Whitley Bay

This fascinating collection of over 200 photographs beautifully depicts Whitley Bay over the years. This ‘Dream Village by the Sea’ was grafted onto the farming and failed colliery hamlet of Whitley, developing from the 1860s onwards.

The pictures are taken from the collections of North Tyneside Libraries. The accompanying notes cover the original village, the Victorian extensions, and the attractions provided along the Promenade and Links. They will help trace the development of an unplanned dormitory town into a major seaside resort. Many and varied aspects of Whitley Bay’s history are pictured; delivery carts that were a familiar sight in the early 1900s, family run shops and businesses, concert parties and parades and of course the beach – from the early bathing machines to sandcastle competitions.

The suitability of the town for a retirement area has, in the past, created a population without roots in the area. And yet – how many thousands all over the country must remember the excitement of childhood holidays by the sea. The dances, cinemas and entertainment laid on by hotels will have brought countless sweethearts together. This book is for all those who chose to make their lives in Whitley Bay, and those who carry golden memories from even the shortest of visits.