The Houghtonian Magazine Vol 1 Issue 3 - Houghton-le-Spring

THETHE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890HOUGHTONIANQUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF Houghton Heritage Society:: KEPIER SCHOOL’S 21 ST:: THE COLISEUM’S 90 TH:: THE GAIETY’S 100 TH:: HERITAGE OPEN DAYS:: HOUGHTON COLLIERY BANNER:: AND MUCH MORE!www.HOUGHTONleSPRING.org.uk

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890CAN YOU HELP?If you have any old photographs of Houghton-le-Spring thatyou would like to share, please contact Paul Lanagan on0191 268 4688 or via www.houghtonlespring.org.ukFACES AND PLACESPhotographs are treated with care and respect and arereturned promptly once they have been copied.Allowing your precious photographs to be copied and sharedensures that they will be around for generations to come.1953 Coronation, 1977 & 2002 Jubilee photos also wantedfor a special commemorative book in 2012!

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890www.HOUGHTONleSPRING.org.ukThe HH website is updated frequently.Just click on the UPDATED link on thehome page to see what’s new. Some ofthe updated pages during the past threemonths include:WELCOME TO THE HOUGHTONIAN,the quarterly magazine of theHoughton Heritage Group. In thisthird issue, which is dedicated to thememory of Banner Man George Rowe,you will find three pages of news aboutHoughton Colliery and the history ofits banners, following anothersuccessful Big Meeting in Durham(weather excluded).WE ALSO HAVE three pages ofanniversary celebrations, two of whichare for Houghton’s picture houses, aswell as an update on the demolition ofHoughton Area Office, plus the usualfeatures. The Family Tree Questscontinue to be as popular as ever andnext issue will have a bumperselection.THANK YOU FOR all the positivefeedback, and once again I do hopeyou enjoy this issue.PAUL LANAGAN BA HONS:: Houghton Colliery Time Line – details ofJoseph Stokoe added – he worked there forover 50 years!:: Houghton Feast Time Line – Updateddetails of Houghton Pipe Band and thelamented Military Tattoo.:: History of Sunderland Street – Updatedwith more 1911 occupants and a new photo.:: Houghton Football Teams – New sectionabout the teams Houghton Rovers, HoughtonMechanics, Houghton Wednesday andothers.:: Houghton’s Pubs & Clubs – New sectionabout Houghton’s many public houses.:: The Church Clock – Article about theclock’s installation in 1885.:: Rectory Park Time Line – Updated withdetails of Clergy House, a curatage, which isnow a dental practice.:: Knick Knacks & Curiosities – Details addedabout new Houghton treasures in thecollection.:: Eschol Church – A new article about thesmall Pentecostal Church on BurnPromenade.* * * * * * * *If you’re reading aprinted version of TheHoughtonian and arehaving difficulty seeing theprint, did you know you canread the online PDF? Thiscan be increased in size upto a whopping 6400% inAdobe Reader!Free Internet access atHoughton Library – telephone

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890555.555.5555555.555.5555555.555.5555email@address.comwww.webaddress.comHoughton HeritageEXHIBITIONS INMETHODIST CHURCHMAUTLAND STREETSATURDAYSEPTEMBER 10 TH9.30 AM - 12.30 PMFREE ADMISSIONREFRESHMENTSAVAILABLE

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890THIS SUMMER MARKS the 90 th anniversary of the opening of the Coliseum Theatreon Newbottle Street, the grand and unusual looking building which is now occupiedby the Superdrug store. Some ambiguity exists on the actual opening date –Wednesday July 27 th or Wednesday August 3 rd – 1921.Designed by Newcastle-based architects Percy L Browne & Glover in 1919, it wasowned by John Lishman and his partner Norman Robinson. The building took twoyears to build and locals would often say that the wooden scaffold poles had takenroot and sprouted leaves!John Lishman was a local businessman and son of George Lishman, a tallowchandler and owner of the candle factory. Known as Jack, he also owned adrapery business on Newbottle Street (later sold to Doggarts, the building is nowoccupied by Mackays) and also went on to own the Grand Theatre, which openedfurther along the street in 1930.The Coliseum had around a thousand seatsand screened shows twice nightly on aMonday and Saturday, and once nightly forthe rest of the week. Admission rangedfrom 7d to 1s 2d.The Coliseum closed on January 24 th 1960and was made into a supermarket calledShoppers Paradise. The building was lateroccupied by MediCare, and Superdrug sincearound 1989.With special thanks to Mervyn Gould for information onHoughton’s theatres.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY IS imminent, this time for Houghton Kepier Sports College,which was opened on September 3 rd 1990 as Houghton Kepier School, a merger ofBernard Gilpin School, Houghton School and Sancroft School.Houghton Kepier School occupied the site of the old Sancroft School building. Pupilswere sorted into five house groups:Davenport – red; Gilpin – yellow; Wheler – orange; Sancroft – green; and Hutton – blue.This house system continued until September 1997 when it was replaced with Year Groups.The school crest, which had previously been used by all three merger-schools, consisted offour symbols, which represented Houghton and Hetton:Boar – reflecting Bernard Gilpin; Thorn tree – Bernard Gilpin again; Lion – representing theBowes Lyon family of Hetton-le-Hole; and Stephenson’s Rocket – representing hisassociation with the waggonway near Copt Hill.The crest, shown below right, wasaccompanied by the motto ‘Nil Satis NisiOptimum’, which means ‘nothing but thebest is good enough’.A Time Line of noteworthy events andalumni for the three merger schools willbe added to the HH website in lateAugust.Considering the subject is a relativelyrecent one, the time line has beendifficult to compile and Paul Lanaganshould be grateful to hear from anyonewho may have further information aboutthe history of these three Houghtonschools.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890THE FINAL ANNIVERSARY celebration in this issue is for the Gaiety Cinema whichopened on Newbottle Street 100 years ago in August 1911. Sadly the old cinemawas demolished and replaced with several successors, as this time line shows:1909 – The Gaiety Theatre opened on July 29 th 1909.1911 – The Gaiety opened as a cinema in August 1911.1914 – New Gaiety Theatre, Henry Hall and Joseph Ainsley (landlord of the Robbie Burns publichouse), proprietors, Robert Ainsley, manager.1922 – Change of name to the ‘New Gaiety Theatre’.1924 - London Gazette - An Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Houghton-le-Spring Motor Company Ltd, was held in the New Gaiety Theatre, Newbottle Street, on August 28 th1924. Another meeting was held there on September 12 th , where it was resolved that the companybe wound up. Joseph Ainsley was Chairman.1925 – Change of name to ‘The Grand’.1929 – The Grand closed down and was demolished.1930 – The New Grand Theatre opened on the site of the Gaiety on April 21 st 1930. A large beamhad been installed a few yards into the building to support the balcony. It is still there and that iswhy the front portion of the shop has a lower ceiling.1952 – Change of name to ‘Essoldo’ in February 1952.1972 – Change of name to ‘The Classic' on April 2 nd 1972.1975 – The Theatre closed in March 1975 and was converted into a supermarket, with c20 carparking spaces underneath, known as Dee’s then Gateway.???? – c2007 - Kwik Save.Present – B&M Bargains.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE 2?Can you help solve these Genealogical Quests?More quests are on the usual back cover!HAILING FROMDURHAMMy father's family hail fromCo Durham. I had a greataunt whose address was 21Outram Street inHoughton-Le-Spring andher name was Mrs JennyWilliams nee Stewart. I wasin touch with her allthrough the fifties, when Iwas a little girl, until herdeath. She and herhusband did not have anychildren. I am not actuallyvery sure where it wasexactly that my father'sfamily originated from but itwas the Sunderland-Durham area. My father'sfather was a John Smith,which is not really veryhelpful but mygrandmother's name wasMargaret Purvis (Purves?)and she had a youngersister, Mildred, who marriedGeorge Richardson, fromSunderland. There waspossibly a brother as well(Tom?). Margaret trained asa tailor at Binns in eitherSunderland or Newcastleand John was a draper, Ithink, with the Coop. I amjust wondering if anyonemight have any memory ofthese people or know ofany descendants.Gilliam McKimTODNER OF H-L-SHi Paul,I have just seenyour web site. I am lookingfor any reference to thesurname Todner. Regards,Trisha BellGermanyMR SHENTON,CHURCH ORGANISTGood evening Paul, I havejust discovered youramazing website! I wasparticularly interested in thephotograph of the churchchoir singing from thetower top’. My greatgrandfather (WilliamShenton) was the longestservingorganist/choirmaster at StMichael’s from 1919 to hisretirement in Feb 1972,after 53 years service. I waswondering if thechoirmaster/conductorinthe photograph was him. Iremember him well and,although the face is turnedaway from the camera, theman in photograph doesseem to resemble him. Areyou able to confirm this?Many thanks.Hilary ThurlbeckNorth YorkshireCOTTAGE HOMESI am looking for anyrelation to Joseph GaribaldiThwaites, who was marriedto Susan Octavia Dazley.They had one daughter,Annie, who was brought upin the Cottage Homes,around 1911. She wasthere until she was oldenough to work. Doesanyone have any info at all?Susan was a long termresident of Cherry Knowles.I need any info at all thatanyone may have. I am agreat-grandaughter and amtrying to complete myfamily tree.Sue MillerGRAHAM’S STORES 1Good evening Paul fromNew Zealand! I visitedHoughton-le-Spring for thefirst time in May, hoping tofind long lost relatives ofmy father – GeorgeGraham (b Jan 1896) -(grandson of the GeorgeGraham Ltd stores inFencehouses).My grand-father wasJoseph Graham who ranthe business in the 1900swith his brothers andfamily. My father emigratedto N.Z in the late 1920sand I lost touch with thefamily after his sister (myAuntie Milly) died. I know Ihad a cousin Joseph whowas a year younger thanme, (I was 79 lastNovember) and I washoping I might find him orany other family membersbutno luck!! I was able tofind the family home-Morton Grange, ChiltonMoor, and also graves inthe Burnmoor churchyard,but would really have likedto meet some living familyif possible!I wish I had known of yoursite before I made mypilgrimage from the otherside of the world - I mayhave been able to find outmore information beforesetting out!It would be wonderful if youor any of your readerscould put me in contactwith any existing familymembers!Thank you - I do enjoy yourweb site.Helen Cater nee GrahamNew ZealandGRAHAM’S STORES 2Hi Paul I have news aboutHelen's family which I amcurrently researching formy cousin. As Helen wasunhappy about not findingany relations last year in theHoughton area I think shewill want to hear from me.Any chance you couldrelease her email addressor forward mine, please? Isee, like me, she iselderly(ish). So hurry! Bestwishes.Mike RobertsShildon, Co DurhamGRAHAM’S STORES 3Hi Paul I am so excited tohear from you! I will lookforward to hearing fromMike and I thank you bothfor contacting me. Kindestregards.Helen CaterNew ZealandHIGH HAINING FARMI wonder if anyone knowsanything on the Rutterfamily from High HainingFarm.George Rutter was bornc1832 and a farmer in1911 and his wife Elizaborn Seaham Harbour,Durham. Any info helpful.AlisonGILPIN ALEWhere can I purchaseGilpin Ales? Would love totry it...anyone help me....?John Reayvia Facebook

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890SATURDAY JULY 9 TH 2011 saw the 127 th Durham Miners’ Gala take place throughout the centre of thehistoric city of Durham. The bands and banners, as always, were a spectacle to see – and even the sporadicthundery showers did little to dampen the atmosphere at Old Elvet and the Racecourse. Having spent thenight in Durham, I was there bright and early and able to catch the first banners marching in, just after 9o’clock.I was of course watching out for the Houghton Lodge banner and its ‘twin’, the Lambton Lodge banner,both of which were recreated in 2003 with funds painstakingly raised by George Rowe, Pat Simmons andtheir colleagues at the Houghton & Lambton Banner Group. As many will know, George, a former miner,sadly passed away in October 2008, suffering from cancer and emphysema; each year he would say to me,“This is the last time I’ll get to the Big Meeting” – and I never wanted to believe him.My two favourite banners arrived fairly early, their supporting brass band gathering applause in front of theCounty Hotel. George Rowe would have been proud to see his grandson carrying the Houghton banner. Iwas disappointed, however, that there were very few Houghtonians marching behind the banner. This wasin stark contrast to some other banners (such as Usworth Lodge) which had hundreds marching along withthem.At the Durham Miners Gala of 2003 and 2005, and Houghton Feast Parade 2004, I helped to carry thebanner and was very pleased to have had these opportunities. I was there, holding it proud, when it wasblessed in Durham Cathedral, and then again in St Michael’s Church on Houghton Feast Sunday.I can never understand why there was an absence of volunteers for the task - beside the challenge ofcarrying a very expensive and delicate sail-like banner, where even the slightest breeze could push yourupper-body strength to the limits. There is nothing prouder than holding up your hometown’s collierybanner!The 128 th Durham Miners’ Gala will be taking place in July 2012. Let’s hope there are more Houghtonianssupporting the banner, remembering the miners of Houghton Colliery – and remembering the efforts of theBanner Man, the late George Rowe.Paul Lanagan, July 2011

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890HOUGHTON’S 7 BANNERS1872 - Houghton Colliery banner (1 st ) was described ashaving an arbitration scene on one side, while the otherhad a picture of a group of miners engaged inconversation.1910 – A new banner (2 nd ) for Houghton Lodge waspurchased.1923 – Houghton Colliery banner was replaced with onemade by G. Tutill of London. This banner (3 rd ) featured aportrait of Thomas Husband and the Newtown AgedMiners’ Homes (located on Seaham Road).1932 – Another Houghton banner (4 th ) was unveiled by aJames Robson on July 21st 1932, featuring a coastalsunrise design by Houghtonian Vera Nichols.???? - A 5 th Houghton banner existed and was describedas having been made by Tutill's of London and featuredscenes showing the bundle of sticks fable and injuredminers seeing a doctor.1957 – Houghton Colliery banner was replaced with anNUM banner (6 th ) previously used by Westerton Lodge,Spennymoor.1965 - On July 17th 1965, Houghton Colliery banner (6 th )was draped in black and paraded at Durham Miners' Galain memory of Ray Pickering.c1988 – The former-Westerton Lodge/Houghton banner(6 th ) is thought to have perished in a fire at HoughtonComrades Club, though some debate this.2000 – A Houghton Colliery banner was displayed in StMichael’s Church during the Millennium Houghton Feast.It is currently unknown as to which banner this was.2004 – A new Houghton Colliery banner (7 th ) wascommissioned using funds raised by George Rowe, PatSimmons and their team at the Houghton & LambtonBanner Group. The banner was made by Dr Aidan Doyleof Great Northern Banners and featured icons from the1957 version, including the book, ruler, pen and ink, setsquareand compass, accompanied by a miner (based onGeorge Rowe) and two children (George’s grandchildren).Paul Lanagan, grandson of Houghton Miner GeorgeDavison, helped to carry the banner in the DurhamMiner’s Gala on July 10 th 2004 and on several otheroccasions, including the unveiling at Bernard GilpinPrimary School, the Houghton Feast Parade 2004,Houghton Feast Civic Service 2004, and Durham Miners’Gala 2005. The banner was dedicated twice – once inDurham Cathedral on July 10 th and again at the FeastCivic Service on October 10 th in St Michael’s Church.ABOVE: Houghton Banner is paraded at the BigMeeting 2011 and carefully covered for displayon the rainy Racecourse.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890IN JUNE IT WAS reported in the local press that the former site of Houghton Colliery is to beredeveloped into a supermarket. Whether the project materializes remains to be seen (similarstories appeared in 2001 and 2010) however it is hoped any development will compliment andfeed into the shops on Newbottle Street – it’s no secret that big supermarkets can pull in thecustomers. It is also hoped that the site’s history will be acknowledged accordingly in anyplans.TOP: The pit site and shaft cap in 2008; BOTTOM: the colliery workings in the 1950s.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890A NEW SECTION has been added to the HHwebsite, covering the history of Houghton’s manypublic houses, bars and clubs. Your help isneeded to help expand the proprietors list forHoughton’s oldest pub, the Golden Lion.1824 – Rev John Bulmer, Rev Edward Bulmer, PhillipBulmer and Francis Louise Bulmer1827 – John Welsh1829 & 1834 – John Welch1851/55/58 – Thomas Surtees1890 – George Harding1894 – Hugh Hall1914 – John Stamp1973 – Matt Roseberry???? – Charlie ?Sept 2003 – Andrew and Nicola (tbc)???? – Vonna and Mark HardySept 2008 – Paul and Rachael ThompsonLet us know if you can fill any of the gaps!500 YEARS OF history vanished from Houghton inearly 2011 when the saplings from the historic GilpinThorn were removed from the Council Office groundsin Houghton Rectory Park. The saplings, which werepainstakingly grown in 1992 from the original GilpinThorn, were the last remaining link to the ancienthawthorn which died at the hands of vandals in the1990s. In recent years the saplings have been in avery sorry state, covered in lichen growth andunsupported. YOU CAN FIND OUT more about theoriginal Gilpin Thorn (below) on the HH website.1950s2011

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890Houghton-le-Spring Remembered is your chance to share yourexperiences and memories of Houghton in the good old days. Thefollowing memories, from Houghtonian Val Milnes, relate to the 1950s.My family moved into 50 Sunderland Street in 1951. There was my father, JohnSidaway who was 36, my mother Laura who was 30, my brother Bryn who was 8 and me,aged 2 at the time. The house was split into two and the other family was Jack Brown, hiswife Mary, and their daughter Janet who was just a baby when we moved there.In terms of businesses the shop on the corner was the Co-op drapery, then theCounty Arms pub and across the road, still on the left hand side was another Co-op store,then the Bay Horse public house, and just further up was a sweet shop called Turtons. Justbelow No. 50 I recall a butcher's shop but not the name. Further down was the pub calledthe Pilllars and the Buffs Club (where my aunt, Ruth McCallum, worked as a relief managerat the time).On the opposite side to No. 50 there was Jacky Waites cobbler's shop (I remember aminiature cobbler in the window!), Lane's sweet shop, Middlemas's Fish Shop (JackMiddlemas, his wife Mary and three daughters lived on the premises), then there was a gapwhere some houses had been pulled down – I don't know why. Further down there was awatchmaker and A Hector Grabham’s paint and decorating shop. Then across the gap inthe road stood the Black Lion public house. That's about it so far but I'm amazed at what Idid remember with a bit of help from my brother.Val Milnes nee Sidaway, 2011HlS

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-38903.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679821480865132823066470938446095505822317253594081284811174502841027019385211055596446229489549303819644288109756659334461284756482337867831652712019091456485669234603486104543266482133936072602491412737245870066063155881748815209209628292540917153643678925903600113305305488204665213841469519415116094330572703657595919530921861173819326117931051185480744623799627495673518857527248912279381830119491298336733624406566430860213949463952247371907021798609437027705392171762931767523846748184676694051320005681is quite a big number for anyone to digest, but forone Houghton resident this number was to bringhim fame and notoriety.William Shanks, a thirty-five year old amateurmathematician from Corsenside, came to settle inHoughton-le-Spring in 1847 with his new wife JaneElizabeth, at about the same time that Houghtongot its new Rector, the Hon & Rev John Grey.William became the Master of a private boardingschool in Nesham Place, and would routinely spendhours on a morning calculating and expanding thevalue of Pi, before checking his calculations on anafternoon.Pi is a mathematical constant whose value is theratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter,and many of us will only ever have used this duringMaths lessons when at school (area of a circle = Pir squared).William continued with his calculations andmanaged to expand the calculation of the decimalof Pi up to 607 places. In the early months of 1853William published a book entitled ‘Contributions tomathematics, comprising chiefly the rectification ofthe circle to 607 decimals etc’. The bookcontained a list of many subscribers, three of whichwere local: Rector John Grey and M.A.C ofHoughton-le-Spring subscribed a copy each, as didNathaniel Ellison Esq of Morton House.William’s true fame arose in 1873 when hecalculated Pi to 707 places. This was to be thelongest expansion of Pi for over a hundred years,and was only bettered by a computer in the 1970s.William Shanks died at the age of 70 years, andwas buried at Houghton Hillside Cemetery on June17 th 1882. His wife joined him there on October26 th 1904. The impressive headstone is thought tohave been bulldozed during the cemetery clearanceof 1973/4.Visitors to Hillside Cemetery, with theCemetery Keeper’s greenhouse in thebackground, 1937. This area was thenknown as The Garden.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890REF NO: HlS1854161209LOOKING EAST UP Church Street in the 1930s. The Glendale Social Club, No10 Church Street, can be seen at the right, as can a rogue bill poster for theColiseum Theatre, which opened in 1921 (80 years ago).REF NO: HlS1854161299TRAINEES AT HOUGHTON Colliery, with training officer Harold Pattison in thecentre. The trainees did 16 weeks at the colliery before working in pits acrossthe district. The training centre relocated to Seaham Colliery in 1964. Photokindly shared by Paul Sykes.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890DEMOLITION OFthe CouncilOffices gotunderway onWednesday June1 st 2011 whenthe bulldozersstarted to razethe building tothe ground.A potted historyand photos ofHoughton AreaOffice (as it wasofficially known)can be found onthe HH websiteand in Issue 1 oftheHOUGHTONIAN,while an articleabout thebuilding’s WWIItreasurers can befound in Issue 2.THE HH WEBSITE has finally beenupdated with a section aboutHoughton’s Methodists. It is hopedthis section will expand over time.Information already online includes:Methodism in HoughtonTime line for the Methodist Churches 1740 - 1984inc Mautland St, Neasham Pl & William St Chapels.Superintendent MinistersFor Mautland Street Chapel 1891 - 1973.Church TrusteesFor Mautland Street Chapel 1876 & 1976.Soldiers in the ChapelBilleted in Mautland Street Chapel after the War.1740 – Matthew Errington, aged 29 yearsand of Houghton-le-Spring, heard JohnWesley preach at the Foundry, London.He became Houghton’s first Methodist.Communion ItemsInc Communion table, glasses, jug, plates and Love-Feastcups.Manse HousesHouses lived in by Houghton's Methodist Ministers.Nesham Place War MemorialBrass plaque erected inside the United Methodist Church.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890AVAILABLE NOWNEW BOOK BYSHEILAQUIGLEYAVAILABLE FROM ALLGOOD BOOKS STORESCHARITY FUN DAYGLENDALE CLUBSATURDAY AUGUST 6 TH 2011 FROM 11AMIssue 4 of the Houghtonian will beavailable to download in September2011. Send us your details and get acopy sent directly to your Inbox!To join the HHGrouponFacebook simplyclick the link fromthe main websitethen follow thedirections to join!

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890Houghton HeritageHoughton-le-Spring in Old Photographs bookJourney Through Time DVD& 2011 calendar available from:www.houghtonlespring.org.ukEach sold seperately. Book and DVD also available from::::: Houghton Co-Op :::: M.Lilley Newsagents, Dubmire :::::::: Colliery Row Post Office :::: ED&Y Brown Newsagents, Newbottle :::::::: The Bookcase, Chester-le-Street :::: Waterstones Sunderland Bridges ::::Houghton Heritage 2012 Calendar available from October 2011!

THE HOUGHTONIAN | JULY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve these Genealogical Quests,which are all centred around Houghton-le-Spring?WALKERS ET ALPaul, My name is LynneWestlake and I found yoursite by looking forHoughton Le Spring onWikipedia. Recently Idiscovered that my greatgreat grandfather, JohnMichael Walker, was not anIrish Sea Captain (as myaunt had insisted) but agrocer from theTrimdon/Wingate area. I seethat he was born in Wingatein 1836. He marriedCharlotte Bainbridge (b.Nov 12, 1842) in Apr of1860. Charlotte's father,James Bainbridge, was bornin Houghton on March 12,1814. I am looking for anyinformation on the Walkers,Bainbridges and theSedgwicks as they are allmy ancestors. When I waslooking at the grave siteinformation, I noticed thatMargaret and WilliamWigham were listed. Mygrandfather was JohnFrederick Wigham born Nov22, 1892 in Wakefield.Would he by any chance berelated to the Wighams inHoughton? In looking at arather large scale map ofyour area, I see that manyof the places I have listed asbirth and death places arequite close together andtherefore stand a betterTHE HOUGHTONIANPublished by Books of the NorthCopyright © 2011VOL 1 ISSUE 3 JULY 2011ISSN 1757-3890V01IS03VE05chance of being the source Stone was married and livedof my ancestors. I realize on Wheeler Street. Ericthat this is a largeundertaking that you haveshouldered and that youprobably get all sorts ofthese requests. But if youwere able to point me in thecorrect direction on this, Iwould appreciate it. I live ina little town in SW Ontariocalled Palmerston. I thankyou in advance for any helpthat you could give me.Lynne WestlakePalmerston, S.W OntarioSTEIN STONE PORKBUTCHERSMy Dad’s grandparents,Conrad and AnnaSteinbrenner, owned thebutchers on NewbottleStreet in the early 1900'sbut then they changed theirname to Stone after theFirst World War as theywere interned in Germanyduring the length of the War(they had gone for a holidayin 1914 just before warstarted and had to stay until1918). During the War thepremises were used fordifferent things but I can’tremember what. When theyreturned from the War thebutchers was in the familyuntil the 1960s, which wasrun by Eric Stone. Reneelived above the shop thenFairburn Avenue. MaureenStone was a teacher andlived in Glasgow. GretaStone (my Gran) lived atBurns Avenue North andwas married to Frank Bondwho worked at Philli YardNCB; he was a volunteerfireman during WWII andwas an usher at the Courtsfor many years when heretired. Ron Stone was inthe RAF straight fromschool and rose to be aGroup Captain, living inAndover. These were all thechildren of Conrad andAnna. My parents, ColinBond and Maureen Bewley,now live in Durham. Mymother’s parents - Agnesworked in munitions duringthe War and John (Jack)Bewley worked on the farmsat South Hetton and washorsekeeper at EppletonMine. They lived at SancroftDrive until the 1980's.Catherine HallZEPPLIN AIR RAIDDear Paul, I am attemptingto track down the graves of16 men who were killed in aZeppelin raid on PalmersEngine Works at Jarrow on15 June 1915.... hopefullythe local people in Jarrowmight think it worthwhileusing the information for amemorial. My query relatesto John Cuthbert DAVISONJnr, son of Elizabeth andJohn Cuthbert Davison:(2) John Cuthbert DAVISON(Jnr) b. 1884, Newbottle,Durham, UK. d. 15 Jun1915, Jarrow, UK. bur.Jarrow (tbc). occ. Coalminer stoneman (1911),fitter & turner (1915). res.1891, Philadelphia andBunker Hill, Newbottle, Co.Durham, UK res. 1911,Bunker Hill Fence Houses,Houghton le Spring, Co.Durham, UK. There is norecord of his grave at SouthTyneside... thus the logicalhope is that he was buriedback in his home town ofHoughton le Spring.... andthere is always the hope hehad a gravestone!I havelooked at your website andyou have a large number ofDAVISON burials......... thusI could be in with a chance.Hoping you can help, Bestregards.Philip StrongBlue MountainsNSW Australia* * * * * * * * * * *More FamilyTree Quests can befound inside!No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a mechanical retrieval system, ortransmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,without written permission from the publisher. The publisher has made all reasonable efforts tocontact copyright holders for permission. Any errors that may have occurred are inadvertent andanyone who for any reason has not been contacted is invited to write to the publisher so that a fullacknowledgement may be made in subsequent editions of The Houghtonian. Articles andinformation are presented in good faith, occasionally based on people's recollections and memories,which can be fallible. While every effort is made to ensure the content is accurate and up to date,some errors may exist, such is the nature of recording local history, therefore no responsibility can beheld for any errors contained herein. Thanks are extended to the following supporters/contributors:Mervyn Gould; Heidi Andress; Jean Wright; Val Milnes; Paul Sykes; Jack Jordison; Marion Toy;Rowland Storey; and Joan Lambton.