A trip on Shields Ferry to discover its fate | Plus an adventure thrown in!

[@jimberry7411]

Thank you for your video Eddie. My Uncle Jock used to steer the Shields Ferry in the seventies and I used to cross regularly to North Shields to get my Ship joining information from the Stag Line office in Howard Street North Shields ( It is a listed building with a Stag on the side which can be seen clearly from the South side). It would be terrible if it were to close. I live in the midlands now but I come 'home' to Shields as often as I can and even jump on the Ferry there and back just for the ride. My surname also happens to be 'Ferry' haha

[@TynesideLife]

Great message Jim 👍🏻

[@xvsupremacy7190]

Haddaway , never in this world , they have stopped us from being able to afford to go through the Tyne Tunnel . And now they re talking about depriving us of the Shields Ferry disgusting.

[@philgray1023]

Must look for that next time I get to England.

[@LeedsUnitedJohn]

I said to my Wife " let's have a weekend in Newcastle " but I think we'll need at least a week. I hope the Ferry does survive. I used to love the Woolwich ferry in London when I was a kid. Nostalgia doesn't mean anything to Governments these days I'm afraid. Use it or lose it Guys.

[@TynesideLife]

☝️

[@robertarthur2482]

Great vlog yet again. North Shields legend Sam Fender may be making waves around the world - but he's never forgotten where he's come from. And when he's not travelling the world to perform to crowds of fans, he and his band enjoy popping in for a pint in their favourite pub the Low Lights Tavern.

[@TynesideLife]

Just like I did in the video 🍺🤛🏻

[@smullen2000]

It’s great that people like yourself and young Jordan highlight the possibility of loosing such a vital piece of infrastructure that links the north and south sides of the river for foot passengers. I hope that more people start to use it now, to highlight the need to keep it.

[@TynesideLife]

Me too 👍🏻

[@newbris]

Fingers crossed they get the funding. Some serious bit of cycling kit there Eddy. I'm a daily commuter, but only about 9 miles return, so I reckon my bike goes slower than yours :) That cafe you cycled down to looks great. I think I saw on the internet a while back but didn't realise its setting was so great. Or that you could cycle down to it like that. I always meant to go on the Shields Ferry when staying in Pelaw with the in-laws, but never did, so hope it's still there. Thanks for another great video.

[@TynesideLife]

Thanks for watching it bud and hope it inspires you

[@johnbrownbridge873]

Great vid yet again. You passed Kennedy's bar in Tyne Dock, I lived right beside there till 2 years ago and spent many an afternoon or night in the bar which incidentally often flooded when there was heavy rain. When I worked on the buses in Newcastle there was a story that a message came on the bus radio about someone having engine trouble and the controller told them to bring the bus in to Byker depot, to which the reply came that it was the ferry having bother but they'd do their best to get it up Shields Road. As to the opening of the Tyne tunnel, when it was being built (or maybe just being pllanned) one of my teachers was talking about it and I said there was already a tunnel (meaning the foot tunnel) and she got quite irate and said I was stupid but I knew I was right because I'd been through it several times.

[@jonathanauty4861]

Loved the video grew up in South shields reminded me of hime lots of find memories of the ferry and tynmouth priory

[@jeffyoung321]

Great video Eddie. One of your best yet in my humble opinion. We used to enjoy the river boat shuffles that were ran on the ferries where you could book a trip up the tyne and have a few beers. Unfortunately they have stopped now for some reason.

[@TynesideLife]

I’d love to do that Booze Cruise

[@MagpieGeordie]

Thanks Eddie great video. I live in North Shields and I’m 70 year old. When I was a lot younger we used to travel on the old Northumbria ferry, this ferry was bigger and it took I think about 4 cars with passengers. A solid old ferry. Keep them coming Eddie, love your videos mate. 👍👏⚫️⚪️

[@TynesideLife]

Great memories 👍🏻

[@christopherwright8811]

Keeping me in touch with home. Loving these videos - keep it up. Much appreciated.

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@grahambell9831]

Morning Eddy, very canny video👏I hope the crossings can continue for future generations to enjoy👍. Those fish & chips looked fab 😋 a pint and a coffee, the only thing missing was a 99 + flake + monkey's blood ! Definitely a Collingwood video Eddy 👊

[@TynesideLife]

I love 99’s with monkeys blood 🩸 😋

[@grahambell9831]

@@TynesideLife maybe one more 99 before the winter sets in ! Looking forward to the next instalment Eddy on tyneside life👍

[@stevedawson3082]

Love the ferry crossing when we come up to visit the region and familiar old stomping grounds. It needs to stay open,. If it goes it will never come back. Fish Quay would be ok. We could have fish and chips on route. Thanks for all your videos Eddie. Will look out for you in October when next up.

[@TynesideLife]

Looking forward to it Steve 👍🏻

[@brendanmannion3192]

Great stuff again Eddie. Those fish and chips looked decent. My stomach is growling now! Mind you the Low Lights do fantastic fish and chips themselves as well as the best pies known to man, and from a Yorkshireman that's the highest praise I could give to anything. We'll be back up in December, roll on. Cheers

[@TynesideLife]

Thanks Brendan. Glad you enjoyed it 🤛🏻

[@ianmilstead764]

Another great Tyneside video! Its really great to see Shields and Tynemouth looking so vibrant. It would be a real shame if the Shields Ferry ended not just because of the history, but practicality. If you don't drive then the only option for cross Tyne travel that far east is the pedestrian tunnel (which is not always open) or a very circuitous route through Newcastle/Gateshead. Needed it to get to my first programming job in Sunderland by bike 40 odd years ago.

[@TynesideLife]

Great message Ian 👍🏻

[@georgestoker100]

Eddie, another mint video. Got little confidence in “levelling up”. What a tragedy if The Shields Ferry was no more. Ktf.✌️

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers George 👍🏻

[@garyburrough2636]

at 38yo i still love getting on the ferry. A few year back they would run cruises up the river & back down the rive with well established local bands playing & the price of beer was more than reasonable was a great night out.

[@michaelboys2602]

Crackin video, Ed!! I have very fond memories of going on the shields ferry a lot with me gran when I was a lad. Loved it!! It would be a bloody shame if it closed down. A real bloody shame. Hope the funding gets found 🤞🤞

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers Michael 🤛🏻

[@simonhainsworth3490]

Another class video. Keep it up.

[@davidailano1742]

Great video, used it a few times to go across to North Shields, work our way along the pubs to a restaurant, have some scran then get the last ferry back.

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers Dave, great day out all round 👍🏻

[@JaxLehocq]

Great Vid Eddie nice to have met you ,back in Jersey now👍

[@t100mmy]

Great video Eddy I completed a similar trip using the ferry to visit the fish quay and Tynemouth then got the metro to Whitley bay and visited the Spanish city and st Mary's lighthouse. Great day out and the weather was great for the end of August. Hope u are well sir.

[@TynesideLife]

I am Tommy. Thank you for the message 👍🏻

[@JamesWilliams-vo2id]

Used the ferry from hebburn to Wallsend and the naval yard,used to spew your insides out on a Monday morning after a weekend on the drink when you reached the bone yard and the pickle factory,great memories.

[@TynesideLife]

😂

[@geordieal]

Tynemouth and North Shields both hold a special place in my heart. Me grandad on me dads side was the gardener for Percy Gardens and me grandad on me Mams side had the Gibraltar Rock pub. Would be a terrible loss to lose the Shields ferry. It should be expanded… do a Thames clipper like service up and down the Tyne!

[@TynesideLife]

Great message Al 🤛🏻

[@andyallom4357]

My mates Steve and Bev, who came to Cayman with me in 1994, have just retired and bought a flat right next to the North Shields side of the ferry landing. Brilliant.

[@TynesideLife]

Ahh nice!

[@charlie2ism]

I came here as I'm about to take the ferry on Monday from South to North Shields - for the first time in 60-odd years. I wanted to see what to expect these days. I was born in South Shields and as a kid was often taken by my grandparents on the ferry. Happy days! I had no idea it was under threat, so I hope to get back as often as possible now. It's years since I've been to Whitley Bay or Tynemouth, and from Barnard Castle this will be a great way to get to Newcastle. I just need to know a handy place to park, and then I'll use my bus pass. I've read I can even get a reduced ferry fare.

[@Nathan-vw9du]

Thank you for the upload. Another excellent, informative video. Quickly becoming one of my favourites to follow

[@TynesideLife]

Thanks Nathan 🤛🏻

[@LeeStewart]

I’ve not been on the ferry from South to North Shields since 2005. Lovely sights.

[@bas6628]

Wonderful..I cycle from South Shields to North Shields then onto Tynemouth, Whitley bay and beyond...into Seton seuth, Merdon..great cycling routes...go along the river towards Newcastle from South Shields, cross the Tyne bridge then into the Hadrian cycle route.... Of course there is that wonderful coast road route TOWARDS Sunderland

[@TynesideLife]

😅

[@DistrictDriver]

Excellent video! Would be a tragedy if it did cease. I remember going on the ferry called The Shieldsman in my younger days. It would take ages to get from North to South Shields if we had to get a bus or the Metro via the toon.

[@andyallom4357]

Always felt like a trip out when we went to North Shields and Tynemouth or Whitley Bay. Usually we headed to South Shields or Whitburn/Seaburn, being much closer to Wardley. Another fun video Eddie. Thanks.

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers Andy 🤛🏻

[@keithrichardsom1898]

Another great video Eddie

[@simonsmart8615]

Nice eddy happy memories of shields, the ferry and tynemouth. Thanks for this eddy

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@gbjcookies]

Another great video, thanks for posting Eddie 👍

[@kevinweaver1270]

Great stuff Eddie, yeah you should definitely do a piece on lord Collingwood, and the priory at Tynemouth

[@TynesideLife]

Will do Kevin 👍🏻

[@pauljames77777]

Eddy interesting video , the last time i crossed on a ferry from South Shields was on the Freda Cunningham would have been 1983 after i just ran the Great North run it was painted yellow in those days, seeing this video brought back some great memories for me , Keep these great videos comming Eddie

[@TynesideLife]

Great memories Paul 👍🏻

[@graemecatty9921]

Another informative video thanks Eddie. Strangely quiet streets I noticed.

[@dennisthompson2350]

I remember the ferry when the ferry boats were marvel’s of Victorian engineering.with steam powered engines. The shipyards busy and the Fish Quay always busy. The Tyne was a working river back then.All gone.”like tears in the rain “. I enjoyed the video. Despite my memories of bygone times. You should hope on your bike and take a peddle up-to Morpeth one day. Lord Collingwood’s house still stands as does Collingwoods Woods.

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers Dennis 👍🏻

[@gazzag72]

Brilliant video Eddie I’ve done that trip a few times with my bike 🚲 I love being beside the sea 17 years in the RN and 17 years working offshore ❤ can’t beat coming home though ⚫️⚪️

[@TynesideLife]

I bet we’ll have a lot in common Gazza 🤛🏻

[@137Rita]

Another great video - love the Shields ferry, couldn't believe you've never been on it before! Once (a few years ago now!) I cycled to Tynemouth along the cycle track from Newcastle, then over on the ferry and back home on the south side of the river. Both North & South Shields are worth a few vids, I reckon.

[@TynesideLife]

Definitely Rita 👍🏻

[@IanEckert1977]

I used to get the Shields ferry over to North Shields when the Fish Quay was on...Quality...

[@TynesideLife]

I love it Ian!

[@IanEckert1977]

Tres-Bon as the French say Eddie son...

[@bullerboy22]

Cracking video Eddie - Its great to park up in South Shields then get the ferry across for a mooch about :) - Collingwood vid would be cool 👍

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@Chirn70]

That's the actual Brit award, Eddie. No replica 👍 Makes quite a canny hand pull!

[@TynesideLife]

The owner told me it’s just a replica 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Chirn70]

@@TynesideLife he gave the award to the pub. I wonder what's gannin on there... 🤔

[@TynesideLife]

@@Chirn70 I think that’s just paper talk who have played on the wording

[@Chirn70]

Mind I had a pint off've it about 2 weeks back. The Bass was off so it was a 2nd choice. Must have been a slow day for that LL Bitter 😬

[@brib6194]

If you have a bus pass and have upgraded to the gold card for metro travel, you can travel free on the ferry 😉

[@TynesideLife]

I’m not that old (yet)

[@brib6194]

@@TynesideLife I am 🤣 and do quite a lot of cycling. Have you found the tidestone yet? would make an interesting video. p.s. have you seen the appeal that was in the evening chronicle again and has been on radio etc, "Melanies mission to live" very sad and she is desperate for help.

[@chubbygazelle8983]

Aye Eddie, I'd very much appreciate a video on Admiral Lord Collingwood and his part in the RN and in particular, Trafalgar. Thank you mucker.

[@TynesideLife]

Will do 👍🏻

[@geoffbell2906]

As a bairn I used to love going on the AB Gowan between Jarrow and Howden.

[@Flukey_1970]

Ah that would be extremely sad if the shields ferry closes! Great video and omg i was on the fish quay and Tynemouth today with my mate for a walk and coffee i will bump into you one of these days hahaha

[@TynesideLife]

Look forward to it Martin 👍🏻

[@michaelkelly7301]

Really interesting video very informative hope you have some. more lined up Eddie 👍

[@ianmilstead764]

Thanks!

[@janinebrown9067]

Nice day out…must try those fish n chips!

[@TynesideLife]

Great day out Jan

[@davidpurser5817]

I think the shieldsman was built in Handcocks shipyard in pembroke dock Wales I worked there and went up to Newcastle to commission it in the late 70s, My sister was living up there and still does as she married a Geordie lad Kath Cassidys son, Small World.

[@TynesideLife]

Thanks for sharing David 👍🏻

[@TheTransportDepot]

I remember the Shieldsman being taken away in 2009. I then rediscovered it a couple of years ago while I was in Shoreham-by-Sea, converted to a houseboat. According to Google maps, it's still there to this day.

[@marshalhall]

Great video as always Eddie....informative, educational & entertaining. However as a member of South Shields Velo Cycle Club andFat lad At The Back CC...please, PLEASE get you and your girlfriend a Cycle Helmet. Cheers, Malcolm, South Shields

[@TynesideLife]

👍🏻

[@martynridley513]

Been on the ferry several times while visiting. It’s a great asset but I agree it should dock further downstream on the north side. There should also be better directions to get to the Metro on the north side.

[@ff2346cookson]

Hope it doesn't close. We visited Newcastle recently and got a return ticket from Newcastle/ tynemouth/ferry to South shields all in the price of the return ticket..... Great day out.

[@SteveMallam]

I only use the ferry once a year - to get home from the Great North Run. It will cause bedlam on that day if the ferry closes…!

[@JordanReeve]

Great video Eddy! Shocked you’ve never been on the ferry before

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers Jordan 👍🏻

[@davidmoore7665]

when i was a kid in the early eightys me and my mates would go for a ride on the metro system if it was crap weather, we would get on from felling and travel to sheilds, get on ferry to north sheilds back on metro to felling all for 5p, those were the days.

[@TynesideLife]

Great memories David 🤛🏻

[@thesocktheaf9885]

Great vid! Would be a tragedy to lose the Shields Ferry! While the metros are closed will be using it to get to North Shields Metro to get to the match with my mates, as your magpie mover works on the ferry!

[@TynesideLife]

☝️

[@antd6993]

A Geordie who won the Battle of Trafalgar...blimey aye please dee one on him! Am up on Saturday for the Bournemouth match, are yee bobbing aboot outside the ground b4 the match Eddy? Be gr8 to meet yee again! 😎

[@TynesideLife]

Yeah I’m around Ant 👍🏻

[@Master-im7jc]

Another cracking video (loved it) I remember as a lad going on my Saturday adventure when staying at my dad's. Going on the ferry to South Shields and going to the fair coming back on it and back for the end of Grandstand football results. Having taken my kids on it, it is part of history. Again a cracking video keep it up

[@TynesideLife]

Great message bud

[@allseasonseafishing]

I often use the ferry when getting about doing my fishing videos be a shame for it to shut after being open for so long and becoming such a valuable asset

[@shaggyrobert]

if you have an all day ticket includes the ferry to .i done the ferry a few years ago on few day trip to Newcastle

[@daveneo3580]

Years ago early Noughties / late Nineties me and my mates used to love doing all day beer sessions around the metro...and the Shields Ferry was integral and a great part of fun over to North Shields then on to Whitley Bay. Not done it for years as at our age you get knackered by the time you get to North Shields..via Town Felling South Shields lol Would be a shame if it shut down

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@jamiefender6909]

More great local information about the ferry. A video on Lord Collingwood would set a record little known about.

[@TynesideLife]

Will do 👍🏻

[@jimmyoconnell6167]

Can't believe there taken the ferry off I used often I often fished of the old ferry north shidlds landing during 70s 80s

[@TynesideLife]

I think you need to watch the video Jimmy 😅

[@dennischarters4614]

Hi Eddie you passed an iconic building on your way to Tynemouth knots flats 👍🏽do a video about this great building

[@TynesideLife]

Will do Dennis 👍🏻

[@M4M1610]

They should build an awesome bridge for metro,cycle and bikes

[@janinebrown9067]

Forgot to say….yes do the Admiral Lord Collingwood story…it’ll be really interesting and definitely a part of Tyneside Life history

[@TynesideLife]

Will do Jan

[@TheMagpieReview]

Loved this video I’ve been allover am sure you went past the clock pub in hebburn I recognise all the roads class mate I used to fish off the ferry landing years ago now are they shutting the ferry down? Shame that I used to get sweets from the vending machine there when I was fishing age 15 haha

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@stephenharris7982]

Great video as usual but you need a helmet my friend we need to keep your noggin safe for more of these amazing videos😂❤

[@TynesideLife]

🚴👍🏻

[@barrycardno1646]

Eddie as always great video. It did not look you did a great deal of cycling, were you on a electric bike 😁

[@TynesideLife]

Haha! We cycled about 16 miles all told. 6.5 miles each way and a couple of miles or so to Tynemouth and back. My bike is a Boardman Cyclocross and Helen’s is a Boardman MTB. No electric bikes in use.

[@barrycardno1646]

@@TynesideLife My mistake I'm from South Shields now living in Monkseaton. Couple of pointers on the ferry, it was part of the A19 when cars used to use the old smokey smelly ferry, how times have changed.

[@MONTYMAGPIE2K15]

They are supposed to be moving the North side landing further up the river next to the Royal ques

[@TynesideLife]

I talk about this in the video 👍🏻

[@waynemathison2381]

luv these vids eddie

[@steveeccleston3084]

World famous Barbour coats from South Shields

[@jasmineblack9778]

Great vid Ed. You & your lass should get a tandem bike

[@TynesideLife]

😅

[@Helen-nz1xp]

Eddy would slow me down Jasmine 😆

[@jasmineblack9778]

@@Helen-nz1xp haha

[@nlr70]

Belta Eddie, great vid

[@Cruzy1892]

There was a factory that was knocked down where Knott’s Flat’s is and there was an estimated 200,000 rat’s that escaped from there.

[@TynesideLife]

Yuk 🥴

[@pedrostokoe1980]

eddie you should try the how do you do it's a cracking little pub

[@TynesideLife]

👍🏻

[@arthur12345cat]

I would like to know more about Admiral Collingwood, the sound was not so good on this video but still interesting

[@TynesideLife]

👍🏻

[@graemejohnson2388]

Any plans on a video about Saltwell park. Plenty History I sure you could find out. 👍

[@TynesideLife]

It’s on the list Graeme 👍🏻

[@graemejohnson2388]

Champion. Just was in yesterday’s and seen a statue of a Alderman and thought of your video of the building in the toon

[@toonarmytastic5309]

As a Jarrow lad it's scandalous that Newcastle have a number of crossings all free .Tyne Tunnel is a complete rip off .They should have built a bridge anywhere from Jarrow down to shields

[@TynesideLife]

You’ll need to elaborate bud. I’m not aware of any Newcastle crossings that are free but cost those on the South Side?

[@toonarmytastic5309]

@@TynesideLife Hi Eddie Every Bridge from Gateshead to Newcastle is free for now 😀

[@colinryles7997]

Great again Eddie, just one thing when you left the low lights, you said you were going to Tynemouth, but you were heading the other way, did you get lost...🤣🤣🤣

[@TynesideLife]

I crossed the road and headed left Colin… towards Tynemouth. You’ll need to watch it again 😅

[@colinryles7997]

@@TynesideLife oops I forgot about that turn off, so long as you had a great day.👍

[@TynesideLife]

@@colinryles7997 brilliant day bud 🤛🏻

[@leetaylor7119]

Can't beat fish and chips at the coast!

[@TynesideLife]

😋

[@XXLaffinGravyXX]

Just spoke last week to the lad taking the fares on the Ferry and they are moving the dock on the North Shields side further up. He said there are NO plans from Nexus to stop running the ferry ..So that's great news....here's to the next 700 years of crossing the Tyne.😁🍻🍻🍻

[@TynesideLife]

That’s great news! 👍🏻

[@TheMagpieReview]

Should do a video of the hawthorn Leslie old shipyard in hebburn church bank be class that lots of history on that

[@TynesideLife]

🤛🏻

[@kylepanton1419]

A like to get the ferry over to North Shields and pedal to St marys Island and back

[@TynesideLife]

I’ll try that 👍🏻

[@philgray1023]

It's gone up a bit. Cost me sixpence last time I was on it. Of course it was the steam version.

[@TynesideLife]

😂

[@philgray1023]

@@TynesideLife It was called the Northumbrian. I think my sister has a video of it when my mothers husband was getting his car on it. You could look in the window to the engine room. It was just like you had arrived in wonderland. The best part was getting a bag of willicks (whelks for the posh kids) at the South Shields markets.

[@CushdelaCush]

Charles Norton like Eddy? Nice!

[@TynesideLife]

I don’t know what that means 😅

[@CushdelaCush]

@@TynesideLife courting

[@bradthelad2580]

What's the song eddie

[@TynesideLife]

Tyne Bridge by Paul Martin. I mention it in the description 👍🏻

[@gordy3714]

Is the Norma Cunningham still running. 👍

[@TynesideLife]

You’ll have to watch and find out…

[@shauntaylor6040]

Is this the ferry from the Michael. Caine film.

[@TynesideLife]

Not sure Shaun

[@shauntaylor6040]

Get Carter, no that was Wallsend to Hebburn ferry.

[@richiewong1]

Girlfriend, the correct term is “wor lass”

[@TynesideLife]

😂