The keelmen ( boatmen on the River Tyne) of Newcastle upon Tyne formed a charitable foundation for sick and aged keelmen and their families, and by contributing one penny a tide from the wages of each keel’s crew they were able to build the Keelmen’s Hospital which was completed in 1701 at a cost of £2,000; the building was used until recently as accommodation for students at Northumbria University.
