Nostalgic memories of Middle Rainton's local history
Share your own memories of Middle Rainton and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 21 in total
I remember Peter went in one day for a cup of tea, and stayed chatting. The horse got fed up waiting and came home five miles away. Peter was fuming; he had to walk home, and lost half a day’s earnings. He was ribbed rotten about this.
History: The name “Rainton” derives from a monk called Reynton who allegedly helped to carry the body of St Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham, and halted near here for a rest as ...see more
Trawlers go out for quite a while. The first catch goes into the bottom of the hold, and ice put on top.
Later catches go on top, iced again and on until the hold is full. Depending on the size of the catch, this can take a different amount of time. The bribe was for the fish from the top of the hold, as you can see this was the newest catch. This was then kept by Patterson’s, and delivered daily by lorry to be ...see more
He then ran a wet fish trade from a horse and cart, but also ran a fish and chip shop. Last time I was in Houghton the fish shop was still there. In Newbottle Street, just up from the school and on the same side.
Gran was very proud of her horses and carts. As thing got better she had them made at Baileys
Joinery in East Rainton village. The carts were always light weight and hand painted with 'Margaret Wilson Fish ...see more
Hetton Council then cleaned up the remainder of the site, put on topsoil, and turned it into a sort of small park. There are some articles I have from the local paper published at the time giving a bit more insight to what happened. The final demolition was started about 1963, families were gradually re-housed, and the last property, the old Fox & Hound pub, the last to go about the end of 1964. Ralph Peter and ...see more
There was no running hot water, no gas, no bathroom and no flushing toilets. Electricity was used for lighting and if you were lucky, a wireless set. Most sets were run from accumulators, a sort of battery, which you had to take to the shop and pay to be recharged.
Bath time was when the tin bath hanging up outside was brought in, placed in front of the fire and filled with water heated from the range. Two or three ...see more
The village provided labour mainly for the Meadows Pit that was opened in 1824 and also for other local pits – Adventure, Resolution, Alexandrina, Hazard, Nicholson’s, Dun Well, Glow Oe, r Em…. to name but a few.
At the Rainton Colliery, which is the property of the Marquis of Londonderry, there are three pits from which coal is raised, Adventure, Alexandrina and Meadows, sunk in the years 1817, 1824 and 1824 ...see more
Nearly every house had an outside brick coal shed, as this was the only method of heating and cooking.
Most houses had a short set of about 2-3 steps in the middle due to the slope of the land they were built on, therefore the front of the houses were about 3ft higher than the backs. Some houses had their own toilet (or Netty) as we called it, others shared a small block between several houses and some ...see more
Pathways were made up of compressed dirt, West Street (facing West Rainton), Back Row (facing the Meadow’s Pit), Lewis Street running parallel with Back Row) and Cross Street running parallel with West Street). Krone House faced East Rainton end, there were more streets but I can’t name them.
Middle Rainton was partially demolished in 1939 leaving about 30% of the village still in use. The remainder was ...see more
Ralph loved his horses, he washed and groomed them constantly, the harnesses had brass or silver fittings, and the leather had to be polished, and the metal shone. And he often took first place in many local shows including the Royal Show, when it was on, and also the annual County Show. The stables were full of rosettes - testimony to his expertise and devotion.
When my father was discharged from ...see more
enjoyed a drink (bottled Guinness) at both “The Travellers’” and “The Tavern” almost daily throughout his life. In fact he is still remembered for his love of dominoes. To this day if someone plays double 3, the call is “Matty Wilson” as he would always play this first if he had it. He also dealt in the demolition, and scrap metal.
There is a strange story here; Kate Wilson had taken in two destitute ...see more