Times Change

I would like to add a few words to make people who read this entry to add their own thoughts, I hope to challenge them to do so Last Monday night my wife Helen and I went for a ride out back through my childhood areas, New Brancepeth, Ushaw Moor and later in my young life Waterhouses and Esh WInning . The drive through the mainstay of my childhoood, the village of Ushaw Moor was most distressing. Coming down Whitehouse Lane and over the crossroads in the direction of New Brancepeth really opened my eyes to how much life must have changed since I left the village in 1957. The open areas that we passed where the Empire Cinema and the Big Club once stood made me realise the great changes that have taken place in the village of Ushaw Moor. These open areas once contained buildings where much of the social life of the village took place. I must also include the Club Hall cinema which was included the open space where the Big Club stood. I must also include in the open spaces in the village the areas where the Memorial Hall stood on the Esh Winning Road and also the site of the Council School where I understand housing is to be built. I, incidentally would love a house on that site if I could afford one and if I could get a townie like Helen to move. The village of Ushaw Moor when I was young was a compact unit. All the neccesities of life was available in the village. I must state here that life must move wit6h the times so that the village socially that I knew has disappeared and will never re-appear again.

To emphasise the closeness of the village in those days I would like to quote an example of the closeness of the people. On a Thursday afternoon my late brother Kevein (God Rest his Soul) would go to Hoppers Fish Shop In High View to get fisha nd chips for the tea. Without fail as we passed the double gates at the back of the Fl;ass Inn, (better known as the Flass) the Landlord< Jack Mc Dermott would be waiting for Kevin and I and passed his order for fish and chips and the moner on to us. Incidentally the fish and chips from this establishment were mouthwatering even tonight as I think back over the years. Jack Mc Dermott would always at the back gates waiting for his order and he always gave us a shilling between us. A few years later in April 1957 our mother passed away and her Requiem Mass was held on a Saturday morning. Kevin and I stood in Crook Store doorway opposite the Flass whillst all the males who had attended the funeral were in the Flass having a drink. I foolishly left Kevin who was under age at 16 on his own and went into theFlass to join the company. On standing at the bar I was faced with Jack Mc Dermott. He did not ask for my order but asked what I was thinking about leaving my youngest brother on his own in on such a day like this when he needed my company most. "Get to the front door andf shout to him to come in for a drink. I said he was under age and Jack just withered me with a look that was scornful and yet understanding of our circumstances.

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - West Durham Rail Tour 1958

[caption id="attachment_2621" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Stephenson Locomotive Society (North West Area) / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour[/caption]

Stephenson Locomotive Society North West Area / Manchester Locomotive Society West Durham Rail Tour visiting Ushaw Moor station on 31.8.1958.

via Ushaw Moor Historical Website - West_Durham_Rail_Tour_1958.

Mining Memories - By Roy Lambeth

I got to know Stephen Dent when I moved from my Primary School to Whinney Hill Secondary Modern School in Durham in September 1959.

During our trainspotting adventures, we regularly saw the Brandon Pit House Colliery steam loco pushing empty wagons up to the colliery.  One day at Easter 1960 we decided we would go to Pit House and ask if we could photograph the engine.

We caught the bus that came down Whitehouse Lane going to New Brancepeth.  The big destination ‘via’ screen on the bus had us confused as it went to places we had never heard of (and which we could not find on the map).  These were Aldin Grange, Auton Stile & Alum Waters.

We caught the bus up to New Brancepeth and walked up to Brandon Pit House Colliery.  When we got there we found that the steam engine had been replaced by a big ugly diesel (see my (PHOTO) on the Ushaw Moor Gallery Site).  The safety Office decided that we should be given a conducted tour of the site.  This to our amazement (I was just 11 years old), included an underground visit!  Seeing what the miners had to do put me off mining as an occupation.

At the end of the visit, Stephen walked home to Ushaw Moor, but I was offered a ride on the diesel down to Brandon, where I could catch a bus to Durham.

A few days later we went to Ushaw Moor Colliery and asked to look round.  This was freely given and we had another underground tour.  Ushaw Moor Colliery was much older than Brandon Pit House, and going down the shaft we could see all the brickwork.  They lowered us slowly so that our guide could explain what everything was for.  It was then that they told us Ushaw Moor Colliery was due to close in August 1960.

On the day of the 1960 Durham Miners Gala, I caught an early bus out to Ushaw Moor, photographed the Ushaw Moor Banner being paraded down to the railway Station for the last time and traveled in to the Durham Miners Gala on the special train from Ushaw Moor Station (SEE PHOTO).

Happy Days

Posted on Behalf of Roy Lambeth

Memories of School Friends by Roy Lambeth

I lived in Durham, but my best school pal Stephen Dent lived at 22 Whitehouse Lane in Ushaw Moor.

We were both railway enthusiasts and were accepted by the various railway men we came across in our travels. We used to spend hours at Ushaw Moor Station with the porter there Jack Railton or sometimes he would take us over the wooden viaduct and leave us with Jack Hammill the New Brancepeth Signalman.

On other occasions we would meet at Relly Bridge for a days trainspotting which would take us into Deerness Valley Junction Signal Box and Bridge House Signal Box(at the end of Langley Moor Viaduct.

We also knew the residents in the railway houses between the bishop Auckland line and the Ushaw Moor line, where we would often be asked if we would like drinks and sometimes food.

On other occasions we would cycle to Tow Law, Stanhope, Lanchester and Crook, watching and learning about railways and their operations. Stephen was a relation of The Tallentyre-Dent Bakery shop in Ushaw Moor.

Happy days.

Posted on Behalf of Roy Lambeth roylambeth@dmm.org.uk

The Long Hot Summer - What do you remember Doing in the School Holidays ?

Been a little quiet on here for a while....

The Summer School Holidays are nearly upon us.

What do you remember about the summer holidays ?

What did you do ?

Where did you go ?

Tell us all about it.

1976 is most remembered for the great drought.

The Summer of 1976 was one of the best summers ever in the UK. London had a record June temperature of 95°F (we thought in Fahrenheit then!). We had a heatwave that went on for weeks and weeks. I can remember the ground cracking and the tar on the road melting. And yes, there was a hosepipe ban; but to a nine year old it seemed a small price to pay!

In some areas people had their water supply turned off for most of the day to conserve water. Hosepipe bans were across the country and even firemen in the New Forest were told not to put out forest fires.

My aunt struggled to recall just how long the school holidays were during the summer but had a strong feeling that they were less than six weeks! During each summer her family holidays were often based in boarding houses in places such as South Shields and Redcar. The fresh smell of the sea and teeth threatening sticks of rock are evocative memories. WB

St Cuthberts Chapel - Ushaw College 1911

Early Postcard of St Cuthberts Chapel - Ushaw College Postmark 1911

Remembering your Street Parties - Community Celebrations

Street parties are for life, not just for Jubilees.

Do you remember having any street parties in and around Ushaw Moor, maybe it was for the Royal Wedding, or another celebration,

What sort of things did u do ?

Did u decorate the entire street with bunting ?

Would you or are u having a street party for the Jubilee ?

Tell us all about it

 

Streets Alive promotes street parties for good neighbourly reasons and it is a great excuse to hold one for a Jubilee as a national occasion. This has a long tradition which started in 1919 and 1 million joined in for last year's royal wedding. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will take place over an extended weekend from the 2nd to the 5th of June. You may want to hold your street party on the Sunday or Monday when most people would be around.

 

Street Parties for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012.