The dene came down to the viaduct and then opened out into a steep-sided amd flat-bottomed valley, with Facilities, before arriving at the sea (small lagoon) and a small funfair (Waltzer and slot machines) with a Club, for (line) dancing The Slosh". The caravan park was to the north of that, and at the archway under the railway that was the entry, there was the Seagull pub, whose sign was actually a white-winged black tern. North again were hawthorn filled mini-denes and then coal slurry pans and the towers supporting the tipping buckets from Easington colliery.
Years ago, we had a couple at our folk club doing "Farewell to the Dene"
"We were wondering aloud what the dene was, and Johnny Handle was in the audience, and he said it's a valley you daft buggers, but we've looked on maps and still can't find the Dene Valley anywhere"
Last time I met Johnny, I told him the story, and he laughed so much he spilled his pint.
