Blyth - Freehold Street

[DavidJP]

Hi all,

Probably a bit of a long shot, but do any photos exist of Freehold Street in Blyth? My gt grandmother Isabella Hill was born at no14 Freehold Street on 18th April 1895 & the family moved to 9 Folly Road (now Park Road) when she was 2 weeks old.

I believe that the family lived in Freehold Street for about 10 years from about 1885 or thereabouts!

i know that Freehold Street no longer exists as i walked up what was left of the street about 12-15 years ago (i think, anyway, might have been a bit longer!) I was last in Blyth 4 years ago for my grandmothers funeral & noticed while i was there, that what was left of Freehold Street was now no longer there, all that was left was the street sign on a building!

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

David

[DavidJP]

Oops, just googled Freehold Street & found that part of it does still stand! Seems that all they did was remove/demolish the part of the road that joined on to Bridge Street (if it ever did, i'm not sure!) Leaving the rest of the road itself & demolished most of the buildings on the remaining part of the road and built new as far as i can tell from the scene pictured!

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

You can see Freehold Street as it was in 1927 here;

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw019745

It is the two triangles of houses just at the far end of the main blocks of terraces. I hope you can orientate yourself to identify the street.

P

[pityackafromblyth]

Phodgetts, Very well done with the aerial photos. Had a look at them and locating the Market Place took quite a few secs. until I found it, in that particular photo.  Moved on to Regeent Street and shipyards - located my Grandmother's house.

[Pete E]

And there's my junior school; Plessey Road happy memories!

[DavidJP]

Hi Phodgetts,

Many thanks indeed for you reply, much appreciated!

Thanks very much indeed for the link to that 1927 photo, brilliant!

Hadn't realised that St Cuthbert's Church where my gt grandmother & probably a number of her siblings were baptised, was more or less at the end of the street! Fascinating!

Also i would think that as my gt gt grandfather worked for the Blyth Harbour Commission, he was within walking distance of his place of work!

Many thanks again

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

What was his occupation at the BHC?

P

[DavidJP]

Hi Phodgetts,

My gt gt grandfather George Hill "retired in 1927 after many years service as Repair Superintendant" for the Blyth Harbour Commission. The quote is taken from a short article in the Blyth News Ashington Post of Thursday April 3rd 1941 reporting his death.

Blimey, just realised he was 70/71 years old when he retired!

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

Without wanting to go off on a tangent, there is information re St Cuthbert's here:

http://www.blythchurches.co.uk/newsite/stcuthberts/st_cuthberts_history.php

and currently there is a postcard for sale on the bay which might make a nice addition to any photo's you have or want to add to the family collection of places significant to ancestors:


P