Ayre's Quay

Settlement in Durham

England

Ayre's Quay

St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland Grade I listed Church

<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Church,_Monkwearmouth" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter%27s_Church,_Monkwearmouth">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> — St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland Credit: Brian Deegan

Ayre's Quay is a historical quay located in Durham, England. Situated on the southern bank of the River Wear, it has served as a significant transportation hub for centuries. The quay is named after the Ayre family, prominent merchants from the 17th century who owned land in the area.

Originally, Ayre's Quay was primarily used for the loading and unloading of goods onto boats for transportation along the river. It played a crucial role in the development of Durham as a trading center during the Industrial Revolution. The quay's strategic location allowed easy access to coal mines in the surrounding areas, enabling the efficient transportation of this valuable resource.

Over time, the importance of Ayre's Quay for commercial purposes diminished, and it gradually transformed into a recreational area. Today, the quay features a picturesque riverside walkway that offers stunning views of the river and the historic cityscape. The area has been carefully preserved, with some of the original stone walls and structures still intact.

Ayre's Quay is also known for its proximity to other notable landmarks, such as Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. Visitors can easily explore these iconic sites and then enjoy a leisurely stroll along the quay, taking in the peaceful atmosphere and enjoying the scenic beauty of the river.

Overall, Ayre's Quay is a historically significant location in Durham, showcasing the city's industrial past while providing a tranquil escape for both locals and tourists.

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Ayre's Quay Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.910558/-1.397884 or Grid Reference NZ3857. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland

Grade I listed Church Link

Brian Deegan

St Peter's Church in the parish of Monkwearmouth

St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth is the parish church of Monkwearmouth in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. It is one of three churches in the Parish of Monkwearmouth. The others are the Victorian All Saints' Church, Monkwearmouth and the Edwardian St Andrew's Church, Roker. St Peter's was founded in AD 674–5 as one of the two churches of the Benedictine double monastery of Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey. The other church is St Paul's Church, Jarrow. St Peter's is a Grade I listed building and part of a scheduled monument.

Colin Kinnear

"Shadows in another light"

Dating from 1998, one of the sculptures forming part of the St Peter's Riverside Sculpture Project. The base is actually the original base of a riverside crane. Sometimes alternatively known as "The Iron Tree". To the east, the supposed shadow of the original crane is picked out in the paving slabs along the riverside path. The University of Sunderland Library can be seen in the distance.

Oliver Dixon

"Shadows in another light"

Oliver Dixon

Shadow on St Peter's Riverside path

The supposed shadow of a crane is picked out in the paving slabs along the riverside path. The University of Sunderland Library can be seen in the distance. See also NZ4057 : "Shadows in another light".

Oliver Dixon

Sculpture and "shadow" on St Peter's Riverside

The supposed shadow of a crane (originally standing on the concrete base of the sculpture) is picked out in the paving slabs along the riverside path. A concrete "rivet" can also be seen, commemorating the days of shipbuilding. See also NZ4057 : "Shadows in another light".

Oliver Dixon

Shadow beside St Peter's Riverside

The actual shadow of the "Shadows in another light" sculpture. See also NZ4057 : Sculpture and "shadow" on St Peter's Riverside.

Oliver Dixon

Telescope on St Peter's Riverside

The plinth bears the inscription: "Look up and see behind you. A shadow can raise a memory that nothing can erase." This refers to the sculpture seen in NZ4057 : "Shadows in another light" and the supposed shadow of a crane seen in NZ4057 : Shadow on St Peter's Riverside path.

Oliver Dixon

Rivet and nut

Two artefacts commemorating the shipbuilding tradition of the locality; part of the St Peter's Riverside Sculpture Project.

Oliver Dixon

Giant nut on St Peter's Riverside

Artefact commemorating the shipbuilding tradition of the locality; part of the St Peter's Riverside Sculpture Project. A giant rivet and the "Shadows in another light" sculpture can be seen in the middle distance.

Oliver Dixon

St Peter's Riverside

Artefacts commemorating the shipbuilding tradition of the locality; part of the St Peter's Riverside Sculpture Project.

Oliver Dixon

Lamp standard on St Peter's Riverside.

Oliver Dixon

"Pathways to Knowledge"

The text was taken from an ancient manuscript kept in St Peter's Church nearby, possibly with a connection to the Venerable Bede. This page is just one component of a sculpture of a pile of books installed in front of the University Library.

Oliver Dixon

"Pathways to Knowledge"

Oliver Dixon

University Library

On St Peter's Riverside.

Oliver Dixon

Bede's Way monument

This monument which stands outside the National Glass Centre is apparently related to Bede's Way, a 20 km walking and cycling route linking the twin Anglo-Saxon monasteries of St Peter's in Wearmouth and St Paul's in Jarrow. However the thin yellow line (scarcely visible in this image) does not seem to conform to the shape of the route of Bede's Way. Small copies of the emblem can be found inserted into the paving of St Peter's Riverside (see NZ3957 : Emblem of Bede's Way).

Oliver Dixon