Changes

It is best known for the industry that grew up on its banks from the early modern period, principally shipbuilding, chemicals manufacture, and the mining and export of coal. Coal was mined and shipped on a small scale from the medieval period, becoming an increasingly capitalised industry from the early seventeenth century. The presence of large supplies of cheap coal boosted other industries, notably glass, chemicals, iron smelting and founding, and, from the 1840s, iron ship building. But coal was predominant (the river is hymned as "the coaly Tyne"), millions of tons being exported each year at the river's peak.

It is best known for the industry that grew up on its banks from the early modern period, principally shipbuilding, chemicals manufacture, and the mining and export of coal. Coal was mined and shipped on a small scale from the medieval period, becoming an increasingly capitalised industry from the early seventeenth century. The presence of large supplies of cheap coal boosted other industries, notably glass, chemicals, iron smelting and founding, and, from the 1840s, iron ship building. But coal was predominant (the river is hymned as "the coaly Tyne"), millions of tons being exported each year at the river's peak.

[[Image:Coalytyne.jpg|right|tghumb|300px|The Tyne at Newcastle, as seen by JMW Turner]]

[[Image:Coalytyne.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Tyne at Newcastle, as seen by JMW Turner]]

=== The 19th century river ===

=== The 19th century river ===