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Our riverside 17 years ago
Posted by Norman Dunn on 30/3/2024, 9:43:48
When my mates & I were young lads in the late 1940s this area was our playground.That clean river was polluted with sewage from all the Local towns. The Councils rat infested Rubbish Tips were just to the left of the camera. The Tennants Chemical works, Tharsis Sulpher & Copper works and the Bauxite Aluminium Processors had all long gone by the 1940s and none of them cleaned up after they left Hebburn. Those old rubbish tips must still be there,just hidden below our landscaped riverbank. A Seaman friend of mine from Whitburn who often came into the Tyne on his ship said he didnt realise Hebburn riverside was so beautiful. Opposite those Cranes at the old Walker Naval Yard was the various Coal Staiths such as 'Primrose Staiths, Pelaw Main Staiths, then Harrison's little Shipyard at Bill Quay. That little shipyard had started as Boutlands in 1820 where Wooden ships were built. The river is now clean enough for Salmon thanks to the sewerage treatment works at Howdon.