First Floor Meeting Room
Whitley Bay Library and Customer First Centre
York Road
Whitley Bay
NE26 1AB
Contact: Susan Lynn (chair, NT Branch)
Email: northtynesidebranch@ndfhs.org.uk
Meetings on 1st Tuesday in the month at 1.30 p.m.
(No meeting in July & August)
All visitors are welcome
| Date | Subject of Talk | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1st Apr 2025 | Northumberland Schools | Christopher Tipple |
| Tue 6th May 2025 | Getting the most from the NDFHS website | Kevin Johnson |
| Tue 3rd Jun 2025 | Members visit to Tynemouth Priory Theatre | – |
| Tue 1st Jul 2025 | No Meeting | – |
| Tue 5th Aug 2025 | No Meeting | – |
| Tue 2nd Sep 2025 | Talk – TBC | Susan Lynn |
| Tue 7th Oct 2025 | Monkseaton | Keiran Keilty |
| Tue 4th Nov 2025 | Members Forum | – |
| Tue 2nd Dec 2025 | Christmas Lunch | – |
Branch Newsletter
Reports of meetings
March 2025
Our March meeting was well attended with 20 members ( including two visitors from other branches).
Newcastle City Guide Tony Stephenson returned with an excellent talk this month on the topic of Seaton Delval village together with the family history of the DeLaval’s. The talk included the industrial history of the area, with particular focus on the changes which took place in the harbour.
Our Chair Susan Lynn informed us that our branch was to have a stall in May at North Sheilds library to promote the society at a local history event marking the 800th year anniversary of the town. Volunteers will be needed to help out but this will be arranged nearer the time.
Our next meeting will be at Whitley bay library on 1st April starting at 1.30pm, when our guest speaker will be Christopher Tipple on the subject of Northumberland Schools, all welcome.
November 2024
We had 17 people in attendance with 3 apologies received.
The topic this month was a members forum on The Workhouse and Poor Law Reform Act 1834. The Chair opened with an introduction to the Poor Law and the history prior to its existence, the Secretary then gave a brief overview of the local Preston Union workhouse situated in North Sheild built in 1836 following the reform act. Several members followed on with sharing stories and information regarding their ancestors unfortunate stay in such institutions.
Our December meeting is our annual Christmas luncheon, this year held in an Italian Restaurant in Tynemouth Station on Dec 3rd. There will be no meeting in January 2025 but normal service will resume in February when we will return to Whitley Bay library.
October 2024
Our Oct meeting was attended by 11 members and we had 7 apologies.
Those in attendance were entertained by our Chair Susan Lynn who gave a very interesting talk on the history of Pressgangs on the river Tyne. A splendid presentation illustrated with PowerPoint.
Our November meeting will be a Members Forum, the discussion will be Workhouses/ Parish Relief, all members with any family history, contributions or stories on this topic will be welcomed. First Tuesday of the month, 1.30 pm in Whitley Bay Library.
Please note: Our December gathering will be at an Italian restaurant in Tynemouth Station for Christmas Lunch.
September 2024
At our September meeting we had 18 members and 4 visitors, apologies from 3 members.
One of our members Val Anderson gave a wonderful presentation regarding her interesting local family history. Her Grandfather, Tot Anderson, was a Gateshead and Newcastle publican held high esteem across many pubs across Tyneside, a council member and philanthropist. Two of her uncles Hughie Gallagher and Will Curly were two mid century sporting heroes. Val gave a fascinating and honest account of her memories growing up in this high profile family.
June 2024
North Tyneside branch had their annual summer outing, this year we visited Holy Saviour Church in Tynemouth. We all enjoyed a wonderful talk by Peter Jackson, regarding the background to the church being built and its history followed by a guided tour and a look at the beautiful stained glass windows. Afterwards we retired into the adjacent church hall for teas/coffee and cake. 10 members attended apologies for 7 had been received – mostly members were away on holiday.
Please note there will be no meetings in July and August, but normal meetings will resume on Sept 3rd at 1.30pm in Whitley Bay library where one of our members Val Anderson will talk about her interesting family history and its links to the local publican trade .
April 2024
We had 13 members attend, with 6 apologies on April 2nd. Last minute change to advertised programme as speaker was unwell. Keiran Keilty gave us an interesting talk about Monkseaton village. This was followed by a members forum and a wide ranging discussion on genealogy research.
Our next meeting on 7th May there will be a talk on Augustus Welby Pugin, Gods Architect by one of our members, Bill Nicholson.
The meeting will take place in Whitley Bay Library at 1.30pm, all members and visitors welcome.
March 2024
We had 12 members present with 8 apologies at the meeting held on the 5 March. Tony Stephenson gave us an excellent presentation about the life and times of Newcastle poet Basil Bunting. He was a man whose life was extraordinary having been at various times a journalist, a diplomat and a spy; a poet who deserves to be better known”. Talk highly recommended.
Next meeting we will have Steve Allerdyce talking about the Rising Sun Colliery Wallsend
Last updated: 17th March 2025
