Editing Tynemouth (section)

== Attractions and amenities ==

===Beaches===
[[File: Short Sands and King Edward's Bay (geograph 7751036).jpg |thumb|left|King Edward's Bay]]
In the late 18th century, sea-bathing from Tynemouth's east-facing beaches became fashionable. King Edward's Bay and Tynemouth Longsands are very popular with locals and tourists alike.

King Edward's Bay (possibly a reference to Edward II) is a small beach on the north side of the Priory, sheltered on three sides by cliffs and reached by stairways or, by the fit and adventurous who understand the weather and tides, over the rocks round the promontories on the north or south sides.
[[File: Longsands, Tynemouth (geograph 6913231).jpg |thumb|left|Longsands]]
Longsands is the next beach to the north, an expanse of fine sand {{Convert|1200|yd|m|round=50|abbr=off}} long, lying between the former Tynemouth outdoor swimming pool and Cullercoats to the north. The outdoor pool opened in 1925 and was considered a major tourist attraction in its heyday.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-20532133|title=Hot spring hope to restore Tynemouth Outdoor Pool|work=BBC News|date=7 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, Longsands was voted one of the best beaches in the country by users of the world's largest travel site [[TripAdvisor]]. TripAdvisor users voted the beach the UK's fourth favourite beach in its 2013 Travellers' Choice Beaches Awards. The beach was also voted the 12th best in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chronicle |first=Evening |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/communities/tynemouth/2013/02/21/tynemouth-beach-voted-one-of-uk-s-best-72703-32854927/ |title=Tynemouth beach voted one of UK's best |date=21 February 2013 |publisher=Chronicle Live |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref>

[[File: Prior's Haven (geograph 7751460).jpg |thumb|right| Prior's Haven]]
Prior's Haven is a small beach within the mouth of the Tyne, sheltered between the Priory and the Spanish Battery, with the pier access on its north side. It was popular with Victorian bathers<ref>{{cite web|last=Henderson |first=Tony |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/still-guarding-river-tyne-century-4468517 |title=Still guarding River Tyne a century after repairs |publisher=The Journal |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> and is now home to [[Tynemouth Rowing Club]] and the local sailing club.

===[[Tynemouth Priory and Castle]]===

A medieval Benedictine priory at the mouth of the Tyne. Founded in the 7th century, a castle was added around 1095.  The priory was surrendered to the king during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539  A lighthouse was built in the 1660s and it was adapted as a barracks in the 18th century. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tynemouth priory and castle |url=https://historiette.co.uk/2020/07/18/tynemouth-priory-and-castle/}}</ref> New buildings for breech loading guns were built at the end of the 19th century.  These  can be seen during a visit to the site.  The Priory and Castle is now run by English Heritage. <ref>{{Cite web |title=History of tynemouth priory |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tynemouth-priory-and-castle/history/}}</ref>

===Front Street===

A statue of [[Queen Victoria]] by Alfred Turner, unveiled on 25 October 1902, is situated at the edge of the Village Green<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9539/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104407/http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9539/ |archive-date=2015-12-22 |title=Monument to Queen Victoria |website=Public Monuments & Sculpture Association |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> which is home to the War Memorials for the residents of Tynemouth lost during the [[Second Boer War]] of 1899–1902. Designed by A.B. Plummer, it was unveiled on 13 October 1903 by [[William Brodrick, 8th Viscount Midleton]].

The larger central memorial is made of white [[granite]] with a cruciform column rising from between four struts in a contemporary design for its time. The front face has a relief sword and wreath carved onto it with the inscription below. The other three faces hold the honour roll for those lost during both World Wars. It was unveiled in 1923. DM O'Herlihy was named as the original designer but a press report stated that a Mr Steele designed the monument and credited O'Herlihy with preparatory works on the village green.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=9034 |title=North East War Memorials Project |publisher=Newmp.org.uk |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> The 82 names from World War II were added in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=366 |title=War Memorials Trust |publisher=Warmemorials.org |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref>

Tynemouth Clock Tower on Front Street was erected in 1861 by William Scott, esq., a native of the town. Designed by Oliver and Lamb with carvings by [[Robert Beall (sculptor)|Robert Beall]], the tower housed a clock by [[J. B. Joyce & Co|Joyce of Whitchurch]]. At ground level there were drinking fountains (and drinking troughs for dogs) on the north and south sides, a marine barometer (by [[Negretti and Zambra]]) to the west and an access door to the east.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Clock-Tower, Tynemouth |journal=The Illustrated London News |date=21 December 1861 |volume=XXXIX |issue=1122 |page=625}}</ref> Made of [[Polychrome brickwork|polychrome bricks]] and [[ashlar]], the tower (which has been [[Grade II listed]] since 1986) is described as being in the [[Venetian Gothic architecture|Venetian Gothic]] style.<ref>{{NHLE |desc=Clock Tower, Front Street |num=1184619 ||access-date=21 January 2024}}</ref>

===Kings Priory School===
{{Main|Kings Priory School}}
[[File:Tynemouth - King's School - geograph.org.uk - 807020.jpg|thumb|right|Kings Priory School]]
Located on Huntingdon Place, [[Kings Priory School]] (formerly The King's School and Priory Primary School) is a co-educational academy with over 800 pupils aged between 4 and 18. Though founded in [[Jarrow]] in 1860, the school moved to its present site in Tynemouth in 1865 originally providing a private education for local boys. The school has an Anglican tradition, but admits students of all faiths. Formerly a fee-paying independent school, in 2013 the school merged with the local state Priory Primary School to become a state [[Academy (English school)|academy]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/aug/12/private-school-debts-academy-free-school | title=Education in brief: Private school's £5m debts paid off as it becomes an academy| newspaper=The Guardian| date=12 August 2013| last1=Mansell| first1=Warwick}}</ref>

Former King's School was named in reference to the three ancient kings buried at Tynemouth Priory: Oswin, Osred and Malcolm III. Its most famous old boy is [[Stan Laurel]], one half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Henderson |first=Tony |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/stan-laurels-letter-friends-wife-7770496 |title=Stan Laurel's letter to his friend's wife on Tyneside goes under the hammer |publisher=The Journal |date=2014-09-15 |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> Hollywood film director Sir [[Ridley Scott]], and racing driver [[Jason Plato]] also attended the school.

=== Tynemouth Pier and lighthouse ===
[[File:Tynemouth North Pier - geograph.org.uk - 326313.jpg|thumb|left|Wide view of Tynemouth pier and lighthouse]]
{{Infobox lighthouse | qid = Q28465875
| yearbuilt       = 1864 (first)
| yearlit         = 1903 (current)
| shape           = tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern<ref>{{Cite rowlett|engne|access-date=2016-05-06}}</ref>
| lens            = rotating catadioptric lens (6 panels in 2 groups of 3)
| fogsignal       = 1 blast every 10s.
}}
This massive stone breakwater extends from the foot of the Priory some 900 yards (810 metres) out to sea, protecting the northern flank of the mouth of the Tyne. It has a broad walkway on top, popular with Sunday strollers. On the lee side is a lower level rail track, formerly used by trains and cranes during the construction and maintenance of the pier. At the seaward end is a lighthouse.

The pier's construction took over 40 years (1854–1895).<ref name="northtyneside1">{{cite web|url=http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/browse-display.shtml?p_ID=532486&p_subjectCategory=1432 |title=Heroes and Shipwrecks - North Tyneside Council |publisher=Northtyneside.gov.uk |date=1999-07-01 |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> In 1898 the original curved design proved inadequate against a great storm and the centre section was destroyed. The pier was then rebuilt in a straighter line and completed in 1909.<ref name="chroniclelive.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/ten-interesting-facts-tynemouth--1342151|title=Ten interesting facts about Tynemouth & Cullercoats|first=Evening|last=Chronicle|date=1 January 2012}}</ref> A companion pier at [[South Shields]] protects the southern flank of the river mouth.

[[File:003216-Tynemouth lighthouse and pier Tynemouth Unknown c.1900.jpg|thumb|left|The old lighthouse and storm-damaged pier, {{circa|1900}}.]]
A lighthouse had built on the old North Pier (first lit in 1895, it displayed three lights mounted vertically: green over white over red, with a range of {{convert|7|nmi|km|0|disp=or|spell=in}});<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26679|page=6104|date=12 November 1895}}</ref> however, when the pier had to be rebuilt to a new design, an entirely new lighthouse was required. The work was undertaken by [[Trinity House]], beginning in 1903; the lighthouse was finished before the pier itself, and was first lit on 15 January 1908.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Robin|title=Lighthouses of the North East Coast|date=2014|publisher=Halsgrove|location=Wellington, Somerset}}</ref> The revolving [[Fresnel lens|optic]], manufactured by [[Barbier, Benard, et Turenne|Barbier, Bénard, et Turenne]], displayed a flash three times every ten seconds; it remains in use today.<ref>[http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid={58E08A8B-ADBC-42C8-A4E0-97D0D715519A} Images]</ref> The light source was an [[Kerosene lamp|incandescent oil vapour lamp]], which (together with the optic) produced a 70,000-candlepower light with a range of {{convert|15|nmi|km|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Engineers1931">{{cite journal |title=Tyne Piers and Lighthouses |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Municipal and County Engineers |date=19 September 1931 |volume=58 |pages=875–876}}</ref> The lighthouse was also equipped with a [[Reed pipe|reed]] [[fog signal]], powered by compressed air, which was mounted 'on the cupola'; it sounded one long blast every ten seconds.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28099|page=327|date=14 January 1908}}</ref> It was manned by four keepers, with two on duty at any one time.<ref name="Engineers1931" /> In September 1961 a new, more powerful electric light was installed by the Tyne Improvement Commissioners (powered from the [[Mains electricity|mains]]).<ref>{{cite journal |title=More Efficient Tynemouth Light |journal=Shipbuilding & Shipping Record |date=1961 |volume=58 |page=255}}</ref> Then in 1967 the lighthouse (by then staffed by six keepers on rotation) was automated; a diesel generator was installed along with an electric foghorn.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Modernised Light for Tyne |journal=Shipbuilding & Shipping Record |date=1967 |volume=109 |page=499}}</ref>

Before the pier was built, a lighthouse stood within the grounds of [[Tynemouth Priory and Castle]]. It was demolished in 1898.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.twsitelines.info/SMR/730|title=Tynemouth lighthouse|date=26 May 2021}}</ref> It stood on the site of the now-disused [[Her Majesty's Coastguard|Coastguard]] Station.

In October 2023 the pier was damaged by [[Storm Babet]] (with winds of up to 70 knots), which left 'large sections of stone walls, handrails, block paving and coping stones washed into the sea'.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Younger |first1=Owen |title=Port of Tyne piers to undergo extensive £4.5 million repairs after storm damage |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/port-tyne-piers-undergo-extensive-29805012 |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Chronicle Live |date=24 August 2024}}</ref>

=== The Spanish Battery ===
[[File:002614- Tynemouth The Spanish Battery C1870.jpg|thumb|left|The Spanish Battery {{circa|1870}}.]]
The headland dominates the river mouth and is less well known as Freestone Point. Settlements dating from the Iron Age and later have been discovered here.<ref>Jobey, G 1967 'Excavation at Tynemouth Priory and Castle [Normumberland]' Archaeol Aeliana</ref> The promontory supposedly takes its name from Spanish mercenaries who manned guns there in the 16th century to defend Henry VIII's fleet. Most of the guns had been removed by 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/browse-display.shtml?p_ID=532487&p_subjectCategory=1432 |title=Priors, Kings and Soldiers - North Tyneside Council |publisher=Northtyneside.gov.uk |date=1999-07-01 |access-date=2015-12-11}}</ref> It is now a popular vantage point for watching shipping traffic on the Tyne.

=== The Collingwood Monument ===
[[File:The Collingwood Monument (geograph 2479077).jpg|thumbnail|[[Collingwood Monument|The Collingwood Monument]]]]
Beyond the Battery, and commanding the attention of all shipping on the Tyne, is the giant memorial to [[Lord Collingwood]], the [[Collingwood Monument]]. Collingwood was [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]]'s second-in-command at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], who completed the victory after Nelson was killed in action. Erected in 1845, the monument was designed by [[John Dobson (architect)|John Dobson]] and the statue was sculpted by [[John Graham Lough]]. The figure is some {{convert|23|ft}} tall and stands on a massive base incorporating a flight of steps flanked by four cannons from [[HMS Royal Sovereign (1786)|HMS ''Royal Sovereign'']] – Collingwood's ship at Trafalgar.<ref>Pevsner: Buildings of England, Northumberland</ref>

=== The Black Middens ===
{{main|Black Middens}}
These rocks in the Tyne near the Monument are covered at high water, and the one rock that can sometimes be seen then is called Priors Stone. Over the centuries they have claimed many ships whose crew "switched off" after safely negotiating the river entrance. In 1864, the Middens claimed five ships in three days with many deaths, even though the wrecks were only a few yards from the shore. In response a meeting was held in North Shields Town Hall in December 1864 at which it was agreed that a body of men should be formed to assist the Coastguard in the event of such disasters.  This led to the foundation of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade.<ref name="northtyneside1"/>

===Tynemouth Aquarium===
[[File:Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth - geograph.org.uk - 1633538.jpg|thumb|left|Blue Reef Aquarium]]
Undersea aquatic park, containing seahorses, sharks, giant octopus, frogs, otters and many other creatures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tynemouthaquarium.co.uk/creatures/|title = About Our Creatures &#124; Tynemouth Aquarium|date = 10 March 2016}}</ref> Its '''Seal Cove ''' is a purpose-built outdoor facility providing an environment for a captive-bred colony of harbour seals. The {{Convert|500000|l|impgal|adj=on}} pool includes rocky haul-out areas and underwater caves, specially created to ensure marine mammals are kept in near natural conditions. It was previously known as the Blue Reef Aquarium Tynemouth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitnorthtyneside.com/activities/activity/28/|title = Tynemouth Aquarium &#124; Visit North Tyneside}}</ref>