Romaldkirk, Village 1898

The Parkinson Family

George Parkinson and his wife, Ann (nee Bowron) married:13.5.1845 at Rokeby Parish Church. After living and working at Balder Mill, just outside Cotherstone, the family moved to live at Desmesne Mill around 1853/4. The Mill has been renovated, but when The Parkinson family were there, they would have lived in the cottages. During their time at the Mill, another five children were born there, to add to their family of at least nine.

George and Ann were my Grandma, Hilda Parkinson's Grand-parents. George was born at Middleton Tyas around 1813 and Ann was born at Brignall around 1818. George was working at Brignall Mill, at the age of 25. Ann was the daughter of Anthony Bowron, who was a Blacksmith living at Cross Lanes, near Rokeby and Brignall.

George ended his working life as a Miller at Deepdale Mill, near Startforth and Lartington.
His son, George (junior), married Annie Ashmore and they lived in Bridgegate, where Hilda's Dad, John George Parkinson was born.

John George married Libby Walker from Winston and they spent their married life in Baliol Street, where Hilda was born.

To have followed their lives from Mill to Mill has been fascinating and if anyone has any more information about Desmesne Mill, I would be most interested.

Bowes Arms Public House

The building on the right of the photograph with the sign above the door is, I believe, the Bowes Arms Public House. My 3xgt grandparents, Martin and Ann Bell, were the licencees. When Martin died in 1883 Ann took over the licence until she died in 1903 when her youngest daughter then took over the licence. Eventually Martin and Ann's granddaughter became the licencee until the Bowes Arms closed. My gtgrandmother was Martin and Anne's eldest daughter. My grandmother was one of Martin and Anne's grandchildren. I have many happy memories of spending holidays with my grandmother in Barnard Castle, staying with our relations in the Bowes Arms.

Postman standing on the corner of Galgate West with John Street

The Postman is believed to be John Blenkinsop.

Five of the entrances to   ‘Barney’   have the word   ‘gate’   (meaning   ‘way’)   in their street names.   Galgate is the northern way into the town centre.   In the 1880’s the then Local Board of Health was much concerned with making it a more dignified approach, especially as this was the first street to be seen by visitors arriving by railway train.   This picture shows how well they succeeded.   (The iron railings, enclosing trees, lawns and flower-beds, were removed during the Second World War for armaments.)   Across the valley can be seen the old Roman road   (from Bowes to Binchester), upon which a section of Galgate was built.   Standing on the corner of John Street, to the left, is a Postman with his delivery pouch and a tall peaked cap; the laden horse-drawn carts are probably conveying coal from the railway goods yard; on the right, in front of the corner-shop, adjacent to the Public House, stands a Railwayman - a reminder that Montalbo Terrace (as it was then known) led to the Railway Station.