A REMARKABLE insight into Tyne Valley life during the late 19th and early 20th century has been provided in a newly-discovered collection of images.

They feature scenes of prominent landmarks in Hexham and elsewhere in the district, including Haydon Bridge and Corbridge, as well as other parts of Northern England.

The album, entitled Poulton’s Artistic Series of Photographs, will go under the hammer next Thursday at a sale by Newcastle-based auctioneers Anderson Garland.

They show the gathering of crowds for the stone laying at what was to become the Methodist Church on Beaumont Street.

There’s also an insightful view of Hexham Market Place, with people going about their everyday business. The image offers a look at the townscape of the time, which shows that the Shambles and other prominent buildings have changed little in over 100 years.

Sandhoe Hall, Hexham, is also included in a collection of images clearly taken during gloriously sunny weather conditions.

In another, a lone resident is snapped gazing across Haydon Bridge from the south.

John Anderson, of Anderson Garland said: “This really is a remarkable collection photos, dating back to a bygone era.

“In those days, people would order albums from photographers who would have many stock images of a town or community.

“There’s no guarantee that these are from Poulton. Somebody may have put their own photos in the Poulton album, but it may well be the photos and the album are in their original form.

“Prints of this vintage tend to be of sensitised egg whites. They are a good size, 10x8, and the buildings are in very sharp focus.

“There were longer exposure times, so the people in them would have been moving, so perhaps not in quite so sharp focus.

“But these are part of local history. As well as Hexham and the Tyne Valley, there are images of Wetheral and Lanercost Priory, Newcastle, and North-Eastern life.”

Anderson Garland said the collection had been put up for sale by a local resident.

John added: “One of the photos is of Tynedale Hydropathic, while Langley Castle and Hexham Abbey also feature.

“I think there will be a lot of interest in them. It really is a fascinating collection of historic images.”

The sale will take place next Thursday. For more information visit www.andersonandgarland.com or call (0191) 430 3000.