A view from August 1965, some seven years before the reclamation of the slake began. Tipping commenced in 1972 and finished in 1977 and the land allowed to settle. The port authority came under much pressure to turn the land over to housing and general development but this was resisted which paid off handsomely as the area eventually accommodated the Tyne Grain, Tyne Coal Terminal and the Nissan Car Terminal.

Had I been in the habit of using a tripod when taking pictures this image may have been a little clearer. Despite trying to improve matters using Photoshop I'm afraid this is the best I can achieve. The name of DUQUESSA is discernible while in the back ground a Blue Star Line ship can be made out at the premises of Middle Dock Engineering Co. Ltd.
DUQUESSA, built on the Tyne in 1949 by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd., is looking quite smart having just completed a spell in Brigham & Cowans dry dock at South Shields. She served four more years with Furness Houlder Lines before arriving for demolition at Spezia, Spain, on August 14th 1969

DUQUESA (only one S) see: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1700

R.

The Blue Star ship was probably the SCOTTISH STAR which I also saw on the Tyne on 30 August 1965.
See: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2872

Ron

Believe it or not I did spell DUQUESA correctly in my draft but for some reason added another 'S' later, without thinking. I can only plead that at the time I was being reminded in no uncertain terms by HWMBO that my tea was on the table and would soon be consigned to the bin!

Fully understandable in those extreme circumstances!!

Ron

While DUQUESA was moored in the river in August 1965 I was able to capture these two views after speaking to a foyboatman who was willing to run me past the ship, after I'd crossed his palm with silver