North Pier

[hollydog]

Anyone know what is happening here, maybe a reference to damage in local newspapers?

[hollydog]

When was the metal lattice light erected and when was it moved as the pier end dropped away?

[Coquet]

Nothing showing in the press for North pier damage, an article does appear for south pier damage 1900s.
It's likely to be structural defects/subsidence otherwise we would have known about it?


I took a photo of the other side a couple of years back, looks a bit ropey too.


Now when was the light moved? Good question!

[Coquet]

[hollydog]

A very good picture indeed. The pier appears to be built in sections so the breach on the original photo looks to be around slap bang in the middle of your photo where the big crack is there now?
It will be a month or two before I go to explore and try and find the exact location!

[janwhin]

In the photo gallery there is one of the dredger working the harbour in 1909. The North Pier looks exactly as it did in Hollydog's picture.....minus the big hole.

[janwhin]

Report in the Morpeth Herald of 16 November 1907:
"Only last year the scour of north east storms practically undermined the new North Pier extension and the whole fabric was in danger of toppling outwards into the sea. By tipping over huge blocks of concrete into the breach this has happily been averted..."
Do you think those are the blocks along the top of the pier in the photo?

[hollydog]

I knew that you would have a plausible answer, it certainly looks like the blocks are about to be tipped over the side!
This photo originally appeared in Amble old photographs on fb, can I tell them what you have found? linked to here?

[Coquet]

Hey I've been useless finding things of late in the archive.

Now you've pointed me in the right direction there is also this from Feb 1907, same paper:

THE HARBOUR.
Having been dropped down in a muddy lake, without any natural position besides an extensive bay on the north side, Amble harbour has been a failure all the time. A fabulous sum of money was spent on its construction and, ever since, it has been the source of enormous expenditure to save it from being swept away. A few years ago, when it came into the possession of the new colliery company, it was proposed to spend a huge sum of money to practically make it over again, and the bill was introduced into the House of Lords for the extension. This was opposed by the Duke of Northumberland, who has landed interest in the vicinity, and nothing has since been heard of the undertaking. The endless patching, however, still goes on. During a recent storm, a large portion of the new extension of the North Pier has collapsed and the busy harbour entrance presents a sorry spectacle. This seems to be another proof of the old adage that "a stitch in time saves nine"; but, besides that, continuous patching up is a costly experiment.

[janwhin]

Originally Posted by hollydog

This photo originally appeared in Amble old photographs on fb, can I tell them what you have found? linked to here?

Yes put it onto fb.......not all life happens there, so a link to here would be good

[Coquet]

Morpeth Herald 19th of May 1906

Engineers report
Messrs Thomas Meek and Sons, engineers to the Commissioners in their monthly report stated that the wall sanctioned at the end of the short end of the North Pier had been completed. Further advantage would be gained should it be extended for another 120 feet, and a gryone put in on the foreshore, with a view of checking the travel of sand on the floodtide.
Some undermining had taken place along the seaward side of the pier and some further concrete steps should be put in to check it. With reference to the North Pier extension the settlement which had occurred during the past winter should be repaired whenever an opportunity occurred. The cavity should be filled up with concrete, and in order to prevent further scouring a row of concrete bags weighing 10 tons each, would be deposited along the north side. It was also stated that a length of about 240 feet of the south jetty extension had been completed, including the fixing of the cross ties, walings decking, etc., and the railway from the ballast crane had been extended towards the south jetty end. Referring to the dredger it was stated that most of the work done had been in the lower channel, but every opportunity had been taken to work on the bar. The least depth on the bar now was 4 feet. The annual inspection and survey of the plant had been made, and certain repairs recommended.
Mr Pollard Urquhart (representing the engineers) said with regard to the extension of the north pier wall, there was no immediate urgency but he asked them to have the work connected with the undermining of the North Pier attended to as soon as possible. As far as the settlement on the North Pier was concerned, it would be necessary to have it made up. A considerable amount of scouring was taking place and an order to stop it concrete bags should be put down lengthwise at right angles to the pier. — Mr Scott asked if he thought it should be done that summer. — Mr Urquhart said that it would be advisable to do so — the chairman asked what thickness it should be, and he was informed that each bag should be 3 feet in thickness. — On the motion of Mr Scott, seconded by Mr Robertson, it was decided that the engineers be authorised to repair the North Pier, and, when the weather permitted, to carry out the suggestion of putting in the concrete bags.

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by janwhin

Yes put it onto fb.......not all life happens there, so a link to here would be good

I think facebook has finished us to be honest; and probably many other sites like this. Sad truth though it is. Promoted by everyone and their dog and especially the Amble Facebook Development Trust. Vile self serving organisation that it is. Still Mark Zukerberg and his pals are such a deserving case they probably can't help themselves. I mean his company did pay £5000 in tax last year. ADT - not worth having a look around to see perhaps if there is a local site (LOCAL - that will be AMBLE) doing the same thing the ADT Ambler newspaper is promoting on Facebook?

(rant over )

[janwhin]

Well I'm glad you got that off your chest Has the Ambler ever mentioned this site at all?

[Coquet]

The Warkworth Harbour Commissioners' reports in the Morpeth Herald are a regular occurrence at this time (I assume they are in the Alnwick Gazette as well?)

Anyway, looking at this one the extension was being constructed in 1903, so did not take long to fail? Perhaps the use of explosives to deepen the channel and entrance at the same time was not a good idea ?


I've left the other stuff regarding exports etc out of interest.


Morpeth Herald 5 September 1903


Engineers report

The annual report of the harbour engineers was then presented, which dealt with the trade and works for the year ending June 30, 1903, as follows: — Piers and Quays — the extension of the North Pier, which had been commenced last year, was now nearly finished, the foundations being in for the whole length of 120 feet; about 80 feet was now completed. Both piers and Quays had stood well during the past year.
Dredging — the material dredged during the year had been 132,350 tons, and was composed of:- 126,325 tons of sand and silt, 3,605 tons of gravel, and 2,420 tons of rock and clay. The depths and the berths had been maintained. The deepening of the entrance and channel by blasting and dredging was about to be started.
Trade — the coal shipped from all sources amounted to 605,970 tons, being an increase of 48,568 tons over that shipped the previous year. The shipments from 1898 were as follows.

1898 – 1899 327,108 tons
1899 – 1900 476,170 tons
1900 – 1901 559,472 tons
1901 – 1902 557,402 tons
1902 – 1903 605,970 tons

The coal exported during year 1902 to 1903 and been sent from the following collieries: —
Broomhill, 375,537 tons, 3 cwts;
Newburgh, 180869 tons 7 cwts;
Acklington 43,849 tons, 5 cwts;
Shilbottle 5,132 tons, 15cwts;
Blackett, 210 tons, 7 cwts;
Montague 150 tons, 10cwts;
Stobswood, 141 tons, 14cwt;
Stannington, 70 tons;
Hebburn, 9 tons 4 cwts,
making a total of 605,970 tons, 5 cwts.
The other materials exported had been 150,910 bricks and a quantity of fireclay.




Imports —
the imports during the year were as follows
Mining timber, 1,215 loads
pit props, 1406 loads
sleepers, 249 loads
deals, 440 loads

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by janwhin

Well I'm glad you got that off your chest Has the Ambler ever mentioned this site at all?

No never mentioned. Anyway, I'm better now, hands have just about stopped shaking.

(Wife's in the other chair with laptop laughing at some tripe on Facebook; It'll be a skateboarding duck with quarter of a million 'likes' or something. I dare not look)

[hollydog]

Glad you got that off your chest as well!
This forum is an amazing indexed historical archive for the community to use (hopefully) for years to come. Facebook is not, its as simple as that. Different animals, one is diluted instant gratification for mass consumption, the other for specialist in depth research.
That is why I continually link to this site with my fb posts to promote the good work you and other local historians are doing.
It would be sad to loose this site.

[Alan J.]

I agree with hollydog, there is no comparison, fb stuff is largely a mixture of personal contributions of interest to some but not all. This site performs a useful archive of facts and information concerning the local area.

[janwhin]

Hollydog and AlanJ are right, there is no comparison between fb and this site, not that fb has my patronage It seems to be a gossip shop mostly and when there are postings like the old photographs, they're here and gone. The whole caravan moves on to something else and they're lost. Now it looks like Bartle Rippon or someone else will have to pull them together for a book, which is good, but if they'd been posted on this site there could have been much more discussion and identification.
When anything is googled for Amble and district it is not a fb post that comes up but something from this forum or the website.

[corfuandy]

Hollydog's reply is spot on Michael . Amble Photos on Facebook is something else entirely , just a bit of fun for everyone . This site , by contrast , serves as a serious historical record . The depth of research , accuracy, and breadth of knowledge displayed by you and your fellow contributors never ceases to impress. Keep up the good work .Present day readers , and future generations , will thank you for it .

[Sleighbelle]

I agree with Corfuandy. I have had a lot of pleasure from some of the Facebook posts and have contributed photos enabling contact with long-lost friends and neighbours and relatives. However, I check into this site virtually every day for the more academic historical and geographical slant on my home region. Thanks for all the work Coquet, Hollydog, Janwhin and all the other regular contributors.