Kirkpatricks, Ocean Road

The Kirkpatrick pub in Ocean Road, South Shields is perhaps one of our finest buildings, along with the museum and the Town Hall. It occupies the former Marine School founded by Dr. Thomas Winterbottom in 1837, the forerunner of the world renowned Marine College at Westoe. The Kirkpatrick takes it’s name from the bronze statue of John Simpson Kirkpatrick, the South Shields born Aussie war hero, stood outside.

The building is solid, well decorated, with enough Victorian flare from their master masons to attract the attention.

Camera details: Pentax K100D, 35mm lens, 1/60 second, f6.7, iso 200

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Key chains

Just another oddity that I found on sale in South Shields Market.

Not a lot to add to that, bad taste, don’t be found fumbling about for your keys!

Camera details: Pentax K100D, 50mm lens, 1/60 second, f6.7, iso 200

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Hebburn Marina

Hebburn marina is just a few miles up the River Tyne from South Shields, but it’s not quite the sort of marina that you might find at Monaco or Brighton, more a place for small boats to be tied up. You won’t find hundreds of millionaire’s yachts here, just the smaller type of boat (and one trimaran) belonging to those who may be more interested in getting out past the piers at South Shields to do some sea fishing.

However, it is a place I like to go to just to walk the hilly paths in the Riverside Park.

Camera details; Pentax K100D, 300mm lens, 1/750 second, f8, iso 200

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The River Tyne

For centuries the River Tyne has been the life blood of South Shields, our history tells us that a “Shiel” was the name given by Saxon people to describe a line of huts or dwellings alongside a river. Having settled next to the Tyne it became an important conduit for trade before and after the arrival of the Romans and the Vikings. Virtually all of the commodities that we needed to survive were brought by boat to and from the river, our biggest export fro many years was coal, but now it is probably Nissan cars.

This montage shows in the background the “high light” in North Shields, a Victorian landmark used as a navigation aid by ships entering the harbour. At top right tourists take a river cruise out to the piers before returning to Newcastle, enjoying lunch and drinks along the way. Centre right is the lifeboat stationed at Tynemouth, and bottom right is the Valetta registered City of Nordic - all of the pictures were taken from South Shields.

The montage was made in Photoshop using a .psd template given away free as part of a set in a magazine!

Little point in trying to give you any camera details or a map link today.

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Pilot jetty

The little sign tells us that it’s unsafe and to keep off, I’m not so sure you would want to get on!

This is the old pilot jetty on the River Tyne in South Shields where many years ago the pilot cutter would tie up. The River Tyne pilots come mainly from a small group of families in South Shields and they have a very long association with the town. Their knowledge of the river, it’s deep water channel, the harbour, the bar, and the obstacles is unsurpassed and virtually all ships that arrive or depart from the Tyne are grateful to the pilots for their assistance. The Port of Tyne Authority, the Harbourmaster, and the pilots work together to ensure the safe passage of all shipping in and out of the harbour and the lower reaches of the river.

Camera details; Pentax K100D, 28mm lens, 1/30 second, f22, iso 200

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Tyne Tunnel

Thousands of commuters use the Tyne Tunnel every day and hundreds drive from South Shields under the River Tyne at Jarrow and make their way to work in North Tyneside. I used to do it myself some years ago and hated the twice daily trip with it’s interminable queues!

However, as a Tyne Crossing it is one of the busiest, I prefer the older pedestrian tunnel where you can use a bicycle and see the old county boundaries under the river marking Durham and Northumberland.

This shot has been livened up a little in Photoshop with some radial light rays (helps cover the imperfections in the shot taken by my passenger!

Camera details: Pentax K100D, 60mm lens, 1/15 second, f5.6, iso 200

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Wearmouth Bridges, Sunderland

The River Wear lies just to the south of South Shields and enters the North Sea at Sunderland. The city is bifurcated by the river with the older Monkwearmouth, Seaburn, and Fulwell to the north and the younger city centre, Grangetown, Ryhope, and Hendon to the south.

Two bridges cross the Wear near it’s mouth, carrying traffic into and away from the busy city centre, on the left the road bridge and on the right the rail bridge.

Camera details; Pentax K100D, 28mm lens, /750 second, f9.5, iso 200, polarising filter.

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Shipyard cranes, Wallsend

I took this picture to record the ending of a long tradition of heavy engineering and shipbuilding on Tyneside. This is the former Swan Hunter yard in Wallsend where hundreds of shipbuilders from South Shields used to work, the cranes are now being dismantled in readiness for shipping to their new owners Bharati Shipyards in India. Swan hunter’s most famous ship was probably the RMS Mauretania built for Cunard, the HMS Ark Royal and the Esso Northumbria were also built here.

Picture taken from the Hebburn Marina and riverside park on the south bank of the River Tyne.

Camera details: Pentax K100D, 220mm lens, 1/1000 second, f8, iso 200

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River Don, Jarrow

Just along the road from South Shields the River Don flows into the River Tyne, and opposite St. Paul’s Church in Jarrow there is a small pond formed from rain water that is full of life in the summer months, tadpoles, toads, frogs, insects, strange worms, and these bright blue dragonflies.

Trouble is, they don’t want to stay still enough to be photographed! I was lucky with this one.

Camera details; Pentax K100D, lens 450mm macro, 1/350 second, f8, iso 200

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Leo in supine state

Statue of lion outside of South Shields Museum, Ocean Road.

I need to appeal to local readers to help me out with the history of this piece, he has stood guard outside the Museum for many years yet I know nothing of his history. Where was he before someone decided to rest him here?

Camera details; Pentax K100D, 28mm lens, 1/60 second, f5.6, iso 200

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