EPW025031 ENGLAND (1928). Cullercoats and Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, from the south-east, 1928

Looking south-east from The Links at Whitley Bay, towards Cullercoats and the fine old Victorian/Edwardian buildings along the Promenade, with Whitley Sands in the foreground. June 2012.

Whitley Bay's growth took off in the late 19th century, from a small village of 300 inhabitants in 1861 to a bustling resort town of 6,800 in 1901. After the North Tyneside Loop Railway line was constructed in 1882, connecting the coastal villages to Newcastle, the natural attractions of the sea-front favoured dormitory and resort development at Whitley Bay, Monkseaton and Cullercoats. This area was also popular with many Glaswegians, both for holidays and day-trips, at least until the outbreak of World war II in 1939.

Since 1920, Whitley Bay has expanded in a south-easterly direction towards Cullercoats, along the coast beyond Whitley Park and inland to absorb Monkseaton, so that the built-up area had increased four-fold between 1901 and 1925. Much of this rapid development is apparent in this image from October 1928, when the population of the town was probably in excess of 25,000. Further development continued throughout the 1930s, northwards along the coast and west towards Shiremoor. Today's population of Whitley Bay is estimated to be over 36,500 and it remains a very popular place, both for commuters and holiday-makers.