Hamsterley
Hamsterley maps (2 available)
Map of County Durham
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of County Durham
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Hamsterley books (1 available)
- 1 photos on Hamsterley appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Hamsterley
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Hamsterley and County Durham
Hamsterley memories
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
County Durham memories
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
Extracts From Hamsterley & County Durham books
There are two Hamsterleys in the county. One is on the Derwent; the other is on the Wear. One is a former colliery village and the seat of the Surtees family; the other appears to be known for the number of Nonconformist chapels it contains.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
Stockton was granted its market charter by Bishop Bek in 1310, but until the 1840s it consisted of little more than the High Street, a few side streets, and a quayside railhead for Stockton & Darlington Railway. On the right can be seen the parish church, which dates from 1712. Other 18th-century buildings were the Town House (1735) and the Customs House (1730).
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
Billingham owes its development to the Great War, when a small chemical works opened nearby for the production of synthetic ammonia for use in explosives. Between the wars the population of Billingham rocketed as the works was expanded for the production of methanol, chemical fertilisers, and petrochemicals. The town centre was redeveloped from the late 1950s by Elder Lester & Partners; the Forum opened in 1967.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
In the 1950s Greatham consisted of little more than the High Street. In 1272 the Prior of Finchale founded a charity and a hospital here for ‘decayed priests’; the local vicar was usually appointed Master. Today the aged and needy do not necessarily have to have been clerics or their widows in order to benefit.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
The Green was, and still is, one of the more picturesque parts of Seaton Carew; the houses were mostly built in the early 19th century. In the corner, with the steep bargeboarded gables, stands Sylvern House, dating from 1864.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".