Easington Colliery memories
Here are memories of Easington Colliery and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Easington Colliery or a Easington Colliery photo.
Miners 1984-85 Strike
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... Read more
Alf And Doris Young 1930s
My grandparents lived in Easington in the late 20s till the late 30s they had 3 daughters, Denise born 1926, Beverley born 1928 and Margaret born 1936. Also a son, Frank born 1930. My grandfather was a professional footballer called Alf Young and my grandma was Doris and her best friend was called Eddie. Grandad played football for Hartlepool and Gillingham before moving to Lincoln City. Grandad came from a large family in the area. Can anyone remember them or are you a relative? I would love to hear your memories of them.
RAF Cold Hesledon
I was posted to the RAF radar unit in Hawthorne from 1954-1955 and had some of the happiest memories of my service in Easington Colliery. We attended most of the dances in the Welfare Hall after having coffee in Moscardininis? cafe. I was particularly friendly with Eileen Quinn who lived in the Station Hotel and often wondered what happened to her. Everyone in the village was so friendly and there was never any trouble. I live in the North East and paid a nostalgic visit to the Welfare Hall and the memories came flooding back. Great place - great people.
Tracing People
I am looking for any infomation of any relative to Herby and Annie Cummings. They lived in the council estate at the bottom of the village.
Earning Extra Cash
I lived in Easington village in the 1950s and recall my brother and I would wait at the colliery gates for the trucks coming out to deliver coal to the miners' houses. There was a void up the centre of the back of the truck and when the driver was turning and creating a blind spot we would jump into the void and get a lift to the drop zone. We got 2 bob for shovelling a load into a hatch to the coal shed. Believe me, it was hard work, but honest.
Bede Street
This is the year I married Muriel Smeaton, also from " the colliery". We lived behind the butchers shop in Bede Street before moving to Peterlee. I joined RAF and moved away from the area but still remember the happy times we had in Easington. Dances in the Welfare Hall to Gilbert Ridley and his band being one of many. My two mates Tommy Elves and Bobby Carro l(both dead now I'm afraid). Relations still in the area are Mark and Dorothy Hewitson.
Dances at The Welfare Hall
I remember going to the dances at the Welfare Hall with my friends Dorothy Bridges and Margaret Wood, we all livedf at theMiners houses at 'North' it was called because all the streets began with an A. I loved going to the 'Miners Hall' as it was known then, we dressed up and danced to local groups such as the Zephyrs, they used to sing such hits as ' Speedy Gonzales' and then the hits of 'Telstar' where played, The floor was one of the best to dance on, all bouncy and wooden, we used to buy pop and crisps, and I remember the local JP coming in and sitting with the local "Teddy boys" (You know who you are) I don't remember my eldest brother 'Keith Fortune' using the dances, but then there was the billiard room downstairs for the lads, I would then look towards the Church of the Ascension when we were leaving, It was there that I took my first communion. Happy days,... Read more
Happy Days
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.
Family History in Easington
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.
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,... Read more
Seaside Lane
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.
Seaside Lane
Would anyone happen to remember Robert and Dorothy Adamson who resided at Easington Colliery, Seaside Lane?
Miner 1984-85 Strike
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... Read more
The Birth Of Easington Colliery
Under the title "The Birth Of Easington Colliery", a 6,000 word article of mine has recently been published in the Journal of the North East Labour History Society,Volume 42 (2011). The article covers the period from 1899 when efforts were first made to sink the pit, until 1911 when the local Miners' Lodge was finally established. In that time, the population around the immediate mining area grew from less than 50 people to almost 800. However, the bulk of the newcomers arrived only from 1909, when technical problems in the sinking the pit had been overcome. The first coal was drawn in 1910.
1899-1911 was very much a pioneering period for Easington Colliery. In the following 20 years its territory expanded and its population peaked at around 10,000.
I am now researching a follow-up article for the period 1912-26, which contains a series of dramatic events within a period of rapid growth. These include the Minimum Wage Strike of 1912, unofficial strikes, the impact of the First World... Read more
Easington Lad
Although I moved away from Easington Colliery over forty years ago I still regard it as where I belong. Born in Glebe Terrace, I spent my early schooling attending the infant and junior departments in the colliery. I had to walk to school, no school run back then, and that also provides me with a sad memory of those days. Aged about seven years, the first tune I learnt to whistle was Chopin’s “Funeral March”, picked up listening to the colliery’s own brass band escorting the funerals of men lost in the terrible mine disaster in 1951. My dad, a miner for his entire working life, was a member of the rescue team. My mam, Nancy, was adopted by the family of Mary Robson, who eventually spent her working life serving the people of Easington as the doctors' practice nurse. My parents eventually moved into Boston Street where they lived and were friends with other contributors to these memories. I still make nostalgic trips back to my birthplace,... Read more
Equis Coffee Shop
I remember spending most of my night in Equis with all my mates and we used to have a great time listening to the jukebox etc, flirting with the lads. Does anyone remember? Jennifer Stratford Midge Pigford (deceased) Majorie Roxby Baz Myers Pop Noble Betty Carr I used to work in Mitchells shoe shop with my friend Midge, which was just below Equis. We used to go down the beach banks at night and go under the bridge. Sometimes we used to go to the beach with a crate of beer. I am now a grandmother with two beautiful grandchildren to two beatiful daughters.
Special Holidays
My grandfather moved to Easington and worked at the pit for two spells. He married a girl from the village and they had 7 children. The family moved to the Midlands in the 1930s. One uncle returned after the war and ran the local garage. In the 1950s my mom, sister and myself came to Easington for our holidays and to see relatives. My great-uncle lived on the Village Green, sadly the terrace of houses is long gone. His was burnt in a fire and he moved to Cannock Chase to live with his daughter and her family. My Grandmother's uncle and father were miners and photographers. It is said they took photos of the sinking of Easington Pit. The great-uncle played the violin and was in the colliery band. I learnt to play the violin and on holidays would go to a Mr Sample in a retired miner's small house to improve my playing. My great-uncle introduced him as they were friends. On holiday we would go to Easington 'beach'... Read more
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... Read more
Memories of County Durham
Maternity Hospital
I had my son in Little Thorpe maternity hospital in Jan 1985. Does anyone out there have a photograph of this building or do you know where I could get one from? I am researching my family tree and would like a photograph of this hospital for my photographic evidence.
Before the birth of my second son in 1987 it was closed down, I had him in Camerons in Hartlepool soon after the building was knocked down.
Please can any one help?
Tracing People
Does anybody have any information on the Cummings family? The head of the family was Herbie and his wife was Annie. They lived on the council estate at the bottom of the village.
Murton Morrisons/Yore
I remember the old Co Op in Murton with all those tram like lines with things being sent from one side of the store to the other, and my grandma, Mary Morrison nee Yore, buying me new shoes from a shop close to the Co Op - black patined with big silver buckles and yer I do have a photo of me in them. She lived in Dawson Sq. My father is Morice Morrison, we lived in London but would come up to Durham every other year to see grandma and my dad's family. We would also visit my dad's cousin's family in Dawdon, Jimmy Shepard. We still come up now and again and its so nice. We took dad to the working mans club and he still knew people there - he is 93 now. Do let me know if you know him or of him, thanks Linda.
Changing Peterlee
The Photogragh of the town centre has changed a lot since it was build. This row of building is still there. They have just built around it making it into a masive complex. I often do my shopping in the town centre. We have an Asda and many more shops. I was born in 1962 but did not come to Peterlee until 1965 from Stoke-on-Trent i can remember walking up a down this street when my mother went to do her shopping. Peterlee has gone through many many changes since.
Does any one out there have some other details to fill me in on about Peterlee?
Are there any photogragh of Dene close area in the 1960s out there?
Peterlee - The Place to Be.
My mother had a few problems back in 1979 in a small village called Glossop in Greater Manchester, so she placed an ad in our local paper asking for an exchange of houses. We never knew that we would get a response from what seemed to be a lifetime journey. Peterlee. For me Peterlee was a new town, only 15 years old, it has all flat roofs, and big gardens, some people said it was like Bethlehem. As we drove past Shotton Hall School for the very first time, I was told by the people who lived there, that that would be my school if we moved up north. I knew of no bigger fear at the time, moving school was something I had never done. I remember crying for the longest time ever when I had to start school some five years ago. Leaving friends from the past was going to be a whole new life. After we made the first visit to Peterlee, we agreed to make the... Read more
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