Castleside memories
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Memories of County Durham
Blackhill in The 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 there. It made Blackhill a dirty place to live in because of the red dust. Monday was wash day but my mam used to go outside and check which way the wind was blowing, as if your wet washing was hanging on the line it could get covered in red dust. Blackhill had everything then, a bank, the Co-op, you could even get measured for a suit. My mam got all her shopping from the Co-op, I can even remember my mam's store number, 688, she got her dividend. There were a couple of hotels for people visiting the works, and two paper shops, I delivered papers for one... Read 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. I used to go to the Boys Brigade in Blackhill. I remember the big park where I went with my mates Adrian Pooley and Alan Gray. The park keeper was called Mr Brown, I must admit we gave the poor man the run around, then I went to join the Boys Brigade to keep out of trouble and as I found out my leader was Mr Brown and yet we got on so well. My dad used to drink in the Scotch Arms. My dad and brother are both buried in Blackhill Cemetary. I was born in 1957. I always wondered if the big wishing stone in the park... Read more
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 used to have regular fights with the Catholic kids in the street, the Rogans being the big family. The gates used to seem massive then. I moved to The Dene, about 1965. I started work as an apprentice butcher, in Liptons, in 1972. When I was older I did the pub rounds in Consett, usually ending up in Bottos, very often worse for wear.
We had some great nights in Consett, most of the pub-goers knew each other by face if not by name, and strangers stuck out a mile. Especially in Bottos, if they were from Stanley, or worse, Tow Law, you could guarantee spilt beer and blood.... Read more
Growing Up
I was born in the former Mechanics Institute in Derwent Street, Blackhill in 1946 where my grandfather was the caretaker. My name was Ann Wall and my grandparents' name was Redshaw. My mother lived with my grandparents in the upstairs part of the Institute. As I grew up I remember watching the steam trains on the railway line below going along the back of our home to Blackhill Station. We had a dog called Buster who used to go with my grandfather to the Rose & Crown corner to collect the 'bets' from the workmen who used to gather at the Rose & Crown corner on their way up to the steel works up the Tin Mill Road. My grandfather put the rolled up 'bets'into Buster's mouth and he took them down to the betting shop next to the Olympia Picture House further down Derwent Street. The workman from Consett Iron Company called into the 'Tute' to play billiards or read the papers. I remember the billiard tables and 'spittoons'... Read more
Blackhill
Born in Mortimer Street in 1937, attended Tin Mill School in 1943 and loved it. My brother had started school in 1942 and I would follow him there every day so Miss Maud said I might as well start school. Gran would pass the school to do her shopping and I would follow her, she would buy me an apple and then drop me back at school on her way home. We left Blackhill for Jesmond after primary school and so I never attended Benfieldside. Even though a small child I vividly remember the war and when the bombers came over we, like many others, went under the stairs 'for safety'. Gran said if they bombed the house the air raid shelter, which had been built in the back yard, would also be hit so we might as well stay inside. After a few years away we lived at the Royal Oak Hotel in Medomsley. We loved dancing and I remember the Co-op and... Read more
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Places this week
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- Eastleigh, Hampshire
- Walsall, West Midlands
- Smallthorne, Staffordshire
- Hawley, Hampshire
- Taxal, Derbyshire
- Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
- Stanhope, County Durham
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
- Kirkandrews-On-Eden, Cumbria
- Ribbleton, Lancashire
- Helsby, Cheshire
- Finchley, Greater London
- Greasbrough, South Yorkshire
- Stokesley, Cleveland
- Boxley, Kent
- South Godstone, Surrey
- Knaphill, Surrey
- Ealing, Greater London
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
- Ewell, Surrey
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