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Hamsterley memories

Here are memories of Hamsterley and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hamsterley or a Hamsterley photo.

Hamsterly in The 1940s

I was born in Bishop Auckland in August 1941 and brought home to Bleakhouse,which was at the Cross Keys end of the village. My grandad,Mr Jolly was certainly a customer at the Cross Keys. I remember Bleakhouse being on its own in a field, with a well or spring. Does anyone remember Bleakhouse? We lived with my grandparents Mr & Mrs Jolly, we later lived at Hollin Hill House overlooking the village green. People I remember were the Hares, Sina? Cromwell, the Whites, Collingwoods at the farm, the Andersons, Mr Pepperdine, Kenneth Anderson, Ben the prisoner of war who stayed in Hamsterly, the Vicar was called Smith (I think). Both my grandparents are buried at the church, I am hoping to visit this summer.

A memory of Hamsterley, shared by Margaret Howe.

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James Halstead Nutter

James Halstead Nutter was a Headmaster of Cockfield School, in the early 20thC, certainly after WW1. He was my Grandmother's cousin. I wonder if anyone alive today has any memories of him. If so, I would love to hear from them. What might not be known is that James received the Military Medal with Bar for gallantry in the war. His parents must have been so proud especially when no less than three of their other sons were killed in action. These boys were all going to be teachers too. They lived in Lancashire, near Burnley.

A memory of Hamsterley, shared by Margaret Boyd.

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Follansbee Aka Follingsby or Foljambe of Hamsterley, Durham, England

This isn't exactly a 'memory' as it is a fact relating to my ancestors, the Follansbee's of Hamsterley, County Durham, England. It is recorded that the Follansbee's (various spellings) in my family tree were from Rockwood Hill, in the Pish of Hamsterley, Durham dated back to c.1560. Thomas Follansbee, my 9th Great-Grandfather, is the first family member that I have been able to locate & record being from Hamsterley. Thomas was born c. 1560 and his wife, Margret, b. c.1560. Thomas & Margret had 5 sons & one dau,Alice. As an adult, one of their sons, Henry, b.1595, moved to St. Dunstans, Stepney, England where he raised his family. He had 2 known sons, Thomas, b. 1637, & William, b. 1635. Both sons came to America, however, William returned to England shortly there after & started trading in India. Thomas stayed in America & raised his family in the Portsmouth, NH / Newbury, MA area. A descendant of Thomas's, a 3rd great-grandson, Samuel Follansbee, Jr.b. 1806, married Susan Gould,b.1819 in... Read more

A memory of Hamsterley, shared by Cheryl Follansbee/Foljambe.

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Memories of County Durham

Family Residence

My Mother's maiden name was Mary Baker who lived in Witton Park . She had a brother, Jack who lived in Witton le Weir. He was a church going man and ran a clothing business from his house (at first going house to house with a suitcase!). He had a family of 2 boys and 2 girls. Isobelle, lived in the village up until her death a few years ago. His other daughter, Lillian, died tragically when she was young. She was drowned whilst swimming in the weir and was caught in the strong current. He had 2 sons, Desmond and (cannot remember his name). I used to spend my holidays with my mother's sister, Elsie, who lived in Garden Street in Witton Park. We used to visit Uncle Jack on a Sunday and I remember going all dressed in our Sunday best and were not allowed to play games or do anything frivolous. They were very happy memories for all... Read more

A memory of Witton Le Wear, shared by Margaret Hillier.

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Toft Hill

My nana and grandad lived at Toft Hill and although we were Forces children, the trip back home to Toft Hill was always brilliant. Sat in front of the open fire with my Nana's home-cut chips (my nana was called Jean Alderson and my grandad Norman Alderson). My Aunty Ann ran the sweet shop down the road and my Uncle Gary would be down the farm. My Uncle Graham still lives on Toft Hill. I miss those times so much. Fab memories.

A memory of Toft Hill, shared by Sarah-Louisse Tucker.

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Village Characters

Mr Joe (Cloggy) Jackson

Almost everyone who met 'Cloggy' has stories to recollect of this colourful village character - Dave Quinn recalls:

Mr Joe 'Cloggy' Jackson, Club Doorman and Saturday Evening vendor of 'The Pink', AKA Sunderland Echo. Invariably dressed in flat cap and tight fitting jacket, riding breeches and leather boots, Cloggy looked every inch a 'horsey man'.

He claimed that as a lad he had been bed-mates with champion jockey Manny Mercer. This was extremely doubtful as Cloggy was not so much economical with the truth, but rather he embellished it.

The classic case occurred one hot Sunday morning when Cloggy was sitting shirt sleeved and barefoot by the well along Witton Road. A by-passer remarked upon Cloggy's weary and overheated state and was answered in no uncertain terms. 'Thou'd be hot if the'd just warked back from Ireland.'

Being something of a romancer Cloggy was also rather gullible. The most famous example of this being the Friday evening phone call to the... Read more

A memory of Howden Le Wear, shared by David Quinn.

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School

Vague recollections of my first days, being taken in my little blue coat and cap by the girls next door. I seemed to cling to them for ages. (Was this a sign of things to come?)

Finally graduated to playing with the boys, sliding in the school yard in black boots with 'segs' in. It was all boys because the yard then was divided by a wall and the red brick toilets and you just didn't venture into the girl's half. What is now the school field was still 'Carter's' field, where Alf kept his pigs.

I suppose most of my generation will have roughly the same memories of the school, such as the huge thermometer on the wall, dinners in the W.I., sitting on the pipes in the winter, 'Tommy's Pantry', and maybe the old oak desks with wooden pens and ink-wells. Surely though, the most lasting impression must be of a certain Miss Elizabeth Heslop. 'Lizzie', with her imposing figure, grey moustache, specs stuck on the... Read more

A memory of Howden Le Wear, shared by David Quinn.

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Play

I know records will prove me wrong, but summer seemed to start around the beginning of May and last until getting on to Bonfire night. We walked to Witton-le-Wear night after night to swim then walked home or, if we were lucky, got a lift in an empty meat van, not unlike the one driven by Corporal Jones in 'Dads Army'.

When it got too cold to swim we set about building and guarding our bonfire in the park. There were few organised displays in those days but there was tremendous rivalry between Bitchburn, High Grange, Valley Terrace, Victoria, 'Them up the New Buildings', and us. We invariably won, but to be fair we were well in with Dougie Wilks for a few tyres, and we enlisted the aid of a few 16-17 year olds, who in those days were not men but still big boys. We also had all of the park to ga at for dead trees and branches, not to mention a few live ones!
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A memory of Howden Le Wear, shared by David Quinn.

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