Blyth Building, what was it?

[dolly dimples]

 Hi , You've all brought back some lovely memories of my life in Blyth, where I still live,
     I had forgotten how some of it used to be until now,
 All the shops mentioned,  I have been in, Seghinis cafe being the main place for refeshment as a kid, then as I grew older,  after shopping. 
   However sad to say that Blyth is no longer the lovely little town that it used to be.
  We have more charity shops than ever, Westgate House , ( previously Northumbria House and Blyth Cooperative,) is closing down in June, The shop that was once Hedley and Youngs is in a dreadful state inside, and has been up for sale.  Good old Woolies long gone,   
 On a brighter note the beach area is looking very smart,  now filled with housing, and once again a cafe opened up on the beach front, and is a huge success.  the park is not too bad, but nothing compared to the lovely greens and flower displays of yesteryear.   only recently there was talks of refurbishing the market place,  again. as it is now just a huge empty square, even the market is diminishing!
      Sorry if I have disallusioned anyone, but it has to be said that "fings ain't what they used to be,
                                  Cheers, Dolly   

[TriciaK]

I might well meet you in Blyth some time Dolly 
I'm a bit of a rolling stone but have always said that my roots are still in Blyth, where I spent my early years. It's the only place I think of as "home", however much it has changed, and I hope to return for my last years.,
The last time I was there was in 2002 for my Mum's funeral.
The developments on Regent St. are new to me, even though Mum and I used to go shopping in the Keelrow in the late '90s.

[dolly dimples]

TriciaK, I can well understand that the place one was born would always be "home",  Once a Geordie, always a Geordie !  By the time you return , who knows the town maybe updated again by then.
 
  Re- Regent street, that is as it was, but further extentions  are being talked about. Being in recession as we are does nothing to help matters.  It would be nice to think we might meet by the time this happens!   Dolly.














                   

[MHM]

Michael,

Apologies for the delay, my mam worked at Harry Riches for some time, her best educated guess is that Riches was a fruit/veg shop from 1952/53 until around 1968, when Harry became ill and his catchment area became less due to demolition of nearby housing.

I used to go to the shop from around 6/7 years of age till 9/10 years. In terms of years this was 1965 until he closed in 1968.

When I first asked my mam she said there was a second shop on the main road into Blyth but couldn't recall where, looks like the 13 Waterloo Road telephone entry you found?

She also said that the Regent Street cafe was there long before Riches, pre World War 2, she remembers them having nothing to sell!

She also remembers the ice cream being made in a building in Gladstone Street, more or less opposite the Volkscentre (formerly the Beetle Centre), she couldn't remember when it moved from Gladstone Street.

Hope this is helpful.

Malcolm

[emmadog]

Hi everyone, I am up in lovely Northumberlad for a few days (powburn) but had a trip down to Blyth yesterday afternoon.  I visited my uncle and aunt who live on park road and they verified that Martinos was the ice cream shop on ParkRoad and that Seghinis shop was on the corner of Regent Street and Burt Street.  By the time we left we had talked about most of the shops from years gone by ( a lot of which I did not know.)

I now wish I had gone to Woodhorn on Wednesday as I may have bumped into Christine but my visit there will have to wait til next time I come up.

Barbara
Ps its been a lovely four days looking round.  We even went to Whittingham churchyard and looked at gravestones of some ancestors.

[Phodgetts]

Oh emmadog, I'm so jealous. Enjoy your stay up there.

Which were your ancestors at Whittingham? Mine were Johnsons and you will have walked right by their grave as it is close to the edge of the path.

Other point for me here is the pre war cafe. Was it Marshall's Corner House Cafe?

I have an advert for it if you are interested in seeing it. Nothing special, but interesting nonetheless.

I posted some old Blyth adverts to the forum, but there didn't seem to be much interest.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,603501.0.html

P

[dolly dimples]

 Re Phoddgetts,   dont for one minute think that because no one remarked on the pics you sent of adverts that we dont appreciate them. I for one think they are bloomin luverly!!
    I am amazed at where on earth you dig them up, where-ever that maybe, keep em coming!
                   and many thanks,   Dolly

[emmadog]

Hi P, it's been a ovely few days up here onlu one wednesday that was horrible so we only ventured as far as Wooler.

We were on our way for a meal at Glanton when my cousin mentioned the gravestones so he went on to Whittingham.  The had been after we were up there last year and found the stones.  The had started at the back of the graveyard and found them right in front of the church door!!! 

The gravestones were for the Pigdon family.  I tried to take some photos but not sure what they are like.

Can't wait to come up again cos next time we are having a trip to archives.

Ihave got Johnsons in my tree but they originally came from Gateshead and settled in Blyth.

Barbara

PS dolly dimples posted while I was typing my reply above, I think the adverts are ace, really got me thinking again.  By the way my aunt says that Woodcocks had not shut too!!!

[Phodgetts]

On the basis of your comments I'll upload some adverts then. I'd thought they'd generate some reminiscence and chat and that didn't happen......

P