Dunston, Tyne and Wear facts for kids

Dunston Staiths and river front, 2018

Dunston is an area located in the western part of Gateshead. It sits on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England. Dunston became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. In 2011, about 18,326 people lived in Dunston.

History of Dunston

Dunston might have started as a farm or estate belonging to someone named Dunn. It was first mentioned in records in 1328. Historically, it was part of County Durham.

For a long time, salmon fishing and farming were very important jobs in Dunston. This was true from at least the 1300s. People also mined coal on a small scale. By the 1600s, being close to the river helped coal mining grow much bigger.

In 1771, a huge flood called the Great Tyne Flood hit the area. Villagers had to be rescued from their rooftops by boats!

What is Dunston Like Today?

Dunston has its own train station, Dunston railway station. It is on the Tyne Valley Line.

The area of Dunston is split into two main parts. The busy A1 dual carriageway separates them. The part south of the A1 is often called Dunston Hill.

To the west of Dunston, there used to be a large power station called Dunston Power Station. It has now been taken down. This site is now home to a large store called Costco. The MetroCentre, which was once the biggest shopping center in Europe, is also nearby. It was built where the power station's ash ponds used to be.

Another famous building in Dunston was the Derwent Tower. People often called it "The Rocket." This tall tower block was built in 1973. It was once the tallest building in Gateshead. The tower was even shown in two films! However, it was taken down in 2012. Many people didn't like living there, and it became quite run-down. The council decided it would cost too much to fix it. New homes and shops have now replaced the older buildings.

Sports in Dunston

Dunston has one main sports team. It is an association football club called Dunston UTS. They play in the Northern Premier League Division One North West.

Dunston Staiths and the 1990 Garden Festival

Dunston Staiths is a very old wooden structure. It was used to load coal onto ships. It is a famous landmark on the River Tyne. In 1990, the area around the Staiths hosted a big event. It was called the Gateshead National Garden Festival.

Famous People from Dunston

Many well-known people spent their younger years in Dunston.

• Paul Gascoigne and Ray Hudson are famous footballers.
• Brian Johnson is the lead singer of the rock band AC/DC.
• Harry Clasper was a champion rower and boat-builder. He was born in Dunston.
• Victoria Hopper was a celebrated actress and singer. She grew up in Dunston.