The church, which opened in 1870, was on the corner of Whitby Street and Musgrave Street. Anew St James' Parish was formed and a new church built in Rossmere Way. The old St James' was demolished in 1956/7.

The photo was from a photographic record of the Central Area of West Hartlepool prepared in 1955/6 at the request of the Town Planning and Redevelopment Committee 'in the hope that it will be of interest to future generations of West Hartlepool'  

The record focuses on areas which were within the next ten years to be completely redeveloped following The Max Lock Plan. It was compiled by WL Taylor and photographs developed by Thomas Clarkson Chemist of Tower Street.

Surtees Street with Whitby Street running across. Lex Cinema on the left, Rex Thompson on the right. Old Town straight ahead with a wall enclosing the rail track.

Surtees Street, Hartlepool at the Juction with Whitby Street. Charles Dickens Hardware Store in the background with the new College dominating the skyline.

Upper Surtees Street and the Lex Cinema, Whitby Street, with its distinctive curved, corrugated roof. The two movies advertised on the side of the building are 'The Silver Whip' (a western), and 'Titanic', both released in 1953.
The large building in the background was The Raglan Hotel.

Alma Hotel, Whitby Street, Hartlepool in the 1980s. In 1996 was briefly the Brewer and Firkin.

Now known as the New Alma.

Muriel Batty (nee Hird) has many fond memories of The Empire Fish Grill, her family's business in Whitby Street. The shop will also be remembered  by many of Hartlepool's townsfolk.

Muriel was 13 at the start of World War 2 and as there was little school at the time, she began to help her mother in the fish shop and remained there until 1977 when it was demolished. The Empire Fish Grill was always popular but never more so than when there was a good 'turn' on at the Empire Theatre in nearby Lynn Street. Not only would the public call in after a house finished but often the acts would too.  The family always knew how busy they would be depending on who was 'on' at the theatre. Max Bygraves was one she recalls always meant a packed house and good business for them.

Bobby Thompson was at the Empire a number of times and would always shout out, 'Is me fish ready?' and would then depart fish in hand to the Black Lion opposite for a pint. They did well when there were two 'houses' she remembers.

It was a real family business as Muriel's brother in law had the Hygienic Fish Grill in Shrewesbury Street and her sister another fish shop in Elwick Road.

New Station Hotel, Whitby Street, West Hartlepool.

The Victoria, Whitby Street, Hartlepool. Now known as The Little Black Book and before that, Fibber McGintys

The Victoria public house in Whitby Street, photographed July 1979. Now known as The Little Black Book and before that, Fibber McGintys

The Victoria public house in Whitby Street, with the Constitutional Club and, at the right edge, the Alma. Now known as The Little Black Book and before that, Fibber McGintys

There is no other information with this photograph apart from its location in Whitby Street.  However, the sign in the window ("This shop is closed today except....") implies it was taken on a Sunday, when the trading laws prohibited the sale of many products.  It was not possible, for example, to buy a razor blade for shaving, but one could be bought for cutting corns.

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