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Highcross Road, NORTH SHIELDS, NE30 3JE

Prior to April 1974 this stretch of green open space marked the boundary between Whitley Bay Borough Council and Tynemouth County Borough Council. In the distance is the rear of Marden House, a fine two storey house, close to Marden Quarry Park. This house was built, according to William Weaver Tomlinson in his 1893 book, 'Historical Notes on Cullercoats Whitley and Monkseaton', "by Mr. Thomas Taylor early in the century [19th]." The front of the house can be seen at https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6699306. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

This public footpath, which stands close to the site of the former Marden Well, leads to Hillheads Road adjacent to Whitley Bay Ice Rink. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

This surface water inlet was in full flow after heavy overnight rain. The surface water which flows into the park's lake eventually discharges into the North Sea just north of Cliff House, Cullercoats. The history of Marden Quarry dates back to 1684 when the land was leased for quarrying purposes. During its working life the quarry contained large lime kilns, a brickworks, a tower, which served as offices and an explosives store, and a number of cottages for quarry workers. When quarrying finally ended in 1880 at which time the site stretched from Hillheads Road to the north and covered both the rugby and cricket grounds to the west. Eventually, after lying unused for many years, the land was passed to the former Whitley Bay Borough Council and Marden Quarry Park, as we know it today, was subsequently created. The park was officially opened by Princess Margaret on November 22, 1977. Designated as a Local Nature Reserve, the park is home to a variety of breeding wildfowl including Mute Swans, Mallards, Moorhens, Coots and Tufted Ducks. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

Whilst the history of allotments goes back many centuries, it was not until the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 came into force that local authorities were legally obliged to provide "sufficient allotments according to demand". This duty was further extended with the passing of the Land Settlement Facilities Act 1919 with the rights of allotment holders being strengthened by the Allotments Act 1922. However, the most important change was introduced when the Allotments Act 1925 established statutory allotments which local authorities could not sell off or covert to other uses without Ministerial consent. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

This old limestone quarry is now a nature reserve and hosts a variety of wildfowl. While some of them are of dubious origins, many are genuinely wild birds although most are very tame. Some rare ones come here occasionally, including a Lesser Scaup in the winter of 2011-2012 which brought many of the local twitchers along to see it.

This public bridleway runs from Hillheads Road next to Whitley Bay Ice Rink and ends at this point, where it then links with a public footpath. This footpath follows a course similar to a footpath shown on the first Ordnance Survey Six-Inch map of the area published in 1865 at which time the area was part of the extensive Whitley Bay Limestone Quarry. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

This fine two storey house, close to Marden Quarry Park, was built, according to William Weaver Tomlinson in his 1893 book, 'Historical Notes on Cullercoats Whitley and Monkseaton', "by Mr. Thomas Taylor early in the century [19th]." It seems that Mr. Taylor was quick to move to pastures new as the property was, "in the Newcastle Courant of July 27th, 1816 advertised to be let ". For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

Swans at Marden Quarry.

A pond in an old quarry makes an oasis of countryside in North Tyneside. Swans, Canada Geese and Coots in evidence.

The history of Marden Quarry dates back to 1684 when the land was leased for quarrying purposes. During its working life the quarry contained large lime kilns, a brickworks, a tower, which served as offices and an explosives store, and a number of cottages for quarry workers. When quarrying finally ended in 1880 at which time the site stretched from Hillheads Road to the north and covered both the rugby and cricket grounds to the west. Eventually, after lying unused for many years, the land was passed to the former Whitley Bay Borough Council and Marden Quarry Park, as we know it today, was subsequently created. The park was officially opened by Princess Margaret on November 22, 1977. Designated as a Local Nature Reserve, the park is home to a variety of breeding wildfowl including Mute Swans, Mallards, Moorhens, Coots and Tufted Ducks. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk