THE HOUGHTONIAN | JUNE 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 | ISSN 1757-38901949Ref no: HLS1854161464A children’s pageant in the Rectory Park, thought to be part of the opening ce<strong>le</strong>brations, 1949. The children weredressed as important historical figures in the development of our country. The young boy at the right was DavidLivingstone. Pictured are, from <strong>le</strong>ft to right: unknown; unknown; unknown; unknown; Michael Allan; unknown; A<strong>le</strong>cLayfield; unknown; Alan Smirthwaite; unknown; unknown; unknown; Keith Litt<strong>le</strong>wood; unknown; and GeoffreyAtkinson. Can any reader help name those currently unidentified?BE SURE TO visit the Peppercorn Café on Newbott<strong>le</strong> Streetthis Diamond Jubi<strong>le</strong>e weekend, as on display are actualsignatures from King George VI and his wife, Elizabeth. Bothare inside a visitors’ book from Gateshead Children’s Homeon the page dated February 22 nd 1939. Café owner, MichaelMcGlinchey, is pictured <strong>le</strong>ft with the book which also containsthe signature of actor Johnny Weissmul<strong>le</strong>r, best known forplaying Tarzan. Sadly the book shows that there were novisitors on Christmas Day.
THE HOUGHTONIAN | JUNE 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 2 | ISSN 1757-3890JOLLY FARMERS INNDear Paul, I was intrigued by theinformation you have been ab<strong>le</strong> toobtain about the village. I waswondering if you have anyinformation on the "Jolly FarmersInn" located in <strong>Houghton</strong>-<strong>le</strong>-<strong>Spring</strong>. It was owned by my greatgrandfather, Arthur Smith -wifeSarah Ann - and unfortunatelythere is litt<strong>le</strong> material that waspassed on to the remainder of thefamily. The only thing that we haveis an old postcard with the "pub"circ<strong>le</strong>d. Any rememberances ofthe establishment came from mygreat aunt Sadie who resided inthe village till at <strong>le</strong>ast 1989. Anyassistance in obtaininginformation is greatly appreciated,Sincerely.Craig PosmanturBuffalo, New YorkTHE JOLLY FARMERS INNInformation required on <strong>Spring</strong>Inn in <strong>Houghton</strong>-<strong>le</strong>-<strong>Spring</strong> re: MrWheat<strong>le</strong>y - manager - around1946 to assist in compiling mynatural family background. Thankyou for considering my request.James Bryn<strong>le</strong>yChacksfieldNESHAM PLACEDear <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage, Myname is Pete Thomas. I am notsure if you are ab<strong>le</strong> to help me, Iam retired from the RAF currentlyliving in the Midlands but lookingto relocate to the North East as itis where my wife originates fromas she wants to be closer to herfamily. We are looking topurchase a house in the regionand wondering if you know of anyinformation concerning NeshamHouse, Nesham Place, <strong>Houghton</strong>Le <strong>Spring</strong>. I have spent manyhours online but unab<strong>le</strong> to comeup with anything and several siteshave suggested contacting localhistorians and I found you, hencemy contacting you. I know it isprobably an unusual request but Iwould appreciate any informationyou could give. I hope to hearfrom you, Regards.Pete ThomasWHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?SOUND FAMILIAR?My father's family hails from CoDurham. I had a great aunt whoseaddress was 21 Outram Street in<strong>Houghton</strong>-Le-<strong>Spring</strong> and hername was Mrs Jenny Williams neeStewart. I was in touch with her allthrough the fifties, when I was alitt<strong>le</strong> girl, until her death. She andher husband did not have anychildren. I am not actually verysure where it was exactly that myfather's family originated from butit was the Sunderland-Durhamarea. My father's father was a JohnSmith, which is not really veryhelpful but my grandmother'sname was Margaret Purvis(Purves?) and she had a youngersister, Mildred, who marriedGeorge Richardson, fromSunderland. There was possibly abrother as well (Tom?). Margarettrained as a tailor at Binns (?) ineither Sunderland or Newcast<strong>le</strong>and John was a draper, I think,with the Coop. I am justwondering if anyone might haveany memory of these peop<strong>le</strong> orknow of any descendants.Gillian McKimFIELD HOUSE, 4 LANE ENDSPaul, My wife's cousin's father wasborn at Field House, Four LaneEnds, Hetton <strong>le</strong> Ho<strong>le</strong> in 1921. Inmy imagination 'Field House'could be anything from the statelyhome of Lord and Lady Field to ashed in a field! I can find nothingon the web and cannot find it inthe 1911 census. I have looked atordinance survey maps of theperiod and nothing stands out.Do you have any info? RegardsJohnTHE LAING FAMILYWhilst tracing the members of myfamily, I came across two whodied relatively recently andwondered if anyone knew them. Iam waiting for their DeathCertificates to find out exactlywhere they lived, but yourmembers seem to knoweverything and everyone! Theirnames were:- Rachel J. Laing, neeMorrison, who died in 1989 atabout 90 Years of age; and IvyLaing, never married, who died in1992 at about 80 Years of age.Hope to hear something.Ray LaingMOORE & WHEATLEYSDear <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage, My greatgrandfather George Moore (fromLeamside) worked the Pit until1926 and then came to the UnitedStates. I am searching for anyfamily connections to the Mooreand Wheat<strong>le</strong>y families. My Greatgrandmother Josephine (from<strong>Houghton</strong>-<strong>le</strong>-<strong>Spring</strong>) and Georgewere members of St. Michael andAll Angels. That is all I have to goon. Thanks for welcoming me tothe group. I have no midd<strong>le</strong> namefor her. She had two daughterswhen they <strong>le</strong>ft Josephine (born1920) and Gladys (mygrandmother, Feb 25, 1923).Chris BowenUSASTANLEY HORACE KAYDear Paul, I have been looking atthe <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage Websitewith great interest as mygrandparents lived there at thebeginning of the C20 and myfather was born there in 1914. Iremember trips to <strong>Houghton</strong> as asmall child to visit the grave of myfather’s brother, Stan<strong>le</strong>y HoraceKay who was kil<strong>le</strong>d in a very earlymotor car accident on WhitMonday in 1924. It was widelyreported in the newspapers at thetime. My father was born at 28Sunderland Street in 1914. Mygrandfather, Horace Kay, had acobb<strong>le</strong>rs/shoeshop and is shownas being in E<strong>le</strong>ctric Crescent in the1911 Census. If you have anyinformation regarding his life atthis time, I would be very gratefulas I have no one I can ask! I live inLondon so it is difficult to accesslocal records. I wondered whtherthere are any local newspapers ortrade papers that might help mepursue this. Look forward tohearing from you. Best wishes.Val Lance<strong>le</strong>yKEEP UP THE GOOD WORKJust to say that this site is brilliant.I lived in Newbott<strong>le</strong> as a child butjust love reading all of the postingson here. Fantastic dedication!Sandra ElvinsKidsgroveStaffordshireTHE GRAMMAR SCHOOLDear <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage, I cameacross your site whist trying to findout where I could locate an artteacher from <strong>Houghton</strong> Le <strong>Spring</strong>Grammar School (around1968/69) cal<strong>le</strong>d He<strong>le</strong>n Joseph,possibly Josephs. It brought backgreat memories of school there (Iwas at the Grammar). And ofcourse Dimis. Keep up the goodwork.George BlacklockTWEDDLE & MCLARENDear <strong>Houghton</strong> Heritage, I amresearching into vessels lost offthe Portland Bill area of theEnglish Channel and I am trying tolocate photos/information on thefollowing steamship - NameS.S Hes<strong>le</strong>don Hall; Built1878; Builder Ch<strong>le</strong>singer & Davis,Wallsend; Tonnage 595 grt;Owner Twedd<strong>le</strong> & McLaren,<strong>Houghton</strong>-<strong>le</strong>-<strong>Spring</strong>, Durham;Fate 25-7-1880 sunk incollision off Portland, Dorset. Anyhelp you can give me would bemost appreciated. Kind regards.Alan DunsterJUNCTION ROW QUERYRe. Mr.Rob Leach's querie aboutJunction Row. There is/was aterrace of about twenty cottagest'other end of Blind Lane fromGrasswell cal<strong>le</strong>d Junction Row.The terrace stood by Blind Lanesurrounded by fields. Most likelythey would be colliery houses.Funny enough although there wasonly that terrace there and welocals referred to the area for ami<strong>le</strong> or two around as "JunctionRow." The isolation hospital upthe lane was Junction Rowhospital. It is on Goog<strong>le</strong> Maps.Photos? The best I can do is if youscroll down a bit on the <strong>Houghton</strong>Heritage Facebook group you willfind our Betty as young girlperched on some railings. Thelane crossing behind her is BlindLane. Junction Row is a coup<strong>le</strong>mi<strong>le</strong> to her right.Harry Smith* * * * * * * * * * *Keep reading formore Quests!
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