More local place names and their origins are featured once again this month.

Rocky Island: From the 17th to the 19th centuries, Seaton Sluice was a thriving seaport with the harbour being used for exports of glass and coal, as well as some shipbuilding. Eventually the old basin could not cope with the increasing volume of trade and, in 1761, work began on a new harbour.

This involved making a cut eastward through the solid rock of the old harbour, with gates at both ends, to give an additional harbour entrance and a deep water dock where vessels could be loaded at any state of the tide. The original entrance was used in stormy weather, the new cut when the weather was moderate. Until the establishment of “The Cut” in 1764, Rocky Island was an part of the mainland of Seaton Sluice, adjacent to the site of The Kings Arms, before becoming a man-made island adopting this name. A narrow walkway bridge connects the ‘island’ to the mainland.

Royal Quays: In the late 1870s work began on a new dock to meet the needs for incoming goods to the River Tyne and to increase coal shipping facilities on the north side of the river.

The opening ceremony was performed in 1884 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Originally proposed as Coble Dene Dock, it became the Albert Edward Dock in honour of the prince, later King Edward VII. In recent years, as local industries ran into decline, the docks were converted into a private marina. Much of the surrounding area was redeveloped with housing and given the name of the Royal Quays, in keeping with the royalty who opened the original docks.

Ridges Estate: This name derives from the former Ridges Farm and its lands upon which the estate was built. In the 1960s the local council had concerns that the name had developed a social stigma, resulting in the name change to the Meadowell Estate in 1969.

River Tyne: The name ‘Tyne’ is an ancient Celtic river name which occurs more than once in the British Isles. It may simply mean river.

St. Marys Island: Originally Bait or Bates Island, the island has a dark and varied history and there are indications that it was used by the Monks of Tynemouth Priory during the 7th Century. A chapel dedicated to St. Helen was constructed in the late eleventh century. Within the chapel sanctuary was the Lady Light, also known as St. Katherine’s Light, which was wrongly ascribed to St. Mary – hence the name.

Saddle Rocks are situated to the south of Cullercoats Bay and form part of the rocky outcrop at the north section of Tynemouth Longsands.

Sandy Island: Not an island as such, but simply a reference to the area west of and opposite Rocky Island. The most prominent feature of modern day Sandy Island is the Ballast Hill, formed when ships’ ballast was unloaded when they returned from delivering bottles and coal etc.

by Charlie Steel © 2015

Further reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), ‘North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2), ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ and ’Whitley Bay Remembered’ (Part 1) , all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

Part 9 in this series of articles continues the origins of the names of some of our local areas.

Preston Gate is generally regarded as the commencement of Preston North Road next to the present Foxhunters Inn and is marked as such on many old Ordnance Survey maps. Although there is nothing to indicate that this was a tollgate, mild references suggest that this road was formerly the gateway leading to Preston Village.

Preston Village is a small suburb about a mile north of North Shields. Historically the village is a separate entity, which has slowly been absorbed into the town.

Preston Village, and the area referred to as Preston Township, derives its name from the old English ‘Preosta’, meaning Priest and ‘Tun’, meaning enclosure or homestead. Preston Township lay between North Shields to the south and Monkseaton to the north, with Tynemouth to the east and Chirton to the west. When the Shire Moor was enclosed in 1788, approximately 94 acres of land were annexed to Preston Township. Originally Northumberland Place, this annex is nowadays known as West Allotment.

In 1828, Preston Village was described as ‘A very pleasant village, one mile north of North Shields to which its Township extends. It occupies a fine eminence which commands an extensive and beautiful prospect. Here are several gentlemen’s villas, two public gardens, two common breweries, four public houses and a linen manufactory, besides about 100 houses and cottages which have a neat and clean appearance’.

Preston Grange Estate is the name given to the present housing and former retail development of the 1960s and is likely to have taken its name from nearby Preston Farm. The word ‘Grange’ comes from Middle English, and is defined as an outlying farm with tithe barns or a granary, usually belonging to a monastery or feudal lord.

Prior’s Haven is the small sheltered bay to the south of Tynemouth Castle and Priory. Often referred to as Tynemouth Haven, it is apparent that the name was derived from the Prior of Tynemouth.

Prior’s Stone: This is a rock situated at the extremity of the Black Middens, so called because of its close proximity to Tynemouth Priory.

Red House Farm Estate was named after the farm of the same name which once stood nearby. There is evidence that Red House Farm dates back as far as the 1600s and eventually disappeared to make way for the housing development of the 1960s and 70s.

Despite the name, Red House Farm buildings actually stood on the site of what is now Southridge First School, on Beaumont Park.

Rockcliff: The origin of the name is uncertain, however the area south of Whitley Sands consists of rocky cliffs and plateaus which extend to Cullercoats north pier and thus probably have a large bearing on the name.

by Charlie Steel © 2015

Further reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), ‘North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2), ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ and ’Whitley Bay Remembered’ (Part 1) , all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

‘Miles of Golden Curving Sand’ is how the coastline, immediately to the south of St. Mary’s Island, Whitley Bay, was once described on a postmark during its latter heydays of the 1960s.

This was a simple and honest marketing description of a beautiful area which has been loved and cherished by visitors throughout the years. Sadly, the sun has now set on those bustling, ice-cream and candyfloss days by the sea. The beaches are quieter, the promenades are less crowded and the Kiss-me-Quick hats have long since blown away.

Charlie Steel’s new book ‘Whitley Bay Remembered – Part 1’, recalls the glory days of the coastline when its tourist draw was immense. The Spanish City Fairground, The Empress Ballroom, cinemas and theatres, cafés, Punch & Judy shows, bands and sideshows, seaside entertainers, shuggy boats, donkey rides, and of course the beautiful beach, which has attracted residents and visitors from far and wide since the early 1900s.

The town was once saturated with quality and cost-effective accommodation, offering bed and breakfast to the thousands of holidaymakers who flocked to the town.

This was once a bustling area, which has been loved by generations of families and visitors over the years. Those days have vanished into the distant past, but as the reader browses through this new book, it may help revive some of those long-lost memories and happy seaside days.

After a short introductory talk by Charlie and his publisher, Andrew Clark, the book will be officially launched at 6pm on Tuesday 27th October at Whitley Bay Library (Customer First Centre) on York Road. Copies will then be available for sale at a cost of £9.99 each.

This book will be followed up in the Spring of 2016 with ‘Whitley Bay Remembered – Part 2’, which gives an overview of Whitley Village and the town centre from its early beginnings up to the present day.

by Charlie Steel © 2015

Further reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), ‘North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2), ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ and ’Whitley Bay Remembered’ (Part 1) , all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

This month, another collection of local place names that sit close to our doorstep.

New York: It is not unusual for villages to take their names from other parts of the world. This kind of naming gained prominence in the North East as topical names for nineteenth century coal mining or ironstone villages. New York falls into this category, along with the nearby hamlet of Philadelphia. These types of names are also evident in County Durham where such places as Quebec, Toronto, Philadelphia and Canada, along with California in North Yorkshire, can be found.

North Shields: The Prior of Tynemouth decided in 1225 to create a fishing port to provide fish for the Priory. He also wished to victual ships anchored near the Priory. As a result, a number of rudimentary houses or ‘shiels’ were erected at the mouth of the Pow Burn where the stream enters the river on the north side of the Tyne, hence the later adaptation to North Shields.

Old Hartley village sits on a slight rise to the north of Whitley Bay, though Hartley itself once encompassed the entire area between the Brier Dene at Whitley and the Seaton Burn stream on the Blyth coastal road, to incorporate the present day Seaton Sluice.

Panama Dip is an area of Whitley Links, situated on the site of the former ‘Panama Café’, occupied by a Mr Stephen Fry in the late 1800s. The café may have derived its name from the time that Mr Fry worked as a diver during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Peggy’s Hole: During the 1700s, North Shields was prone to press gang raids and in 1796, 250 mechanics and seamen were pressed into service during a raid in which the town was cordoned off by troops. One of the naval vessels involved was ‘The Peggy’, remembered in the name of Peggy’s Hole, situated on the River Tyne close to North Shields Fish Quay.

Percy Main (or Percy as it was originally known) was a village and chapelry in Tynemouth parish which was constituted in 1860. It lies 1½ miles from North Shields. The name of Percy, long associated with the Duke of Northumberland, may be the source of the name of the chapelry. The suffix of ‘Main’ is a later addition and may have a connection with the original waggonways and railway which once dominated the area.

Philadelphia was a tiny colliery hamlet built on an allotment within the boundary of Shire Moor and was not assigned to any township. It was situated a short distance to the south west of Murton Village and it no longer exists as such. The name’s origins are unknown.

Pow Burn / Pow Dene: Whilst a burn is generally regarded as a small stream, and a dene is a small valley with a stream running through it, it is likely that the name Pow Burn was also derived from the Celtic word for a stream, ‘pwl’. Old maps indicate that the Pow Burn originated close to Marden and Preston Grange Estates (an area formerly referred to as ‘The Mosses’) before winding its way to the River Tyne, through Spital Dene and Northumberland Park, with its outlet at ‘The Gut’ close to the Fish Quay.

by Charlie Steel © 2015

Further reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2) and ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.

More local place names feature in this, the seventh in a series of thirteen articles.

Meadowell: Originally the Ridges Estate, this large council estate was built to the west of North Shields in the 1930s in order to house residents displaced by the Dockwray Square and Low Town slum clearance.

The name is derived from the Meadow Well which was a spring or well situated in an open meadow that formed part of nearby Ridges Farm.

Monkseaton has a long historical past, and dates back to at least the 12th century, when it was simply known as Seton. This is probably a derivative of the words ‘Sea’ and ‘Tun’, i.e. the village being near to the sea, and a tun (or ton), which has a wider definition, i.e. a hill, a rise, a hamlet, a farmstead or an enclosure. When King Henry I granted lands to the Prior of Tynemouth circa 1106, the name became ‘Seton Monachorum’. The prefix ‘Monk’ is often found in connection with places belonging to religious houses, and so in this case it became Monk Seaton, or Seaton of the Monks.

The name ‘Seaton’ is evident in other local place names which include Seaton Valley, Seaton Delaval and Seaton Terrace, Seaton Sluice, North Seaton, Seaton Carew and Seatonville.

Moor Houses: Murton and New York Villages were once adjoined by Moor House and Philadelphia, which were principally very small hamlets occupied mainly by miners. The name derives from houses that were once situated on Tynemouthshire Moor, otherwise known as Shire Moor.

Moorside is generally classified as the council estate to the south east of Backworth Village. The name is relatively modern, deriving from its close proximity to the former Tynemouthshire Moor.

Murton Village sits on the old outer boundary of Preston Township along with New York Village, and is separated by fields adjoining West Monkseaton and Earsdon. Originally known as Moor Town (from which the name is derived), Murton Village is a township in Tynemouth parish and was once part of Tynemouthshire Moor.

Mussell Scarp is rarely known by this name now, however it is the foreshore to the front of Cliffords Fort, which at low tide once afforded a good beaching ground for the periodical scraping, painting and repair of wooden ships and sailing vessels.

A ‘scarp’ is defined as the inner side of a ditch below the parapet of a fortification (in this case, Cliffords Fort), or a low steep slope along a beach caused by wave erosion.

New Hartley: When the New Hester Pit was first sunk in the 1840s, New Hartley became a significant colliery village in Earsdon Parish from where it developed. Situated almost mid-way between Seaton Sluice and Seaton Delaval the village gained notoriety for the colliery disaster of 1862 which claimed the lives of 204 miners. Hartley Station was the first stop on the Avenue Branch Railway line from Monkseaton.

by Charlie Steel © 2015

Further reading for many of Charlie’s articles can be found in his books: ‘Monkseaton Village’ (Vol. 1 & 2), North Shields Public Houses, Inns & Taverns’ (Part 1 & 2) and ‘Tynemouth Remembered’ all published by Summerhill Books.

More information on www.monkseaton.info and on the Monkseaton Village Facebook Page.