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Amble, Northumberland: History in Old Images

Explore the heritage of Amble in Northumberland, England, through these captivating vintage films and historical photographs. This collection offers a window into the past of a thriving coastal community, from the grueling work of the pitmen to the arrival of holidaymakers seeking the fresh sea air.

Miners Resume Work at Amble (1921)

In 1921, as the world transitioned into the post-Great War era, the coal miners of Amble were achieving extraordinary productivity, extracting over 100 tons of coal daily. This monumental effort drew the attention of Gaumont Graphic News, who arrived to document the Northumbrian pitmen at their labor.

This footage is particularly remarkable for showing the manual loading of coal onto small boats at the jetty—a practice that would soon be modernized out of existence. The film also captures a poignant moment where the local community gathers on the jetty, looking on with curiosity at the early film cameras.


Posted to YouTube by Reuters Connect

Coal Miners in Amble and Dudley (1926)

Following their successful visit five years earlier, the Gaumont Graphic News team returned to the region in 1926. This clip documents miners extracting coal directly from the sandy beaches, backbreaking work that involved loading the fuel into simple wooden carts.

While the footage of Amble is brief before transitioning to scenes in Dudley, it provides a rare glimpse into the local industry. Notably, the film captures the presence of very young children on the industrial sites, reflecting the social realities of the 1920s.



Posted to YouTube by Reuters Connect

Lord Mayor's Holiday Camp

Despite its reputation for hard physical industry, Amble’s seaside location made it a popular retreat for those looking to escape the crowded urban centers of the early twentieth century.

This historical photograph captures John Grantham Cutts, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne (1936-37), visiting children at the local holiday camp. Beyond his civic duties, Cutts was a prominent figure in the British film industry and the owner of the New Pavilion cinema in Newcastle.




Old photo of the Lord Mayor's Holiday Camp at Amble, Northumberland, England. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums via Flickr.

Old Photos of Amble

Take a journey back to an era when horse-drawn transport was the standard, fashion included traditional bonnets, and Walter Willson’s stood as a prominent local landmark.

This extensive collection of photographs spans decades, showing Amble's evolution through the 1950s—including scenes of residents braving heavy snow—into the more challenging economic periods of the late twentieth century. It is a fascinating visual record of how this Northumberland settlement has transformed over time.



AMBLE IN OLD PHOTOGRAPHS: posted to YouTube by Rod Hardisty

Filming BBC Countryfile in Amble

Bringing the town's story into the modern era, this clip captures the excitement of April 19th, 2018, when the presenters and crew of BBC Countryfile arrived in Amble to film a segment for the popular national program.




BBC Countryfile comes to Amble: posted to YouTube by judith hardisty
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Location: Amble, Morpeth NE65, UK

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