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.

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.

Taken in 1962 snuggled against the Southolme Guest House is Nobles Amusements. Senior Service and Walls Ice Cream are advertised on the wall. Beside the door a sign reads that Ladies and Gents Toilets are within.

HHT&N 2015

Probably taken in the late 1970s the Southolme is now called a hotel instead of a guest house. The amusements are now known as Las Vegas and boast the latest British and American Amusements.

By 1981 the Southolme had changed its name to the Arch Hotel. The Magic Shop next door was very popular selling all sorts of tricks, wigs, fancy dress costumes etc.

hht&n 1095

This image, which is about 1887, is looking toward 'Kirklea' in Church Street. Ashburn Street hosted a Temperance Hall and Reading Room, gifted by the Backhouse family, and the National School as well as residential dwellings and a brewery. The image may have been an early photo taken by James W Pattison.

Another view of about 1887 with the National School on the right of the image and Kirklea at the end. Possibly an early photo of James W Pattison's.

Looking along Ashburn Street towards Church Street. The buiding next to the one outside where the little girl is standing is the Temperance Hall & further along is the National School. Note the dog in the middle of the road.

This photo was possibly taken by James W Pattison

In November 2012 nothing remains from the 19th century except 'Kirklea' at the end of the street. To the right of the image are elderly people's bungalows.

Bathing machines on the sand no doubt waiting for those wishing to venture into the water! A group of men are talking while one man leans on a boat as another sits astride a horse.

Looking to the rear centre of the view the large house on the north corner of the Green is visible. Belonging to the Daniels family the house was later demolished.

The Cafe Royal at Seaton Carew, 1978. Originally a farmhouse it was built in the late 18th early 19th century.

The Cafe Royal in 1962. At this time it would have been a very busy shop selling ice cream, drinks etc. Most of the advertisments are smoking related such as Olivier tipped cigarettes and Capstan Full Strength.

HHT&N 1097

In 1989 owned by the Notarianni family and advertising Silk Cut cigarettes along the front of the awing.

HHT&N 1089

This image of the Cafe Royal and the Rocket House would have possibly been taken around the 1940s judging by the cars in the scene. The wall of the 1938 bus station is visible on the left. The wall at the rear of the Cafe advertises Purifax Ice Cream.

HHT&N 1092

The name 'Carr' may have come for the Scandinavian for 'copse'  so the meaning of the name would have been 'house in the copse'.

The Bishop of Durham gave lands to Merton College in Oxford when it was founded in 1264. Part of the land was the area around Carr House.

Before Mr William Thompson built Carr House in the 1820s there had been a previous Carr House on the same site. The original building had sometimes been known as Blue Houses because it had been roofed with blue tiles.

In 1709 part of a wreck had washed ashore at Carr House, another in 1727 and in 1729 a mast.

In 1766 the freeholder of Carr House was Robert Chilton.

Newcastle Courant February 21st 1795:

'To  be sold by private contract, an eligible estate, called CARR HOUSE, in the Parish of Stranton and County of Durham containing 215 acres of land, or thereabouts, part freehold and part held by lease unders the Warders and Scholars of Morton College (Merton College), Oxford. Together with a house and an acre of land at Seaton and ten stints on the Snook and a right to three undivided fourth parts of one eighth part of and in the Manor of Seaton Carew. The farm-house and buildings are in good and convenient repair. The freehold pays a modus in lieu of tythes. N. Johnson (the tenant) will show the premises and for further particulars apply to Messrs Hopper, Attorney at Law, Durham. N.B. This will be no more advertised.'

The tenant was most likely Nicholas Johnson whose family had long been associated with Toft House (farm).

Known as both Carr House and Carr Houses by the drawings and photos that survive, it appears that there was either one very large building with the roofs at different levels or two attached buildings. Newspaper advertisements listed the property as two separate dwellings and name occupiers as a different family living in each of two properties. The exception is an advertisement of 1834 which advertises 'Half of Carr House.'

General Hue and Cry June 24th 1820:

SEA BATHING

'Two neat and commodious dwelling houses called CARR HOUSES situated on the sea banks within a quarter of a mile of Seaton Carew, and little more than a mile from Hartlepool, places much resorted to in the summer season by families of the first distinction, each containing a dining  and drawing room, housekeeper's room, a good kitchen, pantry and six good lodging rooms with detached apartments for the menservants, large coach house and a seven stalled stable. A bathing machine upon the beach within 50 yards of the front door. The lodging commands a beautiful prospect of the Tees Bay, the Yorkshire Hills and places adjoining. A cow with hay, corn and grass, may be had if wanted.'

Durham Chronicle July 18th 1834:

SEA BATHING

'The Half of Carr House, near Seaton Carew

TO BE LET FOR SEA BATHING IMMEDIATELY.

THE UNOCCUPIED PART of the HOUSE contains a Dining and Drawing room, Kitchen, Cellar, Butler's Pantry, and Rooms for the convenience of Twelve Beds with a detached Kitchen if required; also a suitable Coach-house and Six-stalled Stable.'

Apply to Mr Wm Thompson, Dyke House, near Hartlepool.--Dyke House July 16th 1834.

William Thompson is mentioned as still having an interest in Carr Houses until he died in February 1851.  From at least 1839 until his death in 1843 Edward Thomas Copely lived in one of the houses. John Stephenson, farmer, lived in one house from 1841, he died in 1873 aged 57. Henry Casebourne in the other from 1847 to 1887. Joseph Robinson is recorded as living in one of the houses from 1879 until at least 1887. William Bainbridge is recorded as having been a farmer there in 1914. Others that are mentioned as living at Carr House are S Barstow and James Perry.

In July 1887 a fire broke out in the cow-byre of Carr House farm. Robert Taylorson of West Hartlepool was passing at about midnight when he saw the flames. He woke Henry Casebourne's household and Joseph Robinson's family and then alerted PC Drow who in turn alerted the fire brigade. Between the two families and the fire brigade the fire was extinguished. A bull and a calf were injured. The fire had been caused by a tramp going into the building with a lighted pipe.

Over the years various people had lived in Carr House cottages which were many decades older than the 1820s built buildings. Many would have been farmhands or fishermen. Cornelious Hodgson was a fisherman who lived in one of the cottages. In 1897 his young son was killed when he was scalded with boiling water.

The cottages were condemned in 1900 when it was discovered that 35 people were living in them sharing only one water tap and two privies between them. The cottages were pulled down in 1904. 1919 Carr House was purchased by the Corporation and the West Hartlepool Town Council put forward a proposal to pull it down because it was in a poor state of repair. The proposal met with strong opposition and it was suggested it could be made tenantable at a cost of between £250 to £350. In 1924 another proposal was put forward to pull it down. By this time it had become an eyesore and in 1925 it was demolished and the land levelled.

Cliff House was to the north of Carr House and was removed by the North-Eastern Railway Company because it formed an awkward angle on the road leading to Seaton Carew. In about 1815 Cliff House was occupied by Mr Wharton JP of Durham. It was said that local smugglers occasionally took his horses and those from surrounding farms. They would then be worked through the night and returned to the stables exhausted. Although Mr Wharton was a JP the smugglers were so numerous and powerful in the area he was afraid to take any action against them for fear of reprisal.

Captain Joe Bunting (in the top hat) talking to Customs House Manager Willliam Robert Staveley (born 1839, Sussex) and his sister near Carr House cottages. Carr House & the cottages were on the edge of the cliff a little further along from The Green. They were demolished in 1904.

A sketch by Thomas Thorpe looking towards the buildings north of the Green. Carr House farm & cottages are depicted on the seaward side of the view. This came from Margaret Lawson's book that was in the Pattison collection.

Margaret Lawson was born in 1841 and was the daughter of John Lawson, vicar of Holy Trinity Church.

The barometer which stands at the side of the road was donated by the Lifeboat Commision in August 1869. Opposite the old cannon is the Wesleyan Chapel built in 1830 and enlarged in 1878. In the early years the sea was so close it would spray up against the Chapel windows.

By 1949 the chapel building was being used as a fun palace.

Where the Chapel stood is now the Golden Sands amusement arcade. Many of the other buildings remain but most of them now with shop fronts.

In the 19th century this small street hosted Ralph Noddings' joinery and Robert Ferguson's cobbler shop. The street looks rather neglected in this image of 1961.

In November 2012 Charles Street is hardly recognisable to the 20th century image. It is now host to elderly people's bungalows. The rear of the building and the overhang next to it leading to The Front are the only remaining structures.

The south side of Church Street looking towards Holy Trinity Church in 1977.

hht&n 2025

Church Street Seaton Carew. The arch is an entrance to what was once the stables and is now a car park

Looking towards the sea. The large houses were built in 1792 at the same time as the Seaton Hotel. They were to cater for the wealthy Quakers that frequented the village during the summer months and shared a kitchen with the hotel.

Some of these large houses are still used as guesthouses as they were when built in 1792.

Church Street looking towards the sea in about 1880. Robert Proctor lived in this street and the cab is probably his as he was in the business of transporting people from the railway station to the sea front.

On the corner of Church Street and The Front is the Waverley Cafe and Hotel. Further along is the Dunelm Cafe and then Hawkin's shop. This image would be from the 1950s.

In December 2012 the buildings remain as they were in the 19th century but the facades have changed. What has been the Waverly for many years has now been renamed 'Fish'. The building is in the process of renovation.

The large house on the corner of Green Terrace and the Green in 1888. Jim Drake with his horse and dog pose for the photo.

On the corner of Station Lane and the Cliff the house was built in 1900 and became Isaac Sparke Thompson's shop selling souvenirs, tobacco and all manner of things. It also housed a cafe and smoking room. It later became Shingfield's Groceries and Provisons. In recent years it became a second hand clothes shop and is now in 2012 a private residence.

In 2005 the building is a residential dwelling with little change to the exterior.

December 2012 showing the changes along Seaton Front

This image would be about 1900 and shows a 'Garage' sign on the hotel. On the fence another sign reads 'Fill up here with Shell'.

A busy day probably in the 1950s. The Dunelm Cafe sign is on the left of the image, next door is J Hunter and then Hawkins.

A pretty white-washed cottage  that stood behind the wall on what was Seaton Lane and is now Station Lane.

Pattison's house on Lawson Road. Note the Staincliffe to the back of the image. Nothing for the cows to graze on now as the whole area is built up!