Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

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

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Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by peter cook on 11/3/2025, 6:54 am

An old photo showing the slake and timber ponds at Jarrow. In the foreground is either the Izumo or Iwate a pair of cruisers built by Armstrong, Whitworth at Elswick for the Japanese navy in 1900 and 1901. To the right of the photo is the Isolation Hospital built in 1886 by Wood, Skinner & Co. Ltd. at Bill Quay. The Izumo and Iwate were both broken up in 1947 and the Isolation Hospital was broken up in 1930.

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Allan Campbell on 11/3/2025, 10:33 am, in reply to "Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

The Cruisers I’m surprised that they were still around until 1947.

I see what could be old wooden wall ships judging by the. Tumbleholm of the sides. Wonder what they were being used for,
They had been converted to steam.

Not seen photos of the Slake like that I can remember so something new Thanks Peter.

Allan C.

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by John Shearer on 11/3/2025, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

Thanks Peter, never really knew anything about the Slake or what it was used for.

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 11/3/2025, 10:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

John, I to don't know what they were or if they served a purpose ? Was it just dredged up sediment or natural erosion or just there ?

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Mac C on 12/3/2025, 10:17 am, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

River slakes are a natural phenomenon G'boy! In the case of this one.......by man's ingenuity, put to use for a myriad of uses over the years

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Geordiieboy ns on 12/3/2025, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

Thank you Mac C.

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Davy on 11/3/2025, 11:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

Worked in pyman bell on the saw benches and it stunk but lots of men out there getting lug worm allthe wood we were cutting was from forests of Europe and they were full of shrapnel and when the saw hit it it backfired there was some sore ribs on the sawers.

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Ray on 12/3/2025, 9:48 am, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

Remember working in Drummonfs saw mill saws been damaged by bullets & shrapnel in the wood also those logs at the slacks was a very dangerous place people eere hurt trying to make rafts to play on

Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds

Posted by Allan Campbell on 12/3/2025, 4:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Slake and timber ponds"

Where the timber ponds used to” season” the wooden timbers.

However that seems wrong as these days after timber is sawn it’s stacked up to dry out.

There must have been some commercial reason to use the ponds.

As has been said the timbers would have stunk to high heaven.

Allan C.

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

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.