Hamsterley

Read and share memories of Hamsterley and County Durham inspired by Frith photos

Follansbee aka Follingsby or Foljambe of Hamsterley, Durham, England

This isn't exactly a 'memory' as it is a fact relating to my ancestors, the Follansbee's of Hamsterley, County Durham, England. It is recorded that the Follansbee's (various spellings) in my family tree were from Rockwood Hill, in the Pish of Hamsterley, Durham dated back to c.1560. Thomas Follansbee, my 9th Great-Grandfather, is the first family member that I have been able to locate & record being from Hamsterley. Thomas was born c. 1560 and his wife, Margret, b. c.1560. Thomas & Margret had 5 sons & one dau,Alice. As an adult, one of their sons, Henry, b.1595, moved to St. Dunstans, Stepney, England where he raised his family. He had 2 known sons, Thomas, b. 1637, & William, b. 1635. ...read more here
Contributed by Cheryl Follansbee/Foljambe

Follansbee aka Follingsby or Foljambe of Hamsterley, Durham, England

This isn't exactly a 'memory' as it is a fact relating to my ancestors, the Follansbee's of Hamsterley, County Durham, England. It is recorded that the Follansbee's (various spellings) in my family tree were from Rockwood Hill, in the Pish of Hamsterley, Durham dated back to c.1560. Thomas Follansbee, my 9th Great-Grandfather, is the first family member that I have been able to locate & record being from Hamsterley. Thomas was born c. 1560 and his wife, Margret, b. c.1560. Thomas & Margret had 5 sons & one dau,Alice. As an adult, one of their sons, Henry, b.1595, moved to St. Dunstans, Stepney, England where he raised his family. He had 2 known sons, Thomas, b. 1637, & William, b. 1635. ...read more here
A memory of Hamsterley contributed by Cheryl Follansbee/Foljambe

Shops

Bryant's Post Office with Mrs Robson, a Queen Motherish figure always dressed in a black two piece, dishing out pensions, stamps and postal orders from the aloof position behind her cage.

Duggie Bain's cobblers, the warm oily smell, my first football boots were bought there for 13/6d. The proprietor ever smiling, with his gold rimmed glasses, shiny bald head, gammy leg and leather apron, he could have been Pinnochio's dad Gepetto himself.

Harry Waggot's, as wide a range of foods as Morrisons, but served with courtesy, a smile and a joke for the kids. Next door was Peggy's wool shop, but a young lad would not be seen dead in there!

Gibsons, substitute Joyce and Mark for Gladys ...read more here
A memory of Howden Le Wear contributed by david quinn

Play

I know records will prove me wrong, but summer seemed to start around the beginning of May and last until getting on to Bonfire night. We walked to Witton-le-Wear night after night to swim then walked home or, if we were lucky, got a lift in an empty meat van, not unlike the one driven by Corporal Jones in 'Dads Army'.

When it got too cold to swim we set about building and guarding our bonfire in the park. There were few organised displays in those days but there was tremendous rivalry between Bitchburn, High Grange, Valley Terrace, Victoria, 'Them up the New Buildings', and us. We invariably won, but to be fair we were well in with Dougie Wilks ...read more here
A memory of Howden Le Wear contributed by david quinn