Images of the life and times of Seaton Carew seafront.
An early view of the village from the south. Note the bathing machines, boats, boat carriage and camera tripod on the beach. The photo was taken by Edward Backhouse who spent much of his time at Seaton.
More detail »A great view showing the Staincliffe with its rear tennis courts and the adjoining villas. Note the caravans on what is now a built up area.
More detail »One of the rows of beach huts and the South Shelter which were once well used. Note the woven fence to the rear of the huts.
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More detail »Beach huts, South Shelter and the amusement park in the distance standing over well raked sands.
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More detail »A postcard looking along the Front from the beach. A green bathing machine can just be seen in the corner of the view.
More detail »At Seaton in 1950 eating candy floss are Joan and Robert Smith and Sheila Bainbridge. The fairgound is behind them.
More detail »These cannons were removed to be melted down for the war effort. Note the Marine Hotel and the bandstand in the image.
More detail »A mother dresses her child under a towel near the drinking fountain. Cars are parked on the waste ground, their occupants probably enjoying a day on the sands.The image is between 1900 and 1923 as the house next to the Marine Hotel has not yet been demolished.
More detail »Workmen constructing Seaton Carew Promenade.
More detail »Construction of Seaton Promenade prior to 1900. Seaton Low Light can be seen.
More detail »The rear of the cottages towards the south end of Front Street c1860s. The oblong building standing alone was the customs house. A couple of bathing machines and boats are pulled up onto the beach.
More detail »Damaged sea defences along Seaton Carew Promenade. Note the sea coal wagon, being towed by horses, in the background.
In January and again in September of 1905 abnormally high tides caused damage for about 200 yards of the retaining wall and sea banks from West Hartlepool to Seaton Carew. March 12th 1906 another high tide and heavy sea submerged the wall and undid all the repairs that had been carried out and caused further damage.
More detail »A view from a postcard showing the badly damaged promenade after a severe storm.The small building in the view is the West Hartlepool lifeboat house.
More detail »The Promenade, Seaton Carew looking South to the village. Some men are erecting a street light to the right. The people are gathering to view 'Egbert' the tank which is on display. Egbert was a battle scarred tank which was given to West Hartlepool in 1918 as a reward for their fund-raising efforts.
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More detail »Kip Herring (left), Alf Houseman (centre), and Joe Wilson on the seafront at Seaton Carew in 1939.
More detail »It seems that even in the mid 1950s that six packs were a must ! Here lifeguards on Seaton beach are testing their safety equipment.
More detail »Looking north along what was just a dirt track. The view is from the Seven Stars Inn to just past Franklin's Corner. The image would be about mid 19th century.
More detail »John Robinson and his young nephew, also John, on the grass at Seaton Carew in 1950.
More detail »The North Shelter, on the promenade at Seaton Carew. This area had now been redeveloped with a new sea wall in place. Shelter no longer exists.
More detail »A wonderful old photo of Carr Houses and cottages and the steps to the beach in April 1866. This would have given a good vantage point for ships being wrecked or stranded on Longscar Rocks. The cottages were demolished in 1904 and Carr House in 1925. Eventually the cliff was levelled & improvements made between the Green and the beach.
More detail »1950. Jim Robinson (on the right) with his son John and wife Doris (nee Morgan) in the centre, who lived in Thornton Street and joined "The Land Army" during WW2. Later, they had a nursery school "Robins Nest" on Westbourne Road. Jim was a prominent sailor and member of the Teesside Sailing Club (Middleton) and won many races including National Championships.
More detail »This image of the paddling pool, tents set up on the beach and a very full car park probably dates to the 1960s.
More detail »The old paddling pool next to Longscar Hall in 1977. The sign reads The playing of all games prohibited.
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More detail »This image probably dates from the 1970s. Children enjoy the paddling pool whilst the older ones have a go at roller skating.
More detail »This was taken on a glorious day around 1953 when crowds, often dressed in their best, flocked to Seaton. To the rightof the pool, the skating rink can be seen.
More detail »The skating rink seen here getting a lick of paint ready for the summer season. Probably 1954.
More detail »Kip Herring (left), and Bill Cowan in his army uniform, on the seafront at Seaton Carew in 1939.
More detail »The cannons, bandstand and rides on the beach probably about 1930. The cannons were removed to be used in the WW2 effort.
More detail »Men in straw boaters are strolling along the road towards the Marine Hotel. They have passed the drinking fountain and are standing near the barometer.
More detail »The Promenade at Seaton Carew in 1950.
More detail »A busy day on the promenade.
More detail »Seaton Carew seafront looking south towards the River Tees. This is an image taken from one of a number of glass plate negatives found in Frank Wright's shop in York Road, in the 1960s. The plates are believed to originate from the 1890s.
More detail »This is an image taken from one of a number of glass plate negatives found in Frank Wright's shop in York Road, in the 1960s. The plates are believed to originate from the 1890s.
More detail »The Cafe Royal was originally built as a farmhouse and the small building stored the rocket lines and other equipment used for saving life at sea. In the 1970's and 80s it was in use as a police station. This busy beach scene was photographed in 1913.
More detail »Seaton Carew promenade and tents on the beach. There is also a cannon to the left. It appears children are trying to get a barrel off the beach.
More detail »The gardens on Seaton Carew promenade. The North Shelter can be seen as well as The Norton Hotel on The Green.
More detail »A busy day on the promenade and beach at Seaton Carew.
More detail »Sewerage outfall pipe at Seaton Carew. You can see the new water treatment plant being constructed in the background. After this was finished, the outfall pipe was replace with a new one going under the sand.
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More detail »The South Shelter in 1977. Both The North and South Shelters were completed in 1926 along with the extension of the promenade from the Staincliffe to Seaton Lane. The South Shelter could hold 1,500 people. Provision had been made to add another storey should it be required. The whole scheme cost £42,000.
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More detail »A postcard of the South Shelter and clock tower of the bus station. By the fashion the photo is possibly 50s or 60s.
More detail »Two young men, (Mr. Harold Bunn the taller man aged about 21 at this time), strolling along the prom at Seaton Carew in 1953.
More detail »Mr. & Mrs. William and Lily Prest, with their daughter Nanette, near the South Shelter and chalets at Seaton Carew in 1951.
More detail »Audrey (left), Doreen Brannan (centre), and Emma Herring strolling by the beach chalets at Seaton Carew.
More detail »The Cliff, Seaton Carew from the beach.
More detail »Looking north along the Cliff, Staincliffe House can be seen in the distance, a little nearer is the large building on the north-east corner of the Green, now the Norton Hotel. A bathing machine sits on the beach. The anchors, including an 17th century wood stob, lie waiting to be used.
More detail »The Front, Seaton Carew with boats hauled out. The Marine Hotel is in the background.
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More detail »The Front, Seaton Carew with The Marine Hotel on the left and the bandstand on the right.
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More detail »Taken in 1888 Pattison's caption on this image was 'Looking north from Mrs Burton's shop.' Her shop was situated on the Snook. The bathing machines are lined up on the beach. The old 34 pound cannon on the verge was brought up from the mouth of the Tees and thought to have come from a French ship. Note the barometer to the front of the image and one of the boys on the road carrying a cello.
More detail »The Front, Seaton Carew with The Marine Hotel on the left. This shows the area before any sea walls were in place with the sand encroaching onto the grassed area.
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More detail »The Front, Seaton Carew with the Marine Hotel on the left. This shows two cannons which were removed during the second world war to be melted down.
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More detail »Muriel and Brian Ward sitting on the grass near the beach at Seaton Carew, each with a toy ocean liner, in the summer of 1955.
More detail »The Parade, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool. Taken from a postcard around 100 years old. Probably about 1903. We now know it as The Cliff
More detail »The Promenade, Seaton Carew. Taken from an old postcard from the early 1900s.
The small building that can just be seen is the West Hartlepool lifeboat house.
More detail »The grassed area of the Promenade Seaton Carew. The original Longscar Hall can be seen as well as the fairground in the background.
More detail »An old picture of the promenade at Seaton Carew.
More detail »A photograph of Seaton Carew Promenade take from the area of the North Shelter looking South.
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More detail »Three ladies walking on the Promenade, Seaton Carew. Station Lane on the right of the picture.
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More detail »The Promenade, Seaton Carew looking North. The Staincliffe Hotel in on the left hand side.
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More detail »A damaged picture of The Promenade, Seaton Carew looking North. The Marine Hotel can be seen on the lft and there are tents on the beach.
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More detail »These square tents were very popular in the summer even on days when the weather was not so good! They folded up and when they were put up, the children enjoyed filling up the pockets round the bottom with sand which kept them anchored.
On this 1950 photo are Ethel Crowe, Evelyn Dunnington, Tot Crowe and Hilda Crowe.
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