It’s really only the doorway that is decoish.

Tyne Electrical Engineers Building, 1928:-

Frieze above door:-

On the stairwell of what was once a church, now a shopping arcade in Front Street, Tynemouth

Outbuildings looking back towards Castle:-

Outbuildings as seen from east:-

Chapel?:-

The prominence on which the Castle and Priory stand made it an ideal point to place military defences.

Remains of World War 2 gun emplacements:-

World War 2 artillery piece on wall beyond old graves:-

The gun itself:-

We visited Tynemouth again in December 2019 and this time had a look round the Castle and Priory.

Priory ruins from entrance:-

Tynemouth Castle (entrance to complex) looking back from Priory:-

Main structure of Priory:-

More ruins:-

From seaward side:-

Stained glass window on small chapel:-

The chapel feels quite cosy inside. Stained glass window:-

More stained glass:-

Tynemouth Priory and Castle are the most prominent (former) buildings in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear.

It stands on a promontory overlooking the mouth of the River Tyne:-

On our first visit, in June 2019, we did not enter the premises.

Tynemouth Castle as seen from Tynemouth town. The Priory is unseen behind the castle in this view:-

From northwest, Priory to left:-

The Turk’s Head, Tynemouth, has Art Deco styling:-

I couldn’t go to Tynemouth and not have a look at the River Tyne’s mouth.

Mouth of River Tyne with North Sea beyond:-

Tynemouth, as its name suggests, lies at the mouth of the River Tyne in Tyne and Wear, Northeast England, on the river’s northern bank.

Its War Memorial is situated in a small park-like area between Huntingdon Place and Front Street, Tynemouth’s War memorial has an unusual construction with four curved columns built of granite. The facing column has a downward pointing sword piercing a wreath with, below, the inscription, “To the glory of god and in memory of our fallen 1914 -1918 1939 – 1945.”

West aspect. I assume the upper names are for the Great War and the lower for World War 2:-

North aspect:-

East aspect:-

We were in the Northeast of England last week. We visited Tynemouth, Durham, Bishop Auckland and Sunderland.

Tynemouth was reasonably prosperous looking, quite a few eateries and with a bustling Saturday market, Durham was busy, as you would expect from a Cathedral city. Sunderland was a typical city – in its centre anyway. (I did pass the Stadium of Light but it was in the dark.)

The attraction of Bishop Auckland was the recently refurbished Auckland Palace/Auckland Castle former home of the Prince Bishops of Durham. As part of the entry ticket we were able also to enter both Auckland Tower centrepiece of the Auckland Project (though the tower itself was closed due to high winds) and the excellent Mining Art Gallery just over the road from the tower.

The town itself though was deserted (well, it was a Sunday in England) and very run-down in appearance, empty shops prominent.

I can therefore see why the locals might want change but how on Earth they think voting Conservative will in any way improve their lot is beyond me.

The Tories’ track record in aiding the working person is poor to say the least. And for a former mining area to vote Conservative is an act either of outstanding forgetfulness – or remarkable forgiveness. This truly is a topsy-turvy age.

If I go back in five years’ time I very much doubt the town’s fortunes will have recovered.

By that time we may also have witnessed the NHS even more in hock to private provision (if not sold totally down the river,) judges neutered, Channel 4 and Ofcom eviscerated, the BBC dismantled, Parliamentary constituency boundaries redrawn to favour the Tories even more and voters without photo ID disenfranchised. Not to mention the rise of the cult of Alexander de Pfeffel.

Is all that really what the inhabitants of Bishop Auckland and its neighbouring towns desire?

There’s also a clash of mandates with respect to Scottish independence to resolve. Or not, as the case may be.

And a one-sided trade deal with the US to endure.

Plus I’ve not even touched on the EU negotiations which might still be going on.

What’s to like?