Tynemouth
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Coordinates: 55°01′N 1°25′W / 55.01°N 1.42°W
| Tynemouth | |
  Tynemouth shown within Tyne and Wear |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | North Tyneside |
| Metropolitan county | Tyne & Wear |
| Region | North East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORTH SHIELDS |
| Postcode district | NE30 |
| Dialling code | 0191 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Tyne and Wear |
| Ambulance | North East |
| European Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | Tynemouth |
| List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear | |
Tynemouth is a town and historic resort in Tyne and Wear, England, situated at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields (on the Tyne) and Whitley Bay (on the coast to the North). It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough (including North Shields) in its own right.
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[edit] History
Tynemouth was a settlement from Iron Age times and the headland was easily defended. The headland of PEN BAL CRAG
The place where now stands the Monastery of Tynemouth was anciently called by the Saxons Benebalcrag
—Leland at the time of Henry VIII
. So began the history of Tynemouth - its Priory, sacked by the Danes in 800, and Castle walls, started in 1095.
Three kings were buried within - Oswin - King of Deira (651); Osred II - King of Northumbria (792) and Malcolm III- King of Scotland (1093). Three crowns still adorn the North Tyneside coat of arms. (North Tyneside Council 1990).
The queens of Edward I and Edward II preferred to stay in the medieval castle there while their husbands were campaigning in Scotland. King Edward III considered it to be one of the strongest castles in the Northern Marches. After Bannockburn in 1314, Edward II fled from Tynemouth by ship.
[edit] Tynemouth Priory
The Priory stands next to the castle remains and its east wall is one of the finest Early English compositions in the country. Nikolaus Pevsner includes it in his hundred best buildings of England. The Priory ruins are maintained by English Heritage[1] and are open to the public. There is a small entrance fee. The nearby Jingling Geordie's Hole inspired a legend and a folk song about finding great riches by exploring dangerous caves.
A 7 metres (23 ft) statue of Lord Collingwood, born in Newcastle, who was the first British commander to open fire at Trafalgar before breaking the French line, looks out over the mouth of the Tyne - a view encompassing both neighbouring North and South Shields. Collingwood took command of the Battle of Trafalgar upon the death of Admiral Nelson. The base of the monument features cannon from his ship, 'Royal Sovereign'. These are the only Trafalgar guns extant, aside from those on H.M.S. Victory.
Tynemouth was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1849 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. The county borough covered the whole area east of Wallsend and south of Whitley Bay, including the less historic but more economically significant town of North Shields as well as smaller villages such as New York and Cullercoats. However, postally the whole area is North Shields. Today all of these places form one built-up area and Tynemouth is considered the wealthy, upmarket suburb of North Shields. It covers the area east of Northumberland Park and south of Beach Road.
[edit] Tourism and Recreation
Tynemouth has always attracted tourists and locals alike, famed for its beautiful beaches and great amenities.
[edit] Beaches
Tynemouth beaches are very popular both locally, in the surrounding region and for tourists.
[edit] Tynemouth Longsands
Longsands beach is wide and sandy, with rolling surf. In recent years it has become a well-known surfing beach hosting international surfing competitions[2]. It is a certified Blue Flag beach.[3]
[edit] King Edward's Bay
King Edward's Bay is a smaller, more secluded beach next to the priory. The beaches and sea views have always attracted visitors, including Lewis Carroll in 1855[citation needed], William Bell Scott[citation needed], Algernon Swinburne[citation needed] and Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1862[citation needed], when Swinburne declaimed his poems to the waves[citation needed], and Charles Dickens who was knocked flat by a wave and soaked in 1867[citation needed]. It is a certified Blue Flag beach.[4]
[edit] Tynemouth Volunteer Lifeboat Brigade (TVLB)
Located at The Watch House, Spanish Battery, Tynemouth
Before the construction of the great piers (1854-95) at the river mouth, the notorious Black Midden reef was claiming victims just below this spot. This led to the formation in 1884 of the first Volunteer Life Brigade in the country, who have a small museum at their station.
This watch house, built 1887, was restored by the brigade and Tyne and Wear County Council in 1997. TVLB is still in existence here, and is now a declared facility to HM Coastguard, Northumbria Police, Northumbria Fire and Rescue Service, and Northumbria Ambulance Service.
[edit] Front Street
Notable features include Marshall's Fish and chip restaurant, various boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels.
The Land of Green Ginger on Front Street is a destination for visitors. This is a haven of niche shops run by independent retailers housed in the former 19th century Congregational Church (1868 by Thomas Oliver; hall dated 1886 in door lintel) . Although converted to retail in 1980, it still retains many original features, including stained glass windows, arches, high ceiling beams and a Commemorative Plaque in recognition of the Volunteers and Reservists from Tynemouth who fought in the South African Campaign at the end of the nineteenth century.
Opposite is a statue of Queen Victoria by Alfred Turner, unveiled on 25th October, 1902. This is situated at the edge of the Village Green which is home to the War Memorials for the residents of Tynemouth lost during the Second Boer War of 1899-1902. Designed by A.B. Plummer, it was unveiled on the 13th October 1903 by William Brodrick.
The larger central memorial is made of white granite with a cruciform column rising from between four struts in a contemporary design for its time. The front face has a relief sword and wreath carved onto it with the inscription below. The other three faces hold the honour roll for those lost during both World Wars. It was unveiled in 1920 and the designer is unknown. Further back away from the main road on Huntington Terrace, is The King's School, and further along isTynemouth Metro station.
[edit] Sea to Sea Cycle Route
Tynemouth is the endpoint for the 140 mile long Sea to Sea Cycle Route from Whitehaven or Workington in Cumbria[5].
[edit] Blue Reef Aquarium
Grand Parade, Tynemouth
Undersea aquatic park, where you can enjoy encounters with seahorses, sharks, giant octopus, frogs, otters and hundreds of other incredible creatures.
Including Seal Cove A purpose-built outdoor facility provides a perfect environment for captive-bred colony of harbour seals.
The 500,000-litre pool includes rocky haul out areas and underwater caves were specially created to ensure marine mammals are kept in near natural conditions.
A ramped walkway and viewing panels have been provided so visitors have an opportunity to admire the creatures from both above and below the waterline.
Tourism signage from Tynemouth will direct you to the aquarium on the seafront or you can take the Metro to Cullercoats.
[edit] Notable residents
- Susan Mary Auld - Naval architect[citation needed]
- Harriet Martineau - Novelist and journalist, lived at 57 Front Street 1840-45[citation needed] now The Martineau Guest House named in her honour . Her eminent visitors included Richard Cobden and Thomas Carlyle[citation needed].
- Andy Taylor - former lead guitarist for the New Wave group Duran Duran, was born and raised in Tynemouth, the son of a fisherman who raised him as a single parent after Taylor's mother abandoned the family.[6]
- Giuseppe Garibaldi - Garibaldi sailed into to the mouth of the River Tyne on 21 March 1854 and briefly stayed in Tynemouth at an address in Huntingdon Place that is marked by a commemorative plaque[citation needed]. This is the visit which gave rise to the name Garibaldi biscuits[citation needed].
- Sam Lamiroy - pro surfer [7]
[edit] Festivals
[edit] Fairy Fest
Fairy Fest is a fun event aimed at children and families. Hosted by the Land of Green Ginger, Front Street, it celebrates mid-Summer (20th-21st June) and mythological fairy folklore. In order to create an historic, fictional setting, shopkeepers are transformed into fairies and characters from Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream, while the building is bedecked with flowers and bunting. Entertainment is provided for all ages and the fairies can be seen around Tynemouth and on Tynemouth Market.
[edit] Fish Quay festival
Each year, Tynemouth and nearby North Shields play host to the Fish Quay Festival, which includes art, local and international music, street celebrations and a carnival-style event. This also includes a fireworks display with Tynemouth Castle as the preferred backdrop. 2009: In recent years there has been no Fish Quay Festival, but the annual Blessing of The Fleet, organised and conducted by the Port Missioner [Missions to Deep Sea Fishermen] continues, on the Fish Quay.
[edit] Mouth of Tyne festival
Starting in 2005 and continuing annually, the Mouth Of Tyne Festival (also known as the MOTFest) expands upon the Fish Quay Festival. It is staged in Tynemouth and South Shields on the opposite bank of the Tyne and includes live world music, cultural performances, processions and pyrotechnics, as well as art displays.
[edit] Tynemouth pageant
Tynemouth Pageant is a community organisation in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England, devoted to staging an open-air dramatic pageant every three years in the grounds of Tynemouth Castle and Priory, by kind permission of English Heritage who run the historic monastic and defensive site at the mouth of the River Tyne.[8]
[edit] In popular culture
- Many of the books of prize-winning children's author Robert Westall are set in Tynemouth.
- The 80's television series Supergran was predominantly filmed in Tynemouth and the flying bicycle and other artefacts used in filming were until 2006 on permanent display in the Land of Green Ginger (converted Congregational Church) on Front Street.
- Much of the 2004/5 BBC television series 55 Degrees North, starring Don Gilet and Dervla Kirwan was filmed in and around Tynemouth, including the location of Nicky and Errol's houses.
- In the 2005 film Goal!, the lead character played by Kuno Becker trains by running along Tynemouth Longsands.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tynemouth |
[edit] External links
- Tynemouth, in video and pictures (personal website)
- Tynemouth Priory at the English Heritage website
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.2
- ^ [1]
- ^ Blue Flag Beaches - Tynemouth "Longsands"
- ^ Blue Flag Beach - King Edward's Bay
- ^ Coast to Coast guide
- ^ De Graaf, Kasper, and Garrett, Malcolm. Duran Duran: Their Story. Published in 1982.
- ^ Face to Face: Sam Lamiroy
- ^ [2]
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