Newcastle upon Tyne

The Tyne shipped coal south for centuries; nobody needed anyone to bring some.

Coal went from the Tyne to London by sea from the medieval period onward, and Thomas Fuller had the proverb in print by 1661. The Northumberland and Durham pits have since closed, which turns the joke into a historical footnote about an industry that is gone.

The Tyne imports coal now, which rather ruins the joke.

This is a later commercial turn on the older proverb about carrying coals to Newcastle, aimed at the salesman instead of the porter. Once the northeastern pits closed, coal began arriving on the Tyne by ship, so the supposedly absurd errand has in fact been run.

Newcastle now imports its coal, which rather finishes the joke.

Newcastle upon Tyne shipped coal down the east coast to London for centuries, making it the obvious place where nobody needed any more. The Tyne pits are closed and coal now arrives by sea, so the proverb has outlived the trade that made it self-evident.