Tide Stone
Landmark Newburn Tyne And Wear

The Tide Stone

Landmark In Newburn, Tyne And Wear

The tide stone was a 1783 stone marker denoting the tidal limit of the river Tyne before it moved further upstream to Wylam.

I'm opening the floodgates on this one. This is the Tide Stone, an easily overlooked little gem, just down the River Tyne in Newburn.

Looking closely, the stone has faced considerable erosion over the years, but you can just make out the emblem of the Corporation of Newcastle and a date of 1783. It's tucked away on the north side of the river in between Newburn and Wylam and we stumbled upon this small stone marker on a wander with the dogs.

The Tide Stone marked the location and upper limit of the river where it was still tidal and is marked at a location known as Hedwin Streams where there are shallow rapids. Following the dredging of the Tyne by Joseph Cowan in 1873, the Tyne became tidal as far as Wylam. We often see seals bobbing in the Tyne which looks a little incongruous 14 miles from the sea.

I was curious about the significance of this post...pillar...point of tidal-ness which quite frankly, you'd walk on by and not think twice about if you weren't always on the lookout for Guess The Place material, so I did a little looking around for information but facts were few and far between. I came across a lovely account of the 1818 Ascension Day ceremony which was an annual inspection of the river by The Corporation of Newcastle known as 'Barge Day'.

The story goes that The Lord Mayor and various dignitaries would sail up the river in their barge from Tynemouth to Hedwin Streams, hop off the boat to the assembled crowd and the Lord Mayor would plant a smacker on the lips of the prettiest girl from Heddon (yes, this would be an arrestable offence nowadays), hence the locally known name for the Tide Stone being the Kissing Stone.

The Mayor would then present the bonniest lass with a sovereign. Personally, I'd go for the cash and skip the kiss!

During the 1891 Ascension Day Barge Ceremony, the Lord Mayor hosted the North East artist Ralph Hedley who travelled aboard the steamship Mabel. He observed the customs of the day and within a week began painting the scene.

His depiction above of Barge Day 1891 can be seen today in The Laing Gallery in Newcastle and was exhibited the year after completion in Newcastle's Bewick's Club.

I love the fact that through the years of erosion, the stone looks like a little face, almost puckering up for a kiss!

It's worth a wander along the river path from Newburn or Wylam to find this hidden little stone, but keep your eyes peeled as it's easy to miss. And keep a look out for any mayors wishing to stick the lips on!

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How To Find Tide Stone

Where Is Tide Stone?

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Lat / Long

54.984678, -1.777833

What three words

begins.fever.hung

Where To Park For Tide Stone?

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Lat / Long

54.985891, 54.985891

What three words

chest.spit.price

We parked on Station Road just off the road before the farm.

Contributed by Jos Forester-Melville

Highland loving human. Thalassophile. I love a good smile. Happiest heading for the hills with my pickup filled with kids and dogs! Working four days, we enjoy a Fridate, and usually spend it scouting out new scenery. I love a gated track, a bit of off roading and if it involves a full ford, well, that gets extra points! I go nowhere without a flask and binoculars, and love the small things in life that make it big…Goldcrests, dry stone walls, Deadman’s fingers, blackberries and quality clouds.

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Jos Forester-Melville

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Tide Stone was listed in Landmark // Tyne And Wear // Newburn