Yella Welly
Hedworth Hall
The Hedworth Hall and Freemasons Lodge in Dean Road, South Shields is being sold after a long history of various uses. It became a familiar visit for many locals during the many years it was used as a night club for dancing and entertainment for generations of “over 21’s” and also as a function room.
During this time (since the 1960s) it’s night time entertainment club was named “The Golden Slipper Club” from which we derived it’s local vernacular “Yella Welly” (yellow wellington boot.)
Situated adjacent to the South Shields and Westoe Club (the home of our cricket, rugby, tennis, and squash clubs) it was also used as a Freemason’s Lodge, I’m unsure on it’s total history or why it was named the Hedworth Hall, it may have some long ago connection to local Liberal MP Sir Hedworth Williamson (the 7th. and 8th. Baronets were Provincial Grand Masters of the Durham Lodge.) This is another of our buildings with a fine architectural exterior with a lot of decorative detailed wood and plasterwork employed on the public rooms inside.
Camera details; Pentax K100D, 52mm lens, /90 second, f6.7, iso 200
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South Shields Daily Photo 
This is a lovely building and I think the affectionate ‘Yella Welly’ is a great term…I wonder what the building will be used for after it is sold?
My parents have spent many a late night at the yella welly dancing until the small wee hours – they often joke about how Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” was a dance-floor favourite. My memory of the place was performing there at a schools’ charity brass band concert about 10 years ago and noticing the picture of Princess Elizabeth hung on the wall, pride of place. Given that Queen Elizabeth has been the Monarch since the early 1950s then I wonder how long the picture has been displayed there?!…
Another great photo Curly
S Wilson
April 21, 2008 at 12:10 am
I sat my A Levels there 3 years ago. Quite a strange experience doing exams in such an old building with a very aged picture of the queen looking over you.
boffy31
April 21, 2008 at 7:30 pm
[…] For many years she worked in the Hedworth Hall at Westoe, South Shields – click here. […]
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