The Thermal Syndicate
I found the above map of the Tyne via the Tyne & Wear Archives on Twitter. It dates from the 1960s, and it caught my attention because it shows the area where I was born, between Walker and Wallsend.
I remember the Shipyards very well, especially the famous Neptune Yard of Swan Hunter. In the early 70s the huge ESSO Northumberland loomed above the terraced streets like a monster but now shipbuilding has all but vanished. So have most of the other industries lining the river, for that matter.
The other thing this map jogged my memory about was the Thermal Syndicate building. This was the site of a glassworks and the source of large quantities of silver sand, which my Dad used to buy and sell on to schools and playgroups as part of his educational supplies business, before it went under in the 1980s. The name always intrigued me as it made me imagine it was run by gangsters pushing winter underwear.
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In the Dark 
July 6, 2018 at 10:35 pm
We, Casa Astri SA, were exclusive agents of the Thermal Syndicate Ltd for Argentina, I remember that friendly relation with nostalgy
Jorge Astri
March 16, 2023 at 6:34 am
I worked as a chemical analyst in the laboratory at Neptune Bank from 1959 to 1962. Our labcoats used to fall apart due to the acid in the air caused by the process used to make synthetic quartz products.
May 14, 2024 at 10:48 pm
My father worked at the Thermal from 1952 to 1976, when he had to leave due to severe ill health. He was the ‘Ambulance Man’ when required, but worked on a lathe during the 12 hour night shifts he permanently worked for a lot of those years. The shifts then were split into shorter earlies, lates and night shifts. It was hard graft, especially as he peddled there and back on his push bike from our family home in Benton. Regardless of rain, wind and snow, he turned out in all weathers to earn a living.