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What Gateshead looked like in the 1980s Through These Stunning Photos

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Gateshead is a beautiful town and metropolitan borough situated on the southern bank of the River Tyne. It is connected to Newcastle upon Tyne by seven bridges. Many of the buildings in the town are known for their architecture, including the Sage, the Angel of the North, and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Gateshead’s growing iron and steel industry was fueled by coal mined locally, making the town a major urban center during the Industrial Revolution. Over the 20th century, heavy industry in Gateshead declined dramatically, though it remains a crucial manufacturing, engineering, and food processing location.

Below are some stunning photos of Gateshead in the 1980s by Trevor Ermel.

#1 The rather ornate footbridge joining the two platforms at Gateshead East station in 1980.

The rather ornate footbridge joining the two platforms at Gateshead East station in 1980.

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#2 View to St Cuthbert’s Church from Bensham Road/corner of Brighton Road 1989.

View to St Cuthbert’s Church from Bensham Road/corner of Brighton Road 1989.

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#3 The flags are out to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana in 1981.

The flags are out to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana in 1981.

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#4 Fourth Street, Bensham, awaiting demolition in 1987.

Fourth Street, Bensham, awaiting demolition in 1987.

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#6 The last remnants of Bank Street in December 1980.

The last remnants of Bank Street in December 1980.

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#7 Buildings at the junction of Derwentwater Road (left) and Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1980

Buildings at the junction of Derwentwater Road (left) and Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1980

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#8 ells Lane, Low Fell at the junction with Beaconsfield Road in 1980.

ells Lane, Low Fell at the junction with Beaconsfield Road in 1980.

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#10 An InterCity 125 train heads south past St. Cuthberts Village in 1987.

An InterCity 125 train heads south past St. Cuthberts Village in 1987.

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#11 A view to St Chads Church from Hyde Park Street in 1988.

A view to St Chads Church from Hyde Park Street in 1988.

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#13 The Falklands war had just ended when I took this shot on Oakwood Gdns, Lobley Hill, Gateshead on 19th June 1982

The Falklands war had just ended when I took this shot on Oakwood Gdns, Lobley Hill, Gateshead on 19th June 1982

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#15 Before the growth of foliage got in the way this was a favourite viewpoint for bus enthusiasts at Gateshead Interchange, 1986

Before the growth of foliage got in the way this was a favourite viewpoint for bus enthusiasts at Gateshead Interchange, 1986

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#16 One of Northern’s small fleet of Routemaster buses, RCN700, passing the old Tesco site at the bottom of Gateshead High Street in April 1980.

One of Northern’s small fleet of Routemaster buses, RCN700, passing the old Tesco site at the bottom of Gateshead High Street in April 1980.

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#17 View of the Tyne from the site of Gordon Street in 1984. The black cat was a bonus!

View of the Tyne from the site of Gordon Street in 1984. The black cat was a bonus!

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#18 Wm Butterworth, butcher, is still open, even as the demolition goes on around him in 1982

Wm Butterworth, butcher, is still open, even as the demolition goes on around him in 1982

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#19 37100 with a coal train crossing the bottom of High Street in 1981

37100 with a coal train crossing the bottom of High Street in 1981

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#21 Looking up the remains of Second Street towards St. Cuthbert’s Church, Bensham, in 1987.

Looking up the remains of Second Street towards St. Cuthbert’s Church, Bensham, in 1987.

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#22 The Great North Run passes through Gateshead each year – this was the 1987 race, crossing over from the Tyne Bridge

The Great North Run passes through Gateshead each year – this was the 1987 race, crossing over from the Tyne Bridge

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#24 View down Riversdale Road, under the King Edward Bridge on 10th May 1982

View down Riversdale Road, under the King Edward Bridge on 10th May 1982

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#25 Photographed from the elevated approach to Dunston Staiths in 1985.

Photographed from the elevated approach to Dunston Staiths in 1985.

This is the view of the car scrapyard at the mouth of the River Team in Dunston with the old Co-op building beyond. Housing now covers this site.

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#26 The riverside at Redheugh in 1980, with the old gasworks building before demolition.

The riverside at Redheugh in 1980, with the old gasworks building before demolition.

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#27 Redheugh Park 1st August 1970, when Gateshead FC beat Brechin 4-0.

Redheugh Park 1st August 1970, when Gateshead FC beat Brechin 4-0.

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#29 Washing day for some in St. Cuthbert’s Village in 1986 as an HST comes over the bridge from Newcastle.

Washing day for some in St. Cuthbert’s Village in 1986 as an HST comes over the bridge from Newcastle.

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#32 Whickham House Pub on Rawling Road (corner of Bensham Road) in 1981, decorated to celebrate the wedding of Charles & Diana.

Whickham House Pub on Rawling Road (corner of Bensham Road) in 1981, decorated to celebrate the wedding of Charles & Diana.

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#33 Super Discount Store on Windsor Avenue, Gateshead 1985

Super Discount Store on Windsor Avenue, Gateshead 1985

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#34 Saltwell Road, corner of Trevethick Street in 1989.

Saltwell Road, corner of Trevethick Street in 1989.

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#35 Bensham Bingo Hall, formerly a cinema, on Bensham Road in 1980

Bensham Bingo Hall, formerly a cinema, on Bensham Road in 1980

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#36 Corner of Saltwell Road and Dunsmuir Grove in 1989. The Tynesider pub was formerly Stirling House.

Corner of Saltwell Road and Dunsmuir Grove in 1989. The Tynesider pub was formerly Stirling House.

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#37 Definitely random buses – four opposite Tesco’s in Gateshead in April 1980.

Definitely random buses – four opposite Tesco’s in Gateshead in April 1980.

Northern’s 6251 UP and SGR 551R are in the foreground.

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#38 Looking south along a weirdly-deserted Coatsworth Road in 1980.

Looking south along a weirdly-deserted Coatsworth Road in 1980.

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#39 Looking up Bensham Road, Gateshead in 1980, with the top of Bank Street on the left

Looking up Bensham Road, Gateshead in 1980, with the top of Bank Street on the left

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#40 Gateshead Arts & Social Club, just off Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1989.

Gateshead Arts & Social Club, just off Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1989.

The building still stands today (although modified) as the Hotel Express. The cobbled street in the foreground, which can still be seen today, is the last remnants of Hubert Terrace which ran from Cuthbert Street to Bank Street.

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#41 Looking down Moore Street towards Sunderland Road in Felling in 1980.

Looking down Moore Street towards Sunderland Road in Felling in 1980.

The side of Moore Street on the right of the picture is still there today, but new housing now covers the side where the three kids are.

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#42 The remains of the shop which used to stand at the corner of Derwentwater Road and Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1982

The remains of the shop which used to stand at the corner of Derwentwater Road and Cuthbert Street, Gateshead in 1982

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#43 Beneath the Metro Bridge, Gateshead in 1985. (Set up, obviously!)

Beneath the Metro Bridge, Gateshead in 1985. (Set up, obviously!)

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#44 The view towards Dunston Power Station (now gone) in 1987

The view towards Dunston Power Station (now gone) in 1987

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#45 Bensham Road at its junction with Sidney Grove in 1980

Bensham Road at its junction with Sidney Grove in 1980

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#46 Whitehall Road at its junction with Rawling Road, Gateshead in 1986

Whitehall Road at its junction with Rawling Road, Gateshead in 1986

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#47 A southbound HST seen from Elysium Lane, near the site of Bensham station (Gateshead) on 27th May 1985.

A southbound HST seen from Elysium Lane, near the site of Bensham station (Gateshead) on 27th May 1985.

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#49 A derelict shop front in Derwentwater Road, Gateshead in September 1980.

A derelict shop front in Derwentwater Road, Gateshead in September 1980.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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