Blyth History.

[dolly dimples]

 Well done Alistair.  What memories you lot stir up. Still resmbles todays Church St a little, but such a lot of our old building's are disappearing rapidly...   The old Co op now houses 3 pound shops,  and an Iceland store.    It used to be a treat to take a walk down town, not now! 
                                      Dolly .
                                   

[c-side]

Yes, it has changed tremendously - I find it difficult to remember what it was like before.

Seeing the old photos does remind me though - so thank you all for those

Christine

[AlisdairGB]

    The old Co op now houses 3 pound shops,  and an Iceland store.                                       

Just a correction for those who no longer live in Blyth. The old Co-op ( Northumbria House as was ) has one pound shop, Iceland and a bargain shop.

Not ideal perhaps, but I'd rather see the building occupied rather than empty, as it was for a couple of years, after two Co-op firms ( NE Coop and Anglian Coop) withdrew from the "store" .

I don't want to turn this thread into the arguments for and against any particular shop chain, but I thought I should correct any misconceptions about the buildings current tenants.

[peeem]

Yes it's a strange old world aint it.
I asked about the Argos site because, as I said it had cropped up in conversation. Funnily enough that conversation had started because we were discussing the letters in the Leader newspaper and how you can't please all the people etc etc. It's not that long ago the letters were complaining about the empty shops and then all the charity shops and now all the discount/cheap shops!
I suppose we would all like the town centre to be the way it was but I think that sadly most towns are in the same position.
Anyway, if it doesn't change nobody will be able to ask "What was there before"  .

[TriciaK]

Alasdair - your photos bring back memories - it's a more familiar scene now with the Co-op building at the end.
The shops on the left of the photo - I think one of those was Harper's fish shop (fresh fish not fried!)
I wonder if that's still there? It was originally around the corner opposite the Market Square, near Soulsby's butchers.
ps just found Harper's mentioned on onother thread, and someone (?Dolly ) said it was no longer there.

[dolly dimples]

I stand corrected Alisdair. of course there are the shops you mentioned, the other is the £1 shop
   in the shopping Arcade. 
  Tricia is right Harpers fish mongers long gone, it is now a fish and ship cafe.
                                                               Dolly
   

[Phodgetts]

One last one from me, this picture of St. Mary's from the southwest, showing the original school building behind. An interesting picture that shows the church prior to being extended to its present form. Given the streets behind were built I dare say this picture dates to somewhere between 1897 and 1910, certainly pre WW1.

[dolly dimples]

Brilliant Ph , and I certainly hope it's not your last !
     It's certainly taken from a different slant!  Love the railing's around it !
                                  thank's Dollly
                         

[emmadog]

Those kids could have been some of my family a they lived in church street around that time.