The Keelmen's Hospital.

Keels were clumsy,oval, flat bottomed boats used for carrying 20 tons of coal at a time, from the staiths up river on the River Tyne, to the collier ships at berth in the harbour at Tynemouth. They were steered by two men using a large oar at the stern, or a pole in shallow water.They would walk up and down the boat wielding these and pushing the boat along, rather like a punt.They also had a small cabin. The Keelmen were famous for their hard lives.

The Keelmen formed communities along the river bank, and they were famous for organising themselves for their mutual benefit, such as this self-financed construction in 1701, the Keelmen's Hospital. It was intended for their sick and wounded and money was taken from their wages to cover the costs. However in 1712 this came to an end and people rented rooms and lived there. In 1898 the inhabitants were, 43 men, 36 wives, 7 widows and 85 children.

My Great Great Grandmother was born in one of these Keel boats in 1836. Her mother, father and sister all worked and lived on one boat, and as it was no place to bring up a child, her parents gave her to her mother's sister and her husband, who was also a Keelman, to bring up in the Keelmen's Hospital, where they lived.

It is nice to see it still there beside the Quayside.