I had decided to go to Woodhorn to do a bit of family research, what I had not reckoned on was it not being open. So as it was a nice morning I had a walk through the country park that has been built on the site of the old pit heaps and pit yards. They have done a fantastic job and it is wonderful to wander through the woodlands and around the lake. Loads of bird and other wild life both visable and hidden away behind the trees and bushes.
The lake is full of bird life and as well as containing fish it has been seeded with fresh water mussels and these have now become quite productive.
After leaving the park I set off in the direction of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, this had been one of the
places of Sunday school trips back in the 50s, it was connected to the Newcastle-coast railway line by a branch and a steam-train ran along this about 6 times a day, alas Mr Beeching took that piece of N.E. engineering from us. But even the politicians cannot take away my memories. We would be catered for by the kind ladies of the Church. It was always a nice treat, our mothers and the local ladies would put on a smashing spreads, sandwiches (egg and tomato, spam, jam, corned beef) and cakes, chocolate, Victoria sponge, date and walnut loaf.
 |
| A young pair looking out to sea |
 |
| a sea dog thought he would give me a paw |
We would play on the beach, pick winkles and just make a general nuisance of ourselves. If it rained (and it often did) we would be herded into the Church hall and be entertained with all manner of board games by our Sunday school teachers. It was great, good clean fun and we didn't go around breaking windows or painting graffiti on walls, we didn't dare.
 |
| The place where the first cross North S communification took placeea |
 |
| that says it all |
 |
| the cobles getting ready for the season |
I then traveled down the coast through the port of Blyth (I used to go fishing from this small port back in the 60s and 70s, plenty of Saith, Codling, Plaice and even the odd Sea trout and Salmon when running.
 |
| The Seaton Sluice harbour entrance tothe left and cut to the right |
 |
| The cut |
From there along the coast road to Seaton Sluice, this was an old coaling port built by the Delaval family as they didn't like paying the fees on the Tyne and the near by Blyth. They cut a new entry into the mouth of the small river the Seaton Burn, this was back in the mid 70s, that is the 1770s. There was also glass made in Seaton Sluice and exported from here the raw products sand for the silica and lime kilns used the shells. Alas the gut is now falling into evermore disrepair, the reminants are slowly but surely decaying and being washed out to sea, such a pity as it could be a nice tourist attraction (it does have 3 nice pubs surrounding the harbour).
 |
| The remains to the seaward side |
 |
| The reamins of the inner gate to the cut |
 |
| The turning mechanism for the now demolished swing bridge |
I think it a great pity that part of the NEs heratige has been allowed to fall into such a desolate condition, I know many years ago a project was in hand to repair and save the cut and its mechanical parts,but it looks as if this has fallen by the wayside.
No comments:
Post a Comment