This is a statue of the famous Willie Carr, Blyth’s strong man, which stands in the Keel
Row shopping centre in Blyth. Willie was born in 1756 at a hamlet near Old Hartley. As a child, he moved to Blyth with his family and quickly followed in his father’s footsteps as a blacksmith. At the age of 17, Willie stood 6 foot 4 inches tall [193 cm] and weighted 18 stone [114kg]. By the age of 30 he was 24 stone [152 kg] and could lift weights of seven or eight hundredweights.
Willie was a quiet man who only ever lost his temper on two occasions. Once when he was struck with a whip at Morpeth races by Lord Haddo, a Scottish nobleman. Willie picked the man up out of his saddle and shook him until he apologised. The second occasion was when two drunken sailors began to fight outside his house, while his wife lay dying. When the sailors refused to go away Willie picked them up by their necks and banged their heads together.
Willie was very popular with gentry and nobility and was a regular visitor to Seaton Delaval Hall, where he entertained Lord Delaval and guests with feats of strength. On one occasion, Big Ben, a famous bare-fisted fighter, was a visitor to the hall and Lord Delaval arranged for Ben and Willie to fight. When the pair shook hands, Willie squeezed so hard the blood oozed from Ben’s finger tips. Ben then refused to go ahead with the fight, saying he would rather be kicked by a horse than take a blow from such a hand.
This is the Blue Stone outside the Delaval Arms public house, which is still in place today. It is thought to be a Saxon boundary marker. In the latter half of the 18th century, strong-man Willie Carr of Hartley and Blyth, could pick it up as a demonstration of his strength.
At the age of 62, Willie was stricken with rheumatism and was frequently confined to his
bed for long periods. On the occasions that he was seen out and about it is reported that
he was bent almost double.
The blue plaque below commemorates Willie Carr and can be found on the side of St Cuthbert’s Church Hall in Blyth. Willie died aged 69 on September 6, 1825 and is buried in the graveyard of St Cuthbert’s Church, Blyth, in the Carr family grave.
Interesting read. The Blue Stone was in my grandad’s garden in Old Hartley before it was sited at the Delaval Arms.
Hello, that is very interesting. Are you able to tell us why the stone was in your grandad’s garden? Thank you.
Very informative Thankyou I appreciate that.
Thank you for your kind comment.
Hello, I was brought up knowing the story of Willie Carr, even though we moved away from Blyth when I was 2 in 1965. My dad had been told that we were related but didn’t know how. Doing my family tree I now can confirm that he is my 4x great grandfather a fact that I am very proud of. Its a shame that his statue has been delegated to a corner out of the way in the keel row, he should be back in pride of place. Thank you for article.
Thank you for sharing that information. My colleague who wrote the article will be pleased to hear that.
Hi karen, ive seen willy in storage last week so i have mentioned this to a good lady friend with whos in the council. She knows about him and is determined to resurrect him back into the new kilrow hub, when built… I love his history and am very pleased with this news…
Steve B
“William Carr of Blyth “ registered the birth of his son Edward, mother’s name unrecorded, in London. Edward Jenkins Carr fathered Francis Henry Carr, who In turn fathered Frederick William Carr. He was my grandfather. The stories of William Carr were told to me when I was a child but they were not emphasised and I think that my mother and grandfather never realised what an exceptional ancestor they had. The days before Google, of course.
👍
I’m enquiring has the missing portrait of William (Willie) Carr, The Hercules of the North ever been found.
Hello, could you please email us at archives@northumberland.gov.uk Thank you.
Blyth is so fortunate to have had such a “Man”. Would have loved to have met him. I come from Darlaston, in the West Midlands, which is very much in keeping with Blyth, an industrial town with a long history of Strong people with their own take on life. Thank you.
Thank you 😀
when I was a child my Auntie used to say we were related to The Strong Man of Blyth. I though it a myth, but years later when I began researching our family history I discovered he is my 5th Great Grandfather! I have to admit it made me more that a little bit proud.
Thank you for your comment.
we are distant cousins! my sister has custody of his Bible and my brother owns a chair on loan to Blyth that came down thru the family.
Which of Willie’s daughters are you related to?
Anne Simpson who married John Simpson