The Spanish City.
The Spanish City was a permanent seaside fairground in Whitley Bay, a seaside town in the North East of England.
It was demolished for redevelopment (including a new school) in the late 1990s. The centrepiece of the Spanish City was the Dome, which still exists, although most of the fairground site has gone.
The Spanish City was opened in 1910 . . . and became the Empress Ballroom in 1920.
In 1979 the Rotunda Ballroom was converted into the starlight rooms for live entertainment. The Spanish City’s funfair was extremely popular with fairground rides and amusements, including a ‘Corkscrew’ roller coaster, which is now at Flamingoland in Yorkshire, ghost train and waltzers.
The Dome has had a number of uses over the years as a ballroom, amusement arcade, and Laser Quest Laser Tag Arena, most recently it became a live music venue playing host to several bands including an appearance by Ash in 2001.
The Spanish City. belongs to the following groups:
HDR Photography and Landscape PhotographyAvailable for sale as Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
whisperingruth, 8 days ago
I love your extensive writeup that go along so beautifully with your art David…........it’s like I’m exploring a whole new part of the world through your eyes….....just lovely my Friend! xx
cherylc1, 8 days ago
beautiful capture and wonderful info and history
Mar Silva, 8 days ago
Great history. Excellent composition!
David Parkin, 8 days ago
I used to love going here as a Kid. People used to come here from all over Northern England.
This place is mentioned in the Dire Straits song – Sultans Of Swing.
David Parkin in reply to whisperingruth’s comment, 8 days ago
Thank you very much, as always Ruth I am pleased you take time to look at my photos and to comment on them.
Yeah, I think I have shown you quite a bit of the area I live in . . . there is still plenty to come though, don’t worry about that.
-David
David Parkin in reply to cherylc1’s comment, 8 days ago
Hiya Cheryl, thank you for that.
I hate to see these old places go to wreck and ruin. I’m glad I went and got this photograph today before it’s demolished. and gone forever.
David Parkin in reply to Mar Silva’s comment, 8 days ago
Hiya Maria, I thank you, as always for your kind words.
Irene Burdell, 8 days ago
Great historyh building has . Such a shame these places are demolished.
I was brought up in Southport and during the summer months we would spend our day at the Sea Bathing Lake , it was a fantastic structure built in the early 1900’s and they just ripped it down . It was one of the main Features on Southport sea front. I don’t know why I am telling you this , I think it is the dome in the picture which brought it to mind.
Jaybe, 8 days ago
Another sad image – I spent so many hours in there as a kid. Brings back great memories.
Mark Durant, 8 days ago
Another beautiful but sad picture David.
It’s heartbreaking to see places that you held so dear in your youth in disrepair. Change doesn’t always mean progress.
Susie Mac, 7 days ago
Great photo and love the writing… good to learn about the history of places.. susie :)
Andy Harris, 6 days ago
a great little building with some great history – just a shame its all a bit run down now…. This place was immortalised in the Dire Straits song Tunnel of Love – the lyrics mentioning this and the fun fair can be found here but a few words from the song are:-
And the big wheel keep on turning neon up above
And Im high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love
And now Im searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades
Searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades
In any shooting gallery where promises are made
To rockaway rockaway from cullercoats and whitley bat out to rockaway
And girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we where kids
Girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we where kids