South Shields Sanddancers Forum

The location of the Roman quay that served the supply fort on the Lawe has never been actually proven by excavation, and an important piece of local history yet remains to be found. I have not read of any real 'digs' to try and determine its actual position, which is presumed to have been in the area between the motor boat club stone canch and the corporation quay. I suppose at a distance in time of 1,500 years since the Romans left these shores, finding anything conclusive would be quite something. But with modern scientific technology as employed by Time Team type TV archeology programmes it would be interesting to see such an attempt made. One would assume that later seafaring visitations by the Saxons, Vikings etc would have made full use of the quay, so no doubt it would have survived for many centuries thereafter.This could be a special project for the Tyne and Wear Museums Service of particular value to local history.

Perhaps not too late for any Lawe Topper yet in residence or 'blown away' reading this note, may yet be most hopefully able to provide some pieces of information etc including any possible sources to be researched for historical data as may be....

passtheball wrote:Perhaps not too late for any Lawe Topper yet in residence or 'blown away' reading this note, may yet be most hopefully able to provide some pieces of information etc including any possible sources to be researched for historical data as may be....

I suppose the river would have been very different in those days, and the chances of finding any remains now virtually nil, as in modern times, the constant dredging of the river will have removed any evidence that may have existed.

It has been a bone of contention over the years, that there is believed to be a Brigante (pre Roman tribes) quay, just off the old Vidor factory in River Drive. Promises were made that should the factory be demolished then the site would be fully excavated before any development takes place.