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Iveston memories

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

Memories of Iveston

I was born in 1934 and lived in Iveston for 18 years, leaving reluctantly in 1952. We first lived beside the duckpond, in the cottage attached to Letch Farm, run then or later by Mr and Mrs Harrison. Avis Harrison baked my wedding cake. We then lived on the village green across from the school where I started at the age of 5. The headmaster/teacher was a Mr Smith (there was only one teacher). I was only there for a year or so and then went to Leadgate School, but I remember we had slate pencils and slate boards to write on. The only other pupils I remember were Alma and Velma  Bates, who were much older than me. Just above the school there was Cruddas's shop. We then moved to Parkers Buildings. I went to the chapel and was on the Anniversay service until I was 18.
Mostly I remember the farms. There was Bob Wright's on the other side of  Bogle Hole, long gone with mining subsidence. Then... Read more

Memories of County Durham

Chester-Le-Street Dance Hall

I was good mates with a lad who drove a big white van. He was a salesman and had a fairly good standard of living. I met him while drinking in my local pub, the Springwell Inn, in Wrekenton. One Saturday we went to the dance hall in Chester-le-Street and had a great night as I loved dancing in those days with the Oxford galleries my regular haunt. We met two lovely ladies and found out that they lived in Hanging Stone, a place I had never heard of. Anyhow my mate drove the girls home and I recall seeing the television mast which appeared to be only a hundred yards or so away. We dropped them off at their door and although I saw my mate Brian on a few more times I lost contact with him. I haven't seen any of these girls since although I know that they both worked at the Consett Iron and Steel company. I am going up to Hanging Stone for a visit... Read more

Annfield Plain

My mother was born in Annfield Plain 1924, her name was Mary Johnson and she lived at 64 Clarendon Place. During the Second World War she was sent to Coventry to help the war effort, working in a factory. She married Arthur Armson in 1946 and settled in Coventry and I was born on 8th October. During the 1950s I travelled with my mother by train to visit and stay with my grandparents. The journey seemed to take all day, we took the train to Birmingham, from there to Newcastle, then by bus to Annfield Plain. As a young boy what I remember about Annfield Plain is the slagheaps I played on, the fish and chip shop on the main street and the picture house I went to at least 2 times during the week, as the films changed every 2-3 nights. I also remember going to the pictures in Consett where they had a number of picture houses around their main square. Happy memories.

Memories of Leadgate And Iveston 1938 - 1943

I came to live at Leadgate when I was 12 years old and attended Leadgate Council School which was a large red brick building for infants and juniors, boys and girls. I was at the school for only 2 years, leaving when I was 14 years old. Those two years were good ones for me as I was fortunate to have a dedicated teacher called David Scott, who lived at Castleside. His influence remained with me through my youthful years, through my 5 years in the Royal Air Force, and on into my married life. There were twin girls in my class, whose names I do not recall,also there were two lads, one was called Tommy Griffiths. He had a lovely singing voice and often sang solos at school, the other was called Alan Bell, he had a talent to paint wild birds on glass. I wonder if Tommy and Alan are still with us today? Just round the corner from the school was the Co-op and the then Manager... Read more

Leadgate Village

Front Street 1967
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I grew up in Leadgate and have many fond memories of the village. The shops - Les Temple's the newsagent, Oughton's fish and chips (later the bookies), Billy Pledger's 'Modern Hair Fashions' and his aunt's place Crosbie's selling knitting wools etc, Bousteads, Tilney's the post office (selling all kinds of goods from stamps to furniture) and, of course, Di Palma's who made and sold the best ice-cream in the world! There was Pace's chemist shop and Cecil Best the butcher and even a bank on the corner of Front Street and Watling Street.

The village has changed, as it must, but memories live on.

Leadgate Memories

Front Street 1967
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Welcome to all.
Most of my life was spent in Leadgate where I enjoyed living. I moved to a beautiful village called Milborne Port near a nice town called Sherborne in Dorset. I am married to a beautiful women called Caroline who came from Farmborough. I have worked for a construction firm in Yeovil for 25 years.

I did make a lot of friends in Leadgate, I was still a member of Leadgate Club until a few years ago, I was a member for over 20 odd years. I used to live at Watling Bungalows. My dad William (Bill) Yallop lived with my brother Trevor at Dunelm Close (both deceased). My grandfather and grandmother also lived at Leadgate, Guy and Ethel Westall. My great grandmother also lived there, we called her Little Nanna, her surname was Ringer. My uncle Brian (Westall) and auntie Maureen (Bayles) lived in Leadgate.

I worked at Hounsgills Plate Mill (British Steel) for 5 years untill it closed down. I used to go drinking... Read more

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