North East England in the Seventies and Eighties 1970 to 1989
One of the most important political changes of the 1970s was the establishment of the new counties of Cleveland and Tyne and Wear which swallowed up the most populous chunks of Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire. Coal mines continued to close in the 1970s and 1980s and the issue coming to a head in the bitter miners’ strike of 1984-85. By the end of the 1980s, there were only six collieries left in the land between Tyne and Tees and only two left in Northumberland.
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1970 – Beamish Museum
The North of England Open Air Museum has been established at Beamish by Frank Atkinson. The museum will bring to life the social and economic history of the region.
1970 – Fort found at Whickham
Aerial photography reveals a previously unknown Roman fort at Washingwell Farm near Whickham on Tyneside.
1970 – Teesdale reservoir opens
Cow Green reservoir opens in Teesdale supplying homes and industries on Teesside with water.
1970 – Monsanto on Teesside
Monsanto, a textiles company, establishes a plant at Seal Sands for production of acylonite for making acrylic fibre.
1970 – Thornley Colliery closes
Thornley Colliery in County Durham closes.
1971 – Working in the service sector
About 53 per cent of Tyneside employment is now in the service sector. Manufacturing and heavy industry no longer dominate the Tyneside scene.
1971 – Get Carter
The gritty 1971 movie Get Carter starring Michael Caine and set in the region, features a number of regional locations including the Durham coast, Blyth and a grim 1960s car park at Gateshead.
1971 – Colliery closures
Silksworth Colliery near Sunderland and Bedlington Colliery in Northumberland close.
1972 – Power station at Hartlepool
Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station has started supplying electricity. Its construction began in 1968.
May 5 1973 – Sunderland win FA Cup
Second Division Sunderland Football Club defeat First Division Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley with a goal from Scot, Ian Porterfield. Highlights include a split second double save from Sunderland-born goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery for his hometown club and an elated dash across the pitch at the end of the match by Sunderland manager, Bob Stokoe. It is Sunderland’s third ever appearance in a cup final and their second victory, having previously won it in 1937. Manager Stokoe, a miner’s son from Northumberland had played for Newcastle United in the 1955 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
1973 – Colliery closures
The North East collieries closing this year were Bardon Mill in the Tyne valley; Fenwick Colliery at Backworth; Fishburn near Sedgefield; Ravensworth Ann Colliery near Gateshead; Morrison Busty near Annfield Plain and South Moor near Stanley.
1974 – Former city leader jailed for corruption
The career of former Newcastle City leader T Dan Smith ends in dishonour after he is jailed for six years for corruption. He was once widely admired for his vision for the region. Former leader of Durham County Council, Andrew Cunningham and architect John Poulson also receive sentences.
1 April 1974 – ‘Tyne and Wear’ and ‘Cleveland’ created
Local government reforms have considerably changed the shape of County Durham’s boundaries. Gateshead, Jarrow, Blaydon, South Shields and Sunderland have all been moved from County Durham into the new county of Tyne and Wear. Most of the Tyneside area north of the Tyne has been moved from Northumberland into Tyne and Wear. In southern County Durham, Hartlepool has been moved into the newly-created County of Cleveland which includes most of the old borough of Teesside, which dates from 1968, along with areas of rural North Yorkshire including Guisborough.
1974 – Colliery closures
Collieries closing this year were Elemore near Pittington (the colliery for Easington Lane); Whitworth Park Colliery near Spennymoor; Nettlesworth near Sacriston; Usworth near Washington and Kibblesworth Colliery near Gateshead all in the Durham coalfield and Netherton Colliery near Bedlington in Northumberland.
1974 – Work on Tyne and Wear Metro system begins
The building of the Metro Rapid Transport System commences on Tyneside.
Sept 27, 1975 – Railway celebrations
The 150th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway are held. The Duke of Edinburgh visits the celebrations at Preston Park and opens the North Road Station Museum in Darlington.
1975 – Colliery closures
Langley Park Colliery near Durham and Burradon Colliery to the north of Newcastle close this year.
1976 – Kielder Reservoir
The construction of the Kielder Dam has begun in North Tynedale. The resulting reservoir in North Tynedale has been built primarily to supply the thirsty industries of Teesside.
May 1977 – President’s visit
US President, Jimmy Carter visits the North East. His visit takes in Washington Old Hall near Sunderland and the city of Newcastle. At Newcastle, accompanied by Prime Minister Jim Callaghan, the President is granted the Freedom of the City by Lord Mayor Hugh White before delighting an assembled crowd of some 20,000 outside Newcastle Civic Centre with the words “Howay the Lads”.
1977 – Dudley Colliery closes
Northumberland’s Dudley Colliery closes.
1978 – Rainton Colliery closes
Rainton Colliery (Adventure Pit) near Durham closes, the Rainton area had been an important area for mining since medieval times.
May 4, 1979 – Margaret Thatcher is PM
Margaret Thatcher has been elected as Britain’s first female Prime Minister. Her ‘reign’ will prove divisive in the region.
1979 – Shipyard closures
Between 1974 and 1979, there have been five shipyard closures in the North-East. There are now only eight shipyards left in the region.
July 1979 – Hylton Colliery closes
Hylton Colliery near Sunderland closes.
1980 – Dock closes
The Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority has closed Middlesbrough Dock to commercial traffic. The Dock is scheduled for redevelopment.
1980 – Consett steel works close
The Consett Steel Works are closed on economic grounds. Consett Iron works and the later steel works had dominated the landscape here since the works opened in 1841 and could be seen from miles around. The closure results in the loss of at least 3,000 jobs and the socio-economic impact on the town will become the subject of much media attention.
1980 – Colliery closures
South Medomsley Colliery, Eden Colliery near Leadgate and Backworth Colliery close.
1980 – Metro opens
The first section of railway line for Tyneside’s Metro Rapid Transport System is officially opened. It runs from Newcastle’s Haymarket to Tynemouth.
1981 – The Great North Run
The annual Great North Run half marathon event – with its route from Newcastle to South Shields is established by Tyneside athlete Brendan Foster.
1981 – Colliery closures
Woodhorn Colliery near Ashington and Houghton Colliery at Houghton-le-Spring are closed. Blackhall Colliery on the southern edge of the Durham coalfield just to the north of Hartlepool is also closed.
1981 – Service sector on the increase
Tyneside employment in the service sector is now 63 per cent.
1982 – Yachtsman sails the world
Newcastle-born yachtsman David Scott Cowper becomes the first man to sail solo around the world in both directions. In 1980 he became the first to do so in the easterly direction (225 days) and has now completed the same feat in the opposite direction (237 days).
1982 – Colliery closures
South Hetton Colliery, Boldon Colliery and Shilbottle Colliery closed this year.
July 16, 1983 – 100th Miners’ Gala held
The 100th Durham Miners’ Gala is held in Durham City. The gala has been held every year since 1871 with the exception of the war periods 1915-1918 and 1940-45.
1983 – Colliery closures
East Hetton Colliery at Kelloe and Marley Hill Colliery close this year.
1984 – Wagon works close at Shildon
The Shildon wagon works close on economic grounds. The works has been responsible for building most of Britain’s railway freight wagons.
Mar 12 1984 – Miners’ strike
Mines across the country are out on strike in protest over pit closures. Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and National Union of Miners leader, Arthur Scargill lock into a bitter and uncompromising dispute arising from the closure of mines that are expected to have a devastating socio-economic impact on places and communities for which coal mining is a whole way of life.
Apr 6 – 1984 – Bearpark Colliery closes
Bearpark Colliery closes. The village and its colliery are named from the former medieval park of Beaurepaire Park that once belonged to the Priors of Durham. Langley Park, another colliery village, is also named from its proximity to this park.
1984 – New bishop of Durham courts controversy
David Jenkins becomes the new Bishop of Durham. He is noted for his outspoken and controversial beliefs, including doubts over the resurrection of Christ and the Virgin birth. He is consecrated at York Minster.
July 1984 – York Minster fire
A major fire destroys parts of York Minster after it is hit by lightning.
1984 – World’s most beautiful building
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a panel of 50 architectural experts vote Durham Cathedral the most beautiful building in the world.
1984- Sunderland Airport closes
Sunderland Airport closes. It was situated on the site of the former RAF Usworth near Washington.
1985 – Colliery closures
Brenkley Colliery near Seaton Burn, Sacriston Colliery near Durham and Herington Colliery near Sunderland close this year.
1986 – Tees is number three
The port of Tees is the third largest port in the UK in terms of tonnage shipped.
1986 – Colliery closures
Eppleton Colliery at Hetton-le-Hole and Horden Colliery close this year. In Northumberland, Whittle Colliery near Newton-on-the-Moor also closes.
Sept 1986 – Nissan car plant opens
Nissan becomes the first Japanese company to open a factory in Britain when it establishes a car plant between Washington and Sunderland, partly occupying the former RAF Usworth site.
1987 – World Heritage site
Durham Cathedral and Castle are declared a World Heritage Site, one of only a few selected sites designated as such in Britain by UNESCO.
1987 – Gateshead Civic Centre complete
The red brick Gateshead Civic Centre, started in 1978 is complete.
1987 – Ship restored
The restoration of HMS Warrior is completed at Hartlepool.
1987 – Development Corporations for Tyne and Wear and Teesside
Two new development corporations – Teesside Development Corporation and Tyne and Wear Development Corporation – are established. They invest millions of pounds into developing the region’s two major urban areas.
1987 – Shipyard closures
The 15,000 tonne North Islands was launched on October 15, 1986, and it enters history as the last ship ever to be launched on the Tees at Smiths Dock, South Bank, as the shipyard is closing with the loss of 1,295 jobs. The Smiths Dock firm can trace its origins back to the early 19th century and was originally located at North Shields.
Oct 1987 – Metrocentre opens
Europe’s largest shopping and leisure complex is opened at Gateshead.
1988 – Sunderland shipbuilding ends
The Austin and Pickersgill Shipyard closes at Sunderland bringing an end to shipbuilding in a place which was once described as ‘the largest shipbuilding town in the world’. There have been seven shipyard closures across the region in the 1980s and only one now remains – the Swan Hunter Yard on the Tyne at Wallsend.
1988 – Seaham Colliery closes
Seaham Colliery in the coastal County Durham town of Seaham Harbour is closed. Two collieries: Vane Tempest and Dawdon Colliery, continue to operate in the town.
1988 – Ashington Colliery closes
Ashington Colliery in Northumberland closes. Ashington, often described as the ‘world’s largest pit village’ no longer has a colliery. The nearby Woodhorn Colliery had already closed in 1981.
May 1989 – First man to walk to both poles
Explorer, Robert Swan, who is Teesdale-born and raised becomes the first man to walk to both poles. This month he and his team reached the North Pole. In January 1986 Swan had completed the 900 mile walk to the South Pole.
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