South Gare

Building the {{convert|22|mi}} of slag training walls in the Tees was started in 1859.{{cite web |title=Teesmouth Field Centre |accessdate=31 December 2009 |url=http://www.teesmouth.freeserve.co.uk/Timeline.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622140048/http://www.teesmouth.freeserve.co.uk/Timeline.htm |archive-date=22 June 2006 |url-status=dead }}

Blocks of solid blast furnace slag were cast and moved into position along the banks of the River Tees, then back filled using 70,000 tons of material dredged from river bed.

This canalised the river allowing it to keep itself clean by the action of flow and tides.

The Gare was constructed from January 1861 to 1884{{cite web |title=South Gare Lighthouse Hydrogen Fuel Cell Beams Brightly |work=New England Lighthouse Treasures |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://lighthousestars.com/2007/12/27/south-gare-lighthouse-hydrogen-fuel-cell-beams-brightly/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508141524/http://lighthousestars.com/2007/12/27/south-gare-lighthouse-hydrogen-fuel-cell-beams-brightly/ |archivedate=8 May 2009 }}{{cite web |title=North East England: Leading the way in developing a Low Carbon Economy |work=energynortheast.net |accessdate=28 December 2009 |url=http://www.energynortheast.net/lib/liDownload/2495/12661%20BilbaoLowCarbon_hr.pdf?CFID=181234&CFTOKEN=74249261}}{{Dead link |date=July 2012}}

using 5 million tonnes of blast furnace slag and 18,000 tons of cement{{cite web |title=Dave Barlow's Natural History of Teesside |accessdate=31 December 2009 |url=http://davebarlow.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204101143/http://davebarlow.co.uk/ |archive-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}

at a total cost of £219,393.

The slag was supplied free from Tees-side blast furnaces by ironmasters who paid for its removal.

The north end of the breakwater carrying the lighthouse uses blocks of concrete weighing from 40 to 300 tons.{{cite web |last=Hinson |first=Colin |title=Kirkleatham Parish information from Bulmers' 1890 |work=Genuki |accessdate=27 December 2009 |date=1 September 2008 |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Kirkleatham/Kirkleatham90.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122134415/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Kirkleatham/Kirkleatham90.html |archive-date=22 November 2008 |url-status=live }}

Work was planned and supervised by John Fowler, engineer to the Tees Commissioners.

With construction complete, the breakwater was formally opened by the Right Hon W. H. Smith, First Lord of the Treasury on 25 October 1888.

To construct South Gare a rail line was built from the Warrenby iron works to carry men and materials. When construction was complete the rail line was used, wind permitting, with a sail bogey to move visitors, servicemen, lifeboatmen and lighthouse crew out to the lighthouse and gun installations close to the end of South Gare.{{cite web|last=Munro |first=Mike |title=Sails on Rails |work=Copsewood.Org |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://www.copsewood.org/ng_rly/sailbogie/sailbogie.htm |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725195620/http://www.copsewood.org/ng_rly/sailbogie/sailbogie.htm |archivedate=25 July 2011 }}

The rail line still exists in places and is easiest to see near the remains of the coastal battery.

File:Former gun emplacement on the South Gare Breakwater (geograph 6080602).jpg

The original South Gare battery was built from 1890 to 1892 and fitted with a two gun battery.{{cite journal |pages=2 |last=Moore |first=David |title=South Gare Battery|website=victorianforts.co.uk |url=https://www.victorianforts.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/southgare.pdf |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

New guns were fitted to the battery in 1907 but removed in 1920, and in 1938 the battery was reconstructed and fitted with two larger guns.

The anti-aircraft batteries, and mortar emplacements have been partially demolished.{{cite web |work=Hidden Teesside |title=Wartime Relics |accessdate=13 August 2010 |url=http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/category/south-gare/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303222951/http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/category/south-gare/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live }}

There are a number of defensive concrete pill boxes still scattered around the area in the dunes and on the beach.{{cite web |last=Crown |first=Steve |title=Paddy's Hole, South Gare Location Guide |work=ePHOTOzine |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://www.ephotozine.com/photolocations/512/Paddys-Hole-South-Gare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430075328/http://www.ephotozine.com/photolocations/512/Paddys-Hole-South-Gare |archive-date=30 April 2009 |url-status=live }}; {{cite web |last=Cartmel |first=Hilary |title=Hidden Teesside |work=Hidden Teesside |accessdate=27 December 2009 |date=19 January 2007 |url=http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2007/01/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211084733/http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2007/01/ |archive-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=live }}

What is now the South Gare Marine Club is the site of a maintenance base for electrically fired submarine mines defending the mouth of the River Tees.{{cite web|url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/ehsscarborough_eh_2007/milfacil.cfm?CFID=317c56ca-6424-4667-9ebf-efaef40aa337&CFTOKEN=0|title=England's Historic Seascapes: Scarborough to Hartlepool|website=Archaeology Data Service|accessdate=12 January 2021}}

A giant sculpture of the Right Hand of Friendship was proposed for Redcar and Cleveland, at South Gare, as one of series of artworks called Tees Valley Giants.{{cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Sandy |title='Big hand' bid points to proud river links |accessdate=1 January 2010 |date=19 August 2008 |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/08/19/big-hand-bid-points-to-proud-river-links-84229-21555155/ |work=Evening Gazette|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330045735/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2008/08/19/big-hand-bid-points-to-proud-river-links-84229-21555155/ |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=live }}

In 2012, however, this series of artworks was discontinued.{{cite web |title=Teesside art 'giants' plan axed |work=BBC News |accessdate=11 July 2012 |date=19 June 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-18510709 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131155159/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-18510709 |archive-date=31 January 2016 |url-status=live }}

File:LPG Tanker leaving Teesport - geograph.org.uk - 1571382.jpg

The River Tees entrance created between South Gare, and the North Gare to the west is {{convert|2400|ft|m|0}} wide.

The water depth at the mouth of the Tees at low tide has altered over the years.

In 1863 it was 3 ft 6 inches but today stands at {{convert|50|ft|m|0}}.

Two suction dredgers and occasionally a grab dredger are used to keep the shipping channel clear.

File:Guy's Hole (geograph 7406958).jpg

Paddy's Hole is a small harbour constructed from slag in the lagoon on the Teesmouth side of South Gare.

It is named Paddy's Hole because of the many Irishmen who helped build the South Gare.{{cite web |title=Welcome to Redcar.org |work=Redcar.org |accessdate=31 December 2009 |url=http://redcar.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224151140/http://www.redcar.org/ |archive-date=24 December 2009 |url-status=live }}

There are also two smaller harbours south of Paddy's Hole named Guy's Hole and Powder Hole (or Sand Hole).

Between Guy's Hole and Powder Hole is the remains of the Powder Jetty (or Powder Wharf) dating from the First World War or earlier.{{cite web |title=Powder Hole, Powder Wharf, South Gare |work=Hidden Teesside |accessdate=17 August 2010 |date=15 January 2010 |url=http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2010/01/15/powder-hole-powder-wharf-south-gare/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029212623/http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2010/01/15/powder-hole-powder-wharf-south-gare/ |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=live }}

File:Skeleton of Old Wooden Ship, Bran Sands - geograph.org.uk - 624478.jpg

File:Teesside Steelworks and Wooden Wreck in Foreground.jpg

South Gare & Coatham Sands is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The dunes on the eastern flank are protected by three slag banks close to the breakwater, known as the German Charlies that are partly exposed at low tide.{{cite web |title=South Gare and Coatham Sands |work=English Nature |accessdate=27 December 2009 |date=19 October 1988 |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000178.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320005643/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000178.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2009 |url-status=live }}

The name German Charlies was applied after a First World War incident involving a German ship that ran aground on them.{{cite web |title=A Cleveland Naturalists' Field Club Bulletin – The Cleveland Coast Flora and History |year=1994 |accessdate=16 January 2011 |url=http://barlow.me.uk/clevelandnats/Coastal%20Flora.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812054241/http://barlow.me.uk/clevelandnats/Coastal%20Flora.pdf |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=live }}

There is a gas pipeline through the SSSI sand dunes.{{cite web |last=Houlton |first=Sarah |title=At one with nature |work=Royal Society for Chemistry |accessdate=27 December 2009 |date=March 2003 |url=http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2003/March/nature.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608204229/http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2003/March/nature.asp |archive-date=8 June 2011 |url-status=live }}

On the inner side of the breakwater is Bran Sands known for its bird life and the wooden wreck of a ship in the sands.

A number of underwater wrecks lie off South Gare.{{cite web |title=Wrecks at South Gare |work=Dive Norway |accessdate=10 November 2014 |url=http://www.divenorway.com/wrecks_pages/northseawrecks/southgare.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110210613/http://www.divenorway.com/wrecks_pages/northseawrecks/southgare.htm |archive-date=10 November 2014 |url-status=live }}

The land is made from thousands of tons of basic slag from blast furnaces.

The high limestone content of the slag produces a base rich soil that is attractive to lime loving plants.

The area consists of tidal mudflats, scrub, grassland, sand dunes, rocks and freshwater and saltwater pools, and attracts a very wide range of birds.{{cite web |title=Places to see birds |work=Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |accessdate=31 December 2009 |year=2009 |url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/cleveland/places/163554/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017194701/http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/cleveland/places/163554/ |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=live }}

Seals can also be spotted.

File:Fishermen's huts on South Gare - geograph.org.uk - 662913.jpg

Built on the reclaimed land of Bran Sands is the ore terminal, sinter plant, coke plant, and blast furnace of SSI's Teesside Steelworks.

The plant was mothballed in 2010, reopening in April 2012, only to be mothballed again on 28 September 2015, and finally closed on 12 October 2015.

Next to that is Bran Sands Water Treatment Works.{{cite web |publisher=Tees Valley Regeneration |title=Waste Water Management |url=http://www.teesvalleyunlimited-investment.co.uk/cms/thesite/public/uploads/downloads_file/1112870573_515.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809072444/http://www.teesvalleyunlimited-investment.co.uk/cms/thesite/public/uploads/downloads_file/1112870573_515.pdf |archivedate=9 August 2011 }}

File:Fishing at the tip of South Gare - geograph.org.uk - 372987.jpg

As well as those out for a stroll other activities indulged in include sea fishing from small boats and angling from the concrete breakwater, photography of wildlife and shipping etc., also birdwatching,{{cite web |title=Birdwatching at South Gare |work=NTLWorld |accessdate=31 December 2009 |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jpriceless/southgare.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513011001/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jpriceless/southgare.html |archive-date=13 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}; {{cite web |last=Barlow |first=Dave |title=Birdwatching at South Gare |work=Dave Barlow's Natural History of Teesside |accessdate=31 December 2009 |url=http://davebarlow.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204101143/http://davebarlow.co.uk/ |archive-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=live }}

sailing, kite surfing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, diving and motorcycling.{{cite web |title=The Best Windsurfing Locations |work=RYA North East |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/ryane/Web%20Documents/NEwindsloc.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716131925/http://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/ryane/Web%20Documents/NEwindsloc.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live }}

{{main|Teesmouth Lifeboat Station}}

There has been a lifeboat at Teesmouth since 1829{{cite web |title=Teesmouth Lifeboat Supporters Association |work=teesmouthlifeboat.org.uk |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://www.teesmouthlifeboat.org.uk/html/location.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021212247/http://www.teesmouthlifeboat.org.uk/html/location.html |archive-date=21 October 2009 |url-status=live }}

when the RNLI was founded.

The present Teesmouth Lifeboat Station was founded in 1911 and in 1914 a boathouse and slipway was built to launch the lifeboat.

The lifeboat station has had a Tyne class lifeboat since 1986 and in 2003 new lifeboat crew facilities were built however the lifeboat station was closed a few years later with coverage being supplied by Hartlepool lifeboat.

File:South Gare Breakwater, Teesmouth - geograph.org.uk - 1591.jpg

Since 1988 Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority's pilot services for Hartlepool, Teesport and the River Tees have been based at the pilot station at South Gare.{{cite web|title=Hartlepool pilots |work=Portcities Hartlepool |accessdate=28 December 2009 |url=http://portcities.hartlepool.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.118&chapterId=301 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511154542/http://portcities.hartlepool.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.118 |archivedate=11 May 2006 }}

{{main|South Gare Lighthouse}}

File:South Gare (geograph 6340751).jpg

The South Gare Lighthouse was built in 1884 at the end of South Gare breakwater

and is owned and operated by PD Ports.{{cite web |last=Barlow |first=Dave |title=End of the South Gare |work=Dave Barlow's Natural History site |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://barlow.me.uk/endofgare.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812054404/http://barlow.me.uk/endofgare.html |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=live }}

A coastguard station is located south of South Gare Lighthouse.

To the immediate south of the coastguard station is a short steel frame tower.

This tower houses a radar antenna, an automatic fog detector and a vertical set of four sectored red and white leading lights for navigation purposes.

There is second fog detector system mounted on the Fairway Buoy in Tees Bay outside the river entrance.{{cite web |title=Automatic Fog Detection |work=pelangi.co.uk |accessdate=27 December 2009 |url=http://www.pelangi.co.uk/appnotes/31368-Automatic%20Fog%20Detection.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105202501/http://www.pelangi.co.uk/appnotes/31368-Automatic%20Fog%20Detection.pdf |archivedate=5 January 2009 }}

Near the end of the breakwater, in the fenced compound, there is a tall steel framed mast, housing air speed measurement devices. These devices gather data on wind speeds at various heights for a planned offshore wind farm proposed by Northern Offshore Wind Limited.{{cite web |last=Robson |first=Dave |title=A wind farm mast-er plan |work=Evening Gazette|location=Teesside |accessdate=1 January 2010 |date=19 March 2002 |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2002/03/19/a-wind-farm-mast-er-plan-84229-11715848/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315111258/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2002/03/19/a-wind-farm-mast-er-plan-84229-11715848/ |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=live }}

The mast is {{convert|164|ft|m|0}} tall and {{convert|15.3|ft|m|1}} wide at the base.

Plans for the offshore wind farm include thirty {{convert|200|ft|m|0}} windmills over {{convert|1|mi|km|1}} offshore.

AMEC Wind plans to build 19 wind turbines inside Corus steelworks generating 47.5 MW of electricity.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category |South Gare| South Gare}}

• Photographs: [https://web.archive.org/web/20101207082122/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fred.brunskill1/id33.htm Fred Brunskill's South Gare photos], [https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=south+gare Flickr], [http://www.nymcam.co.uk/060700.htm North York Moors Cam], [http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/cleveland/clevpage07.htm Doc Brown]
• Maps: [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=455500&y=527500&z=120&sv=south&st=3&tl=Map+of+South+Gare+Breakwater,+Redcar+&+Cleveland+ Streetmap], [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=54.6286426&lon=-1.1301327&z=14&l=0&m=b Wikimapia]
• Tides at the River Tees entrance: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables/4/185/ BBC], [https://easytide.admiralty.co.uk/?PortID=0185 Admiralty], [https://www.tidetimes.co.uk/river-tees-entrance-tide-times Tidetimes].

{{navboxes |list1=

{{Geographic location

|Northwest = Seaton Carew

|North =

|Northeast = North Sea

|West = Graythorp

|Centre = South Gare

|East = South Gare & Coatham Sands SSSI

|Southwest = Seal Sands

|South = Teesport

|Southeast = Warrenby,
Coatham

}}

{{Coastal settlements

|place = Redcar and Cleveland

|settlement = South Gare
(not a settlement)

|anticlockwise = Seaton Carew,
County Durham

|clockwise = Coatham
See also: Warrenby

}}

{{Redcar and Cleveland}}

}}

Category:Breakwaters

Category:Places in the Tees Valley

Category:Buildings and structures in Redcar and Cleveland