Vintage Views with Aled Jones: An imposing mansion on Manor Street
If there’s anything you should know about the history of Manor Street, it’s this: it was once the site of a majestic manor house.
Built in c. 1817 at the corner of Beck Hill and Manor Street, it was demolished in 1928 to make way for the Lloyd’s Bank building now on this site.
Originally a Baptist Chapel, the mansion was converted to a private residence in c.1840 and was one of the finest Neoclassical style buildings ever erected in Bridlington.
A Dr. Whitehead from Sheffield set up his practice here in 1910 and what was then its walled back garden is now the location of Bridlington’s new multi-storey car park on Beck Hill. I believe the garden sloped down to the banks of the Gypsey Race, providing the house with fresh water.
Manor Street also boasted a second manor house, known as Rickaby Mansion. Located at Number 6, it was initially two separate houses which were converted into one for Sir Henry Boynton in c. 1820, when it was refronted with the large bows and portico.
Formerly Barclays Bank, the well-preserved building now houses the Citizens Advice Bureau.
This week’s retro postcard is a 1950s view of Manor Street looking towards the junctions of no less than four town centre streets: Queen Street, King Street, Chapel Street and Prospect Street.
Allowing for minor changes the buildings in this image are little different from today. The Beehive wool shop (now Fashion at 136), Westminster Bank (now Westminster Chambers) and National Provinicial Bank (now the just-closed NatWest Bank) are easily identified.
The alley behind the classic fifties cars on the left leads to Sawmill Yard with Victoria Mill at the bottom, just one of the many watermills which was served by the Gypsey Race.
The police sign further along warns drivers that turning right (down King Street) is strictly prohibited. The couple on the right are standing outside what was then a much-loved gift shop.
The retail businesses on the corner of King Street are a tobacconist’s and Browns Library. They are now, respectively, HSBC Bank and Vogue Antiques.
Just visible in the distance is the present Griffins jewellery shop. It had started life as a private residence, built in the nineteenth century, and was The Manshop at the time of this photograph.