I recently received a
few photographs of The Engineers Arms in Seaham Harbour, taken in the late
1960s or early 1970s, from my cousin, John Hughes. John lived with his parents,
Jack and Ivy Hughes, in the Engineers where Jack was the licensee from 1950 up to
his retirement in 1975.
This photograph shows
Jack (second left) and Ivy (third left) in the Public Bar of the Engineers.
Throughout his time as landlord, the pub comprised two rooms; a men-only Public
Bar and a Singing Room with piano and table service, for both men and women
Jack and Ivy behind the bar of the Engineers Arms.
Note the pair of handpumps which dispensed Newcastle Ales and the black and
white television in the corner. Kids weren’t allowed in the bar, but when we
visited Jack and Ivy in the early 1960s, Jack would often bring us a half of
shandy to drink upstairs.
Many people think that business cards are a relatively
modern marketing tool, but John came across this visiting card from our
grandfather, Jack Stuart, when he ran the Noah’s Ark Hotel and The Blandford
Hotel in Seaham in the 1920s. The card informs would-be patrons of ‘music and
singing’ and that there is a bus stop at the door! The telephone number is only
three digits, 219 Seaham Harbour.
