Shops and local businesses at Seaton Carew.
Christopher Bell, fondly known as Kitty Bill, was a blacksmith with his premises at Southend in Seaton Carew. Note the size of his arms from the manual labour he would have done on a daily basis.
More detail »Outside Bells' blacksmiths at Southend Christopher Bell (Kitty Bill), Richard (Dick) Myers born c1861 and Wilkinson are standing around the anvil. Alfred John (Alf) Sewell born c1872 is standing in the doorway.
More detail »The Blue Lagoon nightclub at number 14 The Front in 1977. This was a popular venue with locals and contractors working on and in the various industries including the Nuclear Power Station. The club was owned by Ken and Marjorie Tyzak.
In the 1960s it had been known as The Rainbow Coffee Bar and was a very popular venue for teenagers, having a disco in a dark back room painted in psychedelic flourescent paint with lights that showed up underwear! It will be very well remembered by many 60s youngsters.
This was also owned by Tyzaks.
HHT&N 1094
More detail »Dunning and old George about to sample some ale at Ramsey, Gilchrist and Ramsey's Brew House in Ashburn Street in 1888. Around 1930 the premises were being used as a fish shop when the building was condemned
More detail »Ben Jones cutting up a rib of beef in John Crosby's butcher's shop in 1888.
More detail »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
More detail »In 1989 owned by the Notarianni family and advertising Silk Cut cigarettes along the front of the awing.
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More detail »Robert Ferguson working in his cobbler's shop in Charles Street, Seaton Carew in 1888. Robert was born c1825 and was married to Hannah.
More detail »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.
More detail »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.
More detail »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.
More detail »Built in 1894 number 70 The Front advertises Fancy Goods, Walls Ice Cream and Benson and Hedges cigarettes in 1977 when this photo was taken. The overhang became an eyesore and was eventually removed.
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More detail »Taken in September 1977 the image shows the side of number 70, the Fancy Goods shop, opposite is number 26 which is the Golden River Chinese take away next door to the Golden Sands Amusements.
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Photograph of timber "dumps" taken by George Allen, crane driver at Fenwick's
More detail »A squad of workers taking a break at Fenwick's prop fields in Seaton Carew.
More detail »Photo of prop fields, taken by George Allen, Crane driver at Fenwick's timber yard.
HHT&N 863
More detail »Don Bee's fish shop at number 77 The Front in 1977. The business was purchased from George Siddle. In 2013 it was known as the 'Almighty Cod'.
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More detail »Don Bee converted the cottage next door at number 76 into a restaurant for customers to eat their fish and chips.
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More detail »The Staincliffe Villas, next to the Stainciffe Hotel, after being private houses for many years eventually became guest houses and bedsits. Two of which were named the Belmont and the Sandside.
More detail »The Italian Hurdy Gurdy man in Lawson Road outside Pattison's house. He is showing the children a bird in a cage. The bird is perhaps mechanical as the vendor appears to be using his right hand to wind a lever. Note one of the girls has a hula hoop.
More detail »Ralph Noddings and his son Fred at their joinery shop in Charles Street. They were responsible for a lot of the building work in Seaton Carew including the lifeboat house. Ralph was married to Elizabeth and was born about 1831 and died in 1909. Fred, or Frederick Elders Noddings, was born about 1869.
More detail »William Proctor, William Odgers and Ralph Noddings having a chat at Nodding's Joinery.
More detail »Prop Field Fire 1949 at Seaton Carew. Fenwick's Prop Yard was situated on Coronation Drive.
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More detail »Prop field fire, Coronation Drive, Seaton Carew 1949. The army helping the fire service.
More detail »Taken in May 1963 the view shows the extensive prop field in Coronation Drive. The props were used in the Durham coalfields to 'prop' up the walls of the mines as coal was excavated.
More detail »Taken in May 1963 the view shows the extensive prop field in Coronation Drive. The props were used in the Durham coalfields to 'prop' up the walls of the mines as coal was excavated.
More detail »Station Lane in 2008. The twin peaked house built by the Hogg family became the Gables Guesthouse and at the time of this photo had become Parkview Nursing Home with conservatories built to the front. The Purvis family owned it for many years. The house next door, Ivycroft, is the Seaton Carew Social Club and further along Dinsdale Lodge has also been converted into a nursing home.
Update: Parkview Nursing Home closed because of a tragic incident. The conservatories were removed and the building left to go to ruin. In 2020 it stands empty and neglected.
More detail »Seaton garage was just before The Front on the north side of Seaton Lane, selling petrol and also servicing cars. The photo was taken in 1962 and at some point in the 1980s, the garage was demolished and Belgrave Court housing was built on the site.
HHT&N 907
More detail »Numbers 73, 74 and 75 The Front in September 1977. The shop is advertising Take Out Coffee Shop and Candy Floss in Bags. The buildings next door were residential at this time and in a very poor state of repair.
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More detail »Probably taken in the 1980s the buildings are numbers 32 to 35 The Front. The Variety Box at number 33 became Allsorts.
More detail »Cafe & Prize Bingo at number 28 The Front in 1977. It was next door to what became Seaton News.
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More detail »Taken in either in the late 1970s or 1980s the Dolphin Antique shop at number 8 The Front was later to become Krimos Italian Restaurant. Numbers 9, 10 and 11 remain private residences.
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More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s this shows the R Smith's butcher's shop. The building became part of the Golden Sands Amusement Arcade.
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More detail »J.W. Cameron and Co Wine and Spirit Merchant on The Front around the 1980s.
More detail »By 2009 Cameron's Wine and Spirit Merchants is gone and an amusement arcade has taken its place.
More detail »In 1981 number 36, on the corner of Church Street and The Front, was the Waverley Cafe selling fish and chips. Number 34 was a residential dwelling, 33 was The Variety Box, 32 a fish shop, 31 was a greengrocer (for sale at this time), 30 was above 31 and a residential dwelling. Note the man on the offshot of the shop front of 31 cleaning the windows on the first floor.
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More detail »Probably taken in the 1960s showing an off licence, a coffee bar and Collins Amusements which is now the Talk of the Town Amusements. Collins also owned the fairground at Seaton.
In the centre is 'The Rainbow' a very 'in' coffee bar owned by the Tyzack family. Discos took place in the back room, which was covered in fluorescent psychedelic shapes and lights which made all white clothes (including underwear) glow brightly. Many couples will have met there in the late 1960s. It was the nearest Hartlepool got to the ' Swinging Sixties ' for teenagers and is fondly remembered by many.
HHT&N 1096
More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s looking along The Front from the Granby Cafe at number 28 to the Marine Hotel at numbers 5 - 7.
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More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s showing the Granby Cafe at number 28 then number 27 and 26 The Front.
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More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s this shows the shops on the corner of The Front and Station Lane. C Harpe at number 2 sold and repaired shoes. The newsagent advertises the Sunday Pictorial and Womans Mirror. To the side of the image the Co-Op can be seen on Station Lane.
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More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s the wall on the side of number 4 and at the entrance to Corner's Court advertises Walls Ice Cream. The footwear sign is for C Harpe which was at number 2 The Front.
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More detail »Shops on west side of The Front, Seaton Carew.
More detail »A printed postcard showing the buildings on Front Street as it approaches Church Street. Second from the corner of Church Street is the Temperance Hotel. The image would be 1888 as a group can be seen outside Ambrose Storer's shop further along the street. This is the same group that is in two of James Pattison's photos.
More detail »The Front in 2012.
More detail »Shops on the seaward side of the Front, Seaton Carew in 1978.
More detail »Clear image of the Chapel used as Nichol's Bingo Hall taken in 1966. This building has now gone and a modern building is in its place and currently is still Nichol's Golden Sands Amusement Arcade. Nichol's Bingo on this photo is still Nichol's Bingo and further shops to the right are now part of this amusement complex.
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More detail »The image would be taken in about 1900 when Ambrose Storer sold everything from chocolates to toys to hardware.
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More detail »Taken in November 2012 the general dealers, which is now No. 30 The Front, has been an Indian Restaurant for about twelve years. The original doorway now leads to a large private dwelling upstairs. The doorway to the next door building was moved and is now the shop window for Seaton News.
More detail »Probably taken in the late 1970s or early 1980s this shows Croft's hardware shop and the newsagent on the corner of The Front and Station Lane.
More detail »Taken in 2005 an amusement arcade is next to what was a guest house. A modern building and a Crawford Road are where cottages once stood.
More detail »The Waverley Cafe on the corner of Church Street and The Front, Seaton Carew.
More detail »Children peer longingly into a shop window at Seaton Carew. The shop was probably on Front Street. Perhaps the dog is wishing they would play.
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