Gateshead is home to the worlds only tilting bridge. Since ships have been on the water they have been used for transporting goods. And when a bridge was in the way the only logical solution was to open the bridge in the middle.

… Until Gateshead came along for a better solution.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

The word redounded Gateshead Millennium Bridge is built in a semi circle. This way when the mechanics are fired up and the bridge tilts to the left it will create an opening passage for any ships passing through underneath.

Confused? Watch this quick video below.

Not only does the bridge look great during the day and lights up at night but it also allows pedestrians to pass between Gateshead and Newcastle over the River Tyne.

The video you watched above is obviously sped up. In reality the Gateshead Millennium Bridge takes approximately four minutes and a half minutes to ‘tilt’ 850 tonne of weight with it’s eight engines. This creates a forty degree angle that provides a 25m clearance for any shipping passing through. More than enough space.

Facts about Gateshead Millennium Bridge:

1. The bridge was featured on the first class stamp in 2000.
2. For the opening of the bridge there were 36,000 locals from Gateshead and Newcastle alike lining the shoreline of the River Tyne to watch the grand opening of the bridge.
3. The build cost came in at a whopping £22 million!
4. The bridges second claim to fame was in 2007 when the bridge appeared on the one pound coin from the royal mint.
5. When the bridge is in it’s normal position allowing people to pass over the arch stands 50 meters high.
6. The bridge stretches a massive 126 meters across the River Tyne.
7. The bridge cleans up after itself. Any rubbish on the bridge falls down in a special way and is caught at the end.

The unique design of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge was not to wow the locals and attract tourists. That naturally happened. There were four key elements that mapped out that were required when a new bridge project was adopted in Gateshead to connect Newcastle.

1. A new pedestrian crossing between Gateshead and Newcastle
2. The bridge was to allow ships to pass through fairly easily.
3. The bridge was not obstruct the Quayside and increase traffic as this would have reduced it’s popularity. This is why the bridge is only pedestrian.
4. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge was not to intrude on the view of the world famous Tyne Bridge. Hence the wired and thin design.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge Tilt Times

So when does the bridge tilt if you want to watch? Everyday at noon between the 1st of May and the 30th of September.

Of course if a ship is passing through then the bridge will also tilt but this is near impossible to predicts so it’s best to show up at noon during May and September if you want to watch.

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Dunston Staiths is located on the River Tyne on the Gateshead side.

The Dunston Staiths is believed to be the largest timber structure still in tact that can be visited in Europe. It is actually a Grade II listed and scheduled monument and owned by a local charity in Tyne and Wear.

Dunston Staiths History

The Dunston Staiths was opened 125 years ago this year at the time of writing this is 2018. It’s original purpose back them like a lot of major establishments on the River Tyne was to provide support to the massive shipping and industrial industry by the North East Railway Company. Who owned the Dunston Staiths back then.

What was it’s actual purpose?

Well the Dunston Staiths was built to allow trains arriving from Durham Coalfields to load their coal directly onto coal ships that would then deviled coal to London and other places in Europe. The industry was ripe and thriving back in the day and over five millions tonnes of coals was moved each year!

But as time when by and the world evolved and technology advanced beyond the need for coal in the later part of the 19th century there is no longer a need for the Dunston Staiths anymore. It’s somewhat just fell into the abyss and was not looked after for quite some time.

In 2003 there was a serious fire that damaged a majority of the Dunston Staiths. This called for action by the local community and the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust (TWBPT) was able to secure funding to preserve the Dunston Staiths as it was a major part of Gateshead history. Today the structure is fully refurbished and is one of the main tourist attractions for visitors plus a nice walking route for locals.

Dunston Staiths Opening Times

You can read more about the Dunston Staithes on the official website at DunstonStaiths.org.uk.

If you would like to visit the structure you can do so during the season.The season is slightly different ever year but the 2018 season is as follows:

Start – 30th March
End – 30 September

Times of the Day:

Wednesday – 10am to 7pm
Weekends – 10am to 5pm

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Did you know Gateshead has on of the top ten most visited parks in all of Britain? Tucked away in the heart of Gatehead is Saltwell Park. A perfect place to be thrown back in time to the Victorian era and a perfect day out for the family.

The park has earned many awards such as the Green Flag Award and the Britain’s Best Park Award. Hence the reason why it’s one of the top ten most visited parks. This is no ordinary park with open fields. No, Gateshead Saltwell Park has many facilities like  play areas for the kids, a maze, a dedicated pets area, tennis courts, basket ball facilities and even bowling greens!

The park itself has ample space for anything you want to do. There are 55 acres of open space, woodlands, gardens and more!

You also have Saltwell Towers a fairy tale style mansion.

Saltwell Towers Gateshead

The Saltwell Towers lie in the heart of Gateshead Saltwell Park. They are very uniquely designed towers that are covered in stained glass. The towers themselves are a mix of Gothic and Elizabethan and French styles. The towers were built in 1862 by renowned stained glass manufacturer William Wailes. Today the towers are a Grade II listed building.

The Saltwell Towers and its ground were owned by William Wailes but in 1875 he sold the property and grounds to the Gateshead Council. If you are going to visit Saltwell Park don’t just visit the park. A visit in not complete without with seeing Saltwell Towers.

If you would like to take a video tour of the park before you decide to visit you are in luck! The Chronicle has a short two minute video that walks you through the park.

Saltwell Park Gateshead Events

There are many regular events that take place in Saltwell Park in Gatehead. Every Saturday at 9am there is a 5km running group. And at 11am every Thursday there is a walking group. A lot of people also decide to get married in the park. Weddings at Saltwell Park have become increasingly popular over the years.

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The Angle of the North is an iconic States in Gateshead. But it’s is taken from grated and it was almost never even built. An art piece by Antony Gormley that is now one of the most famous structures in the UK.

With a wingspan of 54m and 20m high. It’s impossible to miss the status when you are driving past on the A1 with the Angel of the North perched on top of a small hill made from 200 tonnes of steel. It’s also believed to be the largest angel statue on the entire globe.

Why was the Angel of the North Built in Gateshead

The Gateshead council had and idea that they wanted to make a new iconic landmark in Gateshead that would represent the regions character.  It’s visited by over 33 million people each year and is one of the world most viewed works of art globally.

Angel of the North sculpture was installed in February of 1998 and 20 years later is still as popular as when it went up. It has won many award and accolades.

History

Work began on the Angel of the North in 1994. Antony Gormley was asked to produce a sculpture that would reside outside of Gateshead. The reasoning behind the steel design is to touch on Gateshead and the North East’s industrial heritage.

Angel of the North – What to Know

If you are planning to visit the Angel of the North here are a few things to know:

• There is plenty of parking available.
• There are no toilet facilities close by. Remember the angel is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
• There is no food close by. It’s best to have lunch in Gateshead and then head out to the angel.

So all the being said you can visit the angel and be back in Gateshead within 2 hours and have plenty of time to take photos.

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Sage Gateshead is a cultural centre with a very uniquely designed curving steel roof located in Gateshead on the south bank of the River Tyne . It’s home to many concerts that take place in Gateshead as well as a centre for musical education.

Sage Gateshead – A Unique Design

As you walk past the Sage Gateshead you can’t help but notice the unique design. But what is the history? How did this design come about? That’s is a very good question we are about to answer.

The final design was pick after an architectural design competition took place. 100 architects competed in the competition with their designs. The winning design came in from Foster and Partners, a long stating architectural firm responsible for many other British works such as London’s City Hall.

The design of  Sage Gateshead has gone on to win several awards over the years such as the Civic Trust Award, The Journal North East Landmark of the Year Award and the RIBA Inclusive Design Award.

According to the people of Gateshead most like the design.

What’s Been at Sage Gateshead

Countless famous artists have played at the Sage Gateshead such as in no particular order:

• Bill Callahan
• Explosions in the Sky
• Stills & Nash
• Elbow
• Grace Jones
• Nancy Sinatra
• De La Soul
• James Brown
• Above and Beyond
• Mogwai
• Herbie Hancock
• Morrissey
• Sting
• Josh Galley
• Snarky Puppy

And many more artists. The second annual BBC Radio 6 Music Festival was also held at the Sage Gateshead in February of 2015.

Current Schedule at Sage Gateshead

If you want to find out what is going to be coming to the Sage Gateshead then your best be is to just visit their website. The Sage has an offical website and a section called ‘What’s On‘. You can filter this section by what you want to see, or you can see what’s coming in the next 7 days or just see everything. There are many options.

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