Podcast brings River Tyne trail's history to life
Tyne Derwent WayStories connected to historic sites along the River Tyne are being told in a new podcast series.
Telling Tales sees local people join forces with historians as they focus on the nine-mile (14km) Tyne Derwent Way, which starts in Gateshead and runs to the National Trust's Gibside estate in the Derwent Valley.
Notable spots along the route include St Mary's Heritage Centre, which has been hit by several fires and is the burial spot of a convicted witch.
Naz Faraji, heritage engagement officer for Tyne Derwent Way, said the series "provides a bridge from the past to the present".
Each of the six episodes details a different site with other notable landmarks including the Grade II-listed Dunston Staiths, a wooden pier-like runway that was used to tip millions of tons of coal into the cargo holds of huge ships.
Recordings of former workers' have been used to outline their typical working day.
More recent developments and events are also featured including the 1980s-built Metrocentre shopping mall and the Gateshead Garden Festival staged in 1990.
'So accessible'
The series came about through community engagement workshops with more than 150 people taking part, Miss Faraji said.
"The main thought aim was preserving heritage and memories - providing a bridge from the past to the present - and we thought the best way to do that was through a podcast because they're so accessible.
"It's given an opportunity for people to share their memories and we've also got historians in each episode along with people like Sir John Hall, the developer of the Metrocentre.
"The series can also be used as an audio guide by anyone walking the Tyne Derwent Way."
All 40-minute episodes are available following a launch event at the heritage centre.
Each one is narrated by a teenager chosen through a competition with The Drop In youth project which provides activities for youngsters in the Dunston and Teams areas of Gateshead.
Funded by Historic England, the series has also involved organisations such as the National Trust, Newcastle and Northumbria universities, Gateshead College and local schools.