New Brancepeth

Read and share memories of New Brancepeth and County Durham inspired by Frith photos

walking with my grandad

in 1961 i would be 5yrs old,and my grandad Sam Gibson would walk with me my sister susan and my brother raymond,along from where they lived round to the wreck,,the name the gave for the local swing park.they lived in doric road,across from their house was a small shop called walter wilsons,he did this walk with us to get us out of the house while my mum and grandma prepared a meal there was a roundabout,and a witches hat,swings and a rocking horse,,we lived in ushaw moor,but we walked up to doric road frequently,,my aunty and uncle lived on cooperative terrace and cousins marion amd margery simpson,we would call on them allso.when we were older we used to walkup a long ...read more here
Contributed by ruth hill

Fir Tree Inn

I remember the Fir Tree Inn in its hey day. My Aunty Peggy was the landlady; she was a wonderful person; she always wore spectacular dresses when behind the bar.
The Inn was at the top of the village just where Wellfield Road began.
Sadly Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dick are with us no more but memory is a marvellous thing, a part of me will always remember the atmosphere behind the bar even though I  was(technically) too young to work there.

                                                                Anne Wagstaff
A memory of Wingate contributed by Anne McDonald

Postman standing on the corner of Galgate West with John Street

The Postman is believed to be John Blenkinsop.

Five of the entrances to   ‘Barney’   have the word   ‘gate’   (meaning   ‘way’)   in their street names.   Galgate is the northern way into the town centre.   In the 1880’s the then Local Board of Health was much concerned with making it a more dignified approach, especially as this was the first street to be seen by visitors arriving by railway train.   This picture shows how well they succeeded.   (The iron railings, enclosing trees, lawns and flower-beds, were removed during the Second World War for armaments.)   Across the valley can be seen the old Roman road   (from Bowes to Binchester), upon which a section of Galgate was built.   Standing on the corner of John ...read more here
A memory of Barnard Castle contributed by Dave Charlesworth

Procter memorial Home

I have found three postcards sent to my father at the Procter Memorial Home round about 1911/12. I thought at first that he might have been recuperating from some illness, but reading one of the cards it suggests that he could be scouting for fires. The writer sends his best respects to Mr Souter? and all others.
I have searched for history of this building but can find nothing I wonder if anyone out there knows anything about it.
A memory of Shotley Bridge contributed by Jean Dickinson