Whitley Bay, The Links, Panama Gardens

HER Number:
9493

District:
N Tyneside

Site Name:
Whitley Bay, The Links, Panama Gardens

Place:
Whitley Bay

Map Sheet:
NZ37SE

Class:
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Garden

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
In October 1932 Whitley & Monkseaton Urban District Council discussed a scheme for sunken gardens on The Links between Watts Road and Panama House (Stephen Fry was a senior diver on the Panama Canal in his youth), to provide shelter from sea breezes. On 19th January 1933 a Voluntary Contribution Scheme held an inaugural public meeting and pledged to set 20 men to work on the gardens. The men were sent to Briar Dene for stone for the rockeries. The gardens are influenced by the designs of Thomas Mawson, garden designer. At Panama Gardens there is a memorial to a local primary school teacher, Doris Ewbank, killed driving an ambulance during an ambulance during an air raid in 1941. The memorial says ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF MY DAUGHTER DORIS EWBANK WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR HER TOWN AND COUNTRY APRIL 10TH 1941. LET US REMEMBER OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. THIS GARDEN AND POOL HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO COMMEMORATE THOSE OF THE CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE AND SPECIAL CONSTABULARY OF THE WHITLEY BAY URBAN DISTRICT WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR 1939-1945. LOCAL LIST

Easting:
3523

Northing:
7299

Grid Reference:
NZ35237299

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
North Tyneside Council, Draft Local List Nominations, 2006; North East War Memorials Project (www.newmp.org.uk) W84.09 and W84.13; North Tyneside Council, November 2008, Register of Buildings and Parks of Special Local Architectural and Historic Interest SDP (Local Development Document 9)