A Race Through Time

As I watched Mo Farah power his way from Newcastle, through Gateshead and ultimately cross the finish line in the coastal town of South Shields at this weekend’s Bupa Great North Run, it made me wonder how the area has changed over the years. 

The region has seen rapid development in recent times, moving away from its industrialised past, and the regeneration of the area is clear to see as we watched the runners make their way along the half marathon route.   I’m sure that if the same route was followed 50 years, 100 years or even further back in time, the runners would have certainly seen a completely different ‘north east’ from what we see today.

Starting in Newcastle, the course takes in the iconic Tyne Bridge which was opened in 1928.  As runners descend down the A167(M), historic maps show us that a reservoir was located on the exact same spot as the route back in 1864 – a swimming costume would certainly have been needed for this leg of the route. 

1864 OS map and Open Street Mapping

Dodge a reservoir

Carry further along and runners may have had to hold their noses back in 1864, as the Corporation Manure Depot was located en route.   Residential housing would have made the route impassable, with Alma Street residences located on what is today the main route towards Gateshead. 

1864 OS map and Open Street Mapping

Alma Street residences would make this impassable

The main ‘Newbridge’ station was located in what today is a motorway out of the city, and this was surrounded by coal depots, unstable ground and yet more residences, which has since made way to accommodate for the main arterial route around the city.

As the runners continue through the route, approaching South Shields on the A1300, it would have become a much more ‘cross country’ affair, as much of the surrounding areas were simply farmer’s fields.   A view towards Simonside Hall would have been clearly visible – according to reports, this was the seat of Robert Wallis who opened the first shipyard in South Shields in about 1720. After his death, his second son John developed Simonside Hall in 1784, which had fine views of Jarrow Slake.  South Shields A.F.C took a lease on the estate in 1947, and the main block of the Hall was eventually demolished in about 1973 – today the site is made up of residential housing.

As we approach the finish line in South Shields on the coastal A183 road, the ‘cross county’ theme would have continued back in the 1800’s.  There were virtually no roads in place in 1858, and instead the area consisted of marsh land, quarry land, tracks and wells.

The Great North Run route would certainly have been difficult, in fact near impossible, back in the history books and it really helps to demonstrate just how the lay of the land, industry and urban development has really changed in the last century.

Andy Noble

Head of Data

Landmark Information Group

Images: Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright and/or Database Right. All rights reserved. Licence 100022432