The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Valecnik wrote:I'm not sure you guys have got it yet. There are a lot of pointy topped churches on this side of the pond...

Bruce, you may be right. I typically go about projects of this sort to disprove whatever hypothesis I'm working on. In the case of Tynemouth, the more I dig up, the more promising it looks. Unlike the other towns I've studied, St. George's in Tynemouth at least has the proper shape to its steeple, and the same orientation to the sun, street layout, and open space. That's hardly conclusive, but at least it's still in the running.

I've surmised that Front Street (which used to run past the front of St. George's) no longer exists, or was re-named the Grand Parade and possibly re-routed as well. Alex correctly pointed out that Tynemouth was bombed during WWII. This occurred a number of times over several years causing extensive damage. A photo below shows the Bowling Green in Tynemouth after a bombing raid of October 24, 1940. The second photo shows a modern view from roughly the same position, and strikingly similar to the old image I'm trying to identify. This view seems to have been taken from Tynemouth Park, which evidently has been there for a century or more.

Alex, you seem to be in the best position to disprove Tynemouth as a possible location! The row of houses in the original image is not present in modern views of Tynemouth. I'm looking for a legible period map of the town to see if there was a street southeast of St. George's Church that would qualify. Maybe there's something locally you could check out (between classes!)?

I really appreciate the help offered so far on the Forum. Personally, I find this sort of sleuthing fun...

George P.

that bowling green is still there now, i never knew that little building was so old, theres a park there now just behind the camera point and a large pond, that photo is looking parralell to the sea, the green i beleive is just behind the second photo.

my school has a few copies of ww2 maps, aswell as one which shows where the places the north east was bombed, i'll ask if i can borrow them tomorrow and try to post a picture of them here, they might show the original layout of tynemouth.

George, Are you saying that the row houses that are clearly in front of the church (in the photo)are now all gone the "now" the church is right on the shoreline ?.

gramophone78 wrote:George, Are you saying that the row houses that are clearly in front of the church (in the photo)are now all gone the "now" the church is right on the shoreline ?.

I'm not sure I understand your question. IF the location in the old photo is indeed Tynemouth, then yes, the row houses are now gone.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:George, Are you saying that the row houses that are clearly in front of the church (in the photo)are now all gone the "now" the church is right on the shoreline ?.

I'm not sure I understand your question. IF the location in the old photo is indeed Tynemouth, then yes, the row houses are now gone.

George P.

OK, I understand. My interpretation of your photo shows the church being in from the park/beach area. However, as I wrote in another post....there seems to be a foot path in the area that may be "beach"?. Also the attire does not seem to be "beach" style for that time. I would still like to see the "whole" photo to see if anything else may be discovered.
I have one other question.....how do you know for certain it was taken in the UK??.

gramophone78 wrote: OK, I understand. My interpretation of your photo shows the church being in from the park/beach area. However, as I wrote in another post....there seems to be a foot path in the area that may be "beach"?.

I really don't mean to be obtuse, but once again I don't understand the question. I see the footpath, and it may or may not lead to a beach. I don't see a beach in the original photo - just a petering out of the horizon as one looks left to right. I blew up the right side of the original photo to show that nothing is visible between the people at the extreme right, suggesting (but not proving) that there may be water over there.

gramophone78 wrote: Also the attire does not seem to be "beach" style for that time.

You're right - it's not. Nor does the vegetation look very lush beneath the people's feet. It may have been autumn. In any event, it's doubtful that beach attire is worn year round anyplace along the English coastline. (Kirtley, are you wearing your swim trunks? )

gramophone78 wrote: I would still like to see the "whole" photo to see if anything else may be discovered.

It's posted below as it appeared in the March 2013 issue of The Antique Phonograph in an article titled "Traces of Early Talking Machine Exhibitions."

gramphone78 wrote: I have one other question.....how do you know for certain it was taken in the UK??.

I don't know that, which is why in my initial posting I wrote: "I've always wondered where the photo was taken; it looks like England or northwestern Europe." I'm hoping Bruce will post a photo of this church in the Czech Republic! I'd just like to know for sure, if that's even possible.

George P.

kirtley2012 wrote: my school has a few copies of ww2 maps, aswell as one which shows where the places the north east was bombed, i'll ask if i can borrow them tomorrow and try to post a picture of them here, they might show the original layout of tynemouth.

Thanks Kirtley. If you can find a map of Tynemouth from around the turn of the century, that would be ideal. Then we wouldn't need to wonder if major changes had occurred in the 1920s or 1930s. And if the street layout on such a map doesn't match what's on the old photo, it's back to the drawing board...!

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:George, Are you saying that the row houses that are clearly in front of the church (in the photo)are now all gone the "now" the church is right on the shoreline ?.

I'm not sure I understand your question. IF the location in the old photo is indeed Tynemouth, then yes, the row houses are now gone.

George P.

What I am trying you to say is....if the photo is at Tynemouth and the row houses we see are now gone. Is this photo therefore not to be of a more "beach" type scene instead of a "park" like setting??. The modern pics show the church beside a low sandy bluff and beach. Nether of which I see in your photo. As Bruce said.....there is a steeple in every town in the UK and Europe.
I asked why the "UK" because being a stereo-view it may have stated something like the location of the company that produced the actual card. That could be a clue also.

Hmmmm.... I think the location is not that important, it's that it is on the cover of the March 2013 issue of The Antique Phonograph. (no that there's anything wrong with that).


Kirtley, Nice home town there.

To tell the truth, I hadn't looked at the actual stereoview in the past 5 or 6 years. I shot it with a camera to make a digital image, then put it away. I remembered that there had been no markings on it except for a penciled inscription that offered no useful information beyond the fact that the English language had been employed by the writer.

This morning I dug out the stereoview and discovered that my digital image had omitted the extreme right-hand portion of the original. There's something there, stuck in the ground at what appears to be an odd angle (a signpost?). And more than ever, the landscape off to the right looks awfully beach-like... Is that low stone wall a seawall?

A friend who also is a member of this forum is using this thread to demonstrate to his wife how fortunate she is to be married to a sane collector! The funny part is that I've done the same thing! (No, not this thread! )

I agree with Retrograde; Tynemouth looks like a charming place. I told my wife that we should go there someday.

My apologies to those who've been bored by this search for a "steeple in a haystack" (thanks to my friend Anil for that!). And my thanks to those who share my obsessive/compulsive disorder and have helped out.

George P.