THE HOUGHTONIAN | JUNE 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 | ISSN 1757-3890HOUGHTON HERITAGE SOCIETY iscarrying out a survey about the <strong>Houghton</strong>Feast Opening Ceremony, whichtraditionally takes place on the Fridaybefore Feast Sunday. In 1987 the firstMilitary Tattoo took place and featured theLight Infantry Band, North East Pipe Bands,South Shields Sea Cadets Band, RyhopeColliery Welfare Band and the ClaireMcKenzie Dancers. Over the years,<strong>Houghton</strong> Pipe Band had a growingpresence in the Tattoo, which alwaysconcluded with the playing of the Last Postand illumination of <strong>Houghton</strong>'s Cenotaph.The last Tattoo took place in 2002 and wassubsequently replaced with a lantern paradeand other forms of entertainment.The 10 quick questions can be found at:http://kwiksurveys.com/?s=MNKHOG_4802da84“Ladies and gent<strong>le</strong>men, thepipes and drums…”PERHAPS ONE OF <strong>Houghton</strong>’s oldest pubs and situated just atthe bottom of Sunderland Street, the Golden Lion has served acentral focus in the lives of all those that have drank in there.Once a coaching inn, the building dates as far back as 1824(record-wise), however it is certainly much older than that.This year the Golden Lion sees barmaid Jean Hollandce<strong>le</strong>brating 30 glorious years behind the bar. Jean has stoodbehind the bar since the summer of 1982 and is now a part ofthe fixtures and fittings! She has seen many faces in her timewhi<strong>le</strong> pulling the pumps. But never have the words “Hiya love,what can I get ya?” been more aptly spoken to a thirsty man.Jean always has a smi<strong>le</strong> upon her face, it is the warmth of thatsmi<strong>le</strong> that makes you feel welcome and right at home whensitting in the lounge bar. I was in there last year with localhistorian Paul Lanagan and Peter Corfield, having a drinkduring the <strong>Houghton</strong> Feast week, but Paul being Paul he burstout and asked for a photograph of her. I won’t repeat her replybut it was funny. The lads thought it was funnier when I juststrol<strong>le</strong>d up to the bar and politely asked if I could have a pictureof her for something we were doing…and with no morequestions I got it! I believe the words “you jammy git” wereuttered from Paul’s mouth!I am pretty unanimous in this and I speak for all those that havebeen served by Jean, we look forward to another 30 years! You area star and a p<strong>le</strong>asure to speak to.D.W.
THE HOUGHTONIAN | JUNE 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?NEWBOTTLE COULSONSHello Paul, I must start with a greatthank you for all your effort. Hopeyou can help me with some photosthat I have. The writing on the backmay not be true. One is of a farmwith the person in it cal<strong>le</strong>d Francisand says the farm was sold in 1940after 75 year of Coulson working it.The next one is of Wilfred ploughingbehind the Children’s Hospital don’tknow the date. The next one is at thefront of New Bott<strong>le</strong> farm with Unc<strong>le</strong>Fred on the horse and Unc<strong>le</strong> Jack onthe cart unknown date. The last isSunny Side Farm (Robbie and Arthur,grandfather’s brother and son). Myfather came to Australia in 1927 towork in the railways; he used to workin the signal box in Newcast<strong>le</strong> onTyne. He returned to England in1929 to get my mother. She had 4sons and 1 daughter who died in1940. The back of the Newbott<strong>le</strong>Farm photo says that the farm was inthe Coulson name for 75 years, sothat means that Jacob and IsabellaCoulson (1865) were probably theoriginal owners. Jacob Coulson wasthe owner of Newbott<strong>le</strong> farm with hiswife Margaret Thompson Pickett (neeDagg) (1902). Jacob, mygrandfather, died at the age of 45years. The Farm, as the story goes,was occupied by the house keeper[Francis Lishaman] to her death, thenit was sold (1940) and the grandchildren were provided in the Will bypassing the next generation. Myfather was from Jarrah (that is theway we spell it out here); his namewas William Ingram Coulson and wifeJanet Kerr (nee Millar). He passedaway at 59 years when I was 18yearold. I have another photo of mygrandfather (I think) at a grave that Iwas told to be his father JosephCoulson (1865). Thanks for theinformation on Sunniside Farm. Ilooked up your link to see maybe acrescent went near the farm. It is ashame that the old houses andstreets are knocked down. We havethe same over here as we are a youngcity and in the name of progress theyare knocked over. Our port city ofFremant<strong>le</strong> is totally different - nobuildings are knocked over! Thefacades are in keeping and new onesbuilt behind. The University of NotreDane have taken over the city so ithas become a large campus. I havelooked up <strong>Houghton</strong> previously andhave seen the Parish Church youmention in <strong>Houghton</strong>. The graveyard at Hillside Cemetery hasCoulson in the name register. Howdo I get any information on theCoulson on the named list?yard at Hillside Cemetery hasCoulson in the name register. Howdo I get any information on theCoulson on the named list? Theabove information that I have wasmai<strong>le</strong>d to me by my unc<strong>le</strong> who Inever met. He has a 2 daughters;one has a lot of information buthand written. She lives in Scotlandand I must get to see if I ever get tocome to England. The names ofthe Coulson are: Margaret mayhave married Richard Coulsonaround 1775; George WilliamCoulson husband of Mary marriedaround 1822; another Richard whoalso married a Margaret around1813; Mary Ann who may havemarried Joseph Coulson around1865 (may be a second wife to himand may have been a secondcousin); and there is a Mary marrieda George Coulson around 1822.Thanks again you have stirred upthing that I should have followed upa long time ago!Brian CoulsonKelmscottWestern AustraliaALL ABOARD!We have just been reminiscingabout the old G<strong>le</strong>nda<strong>le</strong> Club trips tothe seaside, when we were kids.How excited we were. How long apound lasted, enjoying setting upthe tents in a circ<strong>le</strong> on the wetsand, and enjoying our seasidesandwiches even though youcrunched on the sand that the ga<strong>le</strong>force wind had blown your way!Spending the afternoon at the fair,overdosing on everything sweet andsickly, packing up windblown andtired, enjoying our exotic trip toRedcar, South Shields etc, like wehad been far far away! Happy days!Sandra Lavel<strong>le</strong>THE RICHARDSONSSir/Madam, I am researching myGreat Grandparents family historyand have come across <strong>Houghton</strong>-Le-<strong>Spring</strong> as a place they lived insometime between 1861 censusand the 1891 census. I am havingprob<strong>le</strong>ms locating and identifyingthree children; Elizabeth Richardsonwho was born 29 May 1869 atRainton Gate, Sacriston, Durham,and two other children who weredefinitely born alive but have nodates between 1854 and 1881. Iam assuming these three childrendied in early childhood as they don'tappear on any of the Census butare known in family lore. No namesam assuming these three childrendied in early childhood as theydon't appear on any of the Censusbut are known in family lore. Nonames unfortunately. What I aminterested in is if you have anyburial records of three children ofIsaac Spence Richardson and hiswife Agnes Richardson (neeVance)? I have data on ElizabethRichardson died Apr-Jun, 1875(<strong>Houghton</strong> Le Sring 10a 301)aged 6 years; and ElizabethRichardson died (Apr-Jun) 1874(<strong>Houghton</strong> Le <strong>Spring</strong> 10a 321)aged 6 years. Either of these twofit the time, etc of one child butwhich, if either, is my prob<strong>le</strong>m?With regards the other twochildren I have no idea! Is itpossib<strong>le</strong> that you have a burialrecord or grave MonumentalInscription that may help me c<strong>le</strong>arup part or all of my query?Margaret Jane Richardson (born16 June 1856), probably marriedone of five persons; James Hardy1881 (Chester Le Street), ThomasLiddel 1881 (Chester Le Street),or Abraham Hoy 1873, JohnMitchinson Thompson 1873 orWilliam Gildroy 1875, all laterthree of <strong>Houghton</strong> Le <strong>Spring</strong>.Rather than send away for fivemarriage certificates I'm hopingyou may be ab<strong>le</strong> to reduce theodds for me? I look forward tohearing from you.Gordon StevensonNew ZealandNEWTOWN SCHOOLDear Paul, thank you for thephotograph of the litt<strong>le</strong> school inthe Market Place. I can no longerremember the date of the photobut I know I did ask my sisterabout it and she seemed to thinkthat both she and my late brotherhad both <strong>le</strong>ft for the JuniorSchool by the time this was taken.I certainly don't recognise anyoneon it other than Miss Kirt<strong>le</strong>y who Iabsolutely adored as a child, noother teacher from thereon everlived up to her standards! Thanksvery much, it's lovely to have agood copy of this photo, even it Idon't recognise any of thechildren. Regards.Lorna MacKenzieIs<strong>le</strong> of SkyePOTTERY YARDHello Paul, Just a quick mail tosay I'm really enjoying yourwebsite. I've been researching myMinto/B<strong>le</strong>nkinsop ancestors and itwas great to be ab<strong>le</strong> to read aboutthe streets/pubs they lived in.Quite a few of them getmentioned in the London Gazettefor bankruptcy - including mygreat great grandfather, EdwardMinto, who was apparently asadd<strong>le</strong>r in Pottery Yard. Thanksagain!Anne Thompson MeloTHE ONLY WOMAN…Hello <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage Society,I've been trying to find out aboutmy great great grandmotherEsther Jane Mo<strong>le</strong>/Rudkin/Urwin'ssuffragette and political history.She was the first lady treasurer ofEpp<strong>le</strong>ton or Easington Lane, and Ihave come across a picture of heron a march in the 1950s, she wasthe only woman allowed on amarch with the miners when shewas a suffragette I think, butthere's just no mention of her (it'sdriving me crazy, 3 years I've beenlooking!). Do you have any ideaswhere to look or who to contactthat's local to <strong>Houghton</strong> p<strong>le</strong>ase?Your thoughts would be muchappreciated. My father alwaystold me it was the Jarrow Marchbut the only woman on that onewas El<strong>le</strong>n Wilkinson so it'sprobably not my grandmother. Ithink it may have been minerswho worked at Easington Colliery,or Epp<strong>le</strong>ton Colliery if there wasone? She was in<strong>vol</strong>ved in politicsuntil her death in 1977 sohopefully somebody remembersher, though it's a long shot!Rachel RudkinTHE WHEATLEYSLove the artic<strong>le</strong> on the family!Was just asking my Dad all aboutthe family on Christmas day! Willpass the artic<strong>le</strong> round foreveryone to see! Cheers!David Wheat<strong>le</strong>y<strong>Houghton</strong>-<strong>le</strong>-<strong>Spring</strong>* * * * * * * * * * *Keep reading for moreFamily Tree Quests.
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