Blyth Harbour.

Blyth is Northumberland's biggest port, handling bulk cargos of Aluminium ore, paper and pulp as well as other general cargo.

A new cargo dock (Battleship Wharf ) has opened on the site of the old ship breakers yard and coal is now being imported. There is still a small fishing fleet and a large marina in the South Harbour.

There has been a harbour at Blyth since the 12th century but it was in the 18th century that the port developed through the export of coal. In fact Blyth was once Europe's largest exporter of coal.

Ship building also flourished and Blyth was one of the major shipbuilding yards in the North East of England. Many ships were built at Blyth Shipyard including the Royal Navy's first aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal - originally a merchant ship and converted for military use.

Along with shipbuilding came ship dismantling and many ships made their final voyage to Hughes Bolkow shipbreakers at North Blyth.

Coal was without doubt the biggest trade for Blyth and it was loaded onto ships via massive wooden staithes on the north and south sides of the river, all now dismantled, although the lower sections remain. Coal was also loaded directly from Bates Colliery on the south side of the River. This loading equipment is still in place.

The Power Station on the north bank of the river once dominated the view and was a landmark for miles around but this has now gone and all that remains is a switching station.

Blyth has also become well known for the wind turbines that were built along the East Pier. The two offshore turbines were the largest of their type when built but rarely seem to be operational these days.

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