A fundraising campaign has been launched to kickstart major repairs to the historic Dunston Staiths in Gateshead, with heritage teams hoping to raise £3,000 in donations to begin the first phase of essential work.
The huge wooden landmark, on the south bank of the Tyne, is in need of significant maintenance to secure its future. As local preservation teams pursue a multi-million pound cash injection for the industrial relic, the fundraising effort aims to cover the first stage of repairs required to keep the Staiths open to the public.
Historic landmark in need of restoration
Dating back to 1893 and standing more than 1,700 feet long, the grade II listed monument was built to allow coal to be loaded directly onto ships and is now the last remaining staith on the Tyne. Thought to be the largest timber structure in Europe, it has become a popular visitor attraction since its closure in 1980 but has faced multiple arson attacks and is in need of restoration.
A funding bid has been lodged for more than £4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to fully revitalise the Staiths. Campaigners are now appealing for the public’s help to pay for a first stage of works to repair rotten timber at the base of its first frame.
Appeal for public donations
The Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust, which cares for the Staiths, is hoping to raise £3,000 in donations via a Just Giving page. Imogen Cloet, from the Tyne Derwent Way heritage project, said: “Lots of people from the local area walk or cycle past Dunston Staiths, and will pass Frame 1 beneath the Staiths near the bridge over the River Team. As you’ll see, it needs some love and care. The base of the frame is rotten, and the estimated cost to repair it is £6,500.”
“As part of the Tyne Derwent Way project, we aim to open the west end to visitors again next spring. We’re hoping to raise the funds by early next year so we can carry out this repair before we reopen.”
Funding progress and public events
The Friends of Dunston Staiths have donated £2,000 towards the Frame 1 repairs and a further £1,500 has been raised through sales of former deck planks etched with a depiction of the Staiths. The preservation trust’s Bev Robinson added: “A structural engineer inspected the Staiths and found decay and damage to the wood in some areas, which is not surprising on a wooden structure of this age and in a riverside location where it’s fully exposed to the winter weather.”
“We were able to carry out some short-term repairs so that we could open the Staiths safely to the public over the summer, but this is just the start of a longer-term programme of repairs and a National Heritage Lottery Fund bid has been submitted to help us preserve this iconic symbol of Gateshead’s industrial heritage for generations to come.”
There are two more chances for the public to go onto Dunston Staiths this month, before it closes to the public over the winter to provide a sanctuary for roosting birds. An open day is being held on Saturday, September 5, from 10am to 2pm. There will also be a heritage open day with free admission on Saturday, September 12, from 10am to 3pm, coinciding with the Dunston Staiths Dog Show.
