Pictures of Seaton Sluice

in the county of Northumberland

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About Seaton Sluice

It was the Silt-controlling gate at the river's mouth that gave this popular village its name.

For centuries salt had been panned in the region, at this time the village was known as Hartley Pans, but this appears to have changed following the building of a harbour with a sluice at the harbour mouth. In 1660 the salt and coal trades were beginning to flourish, Sir Ralph Delaval saw the need to expand the harbour, to enable the entrance of larger vessel's so that both salt and coal could shipped directly, instead of from nearby Blyth.

Later, in the 18th century, Sir John Hussey Delaval and his brother Thomas who was an engineer, devised an ingenious system for flushing away the silt by creating an island at the harbour mouth. It was during the 18th century that the trade in salt declined, this was largely due to heavier taxation.

The powerful Delaval family are to thank for the prosperity of the village, it was their commercial enterprises of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries that gave stability to Seaton Sluice, allowing it to expand. From salt and coal the family extended into glass making, a glass factory was established in 1763, this was known as The Royal Hartley Bottleworks, and eventually bottles from here found their way across the length and breadth of the country.

Interestingly, It is believed that the Methodist preacher John Wesley preached at Seaton Sluice in 1744.

Nearby lies Seaton Delaval, a magnificent mansion built in the 18th century for Admiral George Delaval. The house is in the splendid English baroque style and is regarded by many to be one of architect Sir John Vanbrugh's finest masterpieces. The interior contains a superb chimneypiece in the Great Hall, in the grounds a Norman chapel contains family tombs and effigies.

Today, life in Seaton Sluice is vastly different to its 18th and 19th century "hey-day", the village exists mostly as a resort village with a proud industrial heritage. The harbour is in constant use by pleasure craft, but visitors very much enjoy the interpretive display and exploring the harbour paths and series of inter-connecting bridges.

It is still possible to walk along the paths of Seaton Burn, a pleasant walk leads from the village to the local beauty spot of Holywell Dene where there is a glorious wooded area with wildlife habitats. In Holywell Dene, visitors can see an 18th century folly known as "Starlight Castle" this was built over-night in order to win a bet!

The long golden beach continues to be a popular destination for visitors, and the influence of the Delaval's can be seen in the number of pubs in the village named for this famous local family. These are; The Delaval Arms, The Astley Arms (the Astley family being direct descendents of the Delaval's) and The Melton Constable, named for the southern seat of Lord Hastings, also a descendent of the Delaval's.

Of great interest is the Church of Our Lady, this was built at around the end of the 11th century by Hubert de Laval, a nephew by marriage of William the Conqueror. The church was consecrated by Bishop Flambard of Durham in 1102, and remains as the Parish Church of the Parish of Delaval. It is open for Sunday worship, and at all other times it can be visited during the same opening times as Seaton Delaval Hall.

This is an excellent place to visit, it has much to offer including a splendid beach to relax upon, a pretty harbour for sailing and fishing, pleasant streets to wander, lively pubs, and a very genial atmosphere.

Seaton Sluice lies between Whitley Bay and Blyth.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Seaton Sluice

Seaton Delaval Hall	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)	Pictures
Spanish City, Whitley Bay	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Blyth East Pier Head Lighthouse	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Tynemouth Priory	(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Bedlington Country Park	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Tynemouth Castle	(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction S)	Pictures
Tyne North Pier Lighthouse	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Tynemouth Lighthouse	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Plessey Woods Country Park	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Arbeia Roman Fort	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Tyne South Pier Lighthouse	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Wansbeck Country Park	(7.4 miles, 11.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Queen Elizabeth II Country Park	(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW)	Pictures
The Castle	(9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Baltic Centre	(9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures

All attractions in Seaton Sluice
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Recommended towns near Seaton Sluice

Blyth, in the county of Northumberland (3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW)
An attractive old place, with a long seafaring history, the port of Blyth is believed to date back to the 12th-century.
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Cullercoats, in the county of Tyne & Wear (3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction S)
Cullercoats has many pleasing aspects including a picturesque 19th century church in a commanding position close to the shoreline.
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Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, in the county of Northumberland (7.2 miles, 11.5 km, direction N)
The bay is a major attraction, often lively with fishing cobbles and pleasure craft, it is also a haven for sun-bathers.
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Jarrow, in the county of Tyne & Wear (7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction S)
This is the town that is famous for the 1930's "Hunger March" caused by the intense poverty that followed the closing of the Charles Palmer shipyard. The last of the surviving marchers, Cornelius Whalen died in 2003 at the age of 93.
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Marsden Bay, in the county of Tyne & Wear (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction SE)
Marsden Bay is a deeply curved bay of soft golden sands, it is surrounded almost entirely by crumbling limestone cliffs which provide a haven for colonies of sea-birds.
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Newcastle upon Tyne, a Historic City in the county of Tyne & Wear (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction SW)
This important City was known as Pons Aelii in Roman times; the Romans built the first bridge over the River Tyne, it was guarded...
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Morpeth, in the county of Northumberland (10.2 miles, 16.5 km, direction NW)
Hidden in the spacious Northumberland countryside where centuries ago the towns and villages of this vast region were the scene of border raids and skirmishes, lies the busy market town of Morpeth.
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Gateshead, in the county of Tyne & Wear (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction SW)
The urban sprawl of Gateshead rises majestically skywards in a seemingly endless mixture of concrete and glass. Gateshead stretches for almost 13 miles along the banks of the River Tyne.
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Sunderland, in the county of Tyne & Wear (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)
Sunderland was granted a charter in 1145, the charter gave it market rights and thus the town grew slowly from humble beginnings.
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Washington, in the county of Tyne & Wear (13.0 miles, 21.0 km, direction S)
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Penshaw, in the county of Tyne & Wear (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction S)
Penshaw lies in open countryside between the urban sprawl of Sunderland and Washington.
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Bolam, in the county of Northumberland (15.9 miles, 25.5 km, direction W)
This is an historic village, it took its name from a Baron de Bolam in the 13th century.
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Beamish, in the county of County Durham (16.0 miles, 25.8 km, direction SW)
Beamish is famous for its lovely open-air museum which so vividly brings to life how the folk of the region lived at the turn of the 20th century.
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Hartburn, in the county of Northumberland (16.4 miles, 26.4 km, direction W)
This is a wonderful place to be, especially on a bright summer day when the sun beats down relentlessly.
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Warkworth, in the county of Northumberland (18.7 miles, 30.2 km, direction N)
Sparkling in high summer and tinged with frosty thin ice in winter, the River Coquet makes its final loop before entering the sea at Amble.
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Nearby travel help

West Monkseaton Station	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction S)
Monkseaton Station	(3.0 miles, 4.9 km, direction S)
New Bridge Street	(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction SW)
Newcastle International Airport	(9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction W)
A1(M) Junction 65	(12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction S)
Teesside International Airport	(39.8 miles, 64.0 km, direction S)
Seaton Sluice to London	(253.5 miles, 407.9 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Seaton Sluice

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Seaton Sluice center
Park Lodge Hotel	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction SE)
Marlborough Hotel	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction SE)
York House Hotel	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction S)
Banana Joe's Hotel	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction SE)
The Windsor Hotel	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction SE)
Esplanade Lodge Guest House	(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction SE)
Priors Haven Apartments	(4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction S)
Village Hotel And Leisure Club Newcastle	(4.3 miles, 7.0 km, direction S)
Menzies Silverlink Park	(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction S)
Best Western Sea Hotel	(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction S)
All hotels in Seaton Sluice