At the turn of the century, Newbiggin was Northumberland's premier seaside resort and in summer every train brought hundreds of visitors to the town. Many of Newcastle's leading families had a summerhouse overlooking the bay. Unfortunately, over the years the bay literally dropped into the sea due to erosion. Some local people also believe that the collapse of disused undersea mine-workings was partially responsible, although this has never been proved. Much has been done in recent years to restore the town to its former glory, including the construction of a combined new sea defence system and promenade, at the centre of which is an attractive new bandstand. St Bartholomew's Church remains a focal point at the north end of the bay, whilst to the south the Sandy Bay Caravan Park continues to attract many visitors. A small fishing fleet of traditional cobles also continues to use the bay as its home base. At low tide the remains of an experimental concrete tugboat, The Crete Wheel, which foundered on the Newbiggin rocks in 1920, can still be seen. John Braine wrote his famous novel, Room at the Top, when he worked in Newbiggin library in the 1950s.