IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Alnwick Avenue, WHITLEY BAY, NE26 3PT

The Northumberland Village Homes, Whitley Bay were built in the late 19th century for destitute and homeless girls. Run on a "cottage homes" basis, each home housed groups of up to 16 girls, led by a "house mother". The girls worked hard and were given more tasks and responsibilities as they got older. Being certified as an industrial school the homes received girls placed under detention by magistrates as well a girls who came on a voluntary basis or from workhouses. The first block of 2 homes were opened on the 11th of May 1880 whilst a further 4 blocks, each of 2 homes, were built over the next 10 years, housing about 130 girls. A school room was added in 1884 and in 1891, funded by a legacy of £2,500 from a John Fleming, a gardener's lodge and laundry building were added. During the First World War daughters of soldiers and sailors away in service were able to stay at the homes. However, reflecting changes in social policy, the homes became an Approved School in 1933 and finally closed in March 1985. They were then converted for private residential use with new houses on the other side of Village Court being built in a similar style to the Homes. A closer examination of this photograph will reveal on the black beam above the four paned window the words, "Fleming Memorial Lodge HD 1891".

Private road off Norham Road.

Houses overlooking Whitley Sands which are in next square

This is a picture of a rainbow taken from the back lane behind Beach Avenue, Whitley Bay

The church is situated in the commercial centre of Whitley Bay which is a little inland.

This box dates from the reign of Elizabeth II. The Royal Mail is a key partner in the Government's Coronavirus testing programme and collect completed testing kits from over 35,000 specially selected post boxes of which this is one (see stickers attached to the box). For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk