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Mitford

Mitford photos

Displaying the first of 6 old photos of Mitford.   View all Mitford photos

6
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Mitford maps

Historic maps of Mitford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Mitford maps

Mitford area books

Displaying 1 of 3 books about Mitford and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Mitford

Mitford memories
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Displaying a selection of personal memories of Mitford.
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Schoolmaster

James Oswald Clazey was a young man with a growing family. He was a schoolmaster in Mitford. He had been born in the United States but his father, George Oswald Clazey was born in Berwick-Upon-Tweed and he immigrated in 1841 for the United States. James and his wife Charlotte had two of their children in Mitford. His mother-in-law, Margaret Gray also lived with them at the time.

Northumberland memories

Pat Johnson

My memories of Pigdon are of the woods, family and fun.  My parents, my brother and myself camped there with aunties, uncles and cousins.  We always took great care to clear up after ourselves.  We had the best times playing there.  Unfortunately my parents are no longer alive, cousins have moved to other areas and one uncle has passed on too.  My childhood weekends were mostly spent in the woods at Pigdon and the memories are so precious. The wonderful river that runs through the woods, it's funny, I know that it is icy cold but back then I didn't notice. The beautiful bluebells in spring were spectacular. I believe this is where I developed my love of this flower. Even as a child I was able to appreciate the carpet of deep blue. I would dearly love to visit Pigdon woods again and bring my grandchildren, show them the places where I played as a child, even better to make some memories with them.  Not of camping of course,... Read more

Swimming Above Stepping Stones & Weir at Bothal

Our Mam being an Ashington lassie, we returned to her birthplace when Mam divorced my father who she met before the Second World War - that was when Mam was in London and working in 'service'. We were dragged from pillar to post from Watford to south Wales (father's birthplace) and eventually on divorce nisi Mam got custody of us 3 kids.

We arrived in Ashington in 1948 and for a time we stayed with my grandma Shields at 99 Poplar Street, near to the Hirst North School. The lower floor flat had one bedroom only and me and two younger sibling sisters would sleep top to tail - this lasted a while until our Mam could get us farmed out to relatives (my mum's sisters initially). Now my memories of Bothal were when my Mam would take us there, either by United bus (if she had the bus fare!) or we walked the 3 or 4 miles to the village of Bothal. Mam would make a picnic... Read more

Highlander Garage

I worked at the Highlander Garage which was situated next door to the Highlander Pub from 1967 until 1971. I worked along with John Burton and Norman Redpath and enjoyed my time there. The customers were farming people from around the area as well as business men and retired military officers enjoying the tranquility of the country life. Most of the regular customers became friends and it was a sad day when the business was sold and life moved on. John died in1981 and his wife Olive moved to Newcastle to live with her sister and sadly did not leave an address for me to keep in touch. Happy days... Kev.

Coronation

Linton community was the best ever. People rallied round to help each other, and doors were left unlocked. I have fond memories as a child of standing all decked out in red, white & blue in the Coronation year of 1953, standing on a decorated coal wagon! One year the snow blocked the village and transport to and from Ashington for a few days was the tanky. May Day was always something to look forward to, as was Easter, when we decorated paste eggs - usually with onion peel or cochineal.
I was born there in 1946 and my mum and dad  (the Rutherfords) died there.

Ashington 1950s - 1980s.

Milburn Road c1955
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My mother's family lived in the Milburn Road area of Ashington from the 1920s. My mother met my father, a Londoner serving in the Army stationed at Acklington or thereabouts at the end of WW2. They married in Morpeth and subequently moved to London in 1948 where I was born. I have many wonderful memories of annual holidays in Ashington from the 1950s to 1980s when the last of the immediate family died. I recall the Wallaw Cinema next to Ashington Bus Station, and there was also a cinema at the end of Milburn Road opposite the White Elephant Public House, near to St. John's Church in Newbiggin Road. I also remember the store Walter Wilsons, and a butcher's shop at the White Elephant end of Milburn Road which sold the most amazing sausages! I only ever knew it as "Ted the Butcher's". I also recall Ashington Colliery where my uncle worked as a miner, Newbiggin beach when it actually had a beach, and other places and... Read more

My First Visit to Nelson Village

My mother originated from Nelson Village and took us for our first visit when I was twelve years old. Her father (Joseph Heslop) worked down the pits, sadly he passed away before I was born. We met another couple, Mr and Mrs Kenny, who were very fond of my mother as a child. They were so pleased to see her and made us all so welcome. No one comes close to the friendliness and generosity that's shown from the Geordies. I will never forget my first visit and I hope I have more to come. Sadly my mum's passed away now but hopefully one day I will meet her relatives.  

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