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With its
wealth of heritage and areas of unspoilt beauty Teesside (this area was
previously known as Cleveland and to some it will always remain so) has
become a popular destination for visitors. Along its thirty miles of
coastline visitors can enjoy a mixture of popular holiday resorts,
peaceful fishing villages and secluded coastal walks. Further inland
areas of wooded countryside, barren heath and picturesque villages lie
between the larger industrial conurbations. These areas of heavy
industry have become attractions in their own right, as the impact of
the iron and steel industries have been keenly recorded in many
innovative new attractions and museums.
It was the
advent of the railways, and in particular the Stockton to Darlington
line built in 1825, which heralded a new prosperity for the local
population after years of subsistence farming and fishing. It brought
with it the lucrative iron, steel and related industries and although
much of this heavy industry has long since disappeared its importance
to the region is still evident.
More recently
Teesside has been targeted as an area for redevelopment. Many of the
new building projects capitalize on the region's rich industrial
heritage, often converting derelict land into more prosperous
commercial and domestic sites. Hartlepool, which has over the years
seen the disappearance of its ship building industry, has been one such
area of new investment. The conversion of the old port into a massive
new marina development, known as "Jackson Landing", has brought many
new jobs and much needed business back into the area. It is based on
the American style of factory shopping mall, and combines shops and
restaurants with first class boating berths.
Maritime
activities have always been an important part of the region's life.
Indeed, it was in the village of Great Ayton that the future Captain
Cook spent his childhood. At 17 he found work in the fishing village of
Staithes before going on to become one of the greatest explorers in
British history. Visitors can take now enjoy a 70 mile circular drive -
"the Captain Cook Country Tour" which takes them through many parts of
Teesside and on to Whitby from where Cook made his famous sea voyages.
The number
and variety of places to visit within Teesside is overwhelming. In
addition to the visitor centres, museums and galleries, the Hartlepool
Nuclear Electric Power Station offers tourists a glimpse at the
ultimate in modern technology. This juxtaposition of old and new within
Teesside makes this one of the most fascinating areas to visit in
Britain.
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