Marsden, Tyne and Wear
Encyclopedia
Marsden is a suburb in South Shields
, North East England
, located on the North Sea
coast.
The original village of Marsden, was demolished in the 1960s due to the risk of erosion
from the encroaching shoreline. What remains are five rows of Victorian
terraced house
s, which were originally built to house miners working in Whitburn Colliery. There is also a small chapel
and a primary school, although this is technically located in Whitburn.
Coal from the colliery fueled the lime kilns which closed at the same time as the mines.
The nearby Marsden Bay includes the Marsden Rock
sea stack. The Leas
, located to the north, is an important seabird
sanctuary. This land, along with Souter Lighthouse
(the first lighthouse
in the world to be powered by alternating current
), is now owned by the National Trust
.
The village also gave its name to the Marsden Rattler, a railway which joined Whitburn Colliery to the main line in South Shields.
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, located on the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast.
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
from the encroaching shoreline. What remains are five rows of Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
terraced house
Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
s, which were originally built to house miners working in Whitburn Colliery. There is also a small chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and a primary school, although this is technically located in Whitburn.
Coal from the colliery fueled the lime kilns which closed at the same time as the mines.
The nearby Marsden Bay includes the Marsden Rock
Marsden Rock
Marsden Rock is a rock formation in Tyne and Wear, North East England, situated in Marsden, South Shields. It is owned by the National Trust. The face of the rock was changed forever when tidal erosion caused the arch to collapse in 1996. Prior to this it was the feature included on most postcards...
sea stack. The Leas
The Leas
The Leas is a large area of land owned and maintained by the National Trust along the coastal cliffs of South Shields, England.It is popular with dog walkers, joggers, kite flyers, horse riders, cyclists and other activities...
, located to the north, is an important seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
sanctuary. This land, along with Souter Lighthouse
Souter Lighthouse
Souter Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in the village of Marsden in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England.-History:The lighthouse is located on Lizard Point at Marsden, but takes its name from Souter Point, which is located a mile to the south...
(the first lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in the world to be powered by alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
), is now owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
The village also gave its name to the Marsden Rattler, a railway which joined Whitburn Colliery to the main line in South Shields.
External links
- Whitburn Colliery
- Souter Lighthouse at The National Trust
- The Lost Village
- BBC Online: Marsden, the village that vanished