vol 2 issue 4 - Houghton-le-Spring

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF Houghton Heritage Society:: BIG THANKS TO GENTOO:: VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS:: THE JUNIOR SCHOOL:: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN:: THE GREAT MINERS STRIKE:: AND MUCH MORE!

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890CAN YOU HELP?If you have any old photographs of Houghton-le-Spring thatyou would like to share, please contact the Society viawww.houghtonlespring.org.uk/contactFACES 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.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890www.HOUGHTONleSPRING.org.ukTHE HOUGHTON HERITAGE website hasundergone a massive transformation overthe Holidays.Regular visitors will knowhow much it has changed from the old -style ‘framed layout’ to the new ‘buttonformat’. This has taken many hundreds ofhours and involves all the old pageshaving to be re-made with new imagesand text, while the heritage articles arealso revamped/updated and put online asprintable PDFs.WELCOME TO THE HOUGHTONIAN,the quarterly magazine of the Houghton-le-SpringHeritage Society. This is our ninth consecutiveissue, numbered as Volume 2 Issue 4 and looks atthe last of the Society’s activities in the year 2012.IN THIS ISSUE we reflect on autumn and winter 2012,which proved to be as busy for the Society as thepreceding summer months. We contributed to anotherGentoo Fun Day (for Hallowe’en), placed a wreath onHoughton’s Cenotaph for Armistice Day, had a stall at alocal Christmas craft fair where Billy Purvis the clownmade a rare appearance…and let’s not forget theHoughton Diamond Jubilee Feast, which was one of themost successful festivals in recent years. The Societyplayed a bigger role than ever before; we had exhibitionsin the Broadway and Good Grub Café, an Olympic FunTent where Paralympian Hazel Robson kindly displayedher medals, the mega-popular Haunted Houghton Walk,another eventful Houghton Heritage Walk which hadattendees from Hong Kong and USA, plus the task ofdistributing a tonne’s worth of Houghton Feastbrochures (I salute those brave members who kindlyundertook this challenge). Despite all the hard work,there was still time for some fun and we joined in withthe annual Carnival Parade and had a lot to eat withnumerous meals, banquets and feasts at our annualHoughton Feast!THE YEAR ENDED with our Annual General Meeting,which was held in the old Houghton Urban DistrictCouncil chamber in the Rectory building (shown above).Thanks are extended to the Society’s members whocame along.I do hope you enjoy this issue and have a peacefulEaster.PAUL LANAGAN, CHAIRMANH-L-S HERITAGE SOCIETYThe site is expected to be finished by thelate summer 2013. Our efforts will resultin a website that is a lot easier tonavigate, is more user friendly,particularly for those on tablets, as wellas being more interactive – just have alook at the links to Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, Instagram and Flicker.Speaking of Flicker, one of the biggestchanges to the website is the removal ofthe ‘updated pages’ blog – now, just keepan eye on our Twitter feed to see what theupdates are.We would like to thank all of our visitorsfor their patience while the transition is inprogress. In the meantime, if you cannotfind what you are looking for, use the newGoogle search box on our home page.* * * * * * * *IF YOU ARE reading aprinted or photocopied version ofTHE HOUGHTONIAN and arehaving difficulty seeing the print,did you know you can read theonline PDF? This can beincreased in size up to a whopping6400% in Adobe Reader!* * * * * * * *FOR INTERNET ACCESS ATHOUGHTON LIBRARY – TELEPHONE0191 561 6383 FOR DETAILS.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890KATH ROLPHWE’RE SAD TO report the news that KathRolph, a Ward Councillor for Houghton-le-Spring, died on December 21 st 2012 aged59 years, following a brave battle againstcancer. Kath’s husband, Jim Davidsonsaid: “Kath was always an optimist, andshe worked right up to the end, stillinvolved as a councillor until two weeksbefore she died.” Fellow HoughtonCouncillor, Dennis Richardson, said: “Shewas good at everything, and she wasmeticulous when it came to detail. Shehas left a hell of a pair of boots to fill.”The Heritage Society wishes to pay tributeto Kath for her years of service toHoughton-le-Spring and in particular theassistance she gave us in rescuingHoughton’s WWII Treasures (above) fromthe Council Offices before their demolitionin 2011. Kath was also a fellow member ofthe Houghton Feast Steering Committee(pictured below, fourth from left, at ameeting in July 2012).Kath is survived by her husband, Jim, 59,son Ian, 21, and daughter Ruth, 19.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890THANKS TO A grant from Gentoo’s Aspirefund, Houghton Heritage Society is now on afirm footing to be able to continue putting onexhibitions, displays, talks and the HoughtonHeritage Walk. Heritage Society Chairman,Paul Lanagan, said: “The grant of £115 willfirst and foremost be used for public liabilityinsurance, as without this we could notoperate. The remaining funds will be puttowards our website which received 79,000unique visitors in 2012.”Gentoo Aspire’s main aim is to enable localpeople to improve their community. Thegrants are designed to be easy and accessibleto anyone living or working with local people inthe City of Sunderland. They support a rangeof different activities which compliment thework of Gentoo, a social housing provider.HOW TO DONATEIf you would like to support Houghton HeritageSociety with a donation, please complete theform at the back of this magazine or see the linkon the HH website.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?ALAN’S THOUGHTSHello again, a few of my thoughtsin response to readers’ questionsand queries in the Houghtonianmagazines of 2012. Regardingthe restriction on brewingmentioned in the letter 'Along HallLane', I wonder if the land hadearlier belonged to Robinsons thebrewers and when it was sold onRobinsons included this conditionin the sale documents and it hascome down to the present day,just a thought. RegardingJunction Row, the correct namefor the hospital was 'The NorthernIsolation Hospital'. I was in therefor about 6 weeks in 1936 when Ihad Scarlet fever. My parentsused to walk through the fieldsfrom Sedgeletch Road twice aweek on Wednesdays andSundays to see me. They had tostand outside the windows andlook into the ward as visitors werenot allowed inside. The SouthernIsolation Hospital was close toRainton Bridge. The GrammarSchool letter from Sheila Wheldonregarding Thomas Arthur King. Iwas taught Physics by Mr Kingfrom 1944 to the early part of1949. My two brothers, Tom andHarold, were also taught Physicsby Mr King. Tom from 1930 to1937 and Harold from 1936 to1943. Mr King was an excellentteacher and I liked him very much.The Physics Laboratory wasbetween the Art Room and theChemistry Laboratory and thesewere all in the upstairs part of thebuilding. After Mr King died theteaching of Physics for us wastaken over by Mr Stavers for theremainder of the year but I am notsure who took over after that as Ileft in July 1949. The followingtranscription is regarding by oldestbrother Tom who attendedDubmire School and thenHoughton Secondary (Grammar)School. The transcription hasbeen kindly provided to me byPaul Robson who runs the 'AllThings Bournmoor' website and isfrom a newspaper cuttingcontained in a scrapbook ofcuttings collected by the lateRevd. A J Gadd, former Rector ofBurnmoor Church where Tomwas a member of the ChurchChoir for about 9 years."Sunderland Echo, September18th, 1937. Scholastic Success.Mr Tom Vickers, eldest son of Mrand Mrs H. Vickers, of 34 StationAvenue North, Fence Houses, haswon the Higher School certificateof the Northern Universities withdistinction in pure mathematicsand chemistry and the Board ofEducation has awarded him, as aresult, a State Scholarship, themaximum value of which isuniversity fees and £100 perannum for three years. He hasbeen accepted as a student readyfor mathematical honours atKing’s College, Cambridge. Inaddition to the State Scholarship,he has been awarded a KepierExhibition, while a year ago hewas awarded a Durham CountyCouncil University Exhibition. Hehas been attending Houghton-le-Spring Secondary School."After being awarded his degreeTom worked for a short time withthe then Ministry of Supplyfollowing which he worked at theNational Physical Laboratory atTeddington, Middlesex. Tom isnow 93 years of age and earlierthis year there was a video madewhich appeared on YouTube inwhich Tom was interviewed by hisgranddaughter, Harriet Vickers.The video was made inconnections with Alan Turing andthe development of the ACEcomputer. If you do a Googlesearch for 'Alan Turing videoYoutube' you will find the video inthe list. There are also someshots of Tom at the ScienceMuseum in London where theACE computer is now located.Fatherly family: there was a muchearlier 'Fatherly Terrace' at FenceHouses located to the rear of thefirst section of Front Street as youtravel from the Wellington PH,possibly demolished in the late1960s or early 70s.Gouge Ice cream. Gouge hadpremises behind Front StreetFence Houses, approximatelybehind the Newbottle Co-op.Gouge was very active in the yearsfollowing WW2. For GeneralBeckwith, I believe that the bestsource of information will beDouglas Smith. Did you ever hearany more about the miningsubsidence at the rear of StationAvenue South at Fence Houses?Kind regardsAlan VickersWearsideSHEPHERSON VIPONDDear Sirs, I wonder if you couldhelp me with information orpointers regarding the following:Shepherdson Vipond, 1855 -1876. Born and died at Houghtonle Spring, but only appearing onthe Census record for 1861. Alsospelled variously as Shepherdsonand Shephardson. I can findabsolutely no information at all,except for birth and death dates.Any information would begratefully received. Thank youvery much indeed.Ms E JacksonNORAH SMITH B. 1902I have just found your site and willcertainly spend more time lookingthrough it. I came across arequest for information on NorahSmith, born 1902. If this is theperson in my family tree, she wasborn Norah Gallagher inHoughton and in 1911 lived inLambton St. Newtown .Shemarried James Smith. Her fatherwas William Gallagher, born inPort Clarence, Middlesbrough andher mother was Sarah Swindlesborn in Birstal Yorkshire about1868 but moved to CroxdaleDurham as a child. I am Sarah'sgreat granddaughter by her firsthusband, William Fisher. Norahhad among other siblings.Brothers William & Tommy andsisters Susan Ann & SarahGallagher, also a half brother JohnGeorge Fisher. I remembermeeting Norah when she was inher late seventies and living insheltered housing at either Hettonor Easington Lane. I don't knowhow old the request is but I hopethis is of some use. Regards,Olive SmithNew ZealandLOCO NO NO?Can you help me? I am sure I haveseen old photo of a loco standingon a crossing at the WellingtonPub, Bankhead. Is this true?Many thanksGeorge HumesHOUGHTON SCHOOLDear Houghton Heritage Society,recently, I posted a message onDurham Rootschat regardingHoughton-le-Spring SecondarySchool. I have a class photographfrom approximately 1928 and areport book for that year for myfather-in-law, Charlie Paisley. AnAlan Vickers responded to myrequest for help in locating aphotograph of the school aroundthis time. He believes your societyholds a photograph of the schooltaken in the 1940s, and hesuggested I contact you to see if itwould be possible for you to scanme a copy. If this is possible, Iwould be very appreciative, but ifit's not, I do understand. Thankyou,Carolyn PaisleyCanadaHOUGHTON CEMETERYHello, my name is Joy Dunn mymother was born in Houghton leSpring and has this week passedaway in Canada. She was 82years old. Her Mother and Fatherare both buried in the Cemetery inHoughton: John Wood and BeccaWood. It was always my Mother’swish to go back home. Mybrother and I are planning a trip toEngland and would like to bringmy Mother’s ashes back toHoughton. We are not if it is notpossible to put her with herparents. Kindest Regards,Joy DunnCanadaWAR MEMORIALSI have been trying to find a Warmemorial for the 1939 - 1945 warfor the Houghton lads as my uncleTot Dorn was killed in the last war.Try to put the photo ofFencehouses War Memorial onthe heritage website, please.Valerie ScottTHANK YOUHi Paul, just to say I received yourbook and thank you for thephotos. Give my best wishes to allwho keep the Houghton historyalive. Have a great Xmas and NewYear. Kind regards,Luke Daglish(old home boy)Australia

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890VISITORS SITTING IN the Rectory Park next to the fountain, with the original archway entrance stillin situ, circa 1950. What are your memories of Rectory Park which celebrates its 65 th anniversary inApril 2014?TRAMS FROM THE Sunderland District Tramways fleet in the Broadway (then Durham Road), circa1905. The tramcar on the left, number 20 with the open balcony, was a French model; by 1912 itwas considered, along with its fourteen French siblings, to be worn out and all were replaced in1913. The other tramcar, number 7, was an English model by the Brush Company ofLoughborough.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?HOUGHTON WOODSAre Houghton Woods open to thepublic? If yes where do we enterthem? I saw mention ofHoughtonside woods on a websiteof the Woodland Trust whichsuggested it is in Houghton lespring but privately owned andopen to the public.Valerie ElliottPAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:Hello Valerie, our members seemto think this is Blue Bell Woods,slightly north of Houghton Cutand as depicted here:https://ma ps.google.co .uk/maps?q =houg hton +le+spring&ll=5 4.851 121,-1.45941 1&spn=0.0 02508 ,0.008 256&hnea r=Houg hton +le+Sp ring,+ Tyne+an d+Wear,+United+Kingdom&t =h&z=18I have never been in Blue BellWoods but have passed it oftenand heard many memories ofpeople picnicking there in the1940s and onwards. I havediscovered this website whichmentions Houghtonside Woods:http ://visi twoods.org.u k/en/visi t-wood s/Pages/wooddetails.aspx ?wood=20801&si te=Houghton side# .U SK RtaWR5y Jand the map on there has a pieceof land north of Houghtonsidehousing estate highlighted. Thisis a very small wooded area, wherethe streets High Hillside and LowHillside once stood - hardly aforest. You can see it also on hereon Google Maps:https ://maps .google.co.u k/maps?q=hough ton+l e+ spring&ll=54.847433,-1.469781&spn=0.002508,0.008256&hnear=Houghton +l e+Spring ,+Tyn e+and+ Wear,+Uni ted+ Kingdom& t=h&z=18This area is fully accessible by footto those who park in the towncentre. Hope this helps.Paul LanaganChairmanBLYTH ROBSONHi Houghton Heritage Society, I'vejust come across a request forhelp in the Who Do You ThinkYou Are requests of theHoughtonian Mag - it's from JudyHughes in Illinois and is regardingthe family of Blyth Robson. I thinkI can help her (if she still needs it)- please can you put her in touchwith me? Many thanks and bestwishesRuthLEAMSIDE LINEDoes anyone know what they aredoing to the railway lines in FenceHouses? They seem to be takingthem up but why?Hayden BatemanHoughton-le-SpringLEAMSIDE LINE AGAINI see they are now starting to pullup the lines from Fence Housestowards Penshaw. I think thisanswers the question as towhether the line will ever beoperational again. At least it willbe a nice dog walk.Desmond MiddlemasTHE ANDERSONS OFHOUGHTON HALLHi, Ralph and Grace Andersonwho lived at Houghton Hall weremy 4th Great Grandparents. Myfather was Alfred MichaelSummerson Aird and mygrandmother Elizabeth BarrassRoss (Foreman's Row, SeatonDelaval). I'm looking for anyphotos/info on my ancestors,thanks!Catriona AirdTHE BOYS BRIGADEPlease can you help? My fatherinsists he was in a photographwith his twin brother in 1939outside St Michael’s Church in theBoys’ Brigade. He saw the photomany years ago at am exhibitionin Houghton. I have searched andsearched but cannot find anythingabout the Boys’ Brigade or thephotograph. I would be verygrateful for any information youhave. Thanks.Steve GlassHOUGHTON FEASTIt is my mission in life to bringback the brass bands toHoughton Feast on a Friday night.It made the Feast and it’s adisgrace to have gotten rid ofthem. I don't care what anyoneelse thinks, I'm proud to be fromsuch a historic town, a town with ahistoric festival. Join me! Or youaren't from Houghton! Houghtonle-SpringPride!Gish PattersonHoughton-le-SpringHOUGHTON PIT RELICI still have relics of Houghton Pit inmy garden. I built a garage in1981/82 and all the foundationbricks came from the medicalcentre and wall from the pit, so Iguess my garden is a miningmuseum as they are still intact!Richard LeadbitterNewbottleBONJOUR, PETJust back from holiday in France;A French chap stopped me in thestreet and asked me somethingand I had no idea what he was onabout, so I said, "Sorry don'tspeak French." He replied inperfect English and said, "Whynot? I speak and understandEnglish!” I then replied, "Eeeeee!Well that's champion, bonnie lad,how’s thou doin, hinny?” He justwalked off. One-nil I think.Barry CummingsBack in BlightyDUBMIRE CHIPPIEDid anyone else go to Pratts’ fishshop on Friday dinner times fromDubmire Junior School? Can youremember the little room out theback with tables?Angela BrandRUN FOR HOME QUIGLEYIs everyone aware of my campaignto get Sheila Quigley's book 'RunFor Home' filmed? I have writtenthe screenplay - go to the Run forHome page on Facebook formore information and add your‘like’ please. The more we get theharder it will be for the networks tosay no! Thanks all.Derek LawsonTRYING YOUR LUCKBack in 1979/80 at the ripe oldage of 15, we'd send the biggestlad with bum fluff on his top lipinto Chilton Moor Offy for ourcans. He'd come out with aplacca bag laden with cans ofKestrel lager. We'd then go downthe Beck and get drunk andcough our way through sometabs. Those were happy days!Colin P MasonCAN YOU HELP?I am looking for relatives of theCave / Armstrong / Forsterfamilies from Houghton-le-Spring,Newbottle and Shiney Row.Terry WallBLACKY BOY ROADHi folks, I've married a Houghtonlass to my sins… Could youplease try and answer a question Ihave? Why is Blacky Boy Roadcalled that name? My wife doesn'tknow for sure, she says it might bebecause of blackberry bushes, butshe’s not 100% sure.Billy MckieHOUGHTON BOOKSWhat was the last Houghton bookissued and what was the title? I livedown south and haven’t beenhome for a few years. I have thetwo Houghton & Hetton in OldPhotographs books, which Ibought in 1996. Can you sendme a list of any others please?Joan CrawfordDown SouthCARR HOUSEHi Paul, do you know where CarHouse was in Houghton-le-Spring? Regards.Mick McArdleHoughton-le-SpringPAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:Great Eppleton. I think it iscorrectly spelt ‘Carr House’. Thefull address is: Carr House Farm,Salters Lane, Houghton-le-Spring.Sounds like it could still be there -good luck!Paul LanaganChairmanTOOTH HURTYThe last tooth I ever had out wasat the School Clinic somewhere inHoughton 1958 - no gas, noneedle, just ripped it out! Neveragain! I’m 66 years old now andstill have all my own choppers!Barry CummingsPAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:The Welfare Clinic building is stillthere on Gasworks Lane, alsoknown as Sunrise Lane.Paul LanaganChairman

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890REMEMBERING NEWBOTTLE STREET SCHOOLNEWBOTTLE STREET JuniorMixed School in Houghton-le-Spring was opened in 1908 asa Council School and was inuse for almost a hundredyears. There had been aschool with earlier origins inthe vicinity and there is arecord mentioning that thestaff of Newbottle Lane InfantsSchool (known as the PitSchool) were given a day offfor Houghton Feast in 1867.Only six children attended thisschool, however, and whenthe new Council Schoolopened it became a trainingbase for Houghton Colliery.The official opening plaquefor the new Junior School,which was similar to manyinstalled throughout schoolsacross the County, includingthe one in nearby DubmireJunior School, read as follows:County of Durham EducationCommittee. This school wasopened on 15 Dec 1908 byT.Richardson Esq., C.CUnusually, the school wasset on a lower level thanNewbottle Street and theneighbouring Gaiety andEmpire theatres, adjacent tothe bank of Station Road. Theplayground could be lookeddown upon by anybody sat onthe benches which ranalongside the railings onNewbottle Street; it was quitea drop!The school wasn’t just usedfor the educating of children; aflyer printed by James CHudson, a printer onNewbottle Street, shows thatthe Houghton-le-Spring Sub-Committee of Durham CountyHigher Education offeredevening classes at the school.Commencing on September24th 1917, every intendingstudent had to be interviewedby the Organising Teacher, MrThomas S Elliott, and pass anexamination before beingallowed to attend!Luke Daglish, 73, now ofQueensland, Australia, went toNewbottle Street Schoolduring the War years andremembers sailors visiting hisschool: “It must have beenaround 1945. We had to writeletters to the ship’s crew andthat day every kid got a tin ofcocoa. I found out later thatmy father was in the Navy onthe RN Deep Sea RescueTugs. I suppose that is why Ijoined the Merchant Navy atsixteen.”These visits were, of course,to encourage the children todonate to the War Effort.Harry Smith, 84, ofMiddlesbrough also has vividmemories of attendingNewbottle Street Schoolduring the Second World War.“One day at school an ARPwarden came to show ussome apparatus. In front ofthe assembled kids hedemonstrated this gear, whichlooked like a bird table butwith the board on top slantingforward so you could see it.He said if the Germansdropped any gas we might notbe able to detect it ourselves.So this board, which wasstuck in the ground near theschool entrance, had specialpaint on it which wouldchange colour if there wereany gas about. Naturally, likemost of the others, I didn'ttake my eyes off it for threeweeks, and in class fromwanting to sit beside the exit,now everyone wanted to sit bythe windows! We soon as gotback to normal, until one daya lad had been to the toilets,which were of course outsidein those days, came backrunning through the school,still holding up his pants,screaming at the top of hisvoice “Sir! Sir! It's gone green,it's gone green!”Pandemonium and anygasmask will do! However,when it was sorted it wasfound the lad had got himselfa load of plums and scoffedthem the night before. It washis poo that gone green!”Cliff Brown, who was bornin 1951, painfully remembersattending the school in thepost-War years. “I don'tremember a great lot aboutactually being at school, apartfrom being run over on theschool crossing one day andending up with anundiagnosed broken leg! Thecrossing lady on NewbottleStreet was a Mrs Tremble.”Cliff’s other memories areless painful, including hisabiding memory of the Juniorschool headmaster, Mr Smith.“He was a jovial Pickwickiancharacter who always told ajoke whenever he came to seeour class teachers. Theteacher I remember most wasMr Crawford, who walked onwater as far as that generationof Houghtonites isconcerned.”The school had a separateentrance for boys and girls,which was a common featureof schools from this period.However, Cliff can recollect amore unusual aspect of theschool: “Our classroom was aprefab on the field next to thegasworks at the bottom ofStation Road - the oppositeside to the rest of the school!”It is unknown how long thisprefab was in use, but it couldbe an indication ofHoughton’s post-War babyboom, where the oldEdwardian classrooms weretoo cramped for the growingroll call.These limitations of theoutdated building alsocontributed to its demise. Itclosed in 1993 and wasdemolished to make way for anew row of shop units andHoughton Library, whichcelebrated its 10th anniversaryin 2011.By Paul LanaganChairman

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890HOUGHTON’S CENOTAPHWilliam Oxley married HannahScott, daughter of my greatgrandfather George Scott.William's name appears on thecenotaph in Houghton.Charles ScottUSAHODS FEEDBACKHad a good day: first at theheritage photo gallery thismorning, then on top of PenshawMonument this afternoon. Nice tomeet people you haven't metbefore from the heritageFacebook group – but you, need abit bigger place next time! Withregards to the photograph onFyassbyuk.com where the springhas an arrow pointing to it, it wentunder the road down towardsGrasswell bridge, came into viewthe other side, was open streamdown to the curve in the road. Itwent under the road and was openright at the back of the BurnsideEstate houses down to the mainstream with the foot bridge over it.I fell in it a few times. Don't knowwhat year it was piped in, but wasstill open stream until the mid1960s.Norman SweetingHoughton-le-SpringTHANK YOUMe and Den went to theHoughton Heritage Societyexhibition on Saturday - it wasfascinating! Thanks to allconcerned for making it possible.Jean CarrTHANKS AGAINJust spent a lovely afternoon onthe Houghton Heritage Walk. Ithoroughly enjoyed it, thanks somuch Paul - you’re a mine ofuseful information.Val MilnesDairy LaneHoughton-le-SpringBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!Oh how this weather brings backmemories of the early 1950s whenwe had no central heating, nofitted carpets, no winter coats andWHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?no thermal gloves. We played outin it and we were never ill. We hadfun with odd socks on our handsbecause we hadn’t any properones to wear and if you were luckya clippy mat on the floor over thecanvas! Anyone know thewhereabouts of a lass called SilviaPatrickson? I went to school withher and we were good friendsright up until we started working.Anne PeelCOLLIERY ROW?Does anyone know where CorvingRow was in Fence Houses, turn ofthe century?Dawn FinniganPAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:Could this have been Colliery Row.I have never heard of a CorvingRow.Paul LanaganChairmanNEW HERRINGTON PITDoes anyone know how I can findphotos of New Herrington Collieryfrom year 1900 to 1924,particularly of the horse keeper?There must be some knockingabout. Also, any informationabout the horse keeper, WilliamConnelly or William Connolly.Thank you.Cheryl May BrownHAVE A BUTCHERS AT THISAre there any old pictures ofMarket place? I am interested inthe Wilson family butchers inearly/mid 1800s.Ian RidleyHOUGHTON’S MAYORHello, just wondering if you couldhelp me out? Who is the Mayor ofHoughton-le-Spring and what helphas he or she really done? I couldreally do with some feedback ifyou don’t mind.Joseph Robert ServicePAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:Houghton does not have and hasnever had a Mayor.Paul LanaganGOSPEL HALLCan any of the oldies rememberthe Gospel Hall at the bottom ofGeorge Street? My cousin used togo to Sunday School there butbecause we were Catholics myDad wouldn’t let me go. I used tosneak out on a Sunday afternoonand sit on the steps outside andjoin in with all the songs but Idon’t think my Dad ever foundout. Have you any photos of theGeorge Street, Robinson Street,Mautland Street area, which wasdemolished to make way for thenew ring road? I think the area isnow called Houghtonside. I spentmany happy hours at mygrandparents house in GeorgeStreet and other relatives lived inRobinson Street, Hopper Streetand Balmer Street. I lived inBalfour Street in the 1950s andused to play in the old cemetery.I don’t remember the bluebellwoods but remember going forpicnics on the opposite side of theroad but we called it "up on themoors". You had to be verycareful as there was huge dips inthe grass due to subsidencecaused by old mine workings.Christine BradleyCAN YOU HELP ROWLAND?Has anyone got information on awoman that worked in the fruitand veg shop in Mautland Streetnear where the Coop is now? Sheis married to Barry Walker, afriend of mine who I am trying totrace. If anyone knows anythingabout this family please let meknow I will be most obliged. BarryWalker must be in his seventiesnow. The last time I saw him helived up Church Street inHoughton before they put theA690 road through. Thanks forany help.Rowland DaleyAka RonHOUGHTON CUTDoes anyone have anyphotographs of Houghton Cutlooking down over SunderlandStreet and any photos of PotteryYard?Carole AllcroftRACING DOGSFields with names: I can onlyrecall a couple. The Store Fieldwas the corner formed by CoaleyLane and railway on the schoolside. The store (co-op) used it togive their cart horses a break andhold cattle and sheep till ready forthe slaughter house. Next to thatwas a three cornered field whichsome referred to as The Shoulderof Mutton field but most called it,wait for it, The Three CorneredField. Surprisingly this field andits access was used for recreationand the like. Remember our oldfella and his mates trained theirwhippets and greyhounds there.They got an old bike fromsomewhere (Shiney maybe),turned it upside down, removedthe rear tyre and wrapped acouple of hundred yards of cordround the wheel rim and fastenedsome rags on the end of the cordas lure. Then taking a couple ofdogs, one of the lads would dragthe lure to the other end of thefield As the one at bike startedturning the pedals as fast as hecould the whippets were let go.So with the lure hurtling downfield the whippets racing afterthem, half the kids from Newbottleand Sunniside chasing after themand every mongrel pet withinsniffing distance after them! Agood time was had by all.Harry SmithMiddlesbroughCATHOLIC SCHOOL DAYSI remember from St. MichaelsSchool - Miss Cain, MissDunleavey, Mrs Patty Parslow,Dennis Creegan, Miss Murdann,and Mr Graney (Mr Creegan cameto Niagara Falls and visited withme and the family when my twowere just small). There was a littlefat lady who got mad at me forwriting so big and then too small -she was very bad tempered. Youwill have to help me out with someof the others ladies as time hasme not remembering them. MrsParslow had me for sewing as welland it took me two years toFrench seam a nightgown whichwas like a tent when I finished.Patricia Armstrong CrawfordCanadaChairmanWith thanks to Lena Inch for sharing these photographs and many more.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890A LAST LOOK AT HOUGHTON -LE-SPRING’SDIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS IN 2012(1) The Diamond Jubilee Beacon was lit at the top of St Michael's Churchtower on June 6th 2012. Revellers were treated to a short firework display.Before it ended, Paul Lanagan suggested to the Rector that the crowd singthe National Anthem - which they then did with gusto.(2) Houghton Heritage Society's annual exhibition in the Broadway wasattended by hundreds at Houghton Diamond Jubilee Feast 2012.(3) The Society had the support of Paralympian Hazel Robson, who broughther medals along, much to the interest of families who came to the OlympicFun tent on the Broadway.(4) Heritage Society members were guests at the Queen of DiamondsBanquet in St Michael's Church, part of the special Houghton DiamondJubilee Feast events.(5) The Mayor of Sunderland opened the Houghton Feast fairground forinvited children from the area's special schools for free rides thanks to thegenerosity of the Showmen's Guild.(6) Billy Purvis made another reappearance at the Houghton Feast Parade.This year he had help from the wild Gilpin Boar!(7) Heritage Society members in the Feast parade. Peter and Joan arecarrying the banner, while Feast Logo competition winner, Bradley, sees upthe rear.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve theseGenealogical & Heritage Quests?THE WHEATLEYSHi, just got round to joiningHoughton Heritage Society andseeing pictures of Penelope Wiltonwho is a cousin of mine, well a fewtimes removed. I was a Wheatleybefore I married and Grandfatherwas Robert (Bob) who had thecorner shop in Houghton. Hisfather was also Robert Wheatley.The only other relative I haddealings with was Grandad’sbrother, George who had theEmpire cinema in Houghton. Iwas born in Essex in 1945, Dadwas stationed there during thewar, married my Mam who lived inClacton and they came up to thenorth east after he wasdemobbed. They lived atEasington lane with his Mam andhis step-father before we moved toElizabeth Street, when I was about3. I went to Newbottle StreetSchool and on to HoughtonGrammar school. I have onebrother called - guess what? –yup, Robert and a sister, Sue. MyGrandfather married twice moreafter my Gran and she alsoremarried – that’s the Wheatleysfor you! There is a lot more and Ihave been wanting to join you fora while, so hope I can be of furtherhelp and finding out a bit more. Ihave a family tree that Dad gotfrom a cousin which I am sure youmay have seen but can send you acopy anytime - then you can seeMeshsak, Shadrak and AendigoWheatley!Glenys GibsonMYSTERY GARDENHi Paul, regarding the ‘mysterygarden’ photograph on theHoughton Heritage website,looking at the photo and the angleit looks like Gregory Terrace area,which in 1911 was a strip ofallotments and what looks likesmall outbuildings according tothe OS map of the time. I've beentrawling the maps of the areatrying to look at when WellingtonHouse was around – I can onlyfind it on the 1901 census but itlooks like the building may havebeen around from around 1870suntil the late 1950s/early 60s. Itwas the home of Robert Fatherlywho was a grocer/draper (possiblywho Fatherly Terrace was namedafter?) Who knows, it could bethe mystery house from the otherphoto on your site! Hitting a brickwall trying to find out any info.DawnBRILIANT WEBSITEI spent all afternoon lookingthrough your brilliant web site andremembering many memories ofmy childhood and young life inHoughton-le-Spring. My mamand dad, Jim and Betty Gettings,lived and died in Houghton andsome of my family still live nearwhile I and my husband have livedin Spain for over 10 years. Wewere still able to recall memoriesfrom your photos! Keep up thegood work and thank you fromother expats in Spain.Elizabeth Mary WilsonSpainPIT PONIESAs a young lad I worked inHoughton Pit and well rememberthe ponies, their stablesunderground and bales of‘choppy’, their main hay food.They all had their owntemperament and were normallynamed after a particular trait ormarking. They were not neglectedor badly treated, quite thecontrary; they were looked after bythe lads who worked with them.To the putters they were theirmain tool and a bad pony was asmuch use as a blunt saw. Myfarther, Gordon Cummings, was ashot firer at Houghton and directlymy boss; he didn't give me asecond chance at anything, toldonce and that was it! There wasone pony called Bart - buggerused to bite if you were notcareful! I don’t know if you haveheard any stories about the sixthsense that the ponies had, many aminers life has been saved by apony refusing to pass a particularspot, and finding a few minuteslater that a roof fall had takenplace. They knew a thing or two.Barry CummingsHOUGHTON PITMy dad, Gordon Cummings,worked at Houghton Pit untilNovember 1963 as a shot firer. Ican remember going to HoughtonPit on Fridays to get his pay andto pay his union dues. We wereallowed to go so far down the pitto have a look and to this daythere is a notice on a piece ofwood, written by dad and signedby him stating not to feed theponies. Jam sandwiches were themain thing miners took to eat inthose days. Not good food forponies. He then moved toStaffordshire to work in the mines.He started work at ChatterlyWhitfield Colliery in Staffordshire,which is now a museum. Cananyone remember the fresh fishman who used to come roundNewbottle with a horse and cart?Avril ElliottStaffordshireSWANNS & DIXONSDear Houghton Heritage, I belongto the Dringhouses Local HistoryGroup here in York (we have awebsite) and I researched andwrote the chapter in our recentpublication ("DiscoveringDringhouses") about the Swannsand Dixons of Ashfield. I havebeen wondering for a long whilehow I could access extrainformation about VCSWC and themining industry on the Durhamcoalfield, and was delighted to seeyour Society mentioned in themost recent BALH publication!So: I am wondering if you haveany information about thisgentleman. He married FannyAnnabella Swann, born 1837, ofAshfield, in 1869. I have a copy oftheir marriage certificate - hissignature is just amazing! He wasa mining engineer from Wortley,near Sheffield, and they lived atHoughton-le-Spring, where hehad a very long and distinguishedcareer extending into the 1920s;there was an Annabella Pit nearby,and I don't think this was acoincidence. Also, I would love tolearn more about what FannyAnnabella's life was like after hermarriage; it must have been quitea shock to her to find herselfremoved from the elegant circlesof York and the green spaces ofDringhouses. I do emails at mylocal library on a somewhatirregular basis, usually about oncea week. My phone number isattached if you would find it usefulto phone me. Very many thanksfor any help you or anothermember of your Society may beable to give. With best wishes.Elizabeth SmithYorkNEWS & DISCUSSIONSI love looking at the news anddiscussions in the Houghtonianmagazine. I grew up in number 3Shakespeare Street, Houghton-le-Spring, in the 1940s and 50swhen my father Billy Robsonworked at Herrington Pit.Maureen BrownLondonREALLY GOODHello, I've just discovered theHoughton Heritage website as I'mresearching my family history. Ithink it is really good - thank you!Vee JordanBRILLIANT AFTERNOONHello Paul, just a note of thanksfor the brilliant afternoon youorganised at Houghton. Keep upthe good work!Pat BurnSilksworthHIGH QUALITYDear Paul, the more I visit ourHoughton-le-Spring website, themore I realise what an enormousamount of high quality effort youhave expended, and continue toexpend, in exploring the heritageof my birthplace. I am fascinatedby the wealth of information youare generating.Dr Jack MorleyPresidentHoughton Heritage SocietyFYASSBYUK.COMPaul, the Houghton Heritagegroup is the best thing onFacebook! Thanks for setting itup.Val Hughes* * * * *MORE QUESTS INTHE SUMMER 2013 EDITION

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890DURING HOUGHTON FEAST, Burnside Primary School recrea ted a 1912 photograph where the hungry children of Houghton’sminers were given 1,000 free loaves of bread courtesy of Bruce & Tucker during the Miners’ Strike on Good Friday April 5 th 1912.On the preceding Monday a riot had broken out in Houghton and a newspaper later reported: “The shops in the town were boardedup yesterday, and the streets were paraded by a strong force of police. When the mob attempted, late on Monday night, to rush theEmpire Theatre, the manager prom ised he would give them a free view of one film. As the m en were leaving the theatre, they raideda pork butcher's shop, carrying of pork-pies and hams, while many of them walked with strings of sausages round their necks. Next,they smashed a grocery and provision shop. The women were as prominent in the rioting as the men, and carried off apronfuls ofgoods. The crowd also tried to break into an ice-cream shop, but the Proprietress [Mrs Nelide Riani] kept them at bay, with a pail ofdirty water, which she declared was vitriol, and which she spread about with a mop. Her husband came to her assistance, andthreatened to shoot the rioters with a gun.”Houghton-le-Spring HeritageSociety sends fraternalgood wishe s to HoughtonArt Club in its 25 thanniversary year.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890IN FLANDERS FIELDS…IN NOVEMBER 2012 weplaced a poppy wreath onHoughton’s cenotaph inremembrance of all the bravesouls who lost their lives inconflicts around the world.Sadly, several weeks later thewreath was noticed to bemissing despite having beensecured to the memorial with apiece of wire.The Society hopes to lay areplacement soon.

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890IN MEMORIAMDAVE GUYAVAILABLE WEDNESDAYSFeaturing a Houghton Heritage pageby Paul Lanagan in every issue.CURRENTLY PRICED AT 50PAND FEATURING TRULY LOCALNEWS, IT IS A GREAT READ!AVAILABLE IN ALL GOODNEWSAGENTS ACROSSHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING ANDSEAHAM.www.houghtonstar.co.uk1946 - 2012Due to illness, the Durham Miners’ Galaof July 2012 was the first Big Meeting tobe missed by David Guy during hispresidency of the Durham MinersAssociation. Sadly, David died shortlyafterwards on July 25 th aged 66 years.~David Guy was the president of theDurham Miners Association for over 26years and from 1989 the president of theNational Union of Mine Workers northeastarea.His death leaves a great void in thecoalfield as he was also chairman of thetrustees of the north-east coal industrysocial welfare organisation and theminers' representative on the northernregional TUC council.David was born in the mining town ofSeaham, Co Durham, the son of a miningfamily. On leaving school he started workat Dawdon Colliery where his unionactivities commenced when he waselected onto the Dawdon Miners LodgeCommittee. In the late 1970s he waselected Lodge Treasurer. In the 1980s hewas elected onto the NUM Durham AreaExecutive Committee and he played avery active role in the great strike of1984-85.Dave was also active socially in the miningcommunities - he was a past chairman ofDawdon Working Men's Club.Obituary extracts fromwww.morningstaronline.co.ukJUST VISIT WWW.FYASSBYUK.COM (THE PITMATICPRONUNCIATION OF FACEBOOK) AND YOU WILL BEDIRECTED STRAIGHT ON TO THE SOCIETY’S POPULARAND ACTIVE FACEBOOK GROUP.Follow Houghton Heritage Society onTwitter using @houghtonheritag(no ‘e’ at the end). If you’re not onTwitter you can still see our tweets in thefeed on our website home page.LOCAL HISTORY MONTHMAY 2013May 2013 is designated Local HistoryMonth and Houghton HeritageSociety will be contributing to theSunderland event along with othermembers of Sunderland HeritageForum.THE HOUGHTON HERITAGE WALKFRIDAY MAY 24 TH AT 6 PMGUIDED BY PAUL LANAGANLINDEN TRAVERS 100SATURDAY MAY 25 TH AT 1 PMCELEBRATING HER 100 TH BIRTHDAYFor further details of what is plannedplease visit the Events website atwww.houghtonlespring.org.uk/eventsThe next issue of the HOUGHTONIAN will be availableto download in Summer 2013. Send us your detailsand get a copy sent directly to your Inbox!

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SPRING 2013 | VOL 2 ISSUE 4 | ISSN 1757-3890I would like to support the work of the Houghton-le-Spring Heritage Society andinclude a donation of £____.____ I WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECORD THE FOLLOWING IN THE REGISTER OF BENEFACTORS (min £20):NAME [please tick] Mr Mrs Miss _______________________________________ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ POSTCODE _________________________CONTACT NUMBER/EMAIL __________________________________________________ThankYouCHEQUE SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO:Houghton-le-Spring Heritage SocietyCOMPLETED FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED TO:Houghton Heritage Society, 120 Burn Park Road, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, DH4 5DQBOOKS, DVDS& CALENDARAVAILABLEFROMwww.HOUGHTONleSPRING.org.ukTHE HOUGHTONIANPUBLISHED BY BOOKS OF THE NORTHCOPYRIGHT © 2013VOL 2 ISSUE 4 SPRING 2013ISSN 1757-3890V002IS04VE02No 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:Richard Rose; Roy Lambeth; Annie Lee; Kathy Heyworth; Hazel Robson; Gentoo Aspire; Tony Lynnand Houghton Art Club; Burnside Primary School; and as always, Penelope Wilton OBE, for being ourPatron.