As the pictures show, Tynemouth Longsands didn’t always have an outdoor pool – but even that didn’t deter the visitors!

In fact, Longsands has always been a hugely popular beach that attracted enormous crowds of holidaymakers and daytrippers, and back in the 1900’s you had to get there early if you wanted space on the sand.

Note that these pictures also show the old Plaza building which is no longer there.

Here’s where the story began…. etc, etc.

Throughout the 1970s, the pool continued to thrive.

Looking across Longsands beach from the Plaza hotel on a sunny day, you could imagine you were somewhere a lot further south than Tynemouth!

The beach was often packed and boasted a huge range of tourist attractions including fairground rides, and at the far end of the beach the whitewashed pool remained the biggest attraction of them all.

The pool also played host to a number of high profile events, such as this beauty contest which was hosted by Malcom McLaren and which drew enormous crowds.

Blah blah… increase in popularity of foreign beach holidays heralded a decline in the number of people using the pool.

The beginning of the end? Demolition, etc…

Council’s plans… etc

Exclusivity period… what else we’ve been up to, etc.

Heritage lottery…?