WE recently took a tour of Teesdale, guided by Richard Garland's 1803 book about the dale which has recently been republished, so now let us go on a more recent journey along the river with the help of The Northern Echo's photo-archive where there is a packet of pictures marked "River Tees"...

READ MORE: THE FIRST GUIDEBOOK TO THE TEES

The Northern Echo: The rear of this 1963 picture says it is the River Tees near the Dairy Bridge. The bridge is actually over the Greta, on the Rokeby estate to the east of Barnard Castle, very near to where the Greta meets the Tees

The rear of this 1963 picture says it is the River Tees near the Dairy Bridge. The bridge is actually over the Greta, on the Rokeby estate to the east of Barnard Castle, very near to where the Greta meets the Tees 

The Northern Echo: Four happy children in the Tees on June 11, 1963. Again, although it is precisely dated, no location has been recorded but it has to be the lido at Whorlton, doesn't it?

Four happy children in the Tees on June 11, 1963. Again, although it is precisely dated, no location has been recorded but it has to be the lido at Whorlton, doesn't it?

The Northern Echo: The River Tees at Gainford in August 1955, when the railway between Darlington and Barnard Castle was still operational - it closed on November 30, 1965. This, we think, is the eastern of the two railway bridges which were built so that they railway

The River Tees at Gainford in August 1955, when the railway between Darlington and Barnard Castle was still operational - it closed on November 30, 1965. This, we think, is the eastern of the two railway bridges which were built so that they railway avoided touching the Duke of Cleveland's Selaby estate

The Northern Echo: The two bridges of Yarm on May 17, 1962

The two bridges of Yarm on May 17, 1962

The Northern Echo: Although this picture is precisely dated May 28, 1968, its location is not recorded. We feel it is the waterfront at Stockton - is that right?

Although this picture is precisely dated May 28, 1968, its location is not recorded. We feel it is the waterfront at Stockton - is that right?

The Northern Echo: The Tees flyover under construction in January 1975, with the longest of the bridge's 68 spans - it is 384ft, or 117 metres long - over the Tees in the middle. The total length of the flyover is 1.8 miles and it opened in November 1975

The Tees flyover under construction in January 1975, with the longest of the bridge's 68 spans - it is 384ft, or 117 metres long - over the Tees in the middle. The total length of the flyover is 1.8 miles and it opened in November 1975

The Northern Echo: The iconic Transporter Bridge is in the foreground of this aerial view of Middlesbrough from September 1993

The iconic Transporter Bridge is in the foreground of this aerial view of Middlesbrough from September 1993

The Northern Echo: A fabulous picture from The Northern Echo archive of the LNER docks at Middlesbrough, taken in May 1936.

A fabulous picture from The Northern Echo archive of the LNER docks at Middlesbrough, taken in May 1936

The Northern Echo: A great structural picture of shipbuilding on the River Tees in May 1968

A great structural picture of shipbuilding on the River Tees in May 1968

The Northern Echo: Work in 1995 to dredge the Tees to allow the Tall Ships in uncovered some amazing archaeological finds. This, in the shadow of Middlesbrough FC's Riverside stadium, is the remains of a 1920s vessel referred to as a sand hopper, a sand barge and a

Work in 1995 to dredge the Tees to allow the Tall Ships in uncovered some amazing archaeological finds. This, in the shadow of Middlesbrough FC's Riverside stadium, is the remains of a 1920s vessel referred to as a sand hopper, a sand barge and a discharge barge. It was believed that it sank on top of dredger called The Tees, which had been fatally holed in 1908. An older sailing cutter was also found in the area near Middlesbrough Dock