7520-S-THE LADIES OF NEWCASTLE
THE LADIES OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
1916
Written on 9th May after visit to Newcastle.
Grainger Street was as gay and crowded as ever, whilst the big railway station between 9 and 11.30 p.m. was the nearest approach to the parade at a foreign watering place I have ever seen. Simply thousands of people (anything up to 4,000 or 5,000 I should say) strolling about chatting and looking at each other. Crowds of charming looking girls, strolling about, handing out glad-eyes right and left. Who these girls are, and why they are apparently prepared to strike up a casual acquaintance with anyone in uniform is one of the most remarkable characteristics of Newcastle. There is no place that I know of comparable to it. It is quite a unique feature of the place, and is commented on by everyone who has been there. I cannot explain it myself, but there are several facts which seem to me to bear on the subject.
The most remarkable fact about them is their social standing. It would be absurd, I suppose, to call them absolutely respectable, as you can hardly say that of a girl who will come to tea and dinner unchaperoned with a casual acquaintance. On the other hand, the type to which I refer, and they abound in flocks, are different from the average shop girl and type of person who may be "picked up" at places like the South Parade Pier, Southsea ; Prince's Street, Edinburgh; The Front, Brighton, etc., etc. They appear to belong to what may be described as the Middle Classes.
For instance, in three cases which I know of: "A" is the daughter of a man owning a coal business, brother a Major in the Army, lives in a big house, with grounds and tennis courts. Dresses in perfect taste, well educated, travelled, etc.
"B" the daughter of a departmental sub-manager at Elswick, has plenty of money of her own, could be introduced anywhere as one's cousin.
"C" plays the piano very well, speaks French and German. Extremely well read and appears to be rather studious. Socially equal to anyone. Brother Captain in the Army, 1st cousin to a captain in the Navy ! Sister married to a well-known stockbroker in Newcastle. And so on.
Now for a few facts which tend to explain this curious social state of affairs.
Newcastle has more women in more various professions than any other city in the British Isles ; this shows independence.
Most people in Newcastle are very well off owing to the war.
Newcastle is pitch dark every night, and I think they take advantage of this to sally forth about dusk and amuse themselves, though it seems an extremely risky thing for a girl of that class to do.
Most of their usual friends, young business men, clerks, etc., are at the Front.