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Pattinson Industrial Estate memories

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Memories of Tyne and Wear

Washington Chemical Works

The Village Green c1955
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I was born at 55 Pattinson Town about 20 yards from the chemical works which manufactured products from asbestos.  Most of my mother's side of the family worked at the factory and have since died of asbestos related diseases. I am surprised that no mention or photographs exist of this factory.  I used to pass through the village green going to Washington Glebe secondary school.  The school had terrible subsidence problems with a mine shaft going directly underneath causing the wood block floors to buckle.  My father was demobbed from the Royal Navy after serving in submarines during WW2 and he then got a job as a deputy in Washington "F" pit.  When I was 14 he took me down the pit and the first thing I noticed was the wind blowing a gale, then the floor was covered in white powder (fire damp).  When we reached the coal face which was under the North Sea there was hardly enough room to stand up.  That is when I decided that... Read more

Margaret

The Village Green c1955
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Margaret lived at 20 West View in 1951 and came regularly to Gateshead. She had a friend who lived near Saltwell Park. When I was called up to do my National Service on 4/10/1951 we were pen friends but she stopped writing after a good while. I went down to Washington for the first time in many years in 1979 and walked up to the door where Margaret lived at 20 West View but I didn't knock. 20 years later I was in Washington again but West View had been demolished. If anyone knows about Margaret's whereabouts I would love to know how she is getting along these days. I have sadly forgotten her surname.  
Les May. e-mail:   lsmy59@aol.com

The Old Blacksmith's (The Smithy)

The Village c1955
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Born in 1943 and living in 'Washington Station' (now Columbia). I remember watching horses being shod here many times, when I was a child. I still remember the fierce heat from the furnace, with the Blacksmith and the horses wringing wet with sweat.

Brady's Square

Brady's Square c1965
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I lived and went to Biddick Junior School, very close to here. I believed at the time, it was Brady Square (not Brady's) but learned later that it was named Brady's Square because the newsagent's shop there was originally 'Brady's'.

Washington, Brady Square

One of three children who lived at Hillthorn Terrace, just next to the railway lines. I can remember as if it was yesterday when the coal train used to travel from Washington "F" Pit down towards Brady Square, through the houses on route to join the main line. We often used to jump on the coal wagons as a dare or place a penny on the railway lines to flatten it. I can still remember a lot of the kids from those days. I am now living in Greater Manchester but still have family and friends in Washington. I sometimes walk down to Brady Square when visiting and stand on the railway bridge which spans the railway line from Brady Square to Coxgreen. Although the houses have been demolished and replaced with newer houses, I can still picture the families going about their everyday business. Its funny when someone comes up to you and starts to tell you all about the area when... Read more

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