Bangor P1

PICKIE ROCKS _4452
It's 1908 and here we are like the lady on Picki rocks looking out over Bangor bay to see the Royal Navy Fleet at anchor.

PICKIE WALK _4455
This is what's called the Pickie Walk, as you can see it's very popular even though it's not a summers day Could it be that they are celebrating something? For there are flags and bunting up all the way round. Those 3 people are brave to go out on the sea in that weather, I wouldn't.

PROMENADE_4454
Here we are on the promenade inn the early 1900's and on the left is a lady wheeling her bicyle, luckily she has a chain guard so her clothes will be safe. On down is a group of families working out where to go while a son with his bicycle is so bored waiting. On the right across the road is Rea's bar then a building which is Tea rooms followed by Pims Stores. Next if you're feeling hungry is Victoria's Restaurant and its dining rooms, beside it the building is the Belfast Bank. then we have the Grand Hotel and further on the Royal Hotel. In the middle is the bandstand but no one is playing yet even though there are crowds sitting around and if you get thirsty there is the water fountain to the right.

PROMENADE_4453
Lots of people and families out for a walk about at the Promenade with its Shops, Stores, Restaurants and Hotels in the early 1900's. In the foreground looking on is a small boy in his bare feet while across from him is a boy in his Boater hat black outfit with ofcourse shoes out with his family across from him. In front is the bandstand and the crows are waiting patiently for the show to start. They must have been waiting a while for one family the father has put his little girl up on his shoulders and another family the father is holding his son in his arms.

PICKIE CAFE _4457
Its a Tuesday evening and the Square Dancing is in full swing and the caller back then was Doreen Galway, as you can see it was very popular with crowds sitting on the grass embankment. On a Thursday evening is was Old Time Dancing. To the right is the Pickie Cafe where you could go inside and sit down for a cup of tea or what ever they had. In the distance you can see the people seated in the stands of Pickie Pool, out at sea there are 21 rowing boats, some out a far bit and also 2 yachts.
Photograph courtesy of the Northern Ireland tourist board.
Footnote: I have learned that throughout the 1800s and early 1900s there was a rock there called 'Pickie Rock', so named as it was a great place to catch 'pickies' - a Scots and Ulster-Scots word for the small coalfish/coley/blockan.

PICKIE POOL _4456
This is it the famous Pickie Pool, I've been there and boy was it cold for pool is filled with fresh sea water, sadly it is now long gone. (2025) but as usual the seating area was always packed with elderly people who had just come to watch and you had to pay to get in! To the right bottom corner of the pool you can see a young girl with her rubber ring on going cautiously into the water in the section roped off for learners. I never saw anyone dive off the top board but the next board down I have.