Tuesday, 07 September 2010

Turning back the clock - Old Prudhoe

THESE picture postcard images give us a window on life in Prudhoe in bygone times.

Kept safe since the 1960s by Riding Mill shopkeeper, Bobby Turner, the pictures have been brought out of hiding more than 100 years after many of them were taken.

After being used as toys by the children of Mr and Mrs Robson, the then agents for the Duke of Northumberland in Prudhoe, the postcards were given to Bobby to ensure they were looked after.

The black and white images depict a stark contrast between the moving sight of soldiers lining the platform of old Prudhoe railway station, off to fight for King and country in the First World War, alongside one of the town’s young football teams in 1909.

And pupils in lessons at St Matthew’s Catholic School appear almost as regimented as the soldiers off to war, as they sit backs rigid with eyes right for the picture.

The town’s streets have changed immensely and churches have come and gone. One example is St John’s Methodist Church, which once stood on the site of the former Kwik Save store, which is now home to the Original Factory Shop.

The old Palace Cinema was on the site now occupied by the CIU social club.

Have your say

Trying to trace any photo of grandparents - Billy and Annie Cowings - lived at Crown House, Front Street or of great grandparents Thomas Rowell and wife Dorothy and great uncles Kit Rowell who died in WW1 and Jimmy Rowell who ran Locamotive Inn

Posted by John Cowings on 26 August 2010 at 15:30

love to see more photos of my home town.my father helped to lay turf on chalk heeps some50years ago.

Posted by miriam coulson on 24 August 2010 at 00:28

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