Description

From Local Artist Neill C. Woods this is one of a range of postcards reminiscent of the postcards by Donald McGill whose seaside scenes and scantily clad ladies were all the rage from the 1930’s to the 1980’s.

This is the beach in front of The Marsden Grotto which looks out ont0 Marsden Rock (South Shields). The Marsden Grotto is a pub/restaurant and one of the very few “cave bars” in Europe. It is partly dug into the cliff and has a building opening onto the beach. Access is by lift from the car park or via a zigzag staircase on the cliff at the side of the building. The lift is the shaft (in the picture) rising from the building up to the top of the cliff with a walkway to it.

In 1782 a lead miner, and his wife, moved into a small cave in the cliffs at Marsden Rock. Later he blasted the small cave into a larger one (hence his nickname “Jack the Blaster”). This was accessed by the zig-zagging stairs.

This attracted visitors which the couple supplied with refreshments (at a cost). It was suggested that smugglers frequented it and Jack also became involved in smuggling.

Ownership has passed down over the years.

Size: 14.75cm x 10.5cm