Elswick memories
Here are memories of Elswick and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Elswick or a Elswick photo.
Hopedene
I would like to know if there is anyone out there that knows of the practise that went on in Hopedene. My partner was born there in 1965, his birthmother was also a domestic there, presumably to pay towards her keep while she was waiting to have her baby. We have now traced his birth mother but unfortunatley she died in 2002, but we have been able to get hold of a few records that were recorded at the time. Most of it does seem ok, but there is a bit in there that left us wondering. It states that she signed adoption papers two days before my partner was born, it does state that this was not normally done, but the social worker who was in charge of the case got his birth mother to do this, and it does say that this was questionable by the social services. Does anybody else know of any such cases where this has happened. We have heard a few things about Hopedene... Read more
Hopedene
I was born in Hopedene at the beginning of July 1960. I think it was good neutral territory as my father was Nursing at the General, and my mother was a Physio at the RVI. They had moved down to Corby at the start of the year to start new jobs. Thankfuly, by the Grace of God, I was born a Geordie. The only memories that I remember being given, was that there was a terrific thunderstorm and the coke boilers were almost flooded out - very little hot water available.
Hopedene Mother And Baby Home
Hi I am trying to contact any mothers that were in Hopedene, Elswick, in the 1950s and 1960s...what was it like? Did you have any choice regarding having your baby adopted if you wern't married? My mother was married but separated - did this make any difference in those days? I have read up as much as I could find regarding these places and what happened to the poor women and babies. You would think we were talking about the dark ages not merely 40 or 50 years ago...how times have changed. They say "Remember the good old days!!". Well, I think nothing good happened to these mothers back then. It breaks my heart as a mother myself how these women were treated, by these institutions and indeed their own family in some cases. Please inbox me. Thank you for taking time to read this.. xx
HOPEDENE
I was in Hopedene Unmarried Mothers' Home in January 1962, this place was run by the Salvation Army. I left in March 1962. I made a few friends but alas I cannot remember thier names, my daughter was born there, we were reunited in 2006. I would love to hear from anyone who was there at the same time. Marlene Carter.
Memories of Tyne and Wear
Greenhow Terrace
I married Helen in 1967 and the only property available to rent was in Benwell. As we were both far too young to know better we took a bottom flat in Greenhow Terrace. That's where it all went wrong, Benwell was being demolished and couples were being relocated at Newbiggin Hall Estate, a new estate on the outskirts of Newcastle....Eagerly we accepted the keys to number 48 only to find it had no electricity or hot water. We thought it won't be long till were rehoused, we can manage... After turning down a flat offered to us I can only assume we went down to the bottom of the waiting list...and waiting is what we did, three ghastly years of it. During those years we were burgled five times and no one would insure us. There is not much to do without electricity so we got on each other's nerves to the point of nearly killing each other. Poor Helen was on her own all day whilst I worked so... Read more
Starting School
This is my first school, Dunston Hill Infant & Junior School, I started school the year the photo was taken, I fell off a small wall first day, I remember it vividly. Favourite teacher in the junior school was a Ms Hallgarth, my first love. I was born in Beech Drive only a few hundred yards down Dunston Road. Part of a gang ('snake belt gang') including Howard and John Smith, Peter and David Coxon, and the Brydon brothers. Always out and about, no WII's no X boxes, no videos just fresh air and 10 goals halftime epic games of footie in the park.
Dunston Board School
I am looking for anybody who went to the Dunston Board school in the 1930s. I want to trace friends of my father, namely Henry Preston Westwick who was born in 1923, or anybody who worked in the soap factory in 1935.
W Egdell Newsagent
At the tender age of thirteen I joined the other six paper boys working for Mr Preston at Edgell and sons on Fenham Hall Drive. For four years I braved all weathers at six in the morning, seven days a week, for one pound twelve shillings.I enjoyed delivering papers although winter mornings were cold. Mr Preston was a strict man to work for but his wife who worked in the shop was a lovely woman and would say hello and admire my dimpled cheeks. My only gripe was that on a Sunday morning the bells of St James's and St Basil's would ring out and as I hate bells they would go on for what seemed a lifetime. No lying in on a Sunday morning for the locals unless of course you were deaf. .... Kev
FENHAM DO YOU REMEMBER
I never knew my grandparents they died before I was born. I have recently learnt that my grandparents were from large families. My maternal grandfather lived in Fenham, William Robert Wilson, who married a Smiley (I don't know if this is how you spell it). My grandfather was a Regimental Sergeant Major with medals, and after leaving the army was a tram driver, and grew fantastic leeks. From what I have been able to gather so far, the family that I cannot remember meeting, lived in High Fenham, and my elder brother can remember us all visiting them. If you have a Smiley grandparent or great grandparent from the Fenham area please contact me. Even though she was not my biological grandparent she was the only grandparent I knew and I loved her. If you have a Wilson grandparent or great grandparent from the Fenham area please contact me. I would dearly love to learn about my maternal family tree, my brother met my great aunts and great uncles but is a bit hazy... Read more
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