South Newsham, Blyth

[MKG]

My Mum was brought up in Blyth and South Newsham during the 30s and the war years. When she was in Newsham, she lived at Railway Terrace. Is it still there, I wonder?

I don't suppose anyone has any photos of Railway Terrace they'd like to share? That'd bring a tear to the old girl's eyes ...

Keeping fingers crossed ... Mike

[diddymiller]

Mike, if you google the address railway terrace, south newsham, it comes up with a map. seems to still be there.

Diddy

[MKG]

So it is - and the buildings look the right age (albeit from above!!!).

Thanks, Diddy

[eddie21455]

Hi Mike

yes  Railway Terrace is still there my Daughter lived there until a few years ago

regards Eddie

[Michael Dixon]

Railway Terrace ran parallel with the railway branch line that once ran from Newsham to Blyth. Now a walkway where line once lay.

Railway Terrace was on the east side of the line. The pit yard and miners houses of Cowpen Colliery lay on the west side of the line. ( now Blyth Sports Centre and small estate )

Drinkers in that area would have frequented the Cowpen Colliery Inn ( now called The Top House, which was once it's nickname) , on Harper St, and/or the Thoroton Hotel ( now I think called the Burglar's Dog) on junction of Harper St/ Renwick Rd.

But this area was never called or regarded as Newsham- firstly Waterloo then Blyth.

Old maps showing Railway Terrace can be seen in Blyth section of web site
communities.northumberland.gov.uk  ( choose the 25" version maps)
Also plenty of Blyth photos on this site- but not of this end of Blyth.


Michael Dixon

[MKG]

Thanks, Michael. You've used the past tense a lot there - I'm not sure if you're telling me that the Railway Terrace still standing is NOT the Railway Terrace I'm looking for (I haven't looked up the map yet)?

It's very interesting that you say that the area was never called or regarded as Newsham - my Mother always makes a HUGE point of saying "South Newsham, not Blyth". Is there a little bit of misplaced snobbery going on there?  She does tell tales of that little mining community which make it sound like a leper colony. Strange for a miner's wife!

[eddie21455]

Hi Michael

I think MKG may be refering to railway Cottages in South Newsham, you come up from Newcastle rd goe straight on and turn left As going to the beach, Railway Cottages is just as you turn Left

Regards Eddie

[eddie21455]

Railway Cottages are still there

Eddie

[Michael Dixon]

OK- the simple answer is that I got the "wrong" Railway Terrace.  I pinpointed the Blyth one.

The Railway Terrace in South Newsham lay/lies just south of the South Newsham Nature Reserve .

I am saying " lay/lies" simply because I just don't know for sure whether it exists today.

I can see it on my road map of 1999, lying of South Newsham Road, betwen Park Farm Villas and Blagdon Drive. But on the web site of Google Maps that just shows as an empty space !

Eddie, where exactly is your Railways Cottages ?

Michael Dixon