incidents of architecture

mrswoolybill (e2 Member)

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31 Dec 2011 - 11:46 PM

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We've looked at this so often from the Baltic. Once we went along to find out what it was.The Keelman's Hospital... Part of the remaining character of lower Newcastle, that hasn't been entirely swamped by bars with silly names and over-priced apartment blocks. A good record of a bit of the North East that's in danger of disappearing.
Moira

aitchbrown (e2 Member)

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31 Dec 2011 - 11:57 PM

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From good old Wikki:
Keelmen loaded coal into the keel's hold from a "spout" or riverside chute. The keel would then be taken down river on the ebb tide using oars, or sail if the wind was favourable, and taken alongside the waiting collier where the crew would shovel the coal into the collier, working even after darkness. This could be arduous due to the difference in height between the keel’s gunwale and the collier’s deck. When keelmen struck in 1819 one of their demands was an extra shilling per keel per foot that the side of the collier exceeded five feet. After a time colliers were constructed in such a manner as to make it easier to load coal into them. After loading the keelmen would return for another load if there was daytime left and tides allowed.

Keelmen were traditionally bound to employment for a year, the binding day normally being Christmas Day but employment tended to be seasonal with hardly any work in winter. The availability of work was often affected by the weather, if ships were unable to come into the river, and also by the supply of coal from the pits. Strikes might affect output and wily pit owners would sometimes curtail production to keep prices high. As a result keelmen could spend long periods without work, during which they would have to live on credit or find employment in clearing wrecks and sand banks from the river. The Tyneside keelmen formed an independent society in 1556 but were never incorporated, probably because the Newcastle Hostmen feared their becoming too powerful. The Wearside keelmen were finally incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1792.

The Tyneside keelmen lived in the Sandgate area, outside the city walls, one of the poorest and most overcrowded parts of the city, made up of many narrow alleys. They were known as a close-knit group of aggressive, hard-drinking men: John Wesley, after visiting Newcastle, described them as much given to drunkenness and swearing.

When dressed to go out keelmen wore a distinctive costume of blue jacket, yellow waistcoat, bell-bottom trousers and blue bonnet. The trade of keelmen tended to be passed on from father to son, the son working as an apprentice on a keel until considered old enough and strong enough to be a crewman. Most men were unfit to continue the physically very demanding work into their forties. By 1700 there were 1,600 keelmen working on the Tyne in 400 keels. Not all were local: there was a significant number of Scottish keelmen who returned home in the winter when trade was slack.

aitchbrown (e2 Member)

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1 Jan 2012 - 12:29 AM

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Thanks Ron, and happy New Year to you and yours too. helen x

mrswoolybill (e2 Member)

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1 Jan 2012 - 9:22 AM

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The keelmen figure in one of the best Tyneside songs, The Keel Row.

As I came thro' Sandgate,
Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
As I came thro' Sandgate,
I heard a lassie sing:
"O, weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
O weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in."

Unfortunately the only decent recording I can find online is this by Kathleen Ferrier. She had a wonderful voice but she was no Geordie!
Moira

barbarahirst (e2 Member)

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1 Jan 2012 - 11:26 AM

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interesting to read all this
Happy new year Helen
regards Barbs