Dunston

Settlement in Durham

England

Dunston

Dunston is a small village located in County Durham, in the northeast of England. It lies on the south bank of the River Tyne, just a few miles from the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The village is known for its picturesque setting, with rolling hills and lush green countryside surrounding it.

Dunston has a long history, dating back to Roman times when a fort was built in the area to guard the river crossing. In the Middle Ages, the village grew as a center for coal mining and shipping, with the river providing an important transport route for goods.

Today, Dunston is a quiet residential area with a mix of traditional stone cottages and more modern housing developments. The village has a small number of shops, pubs, and restaurants, providing essential amenities for its residents. There are also several parks and green spaces, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Overall, Dunston is a charming village with a rich history and a close-knit community, making it a desirable place to live for those seeking a peaceful rural setting within easy reach of urban amenities.

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Dunston Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.953502/-1.646297 or Grid Reference NZ2262. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Dunston Staiths past ball of string

Dunston Staiths were constructed and opened in the 1890s as a means of loading on to ships, coal mined in the North Durham Coalfield. The disused structure is a listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. It has suffered fire damage on a number of occasions. The image was made during the Gateshead Garden Festival of 1990 when the staiths were temporarily incorporated into the site. The significance of the outsized ball of string or rope is not known.

Trevor Littlewood

A184 Approaching A1 Junction

David Robinson

Wetland Area In Industrial Estate

David Robinson

Dunston Staithes

STAITHES - (pronounced 'steeths') is the Geordie dialect word for a pier used for loading coal onto ships Link

Dunston Coal Staithes (sometimes spelt, 'Staiths') is one of the major industrial landmarks on the River Tyne. At 1,709ft long and 50ft wide, it is reputed to be the largest timber structure in Northern Europe. Commissioned by the North Eastern Railway Company and opened in 1893, it was built as part of the Dunston Extension Railway to export coal from Tyneside and County Durham collieries. At its peak in the 1920s, the staithes shipped an average of 140,000 tons of coal per week. Dunston eventually became the last working staithes on the River Tyne, closing in 1980. The site was renovated in 1987-88 using timber salvaged from the now demolished South Staithes so that it could be used as part of the National Garden Festival in 1990. The staithes is a listed building and a scheduled monument. It was put on the English Heritage 'At Risk Register' due to the serious fire damage which took place in November 2003, when a section of the structure was lost. Another blaze in July, 2010, damaged the upper rail deck. The area around the staithes is also an important habitat for wildlife including two designated Local Wildlife Sites: saltmarsh and mudflats, home to an important wading bird population. Link

Anthony Foster

River Tyne

Anthony Foster

Phoenix Cobblestones

The ancient art of cobblestone mosaics revived at the site of the old Redheugh Bridge lookout point.

Colin Kinnear

Exterior Christmas decoration at Metro Centre

The 'reindeer' is outside the rather austere brickwork facade of the Red Mall at the Gateshead Metro Centre.

Trevor Littlewood

Bridge crossing railway lines north of Metro Centre

The bridge gives access to the Metro Centre's bus station primarily for buses but will see use by other vehicles needing to reach the location. The slope and buildings in the distance are in Newcastle, beyond the River Tyne.

Trevor Littlewood

Metrocentre, Gateshead

Metrocentre is Europe's largest indoor mall-style shopping centre, situated beside the A1 in Gateshead.

Eirian Evans

River Tyne upstream from Redheugh Bridge

Anthony Foster

River Tyne

Anthony Foster

Teams Cycleway

Anthony Foster

Crossing the King Edward VII bridge over the River Tyne at Newcastle

Mike Pennington

The third Redheugh Bridge across the River Tyne

Opened in 1983, the sleekest Tyne crossing. Supposedly good for 120 years. The first was opened in 1871 and was becoming dangerous by 1885. The second was opened in 1901 but also became unsafe by the 1960s.

Chris Morgan