RootsChat.Com

England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Pete E on Sunday 30 December 12 16:53 GMT (UK)

Title: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Pete E on Sunday 30 December 12 16:53 GMT (UK)
Here are four photographs of ladies enjoying day trips out from Blyth; probably mystery tours as I know my granma Lilian Oliver (nee Mann was Murray) loved them and she is in each photo.
In first she is 4th lady from right as you look, 6th lady along in the long black coat is my great granny Martha Mann (nee waters).
Second photo they are 3rd & 4th from left arms linked.
Third photo its grandma only 2nd from left.
Final photo and they are standing granny behind grandma to right of door as you look.

Does anyone recognise anybody on these photo's it would be nice to put names to more of them. The trips are probably during late fifties and early sixties.
Cheers
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: pityackafromblyth on Monday 31 December 12 16:44 GMT (UK)
In the early 50s there were coach trips organised during the summer holidays for children and mothers.  The ones we went on set off from outside the Co-op at Newsham.  Sometimes there were 3-4 coaches.  As regards the photos you have attached, I cannot help, however, the last one shows the women standing outside a pub (?), the Willow Tree (?) at Newsham.  I may be way off the mark,but when I looked at that photo, that it what came immediately to mind.
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: blythian on Tuesday 08 January 13 17:27 GMT (UK)
I don't recognise anyone but I do remember my great gran and gran telling me about the charabangs :) Great photos non the less and a great representation of true northern women, handbags and all!

PYFB, I thought of the Bebside or Kings in Cowpen, though that may be due to being painted black and white in modern times lol.
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: skida on Saturday 02 February 13 12:01 GMT (UK)
The door isn't wide enough for the Bebside (double doors) and according to street view, the Willow Tree doesn't have that stone edging around the door.
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: eddie21455 on Sunday 10 February 13 16:19 GMT (UK)
is the pub not the Black Diamond ?
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: wilsonhepple on Wednesday 13 February 13 15:53 GMT (UK)
I am curious about this, so I called my Mam yesterday to ask her if she recalled those day trips mentioned by the OP.
Mam lives in Seghill,  is 90 years old, and does in fact remember them very well.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charabanc
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: emmadog on Sunday 17 February 13 14:20 GMT (UK)
Hi, I have been watching this post with great interest as I knew I had a photo to go on here but it was on other computer.  At long last I have got it. Hope it is of interest.

Not sure where they have ended up, maybe it was a mystery tour!!!

One of the women is my grandmother and another her sister.

Barbara.

Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Sunday 17 February 13 21:18 GMT (UK)
That scene looks like it might be York to me. Not sure if that is the Minster in the left background, but the low walls close by the road on the right certainly have the look and 'feel' of York.

P
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: wilsonhepple on Tuesday 19 February 13 00:43 GMT (UK)
That scene looks like it might be York to me. Not sure if that is the Minster in the left background, but the low walls close by the road on the right certainly have the look and 'feel' of York.

P

If I'm not mistaken, that's Bedlington on the front of the bus, and I'm pretty sure those lovely ladies are from Bedlington, Northumberland.
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: emmadog on Tuesday 19 February 13 14:34 GMT (UK)
The ladies are definitely from Blyth but don't know where they ended up. I'm not sure if its York (being a regular visitor to there) and I would have thought it may have been a long way for a day trip way back in those days but could very well be wrong. 
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Tuesday 19 February 13 18:43 GMT (UK)
Blyth to York is only 94 miles via the A19 and not that much further via the A1. I know the roads would not be modernised dual carriageways back then, but even so, a day trip to York would have taken about 3 hours each way plus whatever stop over time they had in the city.

Re Bedlington on the front of the bus, it is just the company name Bedlington & District and not a destination blind. Using B&D for a charter would be of no surprise given how close Blyth and Bedlington are. No doubt the hirers would have approached all the local companies to get a price for the trip.

P
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Pete E on Wednesday 20 February 13 14:50 GMT (UK)
Super photo of the ladies on a grand day out; it doesn't look like the Minster to me, but the walls look like York. Is there another church near the walls which would give this view, I've Google street viewed around the walls keeping them to the right and I'm struggling. Other options Durham, Carlisle, Berwick, I think the fortifications are wrong; this photo is going to bug me!
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Wednesday 20 February 13 20:13 GMT (UK)
It's bugging me too fremund! The bus is also a bit of an anomaly because it looks like an AEC Regal, but the full width bonnet is more in the style of a later AEC Regent. I have been unable to identify the type. That is bugging me too. Bedlington & District had a preference for AEC it would seem.

P
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Thursday 21 February 13 00:29 GMT (UK)
At last! After much searching for the last few days, I think I have come up with the make of bus featured in the picture. A Foden bus with a Plaxtons body on it. I know some of the trim detail is different in this modern image, but this is what the bus would have looked like though in a different livery too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/byjr/6012101667/

P
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: AlisdairGB on Thursday 21 February 13 07:59 GMT (UK)
My initial view of the location was York, and it looks as though it should be familiar, but I can't place it.

Now, in a mad moment I wondered if it might be Carlisle ?
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: emmadog on Thursday 21 February 13 17:38 GMT (UK)
I've never been to Carlisle so it could be there.  As I said earlier I am a regular to York (another trip booked for June).  I do not recognise it as York minster but could be wrong.

I can't think of my grandmother ever saying that she had been to York but she always seemed to be going on trips so who knows.

Barbara
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: The Putter on Thursday 21 February 13 19:55 GMT (UK)
I'm from Blyth [left over 40 years ago] and now live 8 miles from York. I have studied the photographs and am fairly sure they are not taken in or around York.  :'(
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Thursday 21 February 13 20:00 GMT (UK)
Thanks for looking The Putter. A day trip from Blyth to a walled town. The ones that I can think of off the top of my head are Berwick, Carlisle and York. I can't imagine in those days that they'd get much farther afield. Looks like it's going to bug me for a bit longer!  ???

P
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Pete E on Friday 22 February 13 10:34 GMT (UK)
Well after much deliberation, I'm plumping for York. I think they may have been parked on the Lord mayors walk near Monk gate. The wall line, tree and mound dipping seem to fit. There is no Church now, however there is a small public garden and a bit of googling advised me there was a church, "St Maurice Monk gate" on this spot till 1966. Need to find a photo to see if the church tower is right. Any way that's my theory please feel free to destroy  ;D
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Phodgetts on Friday 22 February 13 13:22 GMT (UK)
Thank you fremund. I think you are spot on. I managed to find an old postcard of St Maurice's and the tower and decorations match. Good job you!

http://www.churchpostcardviews.co.uk/Yorkshire/pages/York%20-%20St%20Maurices%20Church%20YOR066.htm

Glad to be able to lay this one to rest.

Thanks again

Philip
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: AlisdairGB on Friday 22 February 13 14:04 GMT (UK)
Yes, well done fremund !
Title: Re: Charabanc trips from Blyth
Post by: Pete E on Friday 22 February 13 15:07 GMT (UK)
Thanks Gentleman, well done with the postcard Phil, I think that is the clincher for me  ;)