Tynemouth Esplanade taken before 1900 top right is St George's Church to the left is Beaconsfield House.
The Banks, Tynemouth Beaconsfield House and St George's Church stand promanant in the picture
Actuaal date of this photograph is not known but I do know it was after 1927. Top right is St Georges's Church to the left of the church is Beaconsfield . The large builting to the left of picture is the Plaza Ballroom The Tynemouth Plaza was opened in 1878 as the Aquarium and Winter Garden. The central block had an arched glass roof over an elegant winter garden, with large aquarium below. Lower still , at beach level a refreshment bar and promenade was located. On either side of the main block was a five storey tower to provide further refreshment rooms. On the seaward side was an open-air skating rink capable of being flooded for use as a seawater bathing pool. In 1890 the building was renamed-The Palace and the winter garden was converted to a theatre. The glass roof was replaced with corrugated iron. In 1996 a fire destroyed the once magnificent building and what remained had to be demolished.
Dr Barnardo's took over the house on the 2nd January 1946 after the local council had given the organisation just 24 hours to occupy the house or lose it after two other local homes were destroyed during the war. Apparently the house had just been vacated by the army who had used it as a billet for an anti-aircraft unit during the war
The home closed on 1 September 1953 after Tynemouth Council bought the house under a compulsory purchase order as it had plans to develop the sea front. While the area's future was being desided, Beaconsfield house was used by other organisations, including the Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Rescue Society to provide holidays for disadvantaged children. In 1956 the council took the decision to demolish the house and work was completed early in 1957. Plans for a multi-storey hotel and leisure complex were never carried out and the site still remains vacant.
Acknowlodgement
My warm thanks and appreciation for the above two photos and background information go to Sonya Maddieson at Barnardo's, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex.