Old Cottages
Harton Village, South Shields
This little row of old cottages sits adjacent to the The (old) Ship Inn on the corner of Marsden Lane, South Shields. They are possibly amongst the oldest buildings in the town and probably originate from the rebuilding of Harton Village when it was isolated from the town, it is most likely that they were once farm buildings when the area was purely agricultural.
The sepia effect was added using Photoshop.
Camera details: Pentax K100D, 28mm lens, 1/45 second, f11, iso 800
South Shields Daily Photo 
I like that photo. It’s got a charm about it. It’s a shame about the car at the end, as that distracts from the cottages and I’m finding I keep looking at it thinking the driver must have to reverse up the lane when he/she wants to get out. What a parlarvar. Oh well I’m just thankful it’s not me! Reversing isn’t my forte!!!!!
Debi
February 9, 2008 at 10:39 am
Very picturesque, I wonder how old the cottages are
S Wilson
February 9, 2008 at 1:56 pm
And another thing – there are 11 conservation areas in South Tyneside. Harton Village, in my opinion, along with some parts of the town centre, such as Beach Road, the Crossroads/Lights and Waterloo Vale/Barrington Street, is a worthy contender. What do you say Curly?!
S Wilson
February 9, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hi, Curly. I don’t know if you noticed the exact address of these cottages but they seem very familiar to me as being the former premises of a private hire company named “Coulson’s Taxis”, which was taken over (in 1968)by the Station Taxis based near the railway station,opposite the Gaumont cinema. If they are the same premises then the garage at the front has been added since the premises changed hands. Prior to the garage being added, there was a door leading to the ‘office’ from where the taxis were controlled by two way radios. The workshops in which the taxis were stored and serviced were accessed from the bottom of the driveway to the right of where the car in the picture is standing. If they are the same cottages, then the address should be 11 Marsden Lane. I’m really curious now to know!
C.Fox
February 9, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hi again, Yes Curly I can confirm the premises were those of Coulson’s Taxis. Having just looked at the map I do indeed recognise them and yes if you look at the roof tiles you can see where those on the garage roof are of a different shade, indicating this is an addition to the original building. Although I recognised the cottages, they were all one back in the ’60’s, I accepted what you stated as being Marsden Lane but it is actually Marsden Road. I don’t know whether this will help you in any further research for your own records but if I can help then please contact me. Cheers.
C.Fox
February 9, 2008 at 2:49 pm
These cottages where all one property owned by my grandfather Benjamin Coulson . My grandparents had 15 children and all the bedrooms were linked so the 1st ones to bed were at the end and parents were the last . Grandfather ran a taxi and haulage business and his office and workshops were at the end of the building. Part of what is now the pub car park was where grandma kept her chickens. The housing estate across the road also belonged to my grandparents and they farmed pigs there. I spent a great deal of time there in the 40’s with my grandparents. Gordon Coulson was the youngest son who took over the taxi business when my grandfather died.
Maureen Wallace
December 15, 2020 at 11:29 am
Like Debi wrote, it is a shame that there is a car in the shot, otherwise the picture could come straight out of Victorian times.
Gails_man
February 9, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I could tell it wasn’t an old photo by the car and of course when you look at the full-size picture you can see the security cameras at the bottom of the lane too.
great picture nonetheless.
Around the World
February 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I love this. It has so much atmosphere and a period feeling.
Andrée
February 11, 2008 at 4:12 am