Part of our Heritage
This wall has created great debate over the years. The need for costly repairs or rebuild against removing it altogether.
Our local Boldon Colliery/West Boldon councillors are trying to make sure that contractors preserve as many of of the bricks because it is understood that they were made at the "Brick Works" in Boldon in the late 1800's. This will mean that at least one line of bricks can be put back into the new wall.
"The wall really is part of our heritage dating back to Victorian times and as such we don't want to loose it".
Whilst consideration had been given to removing the wall altogether, which would have been a much cheaper option for the council the vast majority wished to preserve this old wall. In particular, those residents living in Hardy Drive expressed concern that the wall acted as a barrier for noise and pollution from the A184 as well as the security aspect as many householders have suffered break-ins in the past and would feel more exposed without the wall.
Safety Aspect: The A184 is abusy road and all it would take is one child to be killed on this road by chasing a ball out onto the road so for safety reasons alone it was agreed that the wall should be re-built.
Although finances are stretched at South Tyneside the local councillors have managed to secure the funding for this project.
As you know , the wall has now been removed which has now opened more debate.
Here is a recent letter 2oth Feb 2010 sent to me as Secretary of Boldons History Society.
You will have noticed that The Red Wall has recently been demolished. The bricks have been taken away for cleaning and it is planned to use them again to rebuild the wall. Passions have run high about this wall - many thought we were about to lose it - including me - and felt it was part of the history of the area.
However since it has been cleared a new dimension has been added to the area liking the two villages. Suddenly we have an open aspect showing the grassed area and mature trees which has always been hidden by The Wall making the journey rural and pretty. Some, who were formerly passionate about retaining the wall, are having second thoughts. We all have an opportunity, whilst the bricks are being cleaned, to further consider this area.
My first memories of the wall was that it had some age to it, even then. My brother (in his 80's) thinks, as I do, that it was probably built around 1920 and possibly had something to do with the breaking through of the road at the top of West Boldon Bank and its improvement and widening which I believe happened about then and just before the Addison Road, houses were built. The Red Wall, until the 1950's when the Hardie Drive estate was built, was flanked by fields on both sides of the road and I think the farm land was owned by the Gibsons of East Boldon. Can anyone throw any light on how it came about. During my lifetime it seems to have always been the responsibility of Boldon Urban District Council and latterly South Tyneside.
Go to Boldon History Website
What is clear is that the wall has deteriated over the years and for the last two years our local councillors have fought very hard to achieve funding on the communities behalf to have it pulled down and then rebuilt from scratch with new foundations.
It is understood that the bricks are now in safe storage and may be re-used ensuring that the re-build is as close as possible to original
.
Our local Boldon Colliery/West Boldon councillors are trying to make sure that contractors preserve as many of of the bricks because it is understood that they were made at the "Brick Works" in Boldon in the late 1800's. This will mean that at least one line of bricks can be put back into the new wall.
"The wall really is part of our heritage dating back to Victorian times and as such we don't want to loose it".
Whilst consideration had been given to removing the wall altogether, which would have been a much cheaper option for the council the vast majority wished to preserve this old wall. In particular, those residents living in Hardy Drive expressed concern that the wall acted as a barrier for noise and pollution from the A184 as well as the security aspect as many householders have suffered break-ins in the past and would feel more exposed without the wall.
Safety Aspect: The A184 is abusy road and all it would take is one child to be killed on this road by chasing a ball out onto the road so for safety reasons alone it was agreed that the wall should be re-built.
Although finances are stretched at South Tyneside the local councillors have managed to secure the funding for this project.
As you know , the wall has now been removed which has now opened more debate.
Here is a recent letter 2oth Feb 2010 sent to me as Secretary of Boldons History Society.
You will have noticed that The Red Wall has recently been demolished. The bricks have been taken away for cleaning and it is planned to use them again to rebuild the wall. Passions have run high about this wall - many thought we were about to lose it - including me - and felt it was part of the history of the area.
However since it has been cleared a new dimension has been added to the area liking the two villages. Suddenly we have an open aspect showing the grassed area and mature trees which has always been hidden by The Wall making the journey rural and pretty. Some, who were formerly passionate about retaining the wall, are having second thoughts. We all have an opportunity, whilst the bricks are being cleaned, to further consider this area.
My first memories of the wall was that it had some age to it, even then. My brother (in his 80's) thinks, as I do, that it was probably built around 1920 and possibly had something to do with the breaking through of the road at the top of West Boldon Bank and its improvement and widening which I believe happened about then and just before the Addison Road, houses were built. The Red Wall, until the 1950's when the Hardie Drive estate was built, was flanked by fields on both sides of the road and I think the farm land was owned by the Gibsons of East Boldon. Can anyone throw any light on how it came about. During my lifetime it seems to have always been the responsibility of Boldon Urban District Council and latterly South Tyneside.
Go to Boldon History Website
