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Keel Crossing [opened 18.10.25] - compendium thread


southstander said:
To be extended on account of all the new ships to be built in the refurbished A&P yard.
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At one time A&P also owned the old Bartram & Sons yard in south docks. I believe that it was reputed to have been the only ship yard that built large ocean going vessels that were launched in to the open North Sea.

Considering what's happened to A&P's old Southwick Yard I think what still remains of Bartram's (admittedly not much) is the better would be the best option. At least you wouldn't have to spend a few million dredging a mile of river.

There's still signs of the old Bartram 's yard there which I think could/should be preserved just to mark its location as it's quite historic .The yard was founded in1837 and later provided the inspirational design for the US Liberty Ships that helped win WWII. It's certainly part of Sunderland's shipbuilding heritage.

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Wrenthorpe Mackem said:
I know he wasn't keen on the stadium to put it mildly buy why on earth was the bridge not built then or at least within 10 years?
The fact Wearmouth bridge has has to be partly closed to traffic on match day for over quarter of a century is crazy.
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I imagine the main reason for delay in delivering a new bridge was due to Tesco owning the site. Funding and ambition also.
 
Wrenthorpe Mackem said:
Are there any plans for a bridge at Deptford? I suppose footfall would be lighter but still, would be great.
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Deptford to Stadium?

Not sure if they’ve had plans in the past but can’t see it happening anytime soon, there just isn’t enough demand to justify the cost of a further bridge?

There is a plan to link up both sides of the river at park level though again not aware of any firm plans.
 
Kevj said:
I’d say it probably had more to do with Vaux owning the site initially ;)

The Tesco debacle should never have been allowed to happen.
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I guess technically as Vaux was still a going concern when stadium was built, but lately owned by Tesco which delayed any development for nearly 20 years.

It’s difficult to get the facts of the matter about councils ability or desire to own the site, but agree ideally they should have had control of it weather than Tesco.
 
Osklen said:
I guess technically as Vaux was still a going concern when stadium was built, but lately owned by Tesco which delayed any development for nearly 20 years.

It’s difficult to get the facts of the matter about councils ability or desire to own the site, but agree ideally they should have had control of it weather than Tesco.
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Vaux/swallow hotels sold it to Tesco.Nowt to do with council(I think).Although I wish the council would have re acquired the site from tesco earlier
 
cosmicchris00 said:
OK, I'll have to ask

How so?
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Hall was chair of the Millennium Fund for the North East. From what I can recall Teeside got rapids canoe thing and Newcastle and Gateshead got their bridge. Sunderland got nowt.

Hall made his initial money out of Sunderland so not very nice.
Kevj said:
I’d say it probably had more to do with Vaux owning the site initially ;)

The Tesco debacle should never have been allowed to happen.
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True but I’m pleased the council stuck to their guns and we have the fantastic development we are seeing today.

You can only imagine how bad an ugly Tesco supermarket would have been on that prime site.
 
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