Someone commented recently that the Harwood collection of photographs was not particularly exciting, or words to that effect. I can understand that point of view but cannot agree with it. Some of the London and Durham photographs were very good and there is something to be got from the Deerness Valley pictures as well. My favourite is one that looks over the valley. It's 1935 and one just knows that a fifteen minute walk to the east will bring me to an eleven year old mum and a set of grandparents in their early thirties pomp. Hitler is scheming and plotting at this time and the Battle Of Britain is five years away. The explosion at Ushaw Moor pit in 1932 was still fresh in the local memory as were Arthur Gill and William Timmons, the lads that perished in that tragic accident. But there were other pit fatalities around this time and that applies to New Brancepeth colliery as well.
The picture looks very familiar; it is as if little has changed since the time it was taken apart from alterations brought about by pit closures. People worried about the cost of living and whether so and so was having an affair. I have noticed that in some villages the place looks the same for decades and then... massive, or at least significant, change takes place and that has happened recently in Ushaw Moor.
South Moor of the 60s looked totally familiar in 2010. And by the way the sun shone then and the sky was frequently blue. No one walked at a funny fast pace in black clothes whether it be 1900, 1935, 1968 or 2011!
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William TIMMONS was the brother of my grandmother Elizabeth TURNBULL who lived at 37 Victoria Court. He was killed on 14th Nov 1932 aged 31 years. He left a young wife with three children one of whom was called George. Their address at the time of the accident was 5 East Terrace, Ushaw Moor Colliery His death certificate states, " Killed by an explosion at Ushaw Mooor Colliery, death being due to severe and extensive injuries and Gas Poisoning. " As invariabley was the case the official enquiry into the accident attempted to deflect as much blame as possible away from the owners and cast it upon the workers, not too convincingly in these circumstances.
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