I went to Dunston Staiths to speak to people about life around the 130-year-old structure

Dunston Staiths has been a permanent structure on the River Tyne for more than 130 years and played an important role in our industrial heritage as it was used until the 1970s to load coal that had been mined in the North East onto ships to be sent around the world.

It's a structure we often pass as it stands out as a landmark seen from either side of the river, so I wanted speak to people about the area's unique landmark. Arriving in Dunston on an overcast but dry day, I headed straight down to the river, so that I could marvel at the impressive wooden formation on its banks. The staiths are very impressive to look at, and they present a clear view of the industrial history of the North East, and more specifically, Gateshead.

The staiths first opened in 1893, used for loading coal from the North Durham coalfield onto ships. This was a very fruitful enterprise at this time, as in the 1920s, 140,000 tons of coal per week was loaded from the staiths, and they continued to be used until the 1970s.

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Originally restored and reopened for the 1990 Garden Festival, the area was left largely derelict and inaccessible, before parts of the riverside became sites for new housing. Reputed to be the largest wooden structure in Europe, the staiths is protected as a Listed Building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

On three separate occasions, in 2003, 2010 and 2019, parts of the structure were destroyed and damaged by fire. The staiths reopened to the public on April 11 this year, and plans are now in place to allow visitors on the structure on the first Saturday of each month from May to September this year.

After finding out all of this and seeing the structure for myself, I decided to visit a nearby local business, The Staiths Cafe, which opened in 2014 and has been serving both residents and visitors for a decade. I spoke to owner Suzanne Hutton, who gave me an insight into how the idea for the business was first realised.

She said: "This building was the former sales office for the housing company who built the estate, and the area at that point was really lacking a community hub. We decided to take advantage of this empty unit, and we went to all of the residents to see what it was that they wanted in this kind of business.

"We raised money for nine months, so that we could have the funds to do this, and with the research we had done, we were able to create something which catered for all. This took six or seven years of hard work, and we were able to integrate into the community really well after this.

"We are community orientated, but I think even more now people come to see us as a destination from further away, which has been helped by our social media presence. The pandemic was a time when we had to pivot in order to become takeaway only, but everyone in the area supported us like they always have.

"The cost of living crisis has also been tough, but being based next to the Staiths is amazing, as people come for the heritage and history, but stay for the social and community aspect. We are getting levelling up funding which will be great for the area, and will add to the events that are coming up, such as the dog show, the celebration of the Staiths estate's 20th year, and the cafe's own 10th anniversary celebrations, so there is a lot to look forward to."

After this, Laura Barnwell, who was with her four month old son Austin, gave her thoughts on living in the area, saying: "It's lovely being next to the river, and it's a really friendly place to live, and the walk into town is one of the nicest walks I know of.

"The cafe has been a lifesaver for us, we've lived here for years and come to the cafe all of the time. It was brilliant during the pandemic, and it brings together a perfect location, especially for convenience with the Tyne Bridge being closed."

Finally, Mags Wade, who was visiting Dunston from Shildon, also shared why it is a place she likes to come to, and she said: "I like coming because of the walk alongside the river, my kids like cycling their bikes here and it's great.

"If we come to Newcastle we will come here for lunch, as it's a nice walk to the city from here, and it's a great starting point for a day in town. My longest friend, who is visiting with her daughter, really likes the place, and whenever they come I have to show them here as it is one of my favourites."

So, as I was leaving the Dunston Staiths area, I thought about how clear it is that residents love living here. It feels like the perfect mix of heritage and community, and it should be celebrated for holding a huge part of Gateshead's industrial history.