Castleside, County Durham

Blackhill (and Stephen yallop!)

Hello Stephen mate.
My name's Paul Hunter, I was born in 1957, I grew up at 6 Bessemer Street, Blackhill. The Jacksons lived at Number 5, Davie Cudden at number four. My dad worked at 'The Company' CIC. I remember the Hadrians Store at the top of the street, and getting my hair cut at Tonys, on the corner. We... [more]

Early Days of Blackhill

My name is Stephen Yallop. I lived in Blackhill from the early 1960s. I used to live in Gallagher Terrace. I went to the Tin Mill infant school, I remember the teachers as Mrs Dunne the headmistress. Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Blendal. My father was William (Bill) and my mother Margrett. I also remember the red dust from the iron works.... [more]

blackhill 1940s

I was born at Dixon Street, Blackfyne, Blackhill, County Durham. My memories are from when I started school in 1943 at the Tin Mill School, Derwent Street, Blackhill, as far as I remmember I did not like it. Blackhill was shadowed by Consett Iron Company as it was then known (later known as Consett Steel Works), most of the men worked... [more]

The 1970s

I was born in the 1950s but, despite having memories of happy times spent in the old bus station in the late 1960s, I would class the 1970s as more my era. Us lasses would sport shaggy-cut hairstyles, mini-skirts, hot pants and platform shoes and we'd buy stuff from She Fashions. We would do a tour of the pubs, usually preferring... [more]

Consett in the 1950s

I was a teenager in the 1950s, worked at Consett Iron Company. We were teddy boys, had all the gear, suits, shoes ... Our nights out were Co-op dance Thursday nights. Them that had girlfriends always met them inside. Friday was a late night dance, was 10pm till 2am, we even went when we were on 2pm till 10pm shift, never... [more]

nights out in consett

I have some wonderful memories of nights out in Consett in the sixties. There was a pub called the Masons Arms run by Kevin and Ina Kearney and the barmaid Jenny, I think. It served the most beautiful beer in the world or so we thought, Tuckers ales. On a weekend it would be filled with all sorts of characters, Army... [more]

Shotley Bridge Hospital

My father was deputy head porter at the hospital, he worked there for 40 years. When I came out of the Royal Air Force in 1959 I did not work for a few months until early 1960 when my father gave me a job as a porter at the hospital. I worked mainly up at the huts, it was an interesting... [more]

Shotley Bridge Hospital

I was in Ward 24 in 1961 and 1962.

I remember Staff Carter, (who became Sister Carter), Sister Pinkerton, Nurse Beech, Staff Kendall ?

I cannot remember many of the other patients with whom I shared about three months during October - December.

Regards.