The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 37,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 14 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
What were your favourite Christmas memory of your life growing up in Ushaw Moor and Deerness Valley ?This post is from February 2007.
The Empire Cinema was built just before WW1. In its time it was used for many types of performance, not just film, for example: opera, musicals, school concerts and music hall.
Having been born in 1945 I twice a week walked to the cinema from Unthank Terrace, New Brancepeth, during the years 1952 and 1953.The half a crown that I got from my generous grandparents every Sunday funded two sixpenny performances – with lots of change to spare for ice cream.
The first film might involve a plot in stunning Africa and then later in the week I thrilled at the wagon train threatened by the Apache nation or some other tribe. When the drums stopped it did not look good for the wagon train! My favourite actor was Jimmy Stewart – he was a fine real life war hero as well as an actor.
Looking back I can see that some of the films were blatant propaganda, for example the Red Indians were just fighting to retain land that was rightfully their own. The cavalry [including John Wayne's character if applicable] were agents of the American state and in the wrong. That of course was too subtle for an eight year old.
In about 1957 the Empire seats were reupholstered. The result was a fine gold colour and really posh.
I always found it difficult to decide whether or not to dash out of the cinema when God save the Queen was played at the end of the performance.Most people did dash out. I think I stayed in my seat for about 75% of the time.I stayed out of some vague respect for the monarchy [all a bit Victorian and Edwardian I suppose].
I do recall, that as an eight year old, I felt that the ‘older’ women that entered the cinema seemed rather tired and wan, despite their careful Saturday make-up. I suppose that was down to their daily responsibilities, lack of a washing machine ,lack of a hoover and a need to be awake all hours to attend to their shift working husband and sons who were coming or going to the mine.
I bet many romances started or were enhanced by the cinema experience. I know that Jack and Doris Easter met at the Empire in the early 1940s. Jack asked whether he could climb over some seats to sit in the last available seat in the cinema. Next to him he found Doris, his future wife.
There is an account of the history of the Ushaw Moor Empire in the Spring 2004 edition of the ‘Screentrade’ magazine. As it would cost seven pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packaging to get it, I have declined to do so. Still I hope we have got by with this article.
WB
Empire Cinema Ushaw Moor - Ushaw Moor Memories PAGE on FB
Empire Cinema - Ushaw Moor - Taken from Harry's Half Crown[/caption]
Empire Cinema - Ushaw Moor from Harry's Half Crown[/caption]
During a browsing of the brilliant Durham Mining Museum I seemed to stumble across details of a double Ushaw Moor pit tragedy on January the fourteenth 1936, but after a brief pondering I became positive that only one death occurred at the pit that day. The unlucky miner was Thomas Stephenson Collinson not a Thomas Stephenson Oxley.
The museum records that that Mr Collinson [39] was a coal hewer travelling outbye on a level putting road. He had almost reached a wooden separation door when the door swung back and struck him, fracturing his skull. The door had swung open due to a putter pushing a full tub against it.
It is reasonable to suppose that the recording of the death of Thomas Stephenson Oxley on the same day, also aged 39, is simply an honest mistake. A rare muddle. Same age and same forenames make it too much of a co-incidence.
There was a Bill Oxley working at the pit at the beginning of the 20th century. I know that because the Durham Record Office has him suffering a pit accident on the 12th of May 1902 , but as for Thomas Stephenson Oxley he remains a bit of a mystery.
Moving on how were your school days? I ask that question because of a recent thoughtful article by Hilary Wilce published in the I newspaper. She pointed out that:
'Love and security feed a host of qualities great learners need, including the ability to be open and receptive, to be willing, and to feel connected''.
She also pointed out that that children need resilience, self- discipline, honesty and courage. Were you supplied with sufficient love, support and parental perception to enable you to develop such qualities?
WB
I am trying to find a school friend, Patricia Stiles nee Baker. I have located Sharon McCreesh, who is possibly her daughter, in your town but have no other way to find out if she is. Can you help in any way to verify that Sharon is her daughter? If she is would Sharon be willing to contact me. I’m using my maiden name so Patricia would know who she is talking about.
Thank you for any help you can give me and her schoolmates at Godolphin and Latymer in Hammersmith, London who would love to hear from her.
Jill Rose
Just google e-thesis Ushaw Moor, or try Thesis for the degree of MA Norman Emery 1984. Then sit back and enjoy. WB
Let me get the none memories stuff out of the way first. The next two paragraphs should do that and what follows will probably get me out of trouble with the Cluff police. It's banter Paul. Banter.
I have noticed a couple of outbursts in recent years that express the view that, to paraphrase: Ushaw Moor is a freegan excreta hole. That is a gross misrepresentation of the village. I can only speculate that such outbursts may be a symptom of frustration; after all there is a lot to be frustrated about if you are down on your luck in this society.
I don't feel especially lucky at the moment. To use a football analogy, I feel as if I am part of an away team, playing Liverpool, that is 3-1 down with twenty minutes to go. Why is it so grim? Well during the last twelve months three members of my wider family have died and three others, that are closer to home, have suffered significant health set backs. Additionally and perhaps understandably, I have insomnia, but I'm working on that.
I have come across an excellent account that relates to New Brancepeth of 1938 vintage. It is essentially about the opening of the village nursery school but there is much more to it than that. By reading it you can get a 1938 feel for not only New Brancepeth but also Ushaw Moor. It is a thesis by John Robert Bell [no relation] and all you have to do is google his full name and the word e-thesis. There are other word variations that work just as well. Page 235 onwards is the relevant bit.You can scroll down to it in a jiffy. I hope you enjoy it. Remember, it is copyright.
WB
An elderly relative of mine recently made a nostalgic journey through Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor. Being in deep thought she did not take in much of the journey but did look out of the car window when between St. Lukes church and the village crossroads. The absence of her old school to the left and then the cinema to the right startled her. ‘’Is this Ushaw Moor?’’ It was not a rhetorical question, she was baffled for a few seconds.
‘’The people are different now’’ she said. She went on to say that there was no community. No togetherness.
I realise that the days when most people seldom left their villages are long gone and that is good and natural. There is a big world out there and it is healthy to want to experience it and develop without being stuck in old familiar ways, so let us stop fretting about the end of Ushaw Moor’s cinemas and the demise of a school. Let us also stop fretting about lost community; many a person has gained friends from participating in hobbies, voluntary work and long life learning and those friends do not have to live within a mile of us do they?
What is it like to live in Ushaw Moor today? Apart from the occasional visit my only direct experience of the village was during the 1950s. Back then if family support was constructive and encouraging, the future held promising opportunities for the young person. That was especially true if parents were aware of the value of education and encouraged their children to succeed. Exposed to inspirational teaching and armed with parental support, diligence and ambition, there was a chance to escape the life threatening pit of despair – the colliery. Education and a warm and loving family were so important.
On the subject of education, and coming to the here and now, the education minister Michael Gove can help more of Durham’s pupils to make a mark for themselves but he does not help as much as he should. His negative comments about manyschools in County Durham do not help them or his image. It is a pity because I am fairly sure that he is a sincere man that has lost his way. His ideal history lesson is of concern: his view of the British Empire is one of glory and he wants it taught that way, but his view is wrong. You can dress it up as much as you like but in reality the British Empire involved much exploitation and butchery. Students deserve better and I believe he is having second thoughts. I hope so because it will enable more people to understand the past, and maybe help them to make better sense of the present.
WB
Now and then I receive a request to approve or reject a comment about one of my pieces. Is it spam or suitable for the trash can? Or is it a jolly interesting comment that will fuel the enthusiasm of our readership? Well this morning I got a comment on my article 'This one is from Daft for Soccer Gleghorn' article and it looked dodgy to me! Have a look for yourself:
Thank you. I have been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest so far. [comment - surely there are no other such pieces] But what concerning the conclusion? [comment - is this a foreign person, or company because there is a poor grasp of English]. Are you sure of your source? [comment - yes and on this occasion there is no need to doubt it!]
The author is 'Marcnair' so I will grovel to him/her if the comment turns out to be genuine. Boy will I grovel.
I understand that spam was introduced just before WW2 and became very popular during those dark days. Do you recall spam sandwiches? I do and I thought they were tasty and very filling. Not sophisticated mind.
WB
HIS chosen comrades thought at school
He must grow a famous man;
He thought the same and lived by rule,
All his twenties crammed with toil;
'What then?' sang Plato's ghost. 'What then?'
Everything he wrote was read,
After certain years he won
Sufficient money for his need,
Friends that have been friends indeed;
'What then?' sang Plato's ghost. ' What then?'
All his happier dreams came true --
A small old house, wife, daughter, son,
Grounds where plum and cabbage grew,
poets and Wits about him drew;
'What then.?' sang Plato's ghost. 'What then?'
The work is done,' grown old he thought,
'According to my boyish plan;
Let the fools rage, I swerved in naught,
Something to perfection brought';
But louder sang that ghost, 'What then?'
Should I write something? What if I'm not in the mood or my spirits are low? What then? Oh well I will try to cheer up and give it a go.
A quick look at a handful of Ushaw Moor families in 1911 did not turn out to be doctor's orders: It just made me feel worse. Edward Winstanley's family in Ladysmith Terrace had experienced the death of five children by the time of the census. James Clark's family in nearby Bannerman Terrace had lost three and his near neighbours, the Clark's, had also lost three. And on it goes. Well actually quite a few Ushaw Moor households had not experienced the death of children by the time of the census and it is a relief to establish that.
Now I must go up five gears and announce, courtesy of Sam Harris, that in 2011 it was calculated that nine million young children under the age of five die every year on our blue dot in the universe.
So what is God or god doing about it, or going to do about it? Either he/she/it/ cannot do anything about it, or will not. It's a disappointment. Blimey, what if God is dead or does not exist?
What then?
WB
Are a bit of a mystery. I know that Eva and her sister were milliners and came to the aid of the famous Mr Cody when his aeroplane came down to local earth [see previous article]. I suppose that being milliners it was always likely that they could do the sewing that was necessary to repair his aeroplane, but I am open to correction about that.
The local school thought the tumble from the sky was so exciting they gave the school children a half - day off so that they could go and see the aeroplane. Police were in attendance to hold the crowds back.
My understanding is that someone gave Cody breakfast and it was only later that he was invited by the New Brancepeth colliery owner to spend the evening and night at his grand home!
So if I am right about the breakfast, who was it that supplied it? And can anyone tell us more about Eva Hornsby and her sister?
WB
It seems appropriate to delve into the archive and bring up my interview with him.
He was a gentleman and a rascal all wrapped up in one package. Not many people can claim that.
Norman greeted me cheerfully on my arrival at his neat and tidy flat. The twinkle in his blue eyes and his love of life remain undiminished despite his considerable years; it showed in his readiness to chat away about himself and life in general. He is not a self absorbed man rather he takes a keen interest in news and sport [by way of his radio and television] but not necessarily in that order!
Norman was born to George and Francis Gleghorn in Eshwood Street, New Brancepeth in 1926. He was one of ten children, but as he pointed out, such a large family was not so unusual at that time.
Norman attended New Brancepeth School and although he recalls that gardening was a prominent part of the school’s curriculum he was not interested in Mr Turnbull’s gardening lessons, or for that matter George Hill’s woodwork; his love was sport and more sport. He represented the school at football and cricket and enjoyed the experience so much.
Having left school at 14 he then spent the next 10 years working at New Brancepeth Coke Ovens as a mechanical fitter. It operated a three shift system; 6am to 2 pm – 2pm to 10pm and 10pm to 6am. During his time there the cokeworks never closed, not even on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, and Norman finds that fact remarkable to this day.
During our meeting Norman’s daughter Ingrid, and his grand-daughter Sarah, popped in and out. It was obvious that they love and care for Norman in a very positive way.
Norman went on to say that the poor working conditions at the cokeworks persuaded him to find a healthier occupation and it arrived in the form of window cleaning. Norman is good with people and that, together with his need to keep fit for sport, made window cleaning such an attractive proposition. He spent many a year cleaning windows and he became a familiar sight on his rounds.
I felt it was time to challenge Norman: did he clean upstairs windows? I asked because a well respected contributor to the site had suggested that Norman had no head for heights. Norman looked at me and declared that he did ups as well as downs! I duly accepted his solemn declaration with a chuckle from me and a smile from him.
We moved on to football. Norman informed me that he had been given a trial by Derby County in 1947, as had Ronnie Peart from Bearpark. Derby booked them into the local Railway hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The trial itself was played behind closed doors to prevent the possibility of spies from rival clubs having a look at promising players and possibly nicking them. Before the game the trialists were introduced to Horatio ’Raich’ Carter and Peter Doherty, both of whom were two of the finest inside forwards to play in English football. I listened to this, having being a Derby follower since 1954, and felt envious to say the least! At one point during the day of the trial some Derby fans asked Soccer for his autograph and he still enjoys that memory!
As for the trial itself sadly it did not go well enough. The full back was good and Norman was young and nervous: those factors caused Derby to reject him. How dare they!
At 10.39am, some fifteen minutes into our discussion, Norman offered me a whisky. I declined with thanks but now regret the lost opportunity. He then pointed to a picture of himself taken with the England Test cricketer Paul Collingwood. He was rightly proud, as well he should be, because Collingwood is a test cricketer that fights hard for the English cause. He then showed me a photograph of himself taken with Cheryl Crowe. Have I got the name right? I get the Crowe’s and Coles mixed up. Soccer described her as being a beautiful lady. He gets around….
On with his football career. He played for several teams and Ushaw Moor, Spennymoor United, Consett and York City Reserves spring to my mind.
‘The ball was hard in those days and the lace could hurt. The modern ball is like a swerving balloon’. It is hard to disagree with Norman. He reminisced about some local players: it was Billy Findlay [Finlay?} at inside right that had opened the scoring with a header in the 3-1 defeat suffered at the hands of the great Bishop Auckland team. Soccer felt that Ushaw Moor had played well but towards the end Bishop Auckland were playing effective keep ball. Tommy Sharp was a very good full back and worked as a draughtsman at Mackays factory - at one point he ran a pub in Durham. Soccer said that Tommy could head a ball further than he could kick it. Tot Smith was an ex Blackpool player and played well in local football [at one time he had a pub in Crook]. Alan Lockey was not a world beater but always put on a good show. George Jameson, at centre forward, lacked height but was pacey and effective. Norman recalled fellow winger Harry Richmond and I asked him an ‘innocent’ question: ‘was he as good as you Soccer?’ You can imagine the answer. Actually he laughed and was surprisingly polite, given the question!
Norman married Peggy Harper and then Nancy Whitfield. Although a widower, with fond memories, he has been able to carry on in a positive vein – an example to us all.
Norman is number seven in the all time magnificent seven of Ushaw Moor [earlier article see archive] and deservedly so. I felt privileged to interview him and will never forget the experience.
WB
I have not been able to establish a connection with the current Archbishop of Canterbury, but that does not necessarily mean there is none.
Vicar Welby was born in Tollerton, Nottinghamshire and he married Jennie Brown [1896-1972]. They had a son Peter Edin Brown Welby. I am not sure whether Peter was an only child.
Vicar Welby’s father was Abraham Adlard Welby [he was born in Uttoxeter, became rector of Tollerton and died in 1923].
His mother was Bertha Sobranoa – she was born in India and died in 1928 at the age of 82.
Vicar Welby’s grandfather, Aldard Welby, was born in Lincolnshire, became a solicitor, married Clara Flint and died before the turn of the 19th century when well into his 80s.
Vicar Welby had at least three brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers was Richard Martin Welby – Richard’s wife was Euphemia Welby [1891-1987] and I understand that she gave distinguished service during WW2, being Supt. of the Women’s Royal Naval Service [WRNS] from June 1939. She became a CBE on 01/01/1944.
A New South Wales newspaper, the Barrier Miner, reported the vicar's romance of 1933 as follows:
The Rev. J. H.P Welby, the vicar of Ushaw Moor, Near Durham, who married Jennie Brown, his church organist, told the story of his romance to the ''Daily Express'' correspondent, at a presentation ceremony after their return from their honeymoon.
''I ventured to ask Jennie,'' he said ''if she would go along with me, and she could not at first understand. Jennie and I strolled by the riverside as other lovers have done. It was Wednesday, about eight weeks ago - but Jennie says I have not to tell you too much.
We walked as far as the dear village of Shincliffe, and we went into church together and bound ourselves in loyalty and allegiance.
As I was getting older - but but I am not old yet - I felt that If I could find a partner she would help me in my parish work, and you will agree that I found someone more capable than myself in the one who has been kind enough to share her life with me.
It is particularly kind, because as one is getting older I expect she will be quite young and handsome when she wheels me around in the bath-chair.
We have only a week's experience, but up to now Jennie has not quarrelled with me, and I hope she won't''.
What a find that article is!
Brian McLoughlin's notes, already on site and reproduced here, will aid those readers not already familiar with this most notable vicar of Ushaw Moor.
"I well remember Vicar Welby when I was a boy living in Ushaw Moor. I understand that Vicar Welby was a very highly educated man and he gave 35 years of his life looking after the spiritual needs of his flock at Ushaw Moor. I can remember attending weddings and funerals at St. Lukes Church on the Esh Winning road where he officiated at the ceremonies. He lived with his family at the Vicarage at the top of Ladysmith Terrace. I cannot remember Vicar Welby ever having any sort of transport to get around the village as he always appeared to be walking when I remember him. He was well known and highly respected in the village and always had a good word and a smile for us kids. Whether you were Catholic or Protestant Vicar Welby always spoke to everyone. He was the type of good character that is sadly lacking in this world of the present. Vicar Welby is also mentioned in the book by Frank Proctor who emigrated to Canada from Ushaw Moor in the 20s, he made a great impression on the then young Frank Proctor."
WB
I have referred to the Durham Amateur Football Trust before and make no apologies for doing so again. It is a very commendable vehicle for remembering and enjoying North East football's grand and colourful heritage.
If Norman goes on to its internet site, which is found easily by googling... Daft Football... he will be able to locate an immense work in progress: the making available of local newspaper articles from the past. He already has a bit of a mention by means of a football report on the 21st of August 1948 of Spennymoor's 1-0 defeat to Carlisle Reserves.
Spennymoor: Burns, Thompson, Harnby; T Smith, Morris, Bounsfield; J Smith, Moore, Garbutt, Feenan, Gleghorn.
Spennymoor had lots of chances to score but failed to take them. The match attendance was in the region of 2,500.
On the same match day Newcastle United drew 3-3 at Everton and Sunderland won at home to Bolton 2-0. Derby County won 2-1 at Manchester United, I thought I would mention that...
Why not become a friend of Daft. For five pounds a year you are helping and honouring dedicated men that are far from daft; they just love the North-East and its honourable football heritage. They might be a bit daft in their spare time but I cannot swear to it.
WB
I have occasionally wondered what happened to young Michael of 1958-60 vintage. He lived about two or three doors up from the house opposite 31 Whitehouse Court. He was a very studious lad but also loved sport, in particular Newcastle United. I know that in about 1963 he won the Ushaw Moor cricket club second team best fielding award. Then the trail went cold for many years but I may have located him.
If I have got it right he won a National Coal Board scholarship to read politics at Nottingham university and spent twenty five years in the UK coal mining industry. Eventually he led a management consultancy company in Nottingham. He had a high powered career and not that long ago received an honorary degree from Nottingham university.
WB
There are inevitably incidents in life that presage a change of tack and one of them happened to me a few weeks ago: I fell asleep before finishing my story book reading session with one year old grand-daughter Isla. I am told that she then looked at me in astonishment. The following day I was invited to play a couple of games for a West Sussex cricket club called Hurstpierpoint; sadly I reckoned that if I could no longer keep awake - once I had established that the ice bear could indeed help the little boy to skate - I could no longer walk out, with any conviction at all, to face what might have been fizzy pace bowlers. Old age smack in the eyes and far removed from the young boy in Ushaw Moor.
The young boy in Ushaw Moor would no doubt have wandered down to the cricket club with a view to starting off in the second team during bank holidays, when some players were in Redcar or Blackpool. But it never worked out, despite members of my family's long history of playing, captaining and administrating the club. All because we moved to Workington when I was fifteen. I missed out on playing with the Ferguson brothers, and who knows, Norman might not have been the only player pushing seventy and helping out the young ones.
WB
The football tables below track Ushaw Moor's football team in the early 50s. For those not familiar with football tables the figures, in order after each team name, represent played, won, drawn, goals scored, goals conceded, and points. I have not found any record of Ushaw Moor being in this league at any other time. Either way the tables are thanks to Mr Paul Stone. If you google:
Wearside League 1919-1960
there are some other interesting matters regarding that league as well as the formal web address.
The last thing I want is to lessen the impact of Mr Metcalf'e request because of it being geographically lower down today's posts - so do have a go at helping him.
WB
1950-1951
1. SUNDERLAND 'A' 30 21 5 4 109 36 47
2. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE 30 21 4 5 107 46 46
3. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 20 4 6 100 63 44
4. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 17 6 7 86 55 40
5. DURHAM CITY 30 15 9 6 86 52 39
6. USHAW MOOR 30 17 4 9 89 66 38
7. TRIMDON GRANGE 30 17 4 9 76 64 38
8. WHITBURN 30 13 7 10 60 71 33
9. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 14 0 16 64 76 28
10. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 30 10 6 14 76 67 26
11. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 30 8 6 16 58 99 22
12. MIDDLESBROUGH 'A' 30 7 5 18 64 77 19
13. SOUTH HETTON COLLIERY 30 7 3 20 50 99 17
14. WEARMOUTH COLLIERY WELFARE 30 7 2 21 57 101 16
15. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 6 4 20 52 117 16
16. BIRTLEY TOWN 30 4 3 23 46 91 11
1951-1952
1. SUNDERLAND 'A' 30 23 4 3 106 32 50
2. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE 30 20 4 6 120 57 44
3. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 15 7 8 87 51 37
4. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 30 15 6 9 94 57 36
5. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 15 6 9 62 51 36
6. WHITBURN 30 16 4 10 59 60 36
7. USHAW MOOR 30 16 3 11 73 59 35
8. DURHAM CITY 30 14 7 9 75 67 35
9. MIDDLESBROUGH 'A' 30 14 3 13 74 62 31
10. EPPLETON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 12 7 11 52 71 31
11. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 9 9 12 52 61 27
12. TRIMDON GRANGE 30 7 6 17 49 72 20
13. WEARMOUTH COLLIERY WELFARE 30 7 5 18 59 86 19
14. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 30 5 6 19 45 85 16
15. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 30 4 6 20 47 109 14
16. BIRTLEY TOWN 30 5 3 22 38 112 13
1952-1953
1. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 19 3 6 102 53 41
2. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 28 16 6 6 83 63 38
3. SUNDERLAND 'A' 28 15 5 8 72 46 35
4. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE 28 15 4 9 78 53 34
5. USHAW MOOR 28 16 2 10 81 57 34
6. MIDDLESBROUGH 'A' 28 13 3 12 69 62 29
7. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 11 7 10 52 55 29
8. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 28 11 7 10 50 60 29
9. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 10 8 10 73 66 28
10. MURTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 10 8 10 54 57 28
11. EPPLETON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 9 7 12 66 63 25
12. WEARMOUTH COLLIERY WELFARE 28 7 5 16 44 79 19
13. WHITBURN 28 8 2 18 33 62 18
14. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 5 7 16 47 93 17
15. TRIMDON GRANGE COLL. WELFARE 28 5 6 17 44 79 16
(420 170 80 170 948 948 420)
1953-1954
1. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 19 5 4 88 52 43
2. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 28 15 5 8 66 49 35
3. MIDDLESBROUGH 'A' 28 14 6 8 75 44 34
4. USHAW MOOR 28 15 4 9 85 64 34
5. MURTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 13 8 7 59 47 34
6. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 12 8 8 85 71 32
7. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE 28 13 4 11 73 68 30
8. WHITBURN 28 11 8 9 61 65 30
9. SUNDERLAND 'A' 28 12 5 11 79 67 29
10. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 12 4 12 65 55 28
11. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 28 11 4 13 62 76 26
12. TRIMDON GRANGE COLL. WELFARE 28 10 5 13 68 85 25
13. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 9 4 15 76 89 22
14. EPPLETON COLLIERY WELFARE 28 4 3 21 52 108 11
15. WEARMOUTH COLLIERY WELFARE 28 2 3 23 44 98 7
(420 172 76 172 1038 1038 420)
1954-1955
1. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 21 2 3 88 37 44
2. MIDDLESBROUGH 'A' 26 18 3 5 94 39 39
3. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 16 4 6 77 47 36
4. SUNDERLAND 'A' 26 15 4 7 85 53 34
5. WHITBURN 26 11 7 8 61 54 29
6. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 11 5 10 85 73 27
7. EPPLETON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 6 11 64 67 24
8. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 6 11 55 83 24
9. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 3 14 56 62 21
10. USHAW MOOR 26 9 3 14 50 88 21
11. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 26 7 5 14 56 69 19
12. MURTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 8 3 15 48 60 19
13. TRIMDON GRANGE COLL. WELFARE 26 5 4 17 46 93 14
14. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE 26 5 3 18 54 94 13
(364 153 58 153 919 919 364)
1955-1956
1. SHOTTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 18 3 5 90 37 39
2. MURTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 17 3 6 61 37 37
3. WINGATE COLLIERY WELFARE (-2) 26 16 5 5 94 57 35
4. EASINGTON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 15 5 6 59 46 35
5. SILKSWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 26 14 4 8 72 57 32
6. WHITBURN 26 14 3 9 73 49 31
7. BLACKHALL COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 4 13 52 55 22
8. BOLDON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 3 14 63 65 21
9. TRIMDON GRANGE COLLIERY WELFARE 26 8 5 13 58 83 21
10. DAWDON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 9 2 15 74 94 20
11. LANGLEY PARK COLLIERY WELFARE 26 6 7 13 55 84 19
12. USHAW MOOR 26 6 7 13 49 75 19
13. EPPLETON COLLIERY WELFARE 26 8 2 16 48 65 18
14. SEAHAM COLLIERY WELFARE 26 5 3 18 33 77 13
(364 154 56 154 881 881 362)
Hello There
I wonder if any of your subscribers have any information about my parents John and Ann (nee Murray) Metcalfe. It’s their golden wedding later this month and I was hoping someone might have some memories that I could use.
Dad was born in 1942 and was the son o John and May Metcalfe who owned the bakers at the top of the hill. I know he played cricket and football for the local team and often helped my grandparents in the bakery. He has a sister Patricia.
Mam (also born in 1942) is from Bearpark (Victoria Street) her dad Jack worked in the colliery her sister is Margaret. Their mam died in 1966 and granddad remarried
Any help that you or readers can give would be much appreciated
I think your site is wonderful, wish there was many more like it
Regards
John
That's an old joke but it reminds me of a conversation I had in 2002 with Edith Smith [Ann Chamberlain], that bright and chatty former member of our 1959 Ushaw Moor form 4A.
She was asking me what the purpose of algebra was. Well it is useful for various professionals and technicians in their daily problem solving. No doubt NASA finds it very useful as well. I think it also helps in deciding whether to cross a bridge over a seething torrent of water and whether to risk sleeping in a bedroom surrounded by walls and a ceiling.
Back in our day we were regarded as people with very few options if we did not have 4 GCE passes including English. Mathematics often helped to further increase the options. If you had those sort of qualifications the likes of the Midland Bank would invite you in for an interview. Working in a bank gave you some sense of status; arguably times have changed in that respect!
Without 'O levels' in 1960? No point trying to become a junior journalist with the Northern Echo. I can tell you. Mind you, eventually, in the end, I was better off in other directions and managed to get lots of paperwork certifying this and that; my wife thinks it could be used for toilet paper if we ever find ourselves short of it. She thinks there is no problem in certifying me even now.
Let me be clear: many people do not actually need to master advanced algebra to function well in the modern world but, and it is a big but, being good at it indicates significant intelligence; understandably employers like that.
Now where is that treasure.
WB
Let's start with Norman Pickles - since corrected - Nicholson not Pickles -. He married my great aunt Ada. He was her second husband - her first - Harold Swift, fell down the pit shaft at New Brancepeth Colliery. Norman lived in Bearpark at one time. So does anyone know anything about Norman?
And what about a local professional boxer [1920s] called Rose? He lived in Ushaw Moor at one time. Good boxer? Big family? Small family?
Last call for the Ushaw Moor Modern 1959/60 football team photograph. To clarify - first team not intermediate side. Has anyone got a copy? This is the third request for that so perhaps it's in the dustbin of history.
WB
Back in Edwardian times a coal mining family called Lowery lived at this address. There was George and Mary with their sons - Robert, Joseph, John and William. In addition there was daughter Frances and granddaughter Jane.
George and Mary originated from Middle Rainton.
After all the media is bombarding us with revelations that should shock us to the core. We cannot even trust NHS inspections and ...... no I will not continue in that vein. But I could and it would take up scores of size A4 pages. The British Empire would take a verbal battering, I can tell you, and I will be telling Michael Gove the same thing.
So is it any wonder that we might wish to escape it all with a misty eyed walk down memory lane and with a familiar fondness for the old tramping grounds? As we begin to step out we have to be wary of a bit of false memory and a bit of exaggeration. Take the Ushaw Moor County School football team.
In its epic match against the present Spain side [I did not refer to Brigadoon for nothing]. the 1958/9 school football team performed with credit. But how much credit? That's a rhetorical question and because I have done some sterling work on that I insist on revealing my findings to you without delay.
My calculations have taken into account several pieces of information, as follows: Spain beat Tahiti 10-0 yesterday, at home; Chelsea takes only six seconds to score from its own goal line; Ushaw Moor would play fairly openly, and finally the magnificent Spain team would be trying. Very trying. So let me reveal the score:
Ushaw Moor 1 Spain 38. So that was a very credible result for Ushaw Moor County. Ah, I know what you are wondering but I am not going to reveal that. Not just yet. If you think this little article is a little overblown, just take on board one fact: West Auckland was too good for Juventus.
WB
I was told today that Keith Wardman has died at the age of 68. It is very sad news and a reminder to us all to enjoy life while we have it. I have not seen Keith for years but that fact does not really dampen down the sadness very much; he often sat next to me at Ushaw Moor County School in the 50s and as an act of friendship we played table tennis at my parent's place at 42 Whitehouse Court. I was reminded today that I had in the past likened Keith to a youngish version of comedian Bill Maynard and I stand by that, but only in terms of Bill's gentle delivery and smile rather than his wit. Keith was a friendly, long standing, and hardworking official at Esh Winning Football Club. As I say, very sad news.
On Tuesday gone I paid a visit to Imperial College London, together with some special friends, to listen to a lecture by Professor Tejinder S Virdee, FRS, Professor of Physics at Imperial. He has a long standing involvement with supervision and research at the Large Hadron Collider. It was a privilege to be no further than twenty feet from a man that can be spoken about in the same breath as Sir Isaac Newton. Mr Fawcett my science teacher at Ushaw Moor would have been impressed with my enthusiasm. It is true that Mr Fawcett's lesson was billed as science but I am not sure that it amounted to much of a science lesson; there again although little was learned there was much laughter during his session.
On the same day as the visit to Imperial we also visited the Globe Theatre in London to witness a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was such a professional performance and worth the entrance fee several times over. In our younger days we were not taught Shakespeare because one or more educational academics considered it too intellectual and academic for us; but that was tosh and playing with the value and potential of young lives. Many of us were underestimated!
WB
Back in the early part of the 20th century New Brancepeth Brass Band entertained far and wide and in the process picked up several plaudits. It was a very competitive band; take a look at a few of its successes, by means of googling:
Brass Bands New Brancepeth [and similar searches]
They won a competition at Mickley, County Durham on 07/09/1912. Its conductor was a F Smith. Throckley Working Men's [club I assume] was second, Willington Silver Band was third and Mickley fourth.
New Brancepeth also won at Tow Law on 06/07/1912 with South Derwent and Willington Silver in its wake. In the same year it won very close to home - at Waterhouses.
There were several near misses, for example the band came second at Stanley, County Durham, on 17/07/1909.
WB
Tim Bawden of the I newspaper informs us that this could be the coldest spring for 50 years and could even end up being the coldest since 1962. However if the weather in Durham and District can repeat or better its 1960 trick - you are in for a great June 2013!
We had only 7 [Seven] rainy days in the area of Ushaw Moor/Durham City of June 1960 vintage. There were 237.6 hours of sunshine - equating to a mean average of 7.92 hours per day. The hottest day achieved 79 degrees F. and that occurred on the second day of the Durham regatta. [Durham University Observation data].
So what was going on in the area at that time? Lots.Obviously. No Spanish siestas' in the valley! The Durham County Advertiser reported that in nearby Brandon children could be seen running around with axes, and a hammer was a child's play thing [!]
So it was a sunny June. The snag for Ushaw Moor Cricket Club is that Raine poured on its team. Put another way, Bearpark beat Ushaw Moor in a Northern Echo Cup semi-final. Raine scored 60 in Bearpark's total of 134 for 4. In reply Ushaw Moor was all out for 82. The damage was done by that man Raine's fine bowling [5 wickets for 23 runs].
WB
Some of you will already be aware of the Ushaw Moor miners' strike that began in 1881 but there is a further slant on it, in respect of the Irish, and it's there to read by googling the following:
The Irish in County Durham and Newcastle c1840 -1880.
The material I have in mind starts on page 213 of Roger Cooler's doctoral thesis [ Durham University]. I assume that soon afterwards his title would have been Dr. R Cooler.
WB
I came across Last resting place.com. It can get you into Ushaw Moor cemetery - in a manner of speaking - with some details and photographs; this could be especially useful for family historians, and such like, that live some distance away.
I have not used it myself.
WB
Norman Wright number one was born in Ushaw Moor in late December 1908 and played for Ushaw Moor Council School, Esh Winning Juniors, Grimsby Town, Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, and Watford. At one time he was an amateur on the books of Newcastle United. He was a prolific goal scorer, especially for Crewe, Accrington Stanley and Watford. I wonder whether he played for the Ushaw Moor school team that won a trophy in the very early 1920s [I believe that team is pictured on this site] or whether he had already left school.
The second Norman Wright is mentioned by Elizabeth Emery. She informs us that he was a lorry driver [much of it for Deerness Railways] and at one time played for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Elizabeth Emery gives an interesting account of the local railways during the period 1943 -1947. You can google it as follows:
Deerness Valley Railways Elizabeth Emery.
WB
I recall Mr Tonks teaching at Ushaw Moor Secondary Modern back in 1959. My memory indicates that he was a kind and very competent teacher. I believe that he later became a headmaster elsewhere.
Recently, quite by accident, I came across him on the net. If you google:
Colin Tonks Northern Echo
you see a very clear picture of him taken recently. He is the bearded elderly chap in a dark pullover. You will find a report of his recent clash with bureaucracy. He won, I am pleased to say!
WB
On Sundays my step-father frequently took me for a walk along the top road. It was an opportunity to find a good spot to fly my model aeroplane. Eventually the Ushaw Moor Catholic Seminary would come into view. I recall a scene dominated by sheep, golf players and the building itself. It was quite relaxing - being pastoral, peaceful and a preliminary ritual before a walk back to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; no Spotted Dick though because in our family the great era of the Dick was over. And you can take that as you wish.
I believe that a local paper has reported vandalism to a now derelict seminary; if so I am sorry to hear that. Catholicism in Ushaw Moor stretches back a very long time and it must be very sad news for the faithful. The run down of the building has been put down to falling rolls and financial problems. I can understand the former but not the latter; the Catholic Church is one of the richest organisations in the whole world and therefore if it wanted to keep the building secure it could no doubt find the funds to arrange it. Without proper security vandalism of such a building is inevitable.
WB
The Shields Daily Gazette reported on Monday June 13th 1887 that on the previous Friday burglars had forced entry into the ticket office at Ushaw Moor railway station. The thieves got away with something like nine old pence. Most fresh faced individuals will know that is written as 9d.
There were 240 d's in a pound so the thieves did not secure a change of life style. That said the circa 9d belonged to Mr Tuck, the station master, and do doubt he had a change of humour, if not a drastic change of life style.
WB
A lovely day and a lot of people loving it. The Ushaw Moor Institute Gala and Sports Day took place in a field near the railway station, and as well as a variety of other activities, much pleasure was got from listening to the Durham County Industrial Schools Band.
Three known attendees from Ushaw Moor were a Mr Thomas Ferguson, a Mr R Hope, and a Mr T Robinson. Tommy Ferguson judged the one hundred and twenty yards foot race and witnessed R Hope finishing in third place[ for which he received a reward of one pound- a lot of money then]. The winner received twelve pounds; second place got three pounds; and for finishing fourth the reward was ten bob. As for T Robinson, he finished runner-up in a quoit handicap.
About a couple of years ago I suggested that the village have an almighty reunion but nothing has come of it YET. Are there a few people up there [up north as my son would say] willing to break sweat and organise it, for a hopefully sunlit day in August 2014?
WB
Back in 1929 the Hampshire village of Steep adopted Broompark, which at that time had a population of about seven hundred people. As we know It was a grim period for many, what with serious long term unemployment and poverty.
WB
One day in the summer of 1915 the Brough store in Ushaw Moor donated one pound to the War Relief Fund. It does not sound much but in modern money that is worth in the region of ninety pounds and seventy seven pence; that is not a mean sum at all! It very probably donated on other occasions.
The Brough store at Chester-Le - Street raised a massive four hundred and ten pounds, which equates to about 37,215 pounds and seventy pence now. Bigger place, more employees and surely large donations from wealthy individuals rather than just from shop assistant employees. I guess that is the top and bottom of it.
WB
Decent media outlets are in short supply but they, more than any other, remind us that corruption is prevalent throughout the world. Don't get me wrong, there are inspirational people about, it's just that they are in short supply. That said, is it any wonder that from time to time we dip into the past? Such dipping has its limitations and arguably it is a form of respite little better than burying your head in the magnificent sands at Redcar.
The trouble with the past is that we cannot completely recapture it; however we can get a handle on some of it with reasonable certainty; I have in mind some fundamental characteristics and motivations that make up the human experience in whatever period we examine.If we need guidance Shakespeare may be able to help, but only if we are in the mood for him.
Let us see if we can recapture a bit of the past without William. It can be less confusing that way. Failure, success, comedy, sadness, pain and tragedy have always been with us and it was no different for past residents of Ushaw Moor.
In 1891 Ushaw Moor Cricket Club lost its Durham County Challenge Cup-Final against Consett. Bearing in mind that seventy seven years later I was a member of the South Moor first team that lost an away league match at Consett I can grieve for Ushaw Moor with some realistic feeling.
I am amused and pleased to point out that back in 1900 a Tory candidate, having arranged to give a speech at Ushaw Moor, found that almost all of the residents had gone away on an excursion. He cancelled his speech and left the village.
In 1911 the Ushaw Moor sub- postmaster, Robert Clemitson Russell, died at the age of sixty seven. The post office opened in 1904 and he had been there from the start.
In 1914 an eight year old boy from Ushaw Moor died, having fallen into one of the tanks near Ushaw Moor sewerage works.
In 1915 a married women from Ushaw Moor was found dead in a colliery reservoir at Esh Winning. In the same year soldier Jimmy Nutter, from Ushaw Moor, was injured fighting in WW1. The incidents are not connected.
Thanks to the Tory candidate's experience we had a bit of cheer to contrast with the grim sadness and despair.
WB
Back in 1894 it was not so easy to get around. Scouring the old papers I found that In late April of that year Sleetburn Cricket Club used a dog cart to fulfill a fixture at Spennymoor. On the return journey it suffered a most unfortunate accident - being in collision with a horse drawn omnibus at Croxdale. The horse was injured and soon died. John Maddox of Sleetburn, the owner of the dog cart, sustained serious injuries. He received treatment at the nearby Nicky Nack Bridge Hotel.
I believe that the Nicky Nack is now called the Daleside Arms but I stand to be corrected.
WB
Arthur confirmed that he had worked at Bearpark Colliery for about 15 years – covering the period c 1967 to 1982 – and had therefore spent more time there that at Ushaw Moor! I asked him whether the culture at Bearpark was any different to that at Ushaw Moor and he said it was all the same – with the same words being used to describe things and situations. I asked him whether there were any characters at Bearpark that stood out for him. He recalled that one lad had selected the wrong type of pension arrangement supplied by the employer. He had selected one that provided a pension for himself rather than one that covered both himself and a wife/widow. Later on miners had no option but to select one that provided for the wife as well as the miner. The state pension was in addition to all this of course.
Arthur recalled the Bearpark manager but his name escaped him. He said he was a tall man who had previously worked as a hewer at Bearpark and later returned as manager. Arthur said that although the manager was a very approachable man he always called him Mr ….. although many miners called him by his first name. Arthur held the view that if a man has worked hard and achieved the status of manager he was entitled to be called Mr. Arthur recalls that one day the manager asked him what size the coal was in a particular spot and Arthur sought the information by reference to hand measurement. The manager remarked ‘why use your hand? Go and get a tape measure’.
Arthur recalled another character called ‘Poucher Grey’. He never did learn his real name. ‘Poucher’ would never work on the actual face, rather he would do stonework. He was a sort of unofficial foreman and sent some of his ‘team’ to work the face. Arthur recalls that he was a physically big man.
I mentioned the name Jonty Burridge to Arthur and explained that I had played cricket with his son Ivor. I knew that Jonty had played cricket for Bearpark. Although Arthur could recall the name Jonty Burridge he could not place him too easily.
WB
Arthur Hodgson, died today, 02/04/2013. RIP.
Hope you enjoy the photo.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Did your village, town or community once have its own brass or silver band?
I am carrying out research in the history of brass bands in local communities, and would like to ask if you know of any information about any such extinct bands in your area.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries were the "golden age" for these bands numbering, it is said, up to 40,000 distinct bands at their peak. Many of these bands were associated with local industries, often being a "works" band. Others provided a musical focus for many small towns and villages in the days before the gramophone and the wireless. Today, in contrast, only some 1,500 or so are left active in the UK.
Sadly many of the bands left little in the way of information about their existence, and what does exist is widely scattered with individuals, local archives and national collections.
Part of my research is to identify these lost bands, to collect together material to provide a central database of information – containing a mixture of primary information as well as references to material held elsewhere (e.g. in local archives).
Any information you can provide would be gratefully received. Whether actual information or pictures of any bands, or pointers to resources, or sources for further investigation. Even knowing that a particular band existed is significant!
Currently much of the information I have collected is available online, as a freely available resource, at http://www.ibew.co.uk - in various locations, for example, in the Reference section under "Extinct Bands" or "Vintage Pictures".
With best wishes for your continuing research in local history,
Yours,
Gavin Holman
http://www.ibew.co.uk
The Internet Bandsman's Everything Within
I am trying to find a school friend, Patricia Stiles nee Baker.
I have located Sharon McCreesh, who is possibly her daughter, in your town but have no other way to find out if she is. Can you help in any way to verify that Sharon is her daughter?
If she is would Sharon be willing to contact me. I’m using my maiden name so Patricia would know who she is talking about.
Thank you for any help you can give me and her schoolmates at Godolphin and Latymer in Hammersmith, London who would love to hear from her.
View NW, towards Blackill; Lanchester Valley line (Durham - Blackhill). Called Aldin Grange until 1/5/27, this station was closed entirely on 1/5/39 when the passenger service ceased, but goods continued and the line was not closed until 20/6/66.
Site of railway bridge looking towards what was once site of Station.
I found this article very interesting.Last paragraphs mention broompark, but also interesting to note that both Broompark and ushaw moor collierys opened at the same time.
THE NORTHERN ECHO
Archive - Friday, 6 February 2004
Discovery of coal on moors leads to development of village
USHAW Moor is a former mining village on the north side of the River Deerness, half way between Durham and Esh Winning.
Centrally located among the mining communities of the Deerness and Browney, roads from neighbouring places converge upon a crossroads at the village centre.
The crossroads was there long before Ushaw Moor came into being, although there was no housing in the 1850s when the nearest structures were Cockhouse
Farm, half a mile west and Broom Hall on a hill to the east.
Ushaw Moor's mining community was born in the second half of the 19th Century on previously empty moorland. Some settlement had come in the early 19th
Century when Ushaw College opened, but this famous institution existed half a century before Ushaw Moor itself.
There had been an earlier farming settlement called Ushaw, first mentioned in 1312. Now gone, it was possibly located where College Farm stands.
Early spellings suggest Anglo-Saxons called Ushaw "Ulfs Shaw" meaning Wolf's Wood but it may be named after Ulf, a man who held land west of Durham in
the 12th Century.
Little is known of early Ushaw, except that a bake-house belonging to the Batmanson family existed here in the 17th and 18th centuries, perhaps where the
college now stands. It was a communal establishment used by the poor and needy for a small fee.
Ushaw's moorland, originally called Middlewood Moor, lay mostly east of the early settlement. For centuries small-scale drift mining was undertaken at nearby
places such as Esh, but in 1755 attempts to reach coal on the moor ended in failure.
In 1858, the Pease family opened a railway through the Deerness Valley to serve the colliery at Waterhouses which stimulated the development of more mines.
After the successful finding of coal, Ushaw Moor Colliery opened about 1870. Its first owners were probably the Holliday family who owned drift mines near
old Esh and Hilltop. By 1873 it belonged to John Sharp but passed to the aristocratic Henry Chaytor of Witton Castle in 1879.
Ushaw Moor's first colliery village developed on the north side of Cockhouse Lane (the B6302), three quarters of a mile west of the present village.
The early colliery village included West Terrace, East Terrace and Double Row while the colliery lay on the opposite side of the road, overlooking the
Deerness. The colliery and terraces were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s and are now empty fields.
Deerness View, a lonely hamlet on the B6302, now stands near the site. This came later, in the mid-20th Century, but the terraces of the first colliery
village lay in the fields to its east.
There had been development of buildings around the crossroads in what is now the centre of Ushaw Moor before the 1890s.
Buildings included a pub called the Flass Inn, but the population was concentrated in the terraces further west.
Cockhouse Lane leads to Esh Winning and Waterhouses, but before those collieries developed it terminated at Flass Hall, a mile east of Ushaw Moor.
The hall's name derives from an Old Danish word, Flask, meaning swamp and has the same meaning as Flass Vale in Durham.
Established in the 1570s, it lies on the site of a medieval farm and is marked on Saxton's map of Durham in 1576.
The hall's first occupant was William Brass who was succeeded by his son, Cuthbert in 1600.
The last Brass at Flass still lived there in 1697 when it became the hall of the Hall family.
By the 19th Century, Flass belonged to Jane Smythe, of Esh Hall, who married Sir Robert Peat, a friend of the Prince Regent.
Robert had serious gambling debts and probably married Jane for money.
Later, they were estranged, partly because of Jane's kleptomaniac tendencies. She chose to live in Sunderland, renting Flass Hall to the Reverend Temple
Chevalier of Esh village while her property at Cockhouse Farm was leased to John Leadbiter of Gateshead.
Flass Hall became a property of the Peases in the 1920s before passing in the 1930s to a local farmer who kept pigs in the house. It was taken over by the
National Coal Board in 1947 and converted into private houses in the late 1960s. Locally it is called "haunted house", but the identity of its spectral
resident, if indeed there is one, remains a mystery.
Broom Hall is another notable hall. Once situated in empty fields east of the village until almost swallowed by Ushaw Moor's housing developments in the
1960s, it belonged to the Batmanson family in the later half of the 16th Century.
Broom Hall is really associated with the little village of Broom to the east. Broom is now called Broompark but this was really the name for an adjoining
colliery village that developed in the 19th Century.
The colliery village has gone and is now occupied by housing development called Cookes Wood, but older parts of Broom including several old farmhouses
remain.
Broompark is only separated from Ushaw Moor by a road and recreation ground. Mining had taken place on a small scale here since the 1300s when its coal was
sold to the Prior of Bearpark. North Brancepeth Colliery Company which also operated Littleburn colliery opened the colliery about 1870 on the site of a
mysterious medieval moat. The colliery closed in 1904 after a major fire from which the miners escaped by means of an old drift.
One intriguing feature of Broompark is the Loves public house. Built in the 19th Century it was originally called Love's Hotel after Joseph Love,
a Durham coal owner who owned a brick foundry. He is thought to have built the pub with his bricks, each perhaps inscribed with the word Love.
* In next week's Durham Memories we look at the troublesome history of Ushaw Moor Colliery.
Published: 06/02/2004
If you have any memories of Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside or the Durham coast, including old photos or stories of people and places you would
like to share with readers of The Northern Echo, write to David Simpson, Durham Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or
email David.Simpson@nne.co.uk. All photos will be returned.
anyone got any photos of my bro tommy mcquillan playing football f st josephs rc school ushawmoor yrs will b 1972 till about 1979 we having a memorial for him in may and would love 2 have some early school photos of him i can take if any one can help please do so u can also tel me 07903261021 if paul dont mind hey paul y mam may have some old photos of us you never know can u please ask her thanks to all x
Broughs Store[/caption]
Florentine Crested China VASE[/caption]Durham County Advertiser- May 4th 1962.
The boys and girls of Form 3A at Ushaw Moor secondary modern school have just completed an interesting and comprehensive project. They have made a film.
The project started in October and the exposed film was sent in for processing Last month.
The entire job of writing and making up the story shows the natural development of secondary modern education and shows the character of the schools broad education.
Broompark infant school county durham uk
Road Bridge over River Deerness, Ushaw Moor[/caption]
I value all comments on Paul's site but am concerned that Mr Bowery's comments might be missed by some readers because they are a wee bit buried: that is, within the responses to my Seven Words For The People Of Ushaw Moor post.
We have some grand writers and he is one of them. Have a read.
WB
In my quest to find out when the old village of Broompark was demolished
i found this~ ???.I attended that school as a toddler and went on to St Josephs.
The article was in the northern echo and is dated April 17 2009.
50 years ago from that date in my calculation would make the year 1959.
Yet i have no recollection of a pied piper bus driver tooting his horn.
We walked to the main bus stop near Loves hotel and caught the bus there.
April 17th, 2009
From the Durham County Advertiser 50 years ago.
The driver of a bus which arrives in Broompark each weekday morning has become known as the modern Pied Piper.
When he toots his horn, children of the village skip out of their homes and are not seen again until early evening.
“Very soon their parents will be leaving, never to return,”.
A villager remarked bitterly to an Advertiser reporter this week.. “A village which loses its school begins slowly to decay.”
At Broompark School, focal point of the life of the village since the beginning of the century, only one of three classrooms is now in use.
Thirty older chldren were transferred to Ushaw Moor a fortnight ago, but there is still a class for toddlers.
After the summer holidays, however, even they will probably have to make the mile and a half trip to Ushaw Moor.
As reported in the Advertiser last week, a petition protesting against the closure of the school has been signed by over 200 villagers.
Parents have already seen the county authorities and the Central Executive Education Committee.
They intend to fight resolutely to save the school.
It is doubtful, however, whether a reprieve will be granted, for the problem at Broompark is that of many villages throughout the county.
? Compiled with the help of Durham County Council’s Clayport library
Thank you Noodles for praising my last effort.There are a few of us running up and down the pitch in an effort to keep the site fresh and interesting: Noodles sweeping up at the back, WB playing in an unfamiliar wing half role and new signing Nightingale singing away as if there is no tomorrow. Clarkey is often seen on the touchline bellowing, encouraging and a lot more besides. There is lots of chatter with no sign of a petering out. Cluffy has been known to moan that we should be playing 4-4-2 not 4-3-3 however he is usually a fountain of hope and calmness.
I dashed off that last piece [92 not out] in about twenty minutes but,too late and to my dismay, I found a few errors in it, for example: how ever instead of however and neccesarily, which has to many cees and not enough esses.
But It's the message that counts, not the occasional errors. If you have something heartfelt to write just do it. As Sir Ken Robinson might say:
And stop talking like Shakespeare. You are confusing everybody. Just write. Create.
WB
One day, at the age of 15, my half-brother scored 92 runs for South Moor Cricket Club's first team. I thought that was a big score for his age and told him that I was delighted for him. 92 runs are a lot of runs but I am equally impressed if you have lived that amount of years on this tiny blue dot in the universe.
It is the way of life that Colin, being 15, had his best years ahead of him, unlike the 92 year old who has not. An aged person is likely to experience pain, despair and loneliness in generous measure, however caring and considerate his or her family happen to be. Ushaw Moor residents in the first half of the 20th century were lucky to reach 65, never mind 92. In the 1930s a common age for men to die was 57; by the time they had reached that milestone they tended to be tired but not necessarily dispirited. And not necessarily lonely. You still had a community that cared rather than finding yourself being administered to by well meaning officials.
Community was all, in Ushaw Moor: however old you were there was a good chance of being visited by family, work colleagues and neighbours that cared. Your heart might have been on the verge of stopping, or your lungs may have felt like a disobedient dog, but you had human warmth around you and in you.
There is still a lot of human warmth about but too much of it is miles away and distracted by other things. These days, if you are one of the unlucky ones, you can be left with a birthday card, a Christmas card and your memories. As well as pain and energy loss.
The very old have a lot to give, especially if you ignore a few concepts held by that'outdated' generation, but are alert to their perceptive and very wise comments.It demands patience, listening skills and love. Lots of love. We really are all on a journey with a terminus and should realise that virtually all of us will be dead by the time we are 110. Out caught in the slips by an away swinging ball.
WB
Found some interesting photos whilst browsing. Thought i would drop a few links here although most of you have most likely seen them. The first link shows a Wilf Bell in a class photo. Wonder if he can still remember how the photographer made some of them laugh rather than smile.
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/mam_class.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/youth_club.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/primary_1900.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/relly_brown1.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/crossroads.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloughy/4283914935/in/pool-ushawmoor/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloughy/4527870640/in/pool-ushawmoor/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloughy/4527240369/in/pool-ushawmoor/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloughy/4748027311/in/pool-ushawmoor/
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/1951_infants.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/bpk_colliery_band.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/class_unknown.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/snow_queen.htm
http://ushawmoor.awardspace.info/history/singers.htm
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ushawmoor/pool/
All you have to do to get 246 people up is google the following line:
Search Durham's hidden depths Ushaw Moor
It will give their ages on a given day in history and references to one or more of:
union subscriptions paid, an accident, or death.
All courtesy of the Durham County Records Office.
WB
Florence Nightingale Number1
The younger Florence, aged 9 and born in Waterhouses and was part of the Nightingale family that occupied both 2 and 3 West Street Ushaw Moor.
Her father was John Nightingale a 42 year old colliery Undermanager; born in Northumberland he had gained his manager’s certificate on 26/02/1893. His managerial experience included overseeing the ‘Busty’ which would be abandoned 43 years later – well after his involvement!
Florence’s mother was 35 year old Sarah; she was born in St. John’s Chapel in Durham.
Florence had a lot of siblings: Alice [born in Waterhouses], Edith [b Esh], James W [b Waterhouses], Margaret [b Ushaw Moor], Mary J [b Waterhouses] and Phillis [bWaterhouses]. One of Florence’s grandfathers was called James Nightingale; he was born in 1822 at Chilton, County Durham, spent part of his life as a gardener and was married to Phillis [born in 1820].
Two of the Nightingale’s immediate neighbours, back in 1901, were John Herron – a stationary Engineman and Billy Thompson – a colliery engineman.
FLORENCE NO 2
The other Florence Nightingale was born in Tow Law in 1890, lived in South View, Ushaw Moor with her 53 year old dad [he was born in Northumberland and by this time worked at Ushaw Moor Colliery].
Florence had two elder brothers – Thomas [17] and John J [20]. They were both born in Tow Law and both worked at Ushaw Moor Colliery.
Florence had two sisters – Ethel [15 and born in Tow Law] and Hannah [20 – born Waterhouses].
We can surmise that this family was not in absolute dire poverty – bearing in mind the size of it and the number of workers.
Their immediate neighbours were:
[1] Mr John Stobart aged 41 – he was married to Mary – aged 41; they had a daughter – Jane aged 12 and
[2] Tommy Walker 42 [coal hewer Ushaw Moor] and his wife Ann [42]. They had four sons –Joseph 22 [putter/hewer Ushaw Moor], Thomas 18 [putter/coal hewer at Ushaw Moor], Solomon, 15 [bank lad] and John aged 4.
Tommy and Ann also had two daughters Sarah [9] and Florence [2]. So of the eight people living in the house we can see that four of them were in paid employment. Ann Walker would have been very busy looking after them especially bearing in mind the various coal mining shifts and that John was only 4 – I wonder whether Mrs Walker got much sleep.
All of the adult Ushaw Moor males mentioned above would know James Curry because he was the Rapper Man; his job was to get them to wake up and work! He lived at 6 William Street which incidentally was only three doors away from the Trotter family; one of whom was a three months old infant that, I believe, would go on to be the school teacher that some people can still remember. I believe he was the Trotter that, at least once, infuriated my grandfather on the cricket field!
WB
My grandfather Albert Turner with My Grandmother Agnes. I cannot give the location. Possibly in the entrance of the Loves hotel in Broompark, but i am thinking some other location in Ushaw Moor. No buildings in Broompark had a double door and brickwork like that except perhaps the Loves hotel.???? Albert was a very distinguished gentleman and a very good businessman who lent money and also a collector of fine antiques and collectables.
But also a maker of fine whiskey and loved a drink.
Some said that he was one that could turn a sows ear into a silk purse. But he was a worker and worked his gut out just as the rest.
