The Keelman's Way / The Keel Row

The Keelman's Way is a cycling and walking route of about ten miles, from Bill Quay, east of Gateshead, to Wylam, west of Blaydon. Part of the route, the section between the mouth of Blaydon Burn and the village of Stella, is very close to the Tyne. There were many staiths here in the keelmen era. The keelboats used to moor in line ready for loading (mostly coal but also other goods) and the area would have been a noisy, bustling hive of activity involving keelmen, their boy apprentices (called peedees) and other manual workers. They then carried the goods downriver on their shallow bottom boats and literally manhandled the goods onto the sea going ships moored in deeper waters. Here also was a large island in the river, the site of the Blaydon Races. On races day it must all have been quite something. Now all is peaceful and quiet but for the sounds of the river, the bird song and the roar of an occasional passing train. The development of steam hauled railways, major improvements to the navigability of the river by the Tyne Improvement Commission and the building of massive timber staiths (enabling direct loading of bigger sea going ships) signalled the end for the keelmen. This incredibly industrious and close knit, clannish community, with their distinctive attire, had plied their trade on the Tyne for hundreds of years. They created a legend.
The first song is my own and one of several I recorded during the covid lockdowns to keep myself occupied. It's just an informal home recording using my mobile phone. The following track (The Keel Row) is from an album.

[@Trombonology]

It's a wonderful thing to encounter a modern ballad of this quality. Music, as we know, can be a means of making history more accessible to the average person, by simply adding melody to the telling of the story. Still, so many of the past several decades have displayed a "talent" for nothing more than inane, repetitive wailing on a few tired topics. How refreshing it is to hear something of substance, which inspires reflection and/or curiosity about the topic! These two songs pair well in this triple treat of music, visuals and history.

[@BlaydonAces]

Wow thanks for such nice words. It’s a lovely thing that you take the time to listen to music closely and then articulate your carefully considered views in a way that makes it clear that you care. That means a lot to me.

[@CCJazzmen]

Great piece of history and so nicely put together. These clips you have made should get a lot more hits than what they have at the moment. I love those two water colours on this clip. Your history puts it all in perspective and I am learning quite a bit more myself. Thanks Roly

[@BlaydonAces]

Thanks Colin. I've enjoyed putting these videos together, good fun and creative at the same time.