Its history, character and position on the North East coast give Tynemouth great appeal for homebuyers looking for a period property in a timeless spot. Aranda Garrard finds out more. WITH its sandy beaches and the elegance of its period properties, Tynemouth has grown as a place to stay, to holiday and a place to relax.
Like many coastal resorts, its buildings consist of a large number of grand, three-storey properties with basements, all in a late Georgian style. Today, many of them are apartments, although some have been retained as homes and guest houses. The Grand Hotel stands on the seafront in Grand Parade, Tynemouth. Built in the 1970s, it adds to the luxury of the local area. It is a popular choice for weddings and has a restaurant. Originally, Tynemouth grew to service the Priory, then the militia. Later, it became a popular resort for day-trippers from across the country. Because of its location, Tynemouth is not only easy to get to, but it is also well-connected by Metro and bus to Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields and the airport. Newcastle is only nine miles away, while North Shields Fish Quay can be reached by a brisk walk. The quayside offers good fish and chip restaurants, a traditional grocery store and regular sailings by passenger ferry across the Tyne to South Shields. The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Oswin stands in Tynemouth village and is one of the oldest Catholic churches locally. The former Congrega- tional Church of 1868 is now an indoor shopping mall called the Land of Green Ginger, which makes for perfect browsing. This church has a 150ft steeple which acts as a focus to the village, especially from the sea, the pier or the Spanish Battery. The former church hall next to the Land of Green Ginger is now Sammy Jack’s pub. Front Street in Tynemouth retains many features of a traditional village such as individual shops, including Razzberry Bazaar. There are two schools in Tynemouth Conservation Area, Priory Primary School and the King’s School. Leisure activities include walking, football, golf and surfing is also a growing sport. The open air swimming pool has been filled in to create a rock pool, but is largely disused. There have always been plenty of pubs in Tynemouth and at weekends, Front Street fills with revellers. The character of Tynemouth has been preserved to a high standard, and shopfronts have been renovated in sympathy with the traditional look. The village now retains an interesting mix of old and new architecture, from the sandstone ruins of the 11th Century priory church which replaced an earlier Anglo-Saxon church in 1090 to new apartment blocks in Hotspur Street. This street leads down to the seafront and consists mainly of densely- packed terraces of late Victorian houses enlivened by brick and stone bay windows. The impressive crescent of houses at Percy Gardens was developed from the 1860s behind landscaped gardens overlooking King Edward’s Bay. There are magnificent sea views from here. The present station is on the Tyne and Wear Metro line and has become a venue for fairs, flea markets and arts events – especially on a Sunday morning. Tynemouth Station is one of the finest Victorian railway stations in the country and has been used as a location in many TV dramas and films. Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade’s Watch House was opened in 1887 and is still in operation, while it also contains a small museum on the history of the area, the Black Middens rocks off Tynemouth and even a ghost story or two. Nearby, the statue to Admiral Lord Collingwood, Nelson’s second in command at Trafalgar, overlooks the mouth of the Tyne. | 
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