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Seaham
Seaham maps
Historic maps of Seaham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Seaham maps
Seaham area books
Displaying 1 of 3 books about Seaham and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Seaham
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memories of Seaham.
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Sanitorium
When Seaham Hall was used as a T B hospital this extension was built at the side, we used to walk through the hall grounds on our way to the beach from New Seaham and the French Windows were always open and the beds wheeled outside even in the winter, we always felt quite sorry for the patients. Later on my aunty who was a nurse at the hospital contracted TB and ended up as a patient, she was in hospital for about two years. After the hospital was closed the hall had various uses including a hotel, nursing home and is now a luxury hotel and spa.
SEAHAM HARBOUR
THE MEN WOULD BRING THE BOATS IN AND HANG BUNCHES OF CRABS AND FISH ON THE RAIL SO WE COULD CHOOSE OUR OWN.
SWIMMING
PART OF THE HARBOUR WAS USED AS A SWIMMING CLUB.
WE WOULD HAVE A ROPE AROUND OUR WAIST AND BE TAUGHT TO SWIM.
I REMEMBER THE SEAWEED CLINGING TO MY LEGS AS I GOT INTO THE FREEZING WATER.I WAS TERRIFIED I AM 63 NOW ,AND NEVER DID LEARN TO SWIM
County Durham memories
Waterworks During The Second World War Years
I was not born in Murton and did not revisit it after the Second World War years until 1975. However my grandmother lived there and my grandfather was killed in an accident in 1932 in Polka pit. My grandmother remarried and became part of the Haswell family, her first husband was Thomas Potts... My vivid memory was looking out of my grandma's window which was halfway up the stairs and watching the pit spoil tipping out of the bucket at the prearranged spot. I had a very good view as my grandma lived at the waterworks at 15 D'arcy Place. Is the north east tradition of remembering a married woman by her maiden name because when I visited in 1975 I was known as Madge Pott's boy, and not as Madge Davison's boy which one would have expected.
Family
Does anyone remember the Bell family, George and Esther? Esther was a Salvation Army officer. The children were George who died just after the war. Dora who became a nurse in London, Evelyn, Nan, Jenny and Matthew (Matt) who played the trumpet and eventually had his own band. I would love to speak to anyone who knew them. I am the daughter of Matt.
Miners 1984-85 Strike
Not long into married life we both walked into a miners strike that lasted until 1985. This was very hard having to adjust to married life and without no money because of the strike we both lost our first home. Soon after the strike started i became pregnant with my first son Graham I became pregnant with him in the strike and gave birth in the strike we struggled to buy prams and cots and other essentials for a baby With the help of my dear grand parents we came through this difficult period. Soon after the strike we went into a colliery house as we lost our first home due to not been able to pay the morgage. Both my husband and i have lived in Easington all our married life Jeff came from Easington.We met at The Easington colliery club Coming up to 26yrs ago Quite frightening really because it does not seem that long ago.
I Karen was Hairdressing at the time of the strike and... Read more
Miner 1984-85 Strike
The Photograph above has never changed much from then to even now 2007. to the right as you look at the photograph ( I with my husband jeff and my two sons lived behind the shops). Mr Snowdon had his shop along with his son who took over his business when he died he sold his shop years later it was about the third shop from the bottom on the right side as you look at the photograph. This shopkeeper was one of many people that helped the miners during the strike.
. The pit was at the bottom of that road. The pit is not there any more it closed in 1993. This was a sad time and worrying time for us as jeff was only in his early thirties and wondered what he was going to do. Since the pit closed Easington has changed this is due to privatising the colliery houses alot of peoples views are they should have pulled them down rather than sell them... Read more
