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November 1, 2026 - Dunston Staiths, on the south bank of the Tyne, was built to load coal from railway wagons directly onto ships, ready to be transported to destinations around the world.
Construction began in 1890, with the North Eastern Railway Company completing the enormous timber structure in 1893. Made using North American pitch pine, it measures approximately 526 metres long and once carried four railway tracks, allowing coal wagons to be brought high above waiting ships. The coal was then sent down chutes directly into the vessels' holds, with the staiths featuring six loading berths - three on either side. The scale of the operation was staggering. In 1894 alone, more than 1.28 million tons of coal were shipped from Dunston Staiths, while during the 1920s the structure was handling around 140,000 tons every week. It became a crucial part of the North East's coal-exporting industry, connecting the region's collieries with ships carrying their cargo across the globe. But as the coal trade declined in the decades following the Second World War, the need for the staiths gradually disappeared. They ceased operating in 1977 before closing completely in 1980, leaving the enormous timber structure without its original purpose.
The years that followed were far from kind. The staiths suffered serious deterioration and several fires, including devastating arson attacks which threatened their future. However, efforts to save the landmark have continued, with the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust leading work to protect the structure and secure its future. The structure is now recognized as an important piece of the region's industrial heritage, with Historic England designating it a Scheduled Monument and Grade II listed building. Although it is no longer loading ships with coal, Dunston Staiths remains a striking reminder of the North East's industrial past - and of the extraordinary scale of the operation that once took place on the banks of the Tyne. |
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