Does anyone have any clues?

[Cal241]

Hi
I have been rooting through family postcards and came across this one.
It is not dated and has nothing on the back (apart from 'this space maybe used for communications to all countries except United States, Spain and Japan' Bizarre? I wonder why?)

The postcard is the '1st bore for Whitley's new pier'
Does anyone know when the pier was built??

Cal 

[madpants]

Hi
I'm not too well up on the actual geography that far up so I don't know if it's one of the two either side at Tynemouth (that I've just been reading about on an angling forum!) but I did find this

"At Whitley Bay, a pier and pavilion scheme promoted by the Whitley Bay Promenade Pier Company in 1908 failed as it was felt the cast-iron pier structure would be unable to resist storms; also, the fashion for pier building was waning"

[mich b]

Prior to the turn of the century (1900) Whitley Bay was known simply as Whitley. The Bay was added to avoid confusion with  nearby Whitby.

In 1862 the railway was extended and reached Whitley causing a bit of a population explosion (pop.300 in 1861 - pop. 6,800 in 1901). With the increase of tourists came the building of "Spanish City" a permanant amusement park built in 1910 (closed now though). Judging by the clothes (and I'm no expert) and taking into account the name change at the turn of the last century I'd guess the postcard dates to around 1898.

I've Google searched for a pier at Whitley, but I've only discovered a lighthouse so far. It could've been and gone though? Hope it helps abit.

Michelle   

[madpants]

I googled it too 

That's where I found the description and really the only mention of a pier I can see.

The tynemouth pier thread on the angling forum was facinating as they had loads of old postcards and photos showing what it looked like through the years, try googling it and have a look.

[mich b]

Hi Madpants,

I found the Tynemouth Pier references and the old postcard pictures you mentioned, they are fascinating.

Did you actually find a ref. to Whitley Pier or was it Tynemouth (which I understood to be a differnet one) ?

Mich 

[madpants]

In my search I only found a ref. for plans to build one, not an actual pier.   

I'm from slightly further down (a lot closer to Saltburn pier) so not too sure on the geography up there and in some of the search results it seemed to tie Whitley to Cullercoats pier (this is where I have people shouting 'they're miles away') as there is one on the Tynemouth side and one on the Cullercoats side, from what I could make out reading it quickly last night.

[M.T.H]

Hi Folks,

I reckon that this article from the Times of Friday August 28th 1908 will help to date the postcard;

PIER AT WHITLEY BAY - With a view to adding to the attractiveness of Monkseaton and Whitley Bay, residential suberbs of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and popular seaside resorts for the people of Durham and Northumberland, a syndicate with a capital of £35,000 has been formed to provide a large pier at Whitley Bay. Arrangements were recently concluded with the Duke of Northumberland, owner of the forseshore rights, and provisional contracts were awarded to the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, Darlington, for carrying out the work to the designs of Mr. T. Brewer-Mather, of Wallsend-on-Tyne. The pier which will be the only one of the kind on the Northumbrian coast, is expected to be completed early next summer. It will have a total length of 772 feet, and in addition to the usual promenades, bandstands and tea rooms, it will have in it's centre a pavillion (with a garden roof), capable of seating 1,800 people. At the end of the pier there will be a landing stage for the accomodation of pleasure steamers and small craft.

Looking at the pic, I think that they're going to need some more tools and a lot more wood!!

Hope this helps,

Mick

[mich b]

Yes Mick,

They look a bit short on construction equipment. LOL. Maybe that's why I can't find anything for the Pier now.

Don't you think the outfits look earlier than 1908/09 though? Maybe Liverpool Annie could have a look, she seems pretty good on dating clothes etc.

Mich

[M.T.H]

Don't you think the outfits look earlier than 1908/09 though? Maybe Liverpool Annie could have a look, she seems pretty good on dating clothes etc.

I thought that the outfits might be earlier than 1908 as well! but I couldn't find any reference for a new pier any earlier than that date.

Let's see what the outfit dating experts make of it...

Mick