It struck me then that not many people (from outside the Newcastle area) will have heard of this wonderful patch of greenery. So I have decided to distract myself from my lack of sewing machine by introducing you to the wonderful Saltwell Park, and perhaps convincing you that it isn't so grim up north.
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| View across towards the boating lake |
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| https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/parks/Saltwell%20Park/History.aspx |
The park covers a grand 55 acres which includes a huuuge playing field/meadow, boating lake complete with swans, Saltwell Dene, and Saltwell Towers (previous home of William Wailes, a stained glass designer artist extraordinaire). It hosts the best (in my opinion) firework display in the North, and was once host to it's very own airplane (yes you read that right... an airplane), kids used to be able to climb into it and slide down the emergency chute before it was decided that this was in fact highly apposed to health and safety laws, the plane vanished and not one person I've spoken to can pin down when this happened (mysterious me-thinks)
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I give you photographic evidence of the airplane!
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| Victorian benches on which to take in the view and possibly a beautiful sunset |
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| The Belvedere Walls which surround Saltwell Towers |
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| Saltwell Towers and the middle section of the park |
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| Beautiful little bandstand |
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| Ooops I forgot to remove the date stamp! Which actually has the wrong date on hmmm |
So this is my little park, I hope you like it too. I think it's appropriate to finish off with the little (huge really) swans on the lake, and a nice birds eye shot (which is a little old but I couldn't find a more recent one) to give you an idea of what is where..
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| If you look closely you can also see the ducks that promptly swam away from me |
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The plane was broken up in 1993 for scrap,
ReplyDeleteNow i was only a kid at the time, i played on this plane, nd i remember going to the park a few times nd being disappointed at not being able to get on summic coz it had been on fire nd i think it was the plane, in fact the more i think on it am sure it was that, it was the only thing i actually loved at the park nd the only reason i ever wanted to go.
Also i cant remember anything else significant at the part at that the time that i wud of gotten upset over not being able to get on, this happened a few times nd i think it was part health nd safety nd part the council got sick of aving to repair it all the time nd i think thats why they called time on it
I remember the Conversation
Brother: We cant get on it
Me: awww why?
Brother: Its been on fire, they won't let anyone on it
Me: Not again....
I remember going to the park wiv the hope that the plane was fixed, nd it did get fixed the first few times nd then i remember it sitting for while nd then eventually askin when it was going to be fixed nd sumone said oh they said they r not gunna going to this time, they r getting rid of it
The plane was like the most best thing at the part at the time nd probably still wud of been if it was still there coz how many kids get to play in a real plane, it was awesum, I was disappointed for a long long time over it getting taken away
Who knows how much longer it wud of lasted if it hadnt kept being ruined by sum thoughtless idiots thou i think health nd safety wud of eventually called time on it............