Category: River Tees
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Confluence of the Balder and Tees
I am halfway up a hill they call the ‘Hagg,’ taking in the view of the Balder joining forces with the mighty Tees, both rivers uncomfortably full to the brim. Behind me stands Cotherstone Castle — now nothing more than a glorified mound. Used to be the abode of the Fitz Hughs, and once dubbed…
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Paddy’s Hole
A small man-made harbour on the river side of the South Gare Breakwater. Brightly painted boats bob in the breeze and ‘quaint’ boat-houses, once the home of salmon fishermen, align the shore. It is assumed the name, Paddy’s Hole, comes from the large number of Irish navvies that helped build the breakwater between 1863 and…
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Low Force
Another day, another waterfall. Less dramatic than its big brother, High Force, Low Force is another of the waterfalls in this dramatic landscape of upper Teesdale. It’s a popular tourist destination. The predominant geology of Teesdale is Carboniferous sedimentary rock but it has been intruded by a number of distinct igneous rocks. It is the…
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Seal Sands
The first site I worked on after moving to the area in 1973. The petrochemical complex was built on land “reclaimed” from inter-tidal mudflats much to the dismay of conservationists as the developments destroyed the rich habitat of the Tees estuary. The reclamation had been going on since industrial Teesside began. By the turn of…
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Two bridges over the Tees
Until the building of the Tees Barrage towards the end of the 20th century, the River Tees was still tidal at Yarm. A wooden bridge existed in the 13th century and was replaced by a stone one in about 1500 thus ensuring Yarm became a strategic crossing point of the river and ensured the development…
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Girsby Bridge
Out with the local running club. Usually full use is made of the moors but tonight headed for the Tees valley. The River Tees was crossed over this bridge at Girsby. The bridge is cast iron trestle construction with wrought iron girders. A simple stone is inscribed: “Bridle Bridge | Erected by Theophania Blackett 1870 |…
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Infinity Bridge
An evening paddle up the Tees with the Stockton & Thornaby Canoe Club. The Infinity Bridge was opened in 2009 at a cost of £15m. It gets its name from the infinity symbol ( ∞ ) that the bridge makes with it’s reflection. Even the slightest breeze spoils the effect.