Nostalgic memories of Byker's local history

Share your own memories of Byker and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total

My best memories were in Byker and at my grandma's. Her daughter (my mum) was Patricia Walker b. 1944. She lived in Grace Street until she got married. My grandma had a fruit and veg shop very close to the where the Byker Wall is now. Her husband was Johnnie Walker and he was a cobbler. If anybody remembers her or my mum would love to hear. Mum was an only child and died 17 years ago and it would nice to hear anything about her life.
Hi, my name steve, I lived on J block from 44 to 48, My aunty Rachel and uncle bob wood lived in the same landing ,my granny wood lived in 4 M block, I lived with my brother jack and sister Sylvia until my mother ran off with jimmy brannan to luton, I am 75 now but still recall the great times we all had in rochesterr dwellings and walker rd, I remember when the shipyard was robbed and all the coins that were to ...see more
I was born in Walker 1946 to be accurate. They were slums even though the women did their best to keep them clean and rodent free. I remember my mum doing the washing in the wash-house in the back yard, she had to start a fire under this concrete bowl thing and fill it with water from the tap in the back yard. There were 4 families to a yard; if you lived in an upstairs flat you had an inside tap but the ...see more
Hi I was born in 1954. I lived in the dwellings and went to West Walker school. Face book has a friends of Newcastle east end group wth a very good collection of photos of old Walker , as to the engineering works I can remember it but I don't know its name.
I started Walker R C in the 1950's and remember my wonderful teacher called Miss Morgan - she was so sweet and kind. I had very long hair and she would often bring in lovely ribbons for me, I was very shy and she was so very kind to me and every one else. The playground seemed so big and I felt overwhelmed - I'd never seen so many kids in one place. Many of the boy's boots looked ill fitted and some had the ...see more
I started work at 15 when I worked at the quilt factory, I later went to work at Tizer pop factory. I had smashing mates there my own age but we all got on with the older women as well. Friday night was the best night of the week when me and the lasses would get the bus home have wor tea and get bathed and wash wer hair make up on and all make wor way to Byker. We'd start off at the Blue Bell pub, then go across ...see more
I lived at 40 Church Street at the bottom of Hexham Avenue from the 1950s, in my mind's eye I can still see me ma black leading the big black fire range, she made the most wonderful bread in its big cast iron oven. In the yard we shared with Mary Dickson was the outside netty and wash house with a copper and a big mangle, me ma would be working for hours soaking the washing, dolly blueing it, washing it then rinsing it ...see more
I was born in Middle Parker Street at 162 in 1946 , at the time I had one elder brother (Ernie) and one elder sister, Lil. W lived in a 2-roomed downstaires flat. My mother went on to have another 5 kids in that flat. The back room had a gas cooker an open range fire and a sink in the corner, you have to use your imagination to what life was like in there with 8 of us plus mother and father. There were 3 ...see more
Me and my brother David would get our breakfast then run down Prospect Avenue North to the bus stop beside the shops and once in Clyde Street at Wallsend bus stops made our way to join the huge queue for entrance to the Ritz. We were ABC Minors and that song still sticks in the mind............ We are the boys and girls well known as, We're Minors of the ABC, And every Saturday we line up, To see the ...see more
I remember the stairs and the smell of carbolic soap, when visiting my Nanna and Grandad. There were lots of people living there, all in a 1 bedroom flat with just a scullery and a dining/sitting room. 5 children and sometimes there parteners and grandchildren all lived there. It was a happy house and going upstairs on to the landing. that smell was with you for days after I came home. The cobbles in the ...see more