2011

NZ2462 : 'Foliate Forms' by Gilbert Ward (2010), Gateshead Riverside Park

taken 13 years ago, near to Dunston, Gateshead, England

'Foliate Forms' by Gilbert Ward (2010), Gateshead Riverside Park
'Foliate Forms' by Gilbert Ward (2010), Gateshead Riverside Park
View over the River Tyne, west of the Redheugh Bridge towards the Metro Radio Arena and the former site of the Elswick Lead Works.
Elswick Lead Works :: NZ2463

This large site, south of the Metro Radio Arena is now virtually cleared, with only two derelict buildings built into the steep bank on Skinnerburn Road. The Elswick Lead Works opened here under the name Walkers, Fishwick & Co. in 1778. The 1862 1:500 OS Town Plan shows a wide range of buildings including the once iconic Shot Tower which stood 174 feet high from 1796 until demolition in 1969 LinkExternal link

There is a view of the works in 1900 taken from the south side of the River Tyne here LinkExternal link and the same site also has an aerial view from c1929 LinkExternal link

The factory, currently owned by Calder Industrial Materials NZ2463 : Evening light on Redheugh Bridge finally closed in 2002 and was largely cleared. The buildings that remain appear to be "largely inhabited by the homeless, urban explorers and art students".

Heddon on the Wall Local History Society blog LinkExternal link Archive LinkExternal link
Historical background and chronology on SINE: LinkExternal link Archive LinkExternal link
Account of work in the 1840s at the Elswick Works on Family Tree Forum: LinkExternal link Archive LinkExternal link
Landmarks in c1823 painting of Newcastle upon Tyne by JMW Turner: LinkExternal link Archive LinkExternal link

Gateshead Riverside Park :: NZ2463

Pipewellgate, which runs through Riverside Park, was named after the ‘pipe well’ from which wooden pipes carried Gateshead’s water supply. It was once part of a thriving trading community which looked to the river for its transport, and benefited from access to the south by the main London to Newcastle road and to the north by the Tyne Bridge. The first evidence of industrial activity was in 1408 when staiths were built. Pipewellgate ran parallel to the river and was developed with small factories, workshops and tenements. It was generally regarded as one of the worst residential areas in Gateshead. During the second half of the C19th, those who could afford to do so moved to more pleasant areas and by the 1930s slum clearance programmes began.

Emerging developments in rail, tram and road transport all bypassed the steep slopes of the riverside area and instead used Askew Road. In 1839 a railway linking Gateshead, South Shields and Monkwearmouth was opened. In 1844 a station was constructed at Greenesfield as well as the ‘high-level’ bridge across the Tyne. The station was closed in August 1850 when the Central Station in Newcastle was opened. The area was then converted into railway workshops and a hotel. Greenesfield Works became Gateshead’s largest single employer, with 3,300 employees in 1909. However, by 1910 the site had reached the physical limits of expansion, and locomotive construction was transferred to Darlington. The site continued to be used as a railway maintenance facility into the 1980s, and the buildings have now been converted into luxury apartments as part of the Ochre Yards housing development.

Industry remained on Pipewellgate until the recent closure of Brett Oils and Grease company, established in 1877 on the site of Joseph Price’s glass works. Pipewellgate is now used as the route for the high-speed Centrelink bus service linking Gateshead town centre and the Metrocentre.

Riverside Park was landscaped during 1960-1970. During the late 1980’s and in the early 1990’s a number of sculptures were introduced within the park. The development of the park as an ‘art venue’ and a valuable open space for local people continues to this day.

The Riverside Park provides a vital refuge for wildlife in the urban area and supports a wide range of habitats including areas of woodland, scrubland and grassland. In spring the scrub and wooded areas are filled with the rich sound of birdsong. Listen out for the distinctive calls of species such as the blackbird, robin and wren. Hedgehogs, grey squirrels and foxes have also made the park their home and at night the shadowy silhouette of pipistrelle bats can sometimes be seen hunting for insects among the tree tops.

Gateshead Riverside Park (pdf) LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Andrew Curtis and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Lowlands Rivers, Streams, Drainage Park and Public Gardens other tags: Sculpture Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · River Tyne [28] · Gateshead Riverside Park [17] · West [8] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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NZ2462, 139 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Andrew Curtis   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 15 December, 2011   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 18 December, 2011
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NZ 2444 6291 [10m precision]
WGS84: 54:57.6138N 1:37.1914W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NZ 2444 6291
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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