The Home of the Coaly Tyne Tar
A Tynemouth-themed Sunderland jug recently came up for auction featuring some delightful local verse.
Posted by the excellent Tyneside antiques account @RobertNEUK on X, I suspect it was made in North Shields as there was a lustreware works at the Low Lights, making this a rarer piece if true.
How dear to the heart of the long absent tar
Is the home of his childhood, to daze on from far,
When the cliffs of old Tynemouth appear to his view
And the thoughts of past joy, fill his bosom anew.
The wind it may whistle, across the wild sea,
Yet the sailor with joy, is still looking at thee.
And the billows may foam across thy wide bar
Tis the mouth of the home of the coaly Tyne TAR.
The ‘Tars of the Tyne’ was the nickname given to the mainly Geordie crew of Collingwood’s Royal Sovereign, victorious at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Great to see this. Born in Tynemouth, living in Sunderland, I found the two histories have many parallels.
Many Jack Tars in the Royal Navy, came from the collier fleets, some pressed and some not.
The original Trafalgar Square is still in Sunderland, and the Hero of Camperdown, Jack Crawford has his statue in Sunderland.
I ought to do a few videos in Sunderland. Lots of history there.