« Reply #10 on: Thursday 21 October 10 22:31 BST (UK) »
Hello Michael, I wonder if you could help me. I have been reading your responses re whitley with interest. Do you know anything about the Northumberland Village Home for Girls or where I can get information on it/resident? I think my great aunt might have been there age 11 1901.
Thanks.
Once I saw the names of pubs, I was hooked.
Starting as things are today, in very centre of Whitley Bay, on Whitley Road
( the bit that was once called Front St)..
Woolworths ( ahhh ! ) is at number 238. Next, moving westwards, set slightly back off the road is a pub called the Fire Station. Then at 244 is pub The Bedroom ( this was once the Victoria- the Vic'- (C1901 4805-73-40)).
Covering the numbers 246-248 is a building with front facade showing "NEW COLISEUM", containing two shops, Greggs the baker and travel agent "Going Places". Then a handful of shops until corner of Whitley Rd and Park Avenue.
On the opposite corner is pub Dundee's, once called the Ship ( Closeby is the Fat Ox. (C1901 4805-72-38)
Back to the New Coliseum building. Originally on this site a theatre called the Coliseum, was built in 1910. The site had been the garden of a house called WHITLEY HOUSE, which at the time was the home of the Whitley Unionist Club.
In 1919 the theatre was converted into a cinema, then in 1971 into a Bingo Hall.
I don't know if it was the front or back garden of the house. But today not very far away on South Parade ( number 30 ) is Whitley House, home of the Whitley Bay Conservative Club.
And how is this for coincidence... On Census 1901 the Victoria is at schedule 244 (4805-73-40). Today the Bedroom, nee Victoria is at 244 Whitley road
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Three streets converge at the front of Whitley Bay's Metro Station ( ex-railway station... Victoria Terrace, TREWITT RD and Station Road
Michael Dixon
Barber, Campbell, Dickinson, Campbell Dickinson, Johnstone, Obee, Pedder, Sedge, Shepherd,
