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| Writers and Historians | The Present Day
Introduction
Monkseaton Village has a long and historical past, but, although information is available and accessible, it seems that very little has been written about it.
Old photographs and pictures of Monkseaton are scarce. The images used on this site
span a period of over 100 years, many of which have been drawn from a private
collection, and were originally published in the 'Monkseaton & Hillheads' book,
compiled in 2000 (for Tempus Publishing) by local author and historian, Charles W. Steel.
This site has been compiled by Charlie, and is based on his book, with a few additions
and amendments. A sense of nostalgia will be triggered for those who remember the Monkseaton area "as it was", and, for the younger generation, it will hopefully illustrate
a different perspective of "what used to be".
You have the opportunity to view a gallery of pictures and images, which might have otherwise stagnated and been left unseen for years to come. This collection of images
shows Monkseaton and the surrounding villages, and gives a historical account of how
the area looked in days gone by.
During the 1700s and 1800s, some of the outlying farms of Monkseaton Village
encompassed the area called Whitley Hill Heads to the south-east, with others extending
as far as the villages of New York and Murton Villages to the south-west, and the
northern boundary of Earsdon Village. In 1893, a local historian called William Weaver Tomlinson wrote a book entitled 'Cullercoats, Whitley and Monkseaton', which contains
an interesting factual history of the area during the latter part of the 1800s.
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Monkseaton Village
Despite the fact that over the past 90 years, Monkseaton Village has been
absorbed into the urban confines of the nearby town of Whitley Bay, its history
pre-dates that town by many years, and to anyone who resides in Monkseaton,
the place is still referred to as "The Village".
Over the years, many changes have taken place, most of which have been so gradual
that they have simply passed by unnoticed.
Many of the old farms and buildings that once stood in Monkseaton Village have long
since disappeared and remain only as distant memories. The rest sadly, have long
since been forgotten.
Monkseaton has a long historical past, and dates back to at least the 12th century, when
it was simply known as "Seton". This is probably a derivative of the words "sea" and
"tun", ie: the village being near to the sea, and a tun, meaning a hill or rise.
When King Henry I granted lands to the Prior of Tynemouth c.1106, the name was altered
to "Seton Monachorum".
The prefix "Monk" is often found in connection with places belonging to religious houses,
and so in this case it became known as Monk Seaton, or Seaton of the Monks.
From the 13th to the 18th century there are frequent references, monastic and civil,
relating to the farms and dwellings, and some names mentioned are of local interest,
perhaps the most noticeable of which is that of the Mills family.
A Thomas Mills held farms, and in 1688 resided in the farmhouse, which stood on the
site of the Ship Inn. His grandson, also called Thomas, died at his house on 18th November 1775, having been the curate of Jarrow with Heworth.
Of the village itself, little can be recorded other than historical references but it would
appear that judging by the standards of those bygone days, it was a place of some importance. From the year 1577 coal was worked on the land of the Village Farm.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries there were several farms along with the usual tradespeople such as blacksmiths, shoemakers and shopkeepers.
There was a brewery, and with 3 or more inns, the population which varied between 427
in 1801 rising to 952 by the year 1901, was well catered for with ale!
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Writers and Historians
It is of interest to note how the writers and historians of earlier years summed
up their descriptions:
1811
"Monkseaton is a pleasant village, situated three and a half miles north-west by north
from Tynemouth to which parish it belongs, and contains some well built houses belonging
to different gentlemen and farmers. Here are also three Public Houses and one Brewery."
1825
"Monkseaton is a pleasant village, situated three and a half miles north-west-by-north
from Tynemouth. It contains five Farmholds, a Methodist Meeting House, two Public
Houses and a large Brewery belonging to Messrs. Dryden & Co."
1841
"Monkseaton is an irregularly built village of no trade, with the exception of a respectable Brewery belonging to Messrs. Sinclair & Co."
1853
"As I approached the pretty little whitewashed village of Monkseaton from the west side,
it was pleasing to hear the incessant tapping of the hammers of the local tinkers. At close hand the people of the place were disappointing. The tinkers were industrious only by fits
and starts and did not look upon the village as their particular or cherished abode. They treated it as a sort of workshop and spent much of their time wandering the country,
selling their wares and carousing."
1893
"Monkseaton is a pretty little village, formerly the sea town of the monks of Tynemouth.
When its garden trees are in full leaf, the village has a very picturesque appearance,
situated as it is, on a very slight eminence, and many visitors who wish to combine some
of the charms of the country with those of the seaside, patronise it during the summer months."
1907
"We recommend Monkseaton, with a walk to the shore before noon, and a rest after
lunch, with a country stroll in the evening. To many people, the rural situation, a little
from the Links with the slightly elevated position, forms a strong attraction.
"Monkseaton Village itself is chiefly of good new houses, but there is sufficient of the old characteristic to make the place interesting as it is quiet and beautiful. Much has been
done in the use of foliage to make the district attractive and it is rapidly becoming a
charming and popular resort and the chief residential suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne,
for such it would seem nature has destined it."
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The Present Day
Sadly, since these colourful descriptions were written, the farms have gradually disappeared, and have been replaced with business premises, houses and shops.
Housing estates now cover the many fields that were once dotted with wells and water pumps.
Trees and hedgerows have been uprooted and cleared to accommodate new and wider roads, and a car park has replaced what was once the village green.
A different place today from what was once "Seton Monachorum" — "The Seaton of
the Monks".
The areas that skirt the outer boundary of Monkseaton to the southeast are Hillheads (formerly known as Whitley Hill Heads), along with the villages of New York and Murton
to the south-west, and Earsdon to the north.
Although these villages have now been incorporated into the suburbs of neighbouring
Whitley Bay and North Shields, they are still considered by the local residents as villages
in their own right, all of which have their unique story to tell.
Browsing this site may bring back some memories to the older folk that remember Monkseaton and the nearby villages as they used to be, and for the younger generation
it will hopefully serve to show a little about how the area looked in days gone by.
C.W. Steel 2005
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