South Shields, (Curly's Corner Shop)

Sorry for the long download of this animation, but I think it's worth it for the ex-pats.

A seaside town is not complete without a fairground!

A great illustration of airbrushing techniques.

The West Park displaying the rich golden hues of autumn.

The Bonga was the largest vessel (gross tonnage) to have ever left the Tyne, she sailed to the West African coast in 2004. Here she passes the mouth of the River Don.

Escorted by her tugs, as she sails downriver. This picture was taken from Redhead's Gut.

The giant vessel makes her entrance to the harbour.

The weather turned grey and wet as she made her way through the piers.

A stunning view of the old mill on Cleadon Hills taken at dusk.

The old mill silhouetted by the sunset, a very pleasing view.

This "Conversation Piece" is a sculptural grouping just behind Littlehaven Beach.

The old Customs House at the Mill Dam now houses a cinema, theatre, art galleries, and restaurant.

This bronze commemorates John Simpson Kirkpatrick, the Shieldsman who saved hundreds of lives when enlisted in the Aussie Army in the First World War. It is situated in Ocean Road.

The Groyne was built to warn vessels of the dangerous rocks and sandbanks in the mouth of the river.

High spring tides and Easterly winds are responsible for flooding the sea front car parks, this view looks towards the Volunteer Life Brigade Watch House on the South Pier.

A view of Marsden Rock early one spring Sunday morning.

Camels Island is not the place to be caught at when the tide is on it's way in!

This limestone edifice used to have a huge natural arch that people walked under at low tide. The arch collapsed into the sea in 1996.

King Street is the town's main shopping area, here we are looking towards the Metro station and the Market Place.

The last time a beacon was lit on the Lawe was for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

A sombre black and white picture of Marsden Rock.

Marsden Bay at dawn.

I often think that a black and white photo can be more dramatic and powerful than colour.

A nice peaceful walk along the beach on a Sunday morning. Picture taken from inside a cave in Marsden Bay.

The North pier seen against a pensive sky and moody sea.

The Christmas lights cheer up the shoppers in King Street and ocean Road.

Very artistic sculptured flotsam on Sandhaven Beach, Tynemouth Haven is in the background.

A rare view of snow on the sands, taken early one February morning before the salt had a chance to do it's work.

These boats are at Souter Lighthouse, I was impressed with the contrasting white and blues.

Souter stands above the clifftops to warn of the dangers below. No longer operational it is owned by the National Trust and has a nice tea room and visitor centre. Worth a visit to the lamproom!

This wheel commemorates the hundreds who were killed in a methane explosion at St. Hilda's Colliery, it can be seen on Station Road.

The parish church of South Shields in the Market Place. The original church founded by St. Hilda in 647 was one of the oldest in the region.

This pen and ink drawing was created in Photoshop. The Town hall in Westoe Road was opened in 1910 and is one of the grandest public buildings in the North.

The William Wouldhave Memorial on Pier Parade. "The Tyne" is one of the two remaining Greathead built lifeboats in the U.K. The design for "The Original" was by William Wouldhave.

The Tyne at dusk, reflecting the lights of North Shields.

A lone boy plays in the snow in the West Park, February 2004.

This avenue of trees is adjacent to Stanhope Road.

Dramatic black and white image of the old mill on the hill.

An evocative shot of St. Peter's in Harton village

View of the piers taken from Graham Sands behind Trow Rocks

Picture showing the natural rugged beauty of our coastline.

A picture of the Groyne and South Pier taken early in the morning from the Black Middens below the Spanish Battery, Tynemouth.

South Shields' Littlehaven coastline viewed from the Collingwood Memorial in Tynemouth.

The Mill Dam at night

The last ferry to North Shields at sunset.

A colony of gullimots on top of Marsden Rock