Hartlepool History Then & Now

Burn Valley Playground 1950s

What we know about this image :

Wonderful image taken by the Hartlepool Mail in the 1950s when the playground really was as busy as the photo shows and health and safety was years away ! Notice too that there are almost no watching adults as children at the time usually went to the playground unaccompanied.

The slide really was as high as that and had a long flat part, as when it was shiny you could fly down ! On the left were the 'American swings' which needed two people, but often had up to eight, and were moved by pushing the feet on bars which hung below the swing.

Out of sight on the picture was a 'teapot lid' roundabout, a large rocking horse and a 'witch's hat'.

In the background, the lower Burn Valley Bowls Club can be seen and just visible behind that are the Victoria Homes.

Donor : Hartlepool Museum Service

Creator : northern daily mail

Location