne, west of Ferry House. Photo A Curtis (2011).
From History of the Parish of Ryton by William Bourn of Whickham (1896).
Turning to the right, a short walk through the Dene brings you to Ryton Ferry, which is one of the fairest spots around the old village. The place is remarkable for its stillness, which is only broken by the shriek of the whistle of a passing train, or the chiming of the hour by the church clock. The scenery is exceptionally picturesque.
On the south side of the river are the banks of Ryton, richly wooded, and teeming with bird life ; on the north side is the old-fashioned house of the boatman, protected from the north winds by a belt of trees running east and west along thebank of the stream. Rising gracefully from the low lying ground, the southern hills, with their hamlets and woods, and pretty cottages, form a splendid background. Half a mile westward the river makes a graceful bend to the north, and eastward in the same direction till it reaches Newburn. Altogether the Ryton Ferry is one of the most delightful pieces of scenery on the Tyne.
On the south side of the river are the banks of Ryton, richly wooded, and teeming with bird life ; on the north side is the old-fashioned house of the boatman, protected from the north winds by a belt of trees running east and west along thebank of the stream. Rising gracefully from the low lying ground, the southern hills, with their hamlets and woods, and pretty cottages, form a splendid background. Half a mile westward the river makes a graceful bend to the north, and eastward in the same direction till it reaches Newburn. Altogether the Ryton Ferry is one of the most delightful pieces of scenery on the Tyne.
Although the boatman's house is at the north side of the river, it is in the parish of Ryton, the boundary line being immediately behind the house. The river has evidently changed its course at a time not very remote. Old inhabitants of the villages in the neighbourhood affirm that sixty years ago traces of the former course of the stream were plainly discernible.
Sykes informs us that formerly tremendous floods frequently caused the river to overflow its banks, the waters bearing destruction to the low lying grounds adjoining the river. In the great flood of 1771, Jos. Foster, the ferryman at Ryton, had to escape from a window in the second storey of the old house, to a boat sent to his rescue.
Sir John Lubbock tells us how easy it is for a river to change its course under the conditions already mentioned. He says : — "If the country is flat, a river gradually raises the level on each side ; the water which overflows during floods being retarded by trees, bushes, sedges, and a thousand other obstacles, gradually deposits the solid matter which it contains, and, then raising the surface, becomes at length suspended, as it were, above the central level. When this elevation has reached a certain point, the river, during some flood, overflows and cuts through its banks, and deserting its old bed, takes a new course along the lowest accessible level."
The object of the ferry in olden times would be to put the Cistercians of Newminster, near Morpeth, in direct communication with their land in Chopwell. At that time the ferry would be higher up the river, near to Wylam.
Sykes informs us that formerly tremendous floods frequently caused the river to overflow its banks, the waters bearing destruction to the low lying grounds adjoining the river. In the great flood of 1771, Jos. Foster, the ferryman at Ryton, had to escape from a window in the second storey of the old house, to a boat sent to his rescue.
Sir John Lubbock tells us how easy it is for a river to change its course under the conditions already mentioned. He says : — "If the country is flat, a river gradually raises the level on each side ; the water which overflows during floods being retarded by trees, bushes, sedges, and a thousand other obstacles, gradually deposits the solid matter which it contains, and, then raising the surface, becomes at length suspended, as it were, above the central level. When this elevation has reached a certain point, the river, during some flood, overflows and cuts through its banks, and deserting its old bed, takes a new course along the lowest accessible level."
The object of the ferry in olden times would be to put the Cistercians of Newminster, near Morpeth, in direct communication with their land in Chopwell. At that time the ferry would be higher up the river, near to Wylam.
 Ryton Ferryman, Archie Scott and passenger, c.1900. Gateshead Local Studies Ref: 04_03. |  Ryton Ferry house, north side, c.1900. Gateshead Local Studies Ref: 12_02. |
 Ryton Ferry and path on north side c.1900. Gateshead Local Studies Ref: 04_02. |  Ryton Ferryhouse, c1900. Gateshead Local Studies Ref: 12_09. |
RSS Feed
