St Johns Chapel
St Johns Chapel photos (7 available)
St Johns Chapel 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
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St Johns Chapel books (2 available)
- 2 photos on St Johns Chapel appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of St Johns Chapel
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on St Johns Chapel and County Durham
St Johns Chapel memories
Read and share memories of St Johns Chapel and County Durham inspired by Frith photos
My Ancestors
My aunt is 95 years old and now lives in San Francisco but she talks a lot about St Johns Chapel. She was born there and went to school there. Her grandfather (John Slater Freeman) was headmaster of the school for a number of years. She was born in a large house there and the tradition was that all first borns had to be born in the house. Evidently the house is now flats.
My aunt's name was Olive Freeman.
My cousin and I are making a trip to Durham so that we can visit St Johns Chapel, somewhere we have heard a lot about.
Contributed by Geraldine Lowe
Barmaid Marylin
We used to rent the bottom cottage down from the Co-op and the top house pub. My younger brother had a massive crush on the barmaid of the middle house. She was called Marylin (he is called Ben). Is she still there? I believe her younger brother was a milkman? We rented the cottage for about 4 years on the bounce and had the best holidays ever there. My memories include the pirahna at Horsley Hall, the banana milk from the farm at Ireshopeburn, the Rancho del Rio, playing table tennis near the cement works and the joke shop above the book shop in Alston. Magic memories.
Contributed by paul simpson
County Durham memories
My Ancestors
My aunt is 95 years old and now lives in San Francisco but she talks a lot about St Johns Chapel. She was born there and went to school there. Her grandfather (John Slater Freeman) was headmaster of the school for a number of years. She was born in a large house there and the tradition was that all first borns had to be born in the house. Evidently the house is now flats.
My aunt's name was Olive Freeman.
My cousin and I are making a trip to Durham so that we can visit St Johns Chapel, somewhere we have heard a lot about.
A memory of St Johns Chapel contributed by Geraldine Lowe
Barmaid Marylin
We used to rent the bottom cottage down from the Co-op and the top house pub. My younger brother had a massive crush on the barmaid of the middle house. She was called Marylin (he is called Ben). Is she still there? I believe her younger brother was a milkman? We rented the cottage for about 4 years on the bounce and had the best holidays ever there. My memories include the pirahna at Horsley Hall, the banana milk from the farm at Ireshopeburn, the Rancho del Rio, playing table tennis near the cement works and the joke shop above the book shop in Alston. Magic memories.
A memory of St Johns Chapel contributed by paul simpson
Extracts From St Johns Chapel & County Durham books
Even when this picture was taken, the hustle and bustle of St John’s weekly market lingered on only in the memories of the village’s more senior citizens; it had ceased in 1888. The quarterly fairs survived somewhat longer - the last was held in 1908.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
St John’s Chapel straddles the A689 between Daddry Shield and Ireshopeburn. The village church, which can be seen on the right-hand side of the picture, was completed in the 1730s, and is unusual in that it has a pyramidal roof.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".
This wonderful photograph shows a beautiful convertible car, probably belonging to one of the landed gentry; the two
delivery men enjoy a break whilst their horses tuck into their nosebags; and the little boy watches the cameraman at work.
The spire of St Nicholas’s dominates the Market Place. In 1857 this Victorian church replaced an earlier church of St Nicholas,
which dated from the 12th century - it had a tower. On the left, next to the Prudential Assurance building, is the Market
Tavern, where the Miners Union was formed in 1871. In the foreground is the statue of Neptune on top of the octagonal pant
(a northern word for a public fountain). Neptune was placed here in 1729 to symbolise an ambitious plan to turn Durham
into an inland sea port; this would have resulted in the unthinkable - the joining of the rivers Tyne and Wear! Neptune’s
neighbour is the statue of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, who owned collieries around Durham and also constructed
Seaham Harbour in 1828. The statue was sculpted by Raphael Monti, who reputedly committed suicide following the
discovery of a flaw in his creation. According to legend, Monti had boasted that his statue was perfect, but a blind beggar
man was feeling in the mouth of the horse and discovered that it had no tongue.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".
Once a vital part of the city’s defences, the river in recent times
has been used for more pleasurable purposes. Boating is a
popular pastime, and the river is used by a variety of pleasure and
competitive craft. In the foreground we see a couple of moored
rowing boats that would be used to take lady friends for a gentle
meander along the river on a fine, sunny afternoon, whereas
on the river are a couple of skiffs that would be used for more
competitive purposes.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".
After climbing through the narrow streets of Durham, we
suddenly come upon a dramatic opening into the light and
space of Palace Green, dominated by the awesome cathedral.
This great space was created by Bishop Flambard at the
beginning of the 12th century: he decided to demolish the
clutter of wooden houses and the market place because of the
potential fire hazard to the castle and cathedral.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".