Newcastle life captured 80 years ago
THESE pictures show snapshots of life in Newcastle 80 years ago. They were taken by the noted photographer Humphrey Spender. In later years he would become better known as an artist, but in the 1930s he was hired by our sister paper the Daily Mirror and worked under the nickname Lensman.
He also became a member of the Mass-Observation movement which recorded and charted aspects of everyday life in Britain. Spender died in 2005, aged 94. Back in December 1938, he had found himself in Newcastle with his camera.
With the economy in trouble and unemployment high, it was a difficult time for many people in the North East. There were also storm clouds gathering over Europe and a catastrophic world war would erupt in September 1939.
While on Tyneside, Spender photographed Newcastle United fans watching their team in action from the old Leazes End at St James’ Park.
He captured men smoking and drinking at the Royal Turks Head.
Elsewhere, in another pub, he pictured Newcastle Rotary Club members enjoying drinks after a meeting to discuss the economic crisis facing their region.
Another stark image shows the rear of a down-at-heel terraced street in Newcastle - quite probably in the city’s West End.
In 1938, people kept an anxious eye on the news headlines - but life went on.
Folk in Newcastle shopped for bargains in Binns and Fenwick’s; a house in Jesmond would knock you back £450; and you could get your hands on a 1933 Wolsesley 12 saloon for £27 10 shillings.
In the booming cinemas, the big films that year were Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney; and Jezebel, starring Bette Davis.
Nine months later, Britain was at wear with Germany.