beach defences

World War beach defences at Blyth. The American  225th Searchlight Battalion were stationed there in March 1944 prior to the Normandy landings in June that year.

Blyth Links

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The local council have recently made a significant investment to redevelop Blyth Beach promenade . The Ian Darby Partnership's design features original materials, such as reclaimed concrete slabs from the old promenade and wood from sustainable sources.
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This photo shows part of the promenade decking and the old war defences, now painted with non-military pastel shades.
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Movie fans may have seen part of Blyth without ever being aware of it. Once a thriving coal port, the chase scene across the railway coal staithes at the end of the 1971 film Get Carter, starring Michael Caine , was filmed in Blyth harbour. The harbour currently handles up to 1.5 million tonnes of cargo a year including forest products, metals and a wide range of other commodities.
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Blyth Battery

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Blyth Battery, located on South Beach, Blyth, was originally built in August 1916 to defend the beach against enemy landings and also to protect the submarine depot ship Titania at the nearby port of Blyth.. It was not completed until February 1918, the last year of the First World War . It housed two six inch guns and two search lights, manned by the Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery.

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In 1925 two of the buildings were converted into public toilets but in March 1940 the battery was recommissioned to help ward off the Nazi threat; it was manned by 510 Coast Regiment R.A (TA) and towards the end of the war by the Home Guard . The Battery’s buildings are listed Grade II and have recently been painted pink by the Local Authority, a colour that would have raised eyebrows amongst the troops who once manned the battery in defence of the realm.

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