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Dunston Staithes reflected in the River Tyne at night.

Built by the North East Railway in 1890, the staithes were used to load coal arriving via train from the North Durham coalfields onto ships. They were used until the 1970s and were finally closed in the 80s. The staithes were restored and reopened as part of the National Garden Festival in 1990 but have remained derelict since. Part of the structure was damaged by fire in 2003.

It is claimed that the staithes are currently the largest wooden structure in Europe.