Ryton memories
Here are memories of Ryton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ryton or a Ryton photo.
The Station on The Willows
My grandfather and grandmother Dixon lived in the station house. My grandmother had a marquee on the Willows, from memories of conversations with my mother who lived there also for 4 or 5 years, on Sundays she would serve tea and cakes. I think there may have been a band. If anyone has any old pics I would love to see them.
Ryton Willows
My first visit to Ryton was when my mother took me and my sister to Ryton Willows during the war years. The train from Gateshead station stopped at the Willows and I recall next to the station was a place for eating your own meals which had to be brought. I can't recall any facilities for tea or meals service. The only facility for kids was a shuggy boat on the willows right next to the river Tyne. I think we went there on a couple of occasions. I haven't been back on the willows since the war. I don't think there is a train station there now. I hope to go back there again someday maybe somebody who resides in Ryton can reply to my message and let me know how to get back which I think will have to be by bus. Lsmy59@aol.com
School Days
I was born at Crookhill, just outside Ryton and went to Hookergate Grammar School in 1956. When the Ferndene pool was opened we were taken by bus from school to the pool where we were given swimming lessons. My memory is of having to jump from the HIGH diving board and being absolutely terrified as it was just so high. Looking at the photo now I can see that it must have been that I was just so small. Very interesting photo and I am very pleased to relive my memories.
Clara Vale
My family lived in Stanner House, a lovely old house in Clara Vale from 1958 until 1964 - my parents moved there shortly after they got married in 1951. I was born in 1958 and can remember the house as if it was yesterday. In the 1800's it had been a farmhouse with fields surrounding it and there were no other houses for miles around. At some point the farm house was split into two houses and we lived in the bigger of the two. When the pit came along in about 1900 houses/shops/school were built for the pitmen families. My memory is of the bigger shop opposite the Methodist Church and a tiny little one which once stood where the detached bungalow is (built about 20 years ago?) I cannot remember the name of the man who owned it but can remember going there, it seemed to sell everything that a villager could possible want. My mother kept hens, which were free to roam through the day but were... Read more
Clara Vale
My family lived in Stanner House, a lovely old house in Clara Vale from 1958 until 1964 - my parents moved there shortly after they got married in 1951. I was born in 1958 and can remember the house as if it was yesterday. In the 1800's it had been a farmhouse with fields surrounding it and there were no other houses for miles around. At some point the farm house was split into two houses and we lived in the bigger of the two. When the pit came along in about 1900 houses/shops/school were built for the pitmen families. My memory is of the bigger shop opposite the Methodist Church and a tiny little one which once stood where the detached bungalow is (built about 20 years ago?) I cannot remember the name of the man who owned it but can remember going there, it seemed to sell everything that a villager could possible want. My mother kept hens, which were free to roam through the day but were... Read more
Ferndenepark
My earliest memory of Ryton park was the swimming pool,which was a great favourite place of mine in the summer holidays. I and my pals would meet there for a good old swim for hours! They used to hold an annual gala there in which I participated a couple of times (gaining a medal for comming second one year!I would love to here from anyone who has any info pics of the gala .
Childhood:W.Websters Village Shop
I was born in 1951. My parents owned the W Websters store in Barmoor Lane. I believe the old premises is now known as Orchard Cottage. I remember the sandshoes for sale dangling from the rafters and the butter was weighed out. My older sister helped serve sometimes after school. Dad set up a train set for Christmas for village folk to look at through the front window. Being also a wine and spirit merchant he put tiny liqueur bottles on the carriages. I have such fond memories of the delight it brought to people's faces. I loved the Guy Fawkes night and preparing for the bonfire too. We emigrated to Australia in 1959 and I still live in Adelaide. Before leaving Ryton I went to Crawcrook school and my sister went to Hookergate Grammar. She returned to England and lives in Leeds. I have had 2 trips back, the second in 1987 with my husband and 2 sons. One day I hope to do it again.
Childhood: Newcastle V Birmingham
I remember going to my grandparents' house in Low Row, Addison. It was a colliery village and it was always a treat to go there in my summer holidays. The house was basically a two up, two down but the downstairs back room was where we slept, with my mum and dad and baby brother. The house had no electricity, just gas lights. There was no bathroom just a scullery with one cold tap. As a kid we always wanted to explore, but we mainly visited our aunties and uncles. We were allowed to play in the road as there was very little traffic. My grandad's garden was up the bank opposite the yard and he kept pigeons in the loft and had a shed where he kept his gardening tools. He had a dog called Lassie and we used to go for walks to Ryton Willows and back along the golf links. I remember being alowed to run up to Norman's shop at the top of the bank. It... Read more
Memories of Tyne and Wear
Happy Times
I lived in Crawcrook until I was 13 years old, then we moved to Coventry, that was about 1955/56. My dad was a miner and had to leave because of the pit closing. I remember happy times playing out down the channels and paddling in the Tyne, going to Whitley Bay for holidays. I went back this year (2009) twice and I will go again, I love the place. I would like to move back but am too old now. If anyone reading this remembers me, please let me know. Thanks. Margaret
ME GRANDA
I am writing this because I have been back to Clara visiting after I was contacted by Brian and Helen who now live in me Granda's house, they had read my memories of Newburn which mentioned Clara and sent me a message. Me Grandad Cecil Daniel Burrows lived at 1 West View with me Grandma Annie Parker from Gateshead, they brought up seven sons in this two bed end cottage, they kept trying to have a girl and when that eventful day arrived me Grandma and the baby died while she was giving birth, sadly I never got to see her but I have a lovely photo of this very pretty lady. The sons Joseph, Billy, Cecil (me Da), twins John and Jim, Bobby and finally Eddie. They were all miners working at Clara pit and every Sunday was me day out with me Da visiting Grandad and all me uncles, it was great cos I was the only nephew in the whole family and they were all single which... Read more
My Childhood
I was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. My mum was born and grew up in Newcastle and so many of my aunties and uncles and cousins were all Geordies. My Uncle George and Aunty Beatty (Charlton) lived in Crawcrook in Morgy Hill and I spent many happy holidays there as a child. My Uncle George worked at Clara Vale and I well remember him taking me to the pit on Sunday mornings and telling me all about the pit, his job and how proud he was being a miner. I have a few photos of me shovelling in the coals in Morgy Hill and one or two taken around Crawcrook. My parents and nearly all my relatives are sadly gone now but I do still have an aunty and cousin who live in Westerhope and I get up to see them as much as I can. When I found this web site I could not believe that the pit is still there, so I must come back and visit as... Read more
ACCUMULATORS
This would be about 1950. Radio was the in thing, me Nanna and Granda had one that was powered by an accumulator, this was a square glass jar with two elements inside connected to two terminals on the top which would fit and connect in the back of wireless. When the power ran down I would walk from Millfield to Newburn, Walkworth Crescent to be precise, where I would exchange this for a charged one (as you would do now with your car battery). This man had all kinds going on in his front parlour, he would also repair bikes and wirelesses etc. Saturday night was the night 'Dick Barton Special Agent' was on, everybody crowded around the radio for this one.
Lotto was a game that was taking a hold about now and on certain nights people would gather in certain houses to play, sitting wherever there was room. The kitchen, which also held a bath, which in turn had a hinged piece of timber over it to make... Read more
Sally Bash
This was about 1954. The Salvation Army was a large hut on Millfield bank, they did lovely pie and pea suppers now and again for about threepence. Every Sunday evening from six till about seven the Salvation Army band would play on the corner next to Lloyd's Bank. I was enthralled with the musical instruments and decided I wanted to learn how to play one of these, so I joined the band. I went along to band practice and Mr Hurst who was the band master, and Captain if I remember right, gave me a cornet to learn on, but no matter how much I tried to do the scale my cheeks blew out. This wasn't good enough for Captain Hurst, you just didn't puff your cheeks out with a cornet, so he gave me this very large trumpet which you 'had to blow your cheeks out'. I was allowed to take it home and bring it back for band practice once or twice a week. I seemed to be... Read more
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