Geograph - photograph every grid square

The wreck was brought to the attention of local archaeologist, Alan Williams, and Patrick Taylor an undergraduate student at Newcastle University, during their recording of the remains of the wherry hulks just west of Newburn Bridge in 2009 Link

They established that this is the wreck of a Steam Drifter, a type of fishing boat in common use around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, often fishing for herring. Many were based at North Shields.

Like the Tyne Wherries, very few steam drifters survive. 'Lydia Eva' TG5207 : The Lydia Eva, Great Yarmouth, built in Kings Lynn Shipyard in 1930 with a steel hull, was preserved and is now a floating museum in Great Yarmouth Link She is the last surviving Steam Drifter of the Great Yarmouth herring fleet Link

The former North Shields registered Steam Drifter, 'Chris', built 1910 by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd. of Middlesbrough is now in Hamburg, renamed 'Rambler Rose' (her name in Scotland after 1932) and has been converted to sail. There is a photo of her at Scarborough here Link

The name and history of the vessel rotting on the shore of the River Tyne at Ryton, a part of the river still subject to tidal flow but near its upper limit, is not currently known.

'A Fishy Tale from the Riverbank' in Tyne Valley Express Issue 19 (November 3rd 2011), p19.

European Logger Project - an article from 'Fishing Boats', issue No. 23 - the newsletter of the 40+ Fishing Boat Association.

Photos of the wreck from 2011: Link

Heddon on the Wall Local History Society blog Link