Cheviot Sheep

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The Cheviot Hills, on the border of England and Scotland, are where the Cheviot breed of sheep originated . The breed prospers in the windswept and sometimes very harsh conditions that prevail there . Whilst some argue, quite reasonably, that using arable land for animal husbandry is an inefficient way of producing food, uplands such as the Cheviots are useless for crop production but do facilitate the rearing of sheep . Buchtrig is to be found on the Scottish side of the border near Jedburgh in Roxburghshire.

Churchyard, Kirknewton

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The church of St. Gregory the Great is to be found in the small village of Kirknewton, Northumberland. Parts of the Church date back to the 11th Century and nearby is the site of Gefrin where, in the 5th Century, Saint Paulinus baptised King Edwin of Northumbria. This photo shows a grave marker in the churchyard.

Carter Bar

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Northumberland is England's most northerly County and the Cheviot Hills, along the border with Scotland, are still in the stubborn grip of Winter. This picture was taken today at Carter Bar where the A68 crosses the border.

Messis Ab Altis

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This eroded plaque bearing the Latin Motto MESSIS AB ALTIS shows a pitman and a seaman; two occupations which were chosen as bearers for the coat of arms of the old Tynemouth Borough. Mining, sailing and fishing used to be mainstays of the local economy so a motto meaning ‘harvest of the deep’ could not be more apt for the pitmen who worked deep underground hewing coal and for the fisherman catching fish from the depths of the sea. This plaque can be seen at King Edward School, North Shields which was opened 12th September 1908.

George Scott, Gentlemen's Hairdressers

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This traditional barbers was established by John Scott in 1859 on Mosley Street, moving to its current premises on The Side in 1919. George Scott took over the business in 1924 and it still bears his name.

Central Arcade

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The Central Arcade in Newcastle was built in 1906. It has 3 entrances, one on each of Grainger Street, Grey Street, and Market Street .

Yummies

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A rather fine building, on Newgate Street, whose appearance has been marred, more than somewhat, by a take-away food establishment.

Whitewall Gallery

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The Whitewall Gallery on Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, is one of a UK chain of galleries selling what I would call populist and formulaic art; chacun a son gout.

speak out....

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It is appropriate that Grey's Monument is a regular location for the voice of religious and political activists, as Charles, Earl Grey ( yes he of the tea fame), was a champion of religious and political freedom in the 19th Century.

Amen Corner

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no doubt named due to its proximity to the adjacent Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas....Amen Corners were usually areas within a church " reserved for persons leading the responsive amens "

Bessie Surtees House

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This picture shows the facades of two merchants' houses, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, on Newcastle's Quayside. One is known as the Bessie Surtees House and was the scene in November 1772, of the elopement of Bessie with one John Scott who was later to become Lord Chancellor of England. The site is maintained by English Heritage and the Bessie Surtees House is open to the public from Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.

Tynemouth House of Correction

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This building was built in 1792 as a Court and 'lock-up' serving as a place of temporary confinement for prisoners en route to the county jail at Morpeth; from 1907 it was a laundry and it is now an architectural salvage premises.

Tynemouth Metro Station

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This photo shows one of two footbridges at Tynemouth Station. the station was opened in 1892 by the North Eastern Railway Company; it is now a Grade II listed building.

Master Mariners Homes

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Built 1837-40 by North Shields Master Mariners Asylum for 32 aged mariners and their dependants; John and Benjamin Green, architects. Land donated by 3rd Duke of Northumberland; his statue stands in the gardens.

King's School Tynemouth

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King's School in Tynemouth was originally founded in Jarrow in 1860 but moved to its present site in 1860. It is a private co-educational school with over 800 pupils aged between 4 and 18. The school was originally called Tynemouth School and did not become known as The King's School until the 1960s. The school's name refers to three kings, Oswin, Osred and Malcolm III who were buried at nearby Tynemouth Priory.

North Eastern Railway

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The North Eastern Railway (NER) was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined; in 1923 it was was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) This photo is a tiled map at Tynemouth station showing the extent of its network during its heyday.

Cliff's Bakers Confectioners

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a remnant of the old shopping ways when most communities had a local bakers, butchers and greengrocers shop.

www.globegallery.org

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the Globe Gallery on the corner of Saville Street and Howard Street in North Shields is an unexpected gem, well worth a visit for anyone interested in the arts. see: www.globegallery.org

Sir James Knott Memorial Flats

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the Sir James Knott Memorial Flats were built on the north bank of the Tyne in North Shields in 1938 with funds provided by the Sir James Knott Trust.

Old High Light

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Trinity House of Newcastle upon Tyne first installed naviagtion beacons on the River Tyne in 1536. The building shown here was constructed for this purpose in 1727. It was replaced in 1807 by the new High Light beacsue of changes in the river channel

Pride of the Tyne

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Pride of the Tyne, one of the two Tyne ferries, seen recently on a slipway at South Shields for maintenance.

Quakers' Hole Wetland Project

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Quaker’s Hole is a small area of wetland on the edge of Whitley Chapel village,a few miles south of Hexham in Northumberland. It covers about 6 acres of land which is held by the Parish Council on a 99-year lease from Northumberland County Council. It has been developed and protected with the aid of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Stan Laurel

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Stan Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson on the 16th June 1890. He grew up in Bishop Auckland, County Durham where his father was a theatre manager; he later attended Kings School, Tynemouth. He lived in Dockwray Square, North Shields, from 1897 to 1902 where this statue was erected in 1989 . He was to become one half of the famous Hollywood comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy. He died on 23 February 1965 aged 74.

Maritime Chambers,

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Maritime Chambers in Union Square, North Shields was built in 1806-7 as a subscription library for Tynemouth Literary and Philosophical Society. It was later occupied from 1895-1980 by the Stag ( shipping) Line Ltd, which was one of Tyneside's oldest family owned shipping companies. The building still bears their 'Stag' emblem, Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside.The building is now the North Tyneside Registrar's Office.

( not the) The old Borough Treasurer's Office

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This fine looking building is on the corner of Howard Street and Charlotte Street in North Shields. At least part of it was once the old Borough Treasurer's Office. An estate agents premises spoils the frontage with a modern and out of character facade; the building also houses the Exchange Bistro. Since posting this , Novocastrian has helpfully pointed out it was the old police station ( see comments below). The Treasurers's office is on the extreme left.

The High and Low Lights

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These pictures show the High and Low Lights on the north bank of the River Tyne at North Shields. Because of the difficulty of navigating ships into the mouth of the river past the dangerous Black Midden rocks, buildings were erected with permanent lights burning to be used as a guide by ships entering the river. The Old High Beacon was built in 1727 and this was replaced in 1802 by the High and Low Lights, which are today private residences.

North Shields corner house

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these windows are not what you might think ( click to enlarge)

North Shields Salvation Army Citadel

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The Salvation Army Citadel on Howard Street in North Shields was designed by John Dobson in 1811. It was built originally for a Church which was established in 1759 by the Reverend Joseph Wilkinson. The original church was known as the Scotch Church because by deed the Minister had to be a licentate of the Church of Scotland.

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by Chiharu Shiota

A flock of seagulls.

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The Spanish Battery car park at Tynemouth is a popular spot for visitors taking in the view and also for the local gull population who know that a regular supply of leftovers from fish and chip takeaways will be theirs. The North and South piers at the river mouth can be seen here behind the excited flock.