A HISTORY OF THE RIVER TYNE AND ITS THREE CONSERVATORS

At the start of the year when we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of the founding of North Shields, it is fitting that we have a talk about the history of the River Tyne which is pivotal to the history of the town and its people.

We are very pleased to welcome Phil Collinson, marine manager at the Port of Tyne who will outline the history of the river. In doing so, he will follow the history of the statutory bodies incorporated to conserve the economic viability of the River Tyne and the safety of navigation thereon.

The talk will start with the Corporation of Newcastle, the sole conservator of the river and its port since 'time immemorial' and repeatedly reconfirmed as such throughout the centuries despite opposition from other organisations with a stake in the river.

Their conservatorship was as much a story of success as it was of complacency, corruption and failure, so in 1850 the Tyne Improvement Commission was established to maintain, improve and manage the waterway.

This body shaped the modern river as we know it today, overseeing major civil and maritime engineering projects that enhanced the local economy and secured the harbour as a world class facility.

However, the passing of the Harbours Act 1964 changed the way ports and harbours in the UK were governed by creating 'Statutory Harbour Authorities'. The duties and responsibilities of the Tyne Improvement Commissioners were legally handed over to the new Port of Tyne Authority in 1968 who continue the conservancy and economic activities bestowed upon them by their predecessors as well as seeking new powers to further improve the river for future generations.

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