Easington Colliery
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Looking Back To The Early Days
I was born in rented 'rooms' at Wordsworth Road in 1936 and came to move with my parents to five different addresses at Easington before I moved away from the area, when I married in 1963. But although my wife Ann comes from Shotton Colliery, events took us initially to Hull. I was always known as Harold in Easington, but became 'Harry' to outsiders.
My late father and mother were born in 1909, a century ago. My father Joseph known as 'Joe' was born in Sunderland, but in 1912 my grandfather John Barnes (who had moved around a great deal across County Durham to find pit work) and my grandmother 'Polly' finally settled in Easington Colliery for the rest of their lives with an established family of six boys and a girl. All the boys came to work at Easington pit, with only Uncle Arthur finally moving away to join the RAF in 1937. Aunt Ada also married a local miner.
My father was in the pit during the 1951 disaster, but was working in a different seam to the explosion. He lived to see the pit close in 1993, dying three years afterwards. He was well known in the Colliery and carried on playing in local football as a goalkeeper until he was 40, having had a spell as an amateur with Hartlepool United back in the 1932-33 season.
My mother Betsy (known as 'Betty') was born into a mining family in Sunniside near Tow Law. When the pits started to close in the South West Durham Coalfield, her two brothers Bill and Robert found work at Easington pit and this enabled their widowed mother ('Lizzy' Gray) to obtain a Council House as the family base at Harrison Terrace around (I was told) 1929. Uncle Robert finally moved away, but two of the four girls in the family married miners. My Aunt Alice's husband worked at Horden Colliery. The other girl to marry a miner being my mother in 1933. Uncle Bill remained at Easington pit.
My mother was an active Methodist, first at the Bourne Methodist Chapel and then when it closed in 1956 at St John's. I was also a regular at the Bourne Methodists until I left to undertake my National Service at 18.
When I returned home in 1956 my interests had turned to politics and I became Secretary of the Easington Colliery Labour Party and the Peterlee and District Fabian Society between 1958 and 1960, before I left to study Politics and Economics at Ruskin College. I went on to teach politics and industrial relations to trade unionists (mainly miners) and before retirement had a period as Labour MP for NE Derbyshire (1987-2005).
Although my parents moved about a great deal in differing 'rooms' during their early married life, their main addresses were at Harrison Terrace (four doors from Lizzy Gray, my grandmother), Baldwin Street and in Donnini House. Unfortunately, my mother suffered from Alzheimer's from her mid eighties and ended her days in the nursing home which at one time had been the Colliery Manager's house. She outlived my father by 3 years, who towards the end of his life spent a great deal of his time visiting her at the Dene Hall Nursing Home on Station Road.
At the moment I am conducting research into Easington Colliery's history as it existed prior to when my own memories first clicked in as a child late in 1940 or so. As the start on sinking the initial pit shaft started in 1899 (and the first coal was not drawn until 1910) this is a telling pioneering period of some 4 decades. It covers the crippling influenza epidemic of 1918, the 13 week lock-out at the pit in 1921, the 30 week strike of 1926 which developed out of the General Strike and the economic depression which hit Easington hard with the closure of a main seam in 1933. On the other side of the coin, Easington grew into a closely knit and self supporting community in this period. The first permanent Colliery Houses were built at South in 1909, passenger train services commenced in 1912 and schools, shops, cinemas, working men's clubs, pubs, chapels, churches, private terraced housing, council houses, doctor's services, Aged Miners Homes, the Miners' Welfare and the Welfare grounds with its football pitches, a cricket pitch and other facilities were all established. By 1931, the total population of Easington Colliery and Village was 12,000. Nearly 10,000 lived at the Colliery whose area had only been farm and open land with a couple of quarries and a few cottages as the 20th Century approached. Many of its new provisions were provided by communal efforts, including the significant contribution of the Easington Lodge of the Durham Miners' Association.
Although I am pursuing a number of published and unpublished sources, if anyone holds any family or other records of Easington Colliery in the period from 1899 to 1940 or so then I would be grateful if they would share any of the the details they feel able to via this facility.
Shared on 23 September 2009
Easington Colliery, Welfare Hall c1955
Ref: E71001
This photo brings back so many memories of going to weddings. It was taken from the steps of the church. To the right is the old wooden church hall where we had the youth club and table tennis club. After the wedding we would stand on the steps of the church and have the photos taken, then walk across the road to the Welfare Hall and go upstairs for the meal. Everyone would be talking, and the kids would be running across the dance floor then fall over and slide on the shiny wooden floor. It was great fun till your dad got hold of you and told you to 'Stop that, look at your new trousers!'. The Welfare is still there but all of my family have gone now and I moved away when I got married. I still see some of my friends when I go to Sunderland for the football and have a pint, that has not changed.
Shared on 13 June 2009
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
My mother's family came from Easington and most lived there until their deaths. I wondered if anyone knew of them or remembered them?
The family was called Miller, and I know that my oldest uncle was Willy (William) who had a wife Ivy and my other uncle was Jack Miller, who had a wife called Mim. These two worked all their lives at the pit there, and Jack lived in Angus Street and Willy in Argent Street. Their sister Olga was married to a man called Bob, also a miner.
My grandparents were Elizabeth and William Miller, I believe they lived round Cavell Square way. They died in the 50's and must be buried in one of the cemeteries in the village somewhere. They had 7 children and came from pit families.
It would be nice if anyone remembers them.
Shared on 05 May 2009
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
Since the 1984-85 miners' strike and the loss of the pit in 1993
It's twenty five years gone March since the miners' strike but it does not seem like five minutes to me and my family.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Many families went to hell and back and some families still don't speak. I don't feel like the strike has been talked about enough since the 25 year anniversary. What with the recession and people losing there jobs and homes, I feel it is like the miners' strike all over again.
A lot of things have happened to me since the miners' strike which made me grow up very fast. The loss of Easington colliery mine in 1993 was a massive blow to the miners and their families and as Jeffrey was only 33 years old at the time, he needed to find employment as our two sons were only young. To make ends meet I took on a couple of part-time jobs which helped to pay the bills.
Since the pit closed in 1993 Jeffrey worked hard, went to college and did some voluntary work to get himself noticed; he now works as a project worker for a charity. This should prove to people out there that there is hope after you have been made redundant, look at the skills you have and put them to good use, retrain as Jeffrey did and believe in yourself - we are all special
A lot of my family and my husband Jeffrey's family are no longer with us, and my two sons are now grown up and making a life for themselves. My two sons have found getting a job hard in the past but I have always encouraged them to look at the skills they have and encouraged them to look at other ways to make a living.
Both my sons have experieced knock-backs from employers who do not have the respect for their workers, this is why my youngest son went into the R.A.F and the dole office treat people like muck (shameful), they need to remember they are talking to people with real feelings and not everyone wants to sit on their backsides. When my sons lost their jobs they hated going to the dole office simply because of this reason.
I was only twenty-one and starting out in married life when the miners' 1984-85 strike broke out, but since then and when the pit closed in 1993 I have changed dramatically in my points of view and alway feel like things are done for a reason and that we all get by some way or other.
,
Shared on 29 March 2009
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
I love this picture. It was taken at the 'top of the street'; Nannie and Grandad (Emma and Joe Lawson) lived on Byron Street from the 1950s to the 1970s. My favourite shops were Robinsons (the source of many birthday cards and Bunty and Judy comics), the Co-op (I can still remember the account number) and Burdesses (who can forget their meat pies). I spent many a summer in Easington and loved every minute I spent there. I have since moved to Canada but on my trips back to the UK I always visit Easington.
Shared on 07 December 2008
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
Would anyone happen to remember Robert and Dorothy Adamson who resided at Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane?
Shared on 02 November 2008
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
The Photograph above has never changed much from then to even now 2007. to the right as you look at the photograph ( I with my husband jeff and my two sons lived behind the shops). Mr Snowdon had his shop along with his son who took over his business when he died he sold his shop years later it was about the third shop from the bottom on the right side as you look at the photograph. This shopkeeper was one of many people that helped the miners during the strike.
. The pit was at the bottom of that road. The pit is not there any more it closed in 1993. This was a sad time and worrying time for us as jeff was only in his early thirties and wondered what he was going to do. Since the pit closed Easington has changed this is due to privatising the colliery houses alot of peoples views are they should have pulled them down rather than sell them of the private landlords.
Easington is still a lovely place to live i have lived here worked here and brought my family up here since 1983
Shared on 30 December 2007
Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane c1955
Ref: E71009
Not long into married life we both walked into a miners strike that lasted until 1985. This was very hard having to adjust to married life and without no money because of the strike we both lost our first home. Soon after the strike started i became pregnant with my first son Graham I became pregnant with him in the strike and gave birth in the strike we struggled to buy prams and cots and other essentials for a baby With the help of my dear grand parents we came through this difficult period. Soon after the strike we went into a colliery house as we lost our first home due to not been able to pay the morgage. Both my husband and i have lived in Easington all our married life Jeff came from Easington.We met at The Easington colliery club Coming up to 26yrs ago Quite frightening really because it does not seem that long ago.
I Karen was Hairdressing at the time of the strike and worked up until i was about seven months pregnant whilst jeff went picketing just to get his £2 aday. Jeff made all the meals and done the house work to help out. He made his first Spagetti Bolanais in the strike which was very good. This seemed to be the making of him as he as always been a keen cook all our married life.I remember coming in from work tired and heavily pregnant one day to find jeff in the yard making coal with coal dust and cement he had burnt is finger ends badly he ended up with finger pokes on each finger. I suffered with morning sickness badly whilst pregnant and was late for work on many occasion my head was alway down the pot to the point i missed my bus one morning. I walked down to the next bus stop which was near the pit. The miners were picketing outside the gates the police was every where Jeffrey was their just to get his £2 he spotted me walking to the bus stop he came running over not amused as he thought being near the pit was dangerous for me especially being pregnant i could have been caught up in the angry crowd and hurt. Comming up to Christmas 1984 was difficult but we did not find this as bad as other people who already had children but it was bad for us as i only had a month to give birth to Graham. I wondered what i was going to do to have a good christmas. Both our parents were in the same boat as we were so they could not help everyone you knew was suffering at some degree. People who owned shops tried to help I can remember Mr Snowdon who owned one of the shops in the village letting people pay on tick for groceries what a kind man he was he died then his son took over the bussiness so many years down the line he sold his shop it was sad. Like so many shops in Easington bussinesses have come and gone. My Grandparents were very good to us they saw we were struggeling. They lived in Trimdon not that long away from Easington one day they came over with a big parcel they got some friend to bring them over in the car as none of us could drive back then. The parcel was a large brown box all cellotaped up my grand parents asked me to open it up. The box was a food hamper they had made themselves from teabags to jars of pickeled onions, cake mixes you name it it was in that box i was flabbergasted along with this box was a carrier bag containing a very large Chicken at first i thought it was a Turkey. My Grandads brother had a small farm in Trimdon not far from Grandad it was he who gave the chicken to Grandad who in turn gave it to me. I sat and cried for ages i could not stop. My Grandparent did not think what they did was wonderful all they thought was that they were helping their grandaughter i suppose this is what i would do for my own children. But i think they were wonderful and still think of them in this way.
That Christmas was special in some sense as it made you aware of what christmas is about it is about family been together and helping one another not about the latest craze. Everyone was in the same boat so you were not on your own if money was tight.
After that christmas on the 10th of Jan i gave birth to my First son Graham. I was in Hospital a week at Little Thorpe they closed it down just before i gave birth to my second son then Knocked the whole building down later on. I prayed the miners would get back to work soon as i had this little bundle to bring up it was a different ball game when Graham came along. Jeff was able to help with the baby taking it in turn to do the night feed . because Jeff was on strike we were able to get milk voucher for graham this was the only real help we got. My family help rally around with items like cots and blankets the social never helped their idea was jeff already had a job get back to it. The same goes for the morgage people this was why we lost our first house. Nobody had much simpathy. I was glad when the miners got back to work in March 1985.it took a while to get back on our feet we moved into a colliery house and tried to make a fresh start. I believe the Miners strike has been a solid foundation to our marriage as we have been able to cope with whatever life throws at us.
Shared on 28 December 2007
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