North West retro: 27 nostalgic photos show how different life looked 100 years ago

These fascinating black-and-white pictures show the North East as few people will remember it looking.

They capture life across the region a century ago, between the end of the 19th century and the 1920s.

This retro photo gallery takes us from the latter days of Queen Victoria’s reign, through the Edwardian era, to the First World War and the interwar years that followed.

From holidaymakers at the beach to striking miners, and horse-drawn carriages making their way through bustling town and city centres, the atmospheric images depict life as it was back then in all its variety.

Donkey rides, happy days at the lido, steam trains, a treasure trove toy shop and monuments to the area’s proud industrial heritage feature in this slice of North West nostalgia.

Even the latest of these photos is beyond the living memory of all but a few people today.

However, some of the lost landmarks and other sights pictured may ring a bell for readers who were around to see them before they disappeared for good.

Do these photos bring back any memories for you, and what do you think about how the region has changed over the last century?

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