Riding Mill, Northumberland

george maddison

thanks to this photograpgh i have identified a photograph of my late father taken in 1954 we all thought it was the hexham bridge but now know it is the bywell bridge by the number and type of arches over the river

thanks

philip maddison

An exciting place to be born

I was born in Dilston Nursing Home in May 1942. My uncle lived at Dilston House which is now luxury self-catering accommodation. We returned many times during the 1940s and 1950s and I remember wading at the edge of the Devils Water.

Ovingham School during the Second World War

Ovingham C of E School had only two classrooms, no hot water and outside toilets without flushing facilities. It was heated by a coal stove in both rooms, but we were never cold. There was a very happy atmosphere there and the teachers were dedicated; we received an excellent education and I was very sad to leave aged 11 to attend... [more]

Personal memories before and after 1955

Prudhoe Castle has always been a part of my life since I was born in 1938. My mother moved to Prudhoe Castle, where she was employed as a maid, to be nearer to my father who lived in Castle Dene. They eventually married and produced my brother Don in 1934, then me in 1938.
  
After the war... [more]

Looking at the Tyne as in Tyne Valley c1955 Ref: P265001

This image of Prudhoe and the Tyne Valley is very interesting because the Northern or Ovingham side has not changed greatly. Field boundaries etc are as I look at. But the southern side where the photographer stood is now and has been since the 1970s a mass of houses. Prudhoe Castle First School is probably somewhere in the near aspect of... [more]

Dukeshouse Wood Camp School (part two)

My recollection of  a dance that was arranged in the sports hall made me and another lad George Bishop decide to abstain from the proceedings as I think at the time, in fact I am sure about myself that I was very self concious about contact with the opposite sex in those days. We  both decided to hide away in the... [more]

The cross country run

One of my main memories of camp is a cross country run, no ordinary run this one, it was November, it was freezing and pouring with rain, nonetheless we had to run, but the only kit we were allowed to wear was sandshoes and shorts, no socks and no tops. Anyway, away we went. It wasn't long before myself and another... [more]

Long Lost Contact

In 1952 I was serving in the Royal Air Force at R.A.F. Ouston, not far from Wylam. One evening there was a dance in the NAAFI and a number of young ladies came from the Castle Hill Convalescent Home by coach. I met and danced with a Miss Betty Lowry and we became good friends. I used to walk from camp... [more]