Horden memories
Here are memories of Horden and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Horden or a Horden photo.
Horden 1930s
I was born in 1928 at 20, Cotsford Crescent, the third son of a miner William Holmes. All his brothers were miners and myself and my brothers worked underground. I remember Lumleys shop as it was not far away and Mr. Lumley refused to sell me a penny box of matchs that my dad had sent me for as I was only six years old. It was about that time when a Scottish Regiment marched by to the sound of the bagpipes, they camped for the night at Blackhall. They were on the way to Hartlepool for sailing to India. I think it was 1933 when the airship R101 flew over Horden out to sea on its way to the Continent. I went to the infant school along Sunderland Road, on the way I passed the garage, it sold Cleveland petrol at 11.5 pence (old money) a gallon. I can remember an uncle taking me along to the colliery one Friday to get his wages when a handcart went by, pushed... Read more
Christmas at Hordern
When I was three we moved from Horden to Coventry, my father Reuben Dinning was a miner. My first memory was visiting my grandparents, Will and Lydia Martin. They lived at 2 Ash Crescent. I also remember holidays at Crimdon Dean. I was amazed to be able to see the sea from the landing window of my granparents' house. There was no sea in Coventry. Sadly it has been 40 years since I visited Hordon and all the old people have gone. Sadly so have my parents, Reuben and Elizabeth Dinning. I still have found memories of my time in Horden as my brothers Billy, Philip. Joan Bonsor
St Marys
Can anyone elaborate please, on the so called bloodstain on the roof near the spike? When I was young and living in Horden (late 1960s) I was told it had something to do with a young boy who climbed onto the roof to retrieve his lost budgie. Did anyone else hear this tale? And is there any truth in the rumour?
Horden Memories
I was born in Horden in 1946 (Elizabeth Lumley) and my father (George Lumley) (and his father before him) ran Lumley's grocery store which was on the bank top (21 Beech Terrace - now a house but the United bus stop is still callled Lumley's) just after you enter Horden from Blackhall. We moved from Horden in 1954 when my father's health broke down but I was a bridesmaid at this church circa 1951. Sadly both of my parents are now dead so I do not even know the name for the bride and groom though I think they will still be around. I have the wedding photograph and can still remember standing on the church steps.
My grandfather (Henry Lumley) started off as a miner - I think they lived in 13th Street and started running a shop from there in the late 1930s. From there he moved to Beech Terrace and set up as a grocer.
I was 8 when we left Horden but still have... Read more
Horden And St Marys Church
My mum was born in March 1931 in the Easington Colliery area, 26 Boyd Street, and was the youngest of 5. All the men in the family were miners - they lived close to Easington and Horden for work. The two elder sisters, Doris and Greta (named after the Greta Bridge in Rokeby), were away from home for the latter part of the war years working in bigger towns. My Aunt Greta never returned to live in the north east, finally settling in Telford. The family were very musical. As part of the "war effort" my grandma, Alice Mosey, put on charity concerts at the Hall in Horden (Salvation Army I think) in which she used to recite poems and monologues (in dialect) she had written herself. Along with other "local talent", my mum and her brothers used to join in the entertainment and my grandad Mark Mosey, who was in the ARP at that time, as part of his contribution provided a blackout curtain for the stage! My mum... Read more
to Kareen Surtees
Hi Kareen.
I am interested in what you said about your mam and dad's burial and wedding.
The wedding of your parents I'm sure was Rev W.H. Walton before he died.
And when your father was buried in 1980 Fr Alan Bowser, I'm certain of this because I started serving on the alter around about that time. Hope I've been helpful to you. David Lee.
I started serving at the altar of St Mary's church. My memories were lovely ones of friends I knew over the years, my old priests that I have worked with, what a joy to do what I did. The places we visited as a parish. Oberamagou 1970 and 1980. Everything we did was satisfying in many ways. My late mam and dad did their bit, Tom and Freda Lee as verger, Dad did the garden, I helped when able. Loads of memories. My sister got maried there, I myself got married to my late wife Carol in 1986. Sadly now I can... Read more
St Marys Church Horden,.
My mother and father were married at this church on the 5th of March 1960 George Turnbull and Jaqueline Kell. Does any one out there know them?
George Turnbull (THIS WAS AN UNCLE OF MY DADS WHO WAS NAMED AFTER HIM AND MY GREAT UNCLE) was buried from this church in 1982.
This church still stands. I would like to know the vicors name at the time of both my dads marriage to my mam and my great uncle burial please can any one help.
Fond Memories of Horden
In 1954 I was 10 and went to the junior school in Horden, then moved on to the Secondary Modern, where I learnt to play the violin, the music teacher was Mr Neal and the head master was Mr James. After leaving school I went down the mines which was the only option then. I was brought up by my grandparents, Peter and Lisa Rowland. In 1960 I left the pit and joined the DLI as a musician, I stayed in the army for 17 years and 6 months, I have only been back to Horden a couple of times since but my thoughts are always there. If there is anyone out there that remembers me please get in touch to share memories.
Horden Memories
Hi, my name is Lorraine, my surname was Humphreys at the time I spent my early childhood in Horden with my nana and grandad, both sadly gone now. I lived at 90 Seventh Street, I went to school on the top road we used to call 'the tin tops'. The girls I remember were Lesley Barron, Lisa Edwards, Linda Huntingdon to name a few. I later moved to Braemar Terrace. My memories of Seventh Street and living with my nana, I used to love the jazz bands, Peterlee Blue Stars, and holidays down to Crimdon were the best. I left the north east to live with my dad who had remarried after the death of mum in 1968, Margaret Harland, she was 24. We moved to Berlin in1974. I went back to Horden in 2009 for the funeral of my nana, Gladys Humphreys, it was at the Welfare Hall on Seventh Street. I used to play in the park with the big clock. Seems a lifetime ago.
The Pit Head
I went to Horden Cross Roads Senior School and remember the view from the Class Room. It looked over the old Pit Head and allotments and I loved it. I once did a painting of it and I wish I had that picture now as it has changed so much. We used walk from school with my friends to the corner shop and then through the allotments. My grandad and uncles all worked at the pit and it made me feel special to see it. If anyone has memories of Horden Cross Roads School I would love to here them.
The Trust And St Mary's Church
I lived my first 17 years, from 1932, in Horden at the Trust Hotel and remember Lumleys store. I was an altar server at St Mary's around the early 1940s and the vicar at the time was the Reverend Walton. My sister Marion and brother-in-law Aubrey Wrathall were married there. Although I have been away for 60 years I still like to visit occasionally, but I live in the south of England now so the visits are not as frequent as I would like. However, I still have fond memories of Horden before Peterlee was built, in fact I still haven't got the place out of my system I think my wife (Essex Girl) loves the whole area as much as I do, and of course the accent.
Finding Grandpa
I am searching my dad's family. My dad's father William L Robinson died of pnuemonia on 6th December 1924, when my dad was aged 1. I understand that my grandpa lived in 7th street as a young man and worked as a Hewer. We have had no contact with Dad's birth family and would like to trace any relatives or ancestors of the family. William married my gran Catherine Robinson (nee Kelly) in 1923.
Loraine Jackson (nee Robinson).
Memories of County Durham
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
Peterlee, Passfield Way And Thames Road Area
I remember Peterlee before the new houses on Grampian Drive were built. Me and my friends and brothers used to play in the cornfield that used to be where Grampian Drive and Christchurch Place are now. And I remember going to pick blackberries from the bushes that lined the path going up Passfield Way right up to the council offices where Okerside is now built, and the farm that used to be right at the top of the cornfield that was where the Black Bull is now (I think). You could not imagine Peterlee to have been like that after so many changes. Oh, and there was the swimming pool that used to be in Thames Road, many a summer's day we spent there with family and friends. If anyone has any photographs I would love to se them.
My Last Year in Peterlee
Hi, I am Kurt Kissling From Germany.
I lived with my sisters Jenny and Joan and my parents Kurt and Nelly for 2 years in Peterlee from 1956 till 1958. Then we left England. We live now in Germany 50 years but I never forget my Peterlee. I was born in Iveston.
Fun Times
I was born in 1962 and lived in Peterlee for only 6 years. I remember fun times and the holidays from school were full of activities on a big green, where you learnt how to roller skate, walk on stilts and had so much fun. Good times.
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