EXHIBITION: OUR COASTAL HERITAGE: 14.15 SEPTEMBER 2013
05th September 2013
As part of the National Heritage weekend I've organised an exhibition for Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September 2013 at and in aid of Cullercoats Watch House. The exhibition is by the N.E.collective 'ARamblewithAmble' for whom I'm admin, a like minded set of dear friends and devotees of standing deep in water to capture the beauty of the sunrise and sunset over our coastline. I hope anyone nearby can spare a moment to join us to celebrate the heritage that is our Northumbrian coastline and wonderful geology.
*************************************************
THE WATCH HOUSE CULLERCOATS
The Watch House, perched dramatically above the bay and with stunning views over the North Sea is one of the most important historic buildings left in Cullercoats. It is featured in many paintings by internationally renowned artists such as Winslow Homer (who lived in Cullercoats 1881-82), John Falconar Slater (who lived in Cullercoats for the last 12 years of his life) and Robert Jobling.
The Watch House was designed and built between 1877 and 1879. It was for the use of the Cullercoats Volunteer Life Brigade which had formed in 1865. The CVLB was the second such brigade in the country, following the formation of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade in 1864. The duty of the Life Brigade was to assist the Coastguards in their endeavours to help ships and fishing boats in distress. Indeed, the TVLB had come into being as a result of 2 ships running aground in the mouth of the Tyne on 24th November 1864 which resulted in the deaths of 32 sailors, passengers and lifeboatmen.
When the CVLB formed in 1865 there were 60-70 volunteers (nearly all of them local fishermen) and this number increased to about 100 by 1879.
In 1867 the Rocket House was built to house the CVLB’s life saving apparatus. This building survives to this day, on the opposite side of the road to the Watch House.
Until the Watch House was built in 1879 the only shelter for the Life Brigade volunteers was a stone wall. In such an exposed location this would have been of little use except in the calmest of weather. The place on which it was decided to build the Watch House was where Cullercoats fisherfolk had been accustomed to assemble , from time immemorial, to watch fishing boats come and go.
In 1877 an architect Frank William Rich was engaged to draw up plans and the original estimate for the building was £365 ( half coming from the Board of trade, the balance raised Locally). Early in the project it was decided to add the clock turret. The clock itself came from a private house in Cullercoats and was put into working order by the Corporation of Tynemouth. A bell was also added which could be rung in foggy weather to help guide boats ashore.
The Watch House was officially opened on 13th October 1879 by Thomas Gray, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department Board of trade.
*************************************************
THE WATCH HOUSE CULLERCOATS
The Watch House, perched dramatically above the bay and with stunning views over the North Sea is one of the most important historic buildings left in Cullercoats. It is featured in many paintings by internationally renowned artists such as Winslow Homer (who lived in Cullercoats 1881-82), John Falconar Slater (who lived in Cullercoats for the last 12 years of his life) and Robert Jobling.
The Watch House was designed and built between 1877 and 1879. It was for the use of the Cullercoats Volunteer Life Brigade which had formed in 1865. The CVLB was the second such brigade in the country, following the formation of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade in 1864. The duty of the Life Brigade was to assist the Coastguards in their endeavours to help ships and fishing boats in distress. Indeed, the TVLB had come into being as a result of 2 ships running aground in the mouth of the Tyne on 24th November 1864 which resulted in the deaths of 32 sailors, passengers and lifeboatmen.
When the CVLB formed in 1865 there were 60-70 volunteers (nearly all of them local fishermen) and this number increased to about 100 by 1879.
In 1867 the Rocket House was built to house the CVLB’s life saving apparatus. This building survives to this day, on the opposite side of the road to the Watch House.
Until the Watch House was built in 1879 the only shelter for the Life Brigade volunteers was a stone wall. In such an exposed location this would have been of little use except in the calmest of weather. The place on which it was decided to build the Watch House was where Cullercoats fisherfolk had been accustomed to assemble , from time immemorial, to watch fishing boats come and go.
In 1877 an architect Frank William Rich was engaged to draw up plans and the original estimate for the building was £365 ( half coming from the Board of trade, the balance raised Locally). Early in the project it was decided to add the clock turret. The clock itself came from a private house in Cullercoats and was put into working order by the Corporation of Tynemouth. A bell was also added which could be rung in foggy weather to help guide boats ashore.
The Watch House was officially opened on 13th October 1879 by Thomas Gray, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department Board of trade.