Tyneside Sounds Society #3 - Vale of Derwent

The Tyneside Sounds Society is a monthly broadcast dedicated to the recording and reinterpretation of the sonic environment and sound heritage of Tyneside in the North East of England.

This episode: the Derwent Valley in Gateshead and ‘Vale of Derwent’ Manuscript of Frank Kojay held in the archives of Gateshead Central Library on Prince Consort Road.

Frank Kojay’s ”Vale of Derwent“ is a 300 page hand-made and bound book. Roughly A2 in size it contains an obscure, often incoherent mix of local history, wildlife, collage and personal writings. It is almost completely hand-drawn and written.

After Frank Kojay's death in 1971 the book was bequeathed to Gateshead Central Library with instructions that it never be reprinted or made available publicly. To see the book one has to request a viewing at the library.

It’s an unusual, deeply personal and idiosyncratic collection of observations and descriptions of the Derwent Valley in the 1950s.

The River Derwent is a tributary of the River Tyne, it flows for 35 miles from Beldon Burn on the edge of County Durham and Northumberland into the River Tyne at Derwenthuagh next to the large Metrocentre retail park.

Sound artist Ben Freeth invited Tyneside Sounds Society to join him on a series of sound explorations of the Derwent Valley in response to the Frank Kojay book. Along with Gateshead producer Andy Hokano, field recordings were made over the course of 24 hours on 16th & 17th June this year.

Tracklist

Dawn chorus Chopwell Woods
River Derwent Hydrophone recording
Bat recordings at Gibside
Derwentcote Furnace
Blackhall Mill Bridge
Derwenthaugh/River Tyne
Lintzford Garden Centre
Thornlee Woods
Lockhaugh Railway Viaduct
Derwenthaugh park
Derwent visitor centre