Greatham Creek Houseboats
These images, were taken in 1981 on Ilford black and white negative film with an Olympus OM 2n SLR camera and 50mm
Zuiko lens.
Zuiko lens.
Greatham Creek is a tidal tributary which feeds into the Estuary of the River Tees on the north east coast of England UK.
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click here to see more pictures of houseboats in their environment
click here to see more pictures of houseboats in their environment
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The houseboats were part of a community which came together on the northern shore of the estuary in the early 20th century. Used by locals from the towns of Middlesbrough, Billingham and Stockton primarily as cabins affording shelter during fishing trips for the abundant salmon and shellfish in the river. The cabins and houseboats eventually became used for weekend trips and holiday homes for owners and their families. This remained the case, even when the river became polluted around the middle of the century and salmon stocks deteriorated badly, killing off the fishing. The community was in terminal decline during the 1960's and 70's with all but a few decaying structures left in 1981.
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The buildings on the horizon include part of the ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) agricultural chemical and petro-chemical works, the Hartlepool Nuclear Power station, then under construction, and the Transporter Bridge over the River Tees. Whilst industry has now spread to surround the estuary on reclaimed land, nature conservation sites encourage seal and bird populations to thrive in the landscape.
The fishing boat used is a Coble. This was and still is a popular design of vessel with fishing communities along the English North East coast from Northumberland down to the Humber. The high prow helps when beach launching into strong surf. 
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