Tynemouth information |
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Perched high above the North Sea, its wide main street leading to the Castle gate, Tynemouth Village probably owes its existence to the Benedictine Priory and the later fortifications. The pilgrims of the middle Ages, seeking the shrine of Saint Oswin, would certainly have attracted people to settle near the monastery. The castle, built to protect the Tyne from the insurrections and Scottish wars which bedevilled the North, would have been a source of comfort to many. As time passed, and the country became more settled, the castle’s importance grew less immediate. By the end of the eighteenth century the bulk of the population in the area lived on the cramped banksides of the industrial town of NorthShields. Wind-swept, open, and largely free of the manufacturing and poor sanitation of the Tyneside towns, the village began to attract those who could travel, as a health resort. The popularisation of sea-bathing, by the Prince Regent, and the discovery of a chalybeate spring, would certainly have helped Tynemouth’s growth. There was even a certain amount of feedback from the visitors. Harriet Martineau published her ‘Letters from the Sick-Room’ whilst staying at Tynemouth from 1839 to 1844. She contributed to the health of the village by draining the main street, and providing a well. In another instance, William Scott, a regular visitor, erected a fountain in 1861.The villagers encouraged visitors by providing lodgings, bathing-machines, and a growing range of amusements. The Fry and Linkleter families being By the middle of the nineteenth century the railways were serving the village. It became possible to work in Newcastle and live at the coast. With this in mind, the local landowner, the Duke of Northumberland, laidout an estate on the edge of Tynemouth. Between 1871 and 1881 the population increased by almost one third.The Aquarium and Winter Garden, which had been intended as a draw for tourists, was not the hoped-for success, but the early 1880s saw no fall in Tynemouth’s popularity. The opening of a railway line connecting Newcastle with the coastal and colliery villages, and cheap fares, made Tynemouth attractive to the growing number of excursionists. The local Council were making efforts to provide amenities, including a policeman to enforce modesty on the beaches. About this time, Matthew Auty, a tobacconist and dabbler in photography, threw up his trade to open a studio in Front Street. His views of the coast and surrounding countryside quickly became popular. Auty Limited claimed to have been the first to introduce the Continental idea of picture postcards to the north of England Auty’s views familiarised prospective visitors with the charms of the area. The Priory, of course, was a popular subject, pictured from many angles. The Long Sands still attract thousands of visitors, despite the loss of the bathing machines and sales booths he often recorded. The North Pier was already a popular promenade, with its views of the castle, the many ships trading in the Tyne, and even glimpses of the fishing fleet. Along the coast and river, today’s ships pass without concern the rocks and shoals which once were a source of exciting pictures. Lifeboats could be counted upon to stir the blood. The Tyne had seen the invention of the self-righting boat, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s first motorised craft was stationed at Tynemouth. It was also the birthplace of the Volunteer Life Brigades, and still has one of the few remaining. Many of the quaint old cottages have been cleared away. East Street no longer clings to the cliffs over King Edward’s Bay, and Percy Square was replaced by the monumental bulk of the Sir James Knott Flats. One church is a shopping arcade and the cinema has been demolished. Tynemouth, however, continues to attract visitors to its sands and historic buildings. The village has many eating and drinking places, made accessible over a wide area by the Tyneside Metro, but still retains a few quiet corners and a sense of elegant charm.
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