Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'. As an Election will be held on July 4th 2024 we are waivering our 'No Politics Rule aslong as Posts are Respectful and don't include exhortations to vote one way or another.

The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Norman Dunn on 17/8/2024, 10:04:36

A 1950 aerial view of the long gone Ballast Hill and surrounds,thanks to the 'Britain from Above' website.
Ballast Hills were created when sea-going vessels came into the Tyne to collect coal. They couldnt come empty or they'd be unstable at sea so sand was used to make the vessel stable. The ballast was removed and dumped & the vessel left the river with its cargo of coal. There were quite a few ballast hills along the riverside.
What foriegn seeds/plants/beetles might have been in the ballast? We had coal vessels from all over Europe coming here for coal.

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Carol in hampshire on 17/8/2024, 10:41:47, in reply to "The long gone Ballast Hill "

Why did they dump the ballast in the town?..
Carol

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by John Shearer on 17/8/2024, 10:51:02, in reply to "The long gone Ballast Hill "

Must have been where all them Dandelion seeds in my garden came from

. I see the old Ferry landing before it was moved, Memories. Thanks Norman

The body in the ballast hill

Posted by Norman on 17/8/2024, 11:11:38, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

Hundreds of years ago, the easiest way to unload sand ballast was dump it close to the river. At the upriver end of the hill was a Cement Works so they probably had free sand for making concrete.

Patrick Brennan has a brilliant local website called 'Donmouth' and here is a LINK to his very interesting story regarding that Hebburn Ballast Hill in 1908. Click the LINK.

Link: LINK

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 17/8/2024, 11:13:21, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

That is a very clear photo .Memories of walking down to Hood St to see my Gran.Thank you Norman .

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Norman on 17/8/2024, 11:40:14, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

Regarding Patricks wonderful document about the body in the Ballast Hill, wouldnt it be great if DNA could be taken from the skull/teeth and maybe find his descendants.
It would make a very interesting TV Programme.
We watch TV progs where using DNA they find relatives/parents of 'foundlings'.

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Robbie Metcalfe on 17/8/2024, 15:41:55, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

During my time in the Design Drawing Office at Leslie’s we had to plot the path of the Esso Northumbria during her launch and surprised how much she moved down the ways

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Joseph on 17/8/2024, 18:55:24, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

We used to spend hour's diving jumping, any wich way we could from the top to the bottom,great fun very low expenditure, maybe a bob, (shilling) for a packet of chips from renes fish chip shop, when we were all knackered.

Re: The long gone Ballast Hill

Posted by Mac C on 20/8/2024, 17:08:28, in reply to "Re: The long gone Ballast Hill "

Crikey Joseph you must be a youngster!
A packet of chips in the early 50's at the chip shop nearest the North Side of the "Station Stairs" in Jarrow only cost 3d! (or was it a tanner?)

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