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Settlingstones

Settlingstones maps

Historic maps of Settlingstones and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Settlingstones maps

Settlingstones photos

We have no photos of Settlingstones, although we do have photos of these nearby places:

Newbrough| Haydon Bridge| Humshaugh| Chollerford| Wall| Acomb| Bardon Mill| Chollerton| Gunnerton| Barrasford| Hexham

Settlingstones area books

Displaying 1 of 3 books about Settlingstones and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Settlingstones

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Northumberland memories

My First Visit

It was a warm bright sunny day in May when my husband and I came to look at a house in Thorngrafton. What a lovely quiet atmosphere it had, apart from the mooing of the cows on the farm and the sound of the house martins singing in the background there was silence and peace. We sat on the grass lawn at the front of the house and just looked at the view - in front of us the unspoilt Tyne Valley. We could see the River South Tyne meandering through the valley. Willmonswick Hall is in the panoramic view that is there when we wake in the morning. As you have probably guessed, we still live here 9 years on.  We plan to retire here. We feel like this is our and always has been our home.

WARTIME MEMORIES

Evacuated to Langley on Tyne in 1940 as an 11 year old, my memories relating to this peroid remain undimmed. It was a strange world to me, coming as I did with many other children escaping the war.  I was taken into care by a farming family.
I missed having children to play with and found it lonely and was unhappy attending the local school placed approximately 2 miles away (no school buses then). The elderly male  teacher, Mr Heslop, was an absolute horror to me at least. His favourite was an older boy, the school bully, who hailed from Gosport.
I returned to my parents before the end of the war.  My best friend throughout my stay was Miss Chrissie the farmer's daughter. Often I think of her now.

George Fraser/Frazer

Does anyone know of a George Frazer/Fraser who lived in Acomb. I think he was a butcher and was good friends with my mum.
Any information
Thanks

Wilma Rutherford

Does anyone have any memories of Wilma Rutherford? I know she lived in Acomb around the 1960s. She was my mother. I would be grateful for any momory no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you. What was she like? Who was she friends with? etc. Thank you in anticipation.

Headmaster's Son Remembers

Dukes House Wood Camp School c1955
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I was interested to read the memories of those who attended this school during the war years because the headmaster, whose name was mentioned, was my father, Bill Scott. At that time, the school was operated by Newcastle upon Tyne Education Committee. My father, arrived there with the first evacuated children in May 1940, and he remained in charge until the end of 1944, when it was closed down for an indefinite period. Some names of houses were mentioned. The full list was: Poplars, Oaks, Hawthorns, Chestnuts and Beeches. Each house had its own hut. Another hut was used as a medical centre and called Sycamores - a little bit of humour in those grim days. However, the atmosphere of the camp, as I recall it, was anything but grim. I am biased of course, but my father was known as a tough but fair man, and ways of maintaining discipline have of course changed greatly over the past 70 years. Over the years, I've run across men who were... Read more

Dukeshouse Wood Camp School Hexham (part One)

Dukes House Wood Camp School c1955
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My school was one of the first to go to Dukeshouse Wood Camp School just outside Hexham. This was in November 1945 shortly after the Second World War with the lads from  Gateshead at Alexandra Road school. Our dormitory was named Poplars at the top left, next to Oaks. On the opposite side was Hawthorns, Chestnuts, Beeches and the hospital Sycamore. The games room was next to Sycamore where we could play table tennis and other indoor games. There was usually a dance held at least once in this building when we were there organised by I think teacher Mr Chicken. Other teachers  at the camp were Mr Simpson, and Mr Speed, both from our school. The meals area was at the bottom. At the very top was a playing field where I recall our lads representing Gateshead played South Shields lads in a football match. We got hammered 5-0. The headmaster at the camp then was Mr Mighalls who incidentally became headmaster at our school less than two years... Read more

The Cross Country Run

Dukes House Wood Camp School c1955
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One of my main memories of camp is a cross country run, no ordinary run this one, it was November, it was freezing and pouring with rain, nonetheless we had to run, but the only kit we were allowed to wear was sandshoes and shorts, no socks and no tops. Anyway, away we went. It wasn't long before myself and another lad called Peter Jarvis were lagging behind, walking most of the time, to make matters worse one of my sandshoes came off in the clarts never to be seen again. By the time we got back I was in a sorry state but the other lad wasn't too bad. Now for the good bit, the camp had a nurse called Miss Montgomery who all the lads had a crush on, she took me in to the sick bay and put me into a nice hot bath, unfortunately she then left the room and came back some time later with some clothes, my imagination still runs wild to this day.... Read more

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