Coal Staithes At Blyth Power Station

The Coal Staithes at Blyth Power Station were constructed between around 1910 and 1923 for the North Eastern Railway Company and were altered around 1994.

This structure is approximately 375 meters long and features traditional braced timber construction. It consists of substantial timber piles driven into the sea bed that support a timber deck. Originally, the staithes measured 500 meters in length and included three decks with gantries.

Blyth began as a fishing port with salt pans but evolved into Northumberland's main coal port during the late 19th and 20th centuries. At its peak, Blyth shipped more coal than any other port in Europe. The harbour had multiple sets of staithes that allowed coal to be transferred from wagons directly into ships. The coal staithes at Blyth Power Station, previously known as West Staithes, were the last traditional staithes built on the River Blyth. Their construction was interrupted by the First World War and completed in 1923. The upper two decks were demolished, and the structure was truncated in 1994-1995.