Location
Tynemouth
Tynemouth 61 guest house and tea room is located on Front Street in the centre of the beautiful village of Tynemouth and is very conveniently located to explore the wonderful Northumbrian coastline and countryside as well as the vibrant city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tynemouth is an area of outstanding natural beauty with stunning beaches permitting a wide range of water sports, including surfing, sailing, wind surfing, jet-ski, sub-aqua, swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Prominent on the headland overlooking the river are the Tynemouth Priory and Castle, dating back to the 11th Century. The village itself is now a conservation area mostly comprised of buildings from the 18th and 19th Century.
Tynemouth village boasts a wide range of independent bars and restaurants including the renowned Riley’s Fish Shack on King Edward’s Bay. You will also find a great selection of independently-owned boutique stores and businesses all on the doorstep of Tynemouth 61. There is also a vibrant market at the Tynemouth Metro Station every weekend.
Newcastle upon Tyne is approximately 9 miles away and easily accessible from Tynemouth via the Metro system or the No.306 bus, with journey times of around 35 minutes. The Metro also serves Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle Central Rail Station. Car parking charges apply in Tynemouth village but discounted car parking vouchers can be purchased from the guest house.
The History of Tynemouth 61
Tynemouth 61, an unassuming name for a guest house with such a colourful history!
Originally built as a Georgian townhouse around 1750, it has also been used as a principal billet for the officers of the Tynemouth garrison in the late 18th century and as a guest house from the early 19th century.
Some of the more famous people who have enjoyed its charm and hospitality have been Charlotte Bronté, Charles Dickens, Richard Cobden, Henry Hallam, Thomas Carlyle, Robert Chambers and Lord Durham.
In 1930 an interesting discovery was made whilst clearing out the cellar. A windowpane thought to have been taken from one of the front upper windows overlooking the village had several verses of a famous poem written by Lord Byron cut into the glass by means of a diamond ring. It is believed this was written by Lady Byron (circa 1840) several years after his death when the ill-feeling caused by their tempestuous short marriage had mellowed.
For a period, the house returned to residential use being owned by Charles George, captain of the Tynemouth Voluntary Life Brigade, the first such organisation of its type in the country. The brigade was set up to save shipwrecked victims from the treacherous waters around the mouth of the River Tyne. Being a local seascape artist of some repute, he was able to paint many of the scenes depicting the full horror of these disasters.
Around 1950 the house reverted to a guest house and tea room becoming well known locally for its impeccable quality and service. The house has recently undergone a major refurbishment to upgrade the facilities to a level people have now come to expect without losing its essence and character. The guest house offers a welcoming homeliness alongside the quality and service with which it has always been associated.
And more recently…
In 2018 Tynemouth 61 was featured in Channel 4’s ‘Four in a Bed’ TV programme (series 13, episodes 16-20) where B&B owners go head-to-head in a competition to see who offers the best value for money. The particular episodes are not currently available on Channel 4’s streaming service All4 but we will post information here if they become available again at a future date.
