The original "Gut"
As Hollydog says the gut was crossed by stepping stones beside where Smiths garage was, this gave access to the "Braid" or as we called it in the 50's, "The Jungle". We used to go over there for hours on end and play war games, "Japs and English", "Cowboys and Indians" etc. There were lots of places to hide in the old shipyard foundations and there were bushes and trees to give the " Jungle" effect.
As has been previously mentioned the council tip was also over there and I made many a bike out of bits and bobs picked up from the tips.
There was an old RAF launch alongside the West jetty and we went over the mud flats to play on this too, all very different to nowadays when kids are in the house on their phones, computers etc.
You had to watch the tide as if it got too far in the stepping stones were covered and the long walk home was via the Warkworth road and the Wynd. I'm sure this will jog George Grays memory as he was probably over there with us at some point.
The jetty on George Grays photo must had been a relc from the shipyard days.
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