An Improvement to Collingwood’s Monument
14th April 2024 by Penbal Wizard
Many residents or visitors to Tynemouth will have enjoyed the view from Collingwood’s Monument. To stand and look up the river to Shields and beyond, or to the mouth is something i’m sure most of us have done. And still today every local child takes their turn sitting astride the cannons on the monument.
However the field surrounding the monument could perhaps be improved. In the past it would have been agricultural land, or for grazing animals. Some readers have spoke of horses being kept on the field within their lifetime.
Today it is primarily enjoyed by the general public for walks or exercising dogs. But how about planting some more trees to add to landscape? The inclusion of trees on the field would not prevent dog walking, runners, children playing or otherwise and perhaps would add to the enjoyment. The field is not especially used for sports – largely due to the slope of the land, and anyone who has walked across following rain knows how muddy it can get. In recent years deer have been spotted in the grounds of the priory and towards the fish quay and so extending whatever natural habitat and wildlife corridor we can would be a benefit.
The creation of woodland covering the main part of the field would enhance the area although the top walkway of the field would be left free to enjoy the panoramic views. Government grants are likely available such as The Woodland Trust who give away thousands of trees to communities and so the cost would be minimal. Wouldn’t this be a great legacy to leave for future generations?
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No air-built castles, and no fairy bowers,
But thou, fair Tynemouth, and thy well-known towers,
Now bid th’ historic muse explore the maze
Of long past years, and tales of other days.
Pride of Northumbria!—from thy crowded port,
Where Europe’s brave commercial sons resort,
Her boasted mines send forth their sable stores,
To buy the varied wealth of distant shores.
Here the tall lighthouse, bold in spiral height,
Glads with its welcome beam the seaman’s sight.
Here, too, the firm redoubt, the rampart’s length,
The death-fraught cannon, and the bastion’s strength,
Hang frowning o’er the briny deep below,
To guard the coast against th’ invading foe.
Here health salubrious spreads her balmy wings,
And woos the sufferer to her saline springs;
And, here the antiquarian strays around
The ruin’d abbey, and its sacred ground.
Jane Harvey
From ‘The Castle of Tynemouth. A Tale’ (1806)
Photograph: Lee Stoneman
Photograph: Lee Stoneman
No air-built castles, and no fairy bowers,
But thou, fair Tynemouth, and thy well-known towers,
Now bid th’ historic muse explore the maze
Of long past years, and tales of other days.
Pride of Northumbria!—from thy crowded port,
Where Europe’s brave commercial sons resort,
Her boasted mines send forth their sable stores,
To buy the varied wealth of distant shores.
Here the tall lighthouse, bold in spiral height,
Glads with its welcome beam the seaman’s sight.
Here, too, the firm redoubt, the rampart’s length,
The death-fraught cannon, and the bastion’s strength,
Hang frowning o’er the briny deep below,
To guard the coast against th’ invading foe.
Here health salubrious spreads her balmy wings,
And woos the sufferer to her saline springs;
And, here the antiquarian strays around
The ruin’d abbey, and its sacred ground.
Jane Harvey
From ‘The Castle of Tynemouth. A Tale’ (1806)
How about oaks? Collingwood was fond of wandering his estate throwing acorns around so that in centuries to come they would grow to serve the navy…
Excellent idea but the council are usually reluctant to do anything that costs more money. Currently the grass is easy to maintain, trees mean leaves and long term maintenance. There’s the added issue of the headland being as exposed as it is, which is an issue for sapling survival. However, there a wildlife corridor that extends pretty much all the way from the Priory up through Northumberland Park and on up through Tynemouth Golf Club to Murton Village and beyond, and it should be strengthend. I notice the Linskill Centre planted trees on its grounds fairly recently, partly for this reason.
Thanks for your comment Anthony. Yes any tree planting would need to fit within the councils current (or future) plan, but it does happen so it could be managed in a similar manner to other locations. If they can maintain the large trees in Northumberland Park then it could follow a similar approach. For the weather, it would need some expertise regarding the choice and position of saplings but there must be harsher locations than this where successful planting has happened(?). Thanks again for your opinion.