Shotton Colliery memories
Here are memories of Shotton Colliery and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Shotton Colliery or a Shotton Colliery photo.
Terrible Place
I lived and went to school in Shotton Colliery, and hated the place. Luckily I realised that living there was not for me, so at the age of 16 I joined the RAF and was posted to Wiltshire, clean air, beautiful rolling downs, a white horse carved in the hillside, I thought I was in heaven... On top of that, the RAF gave me a trade and improved my education as opposed to the sadists I encounted at Shotton Primary, I still shiver when I think of Mr Murray (and I'm 76 years old!). One thing I will never understand is why my father Ted Falcus chose to live and work there, as he was a top gardener and could grow anything, winning countless shows at the Comrades Club. I am sure he could have got a job in the warmer south doing something he enjoyed (maybe it was the beer in the Club!). As a final note, my grandaughter Ellie living in Redlands, CA, USA, has a wonderful soprano... Read more
Wesleyan Chapel Row
My paternal Grandmother, Amelia Bedford, married Paul Tennant of 1 Wesleyan Chapel Row in 1915 after her first husband died.
I can't find Wesleyan Chapel Row on a map of Shotton Colliery; does it still exist?
Visited as A Young Girl
My father Douglas was born here to Malcolm H McCullough and Jennie Woodifield Etherington McCullough. He worked in the mine and remembers riding the pit ponies. They were racing and he fell off one and scarred his eyebrow. I don't know what date that was. I was brought here in the late 50s and/or early 60s but I've lost touch with all those relatives.
Memories of County Durham
Little School And The Little Shop on The Corner And The Little Chapple on The Corner
Hi, my name is Shirley Stoke. I have lots of lovely little memories of living in Haswell, I have a really good memory. I used to live in Church Street. I loved the school across the road from my house and when I used to go to chapel on the corner. I can also remember I used to play with a little girl that used to live up on the hill among the trees in that big house right at the top, and she had lots of little chocolate eggs that she used to put along the window sill and they used to melt when the sun come out. I can also remember lying in bed on a night and listening for the big trucks coming through Haswel to the slaughter house and I can hear all the poor little animals getting shot - sorry but that's some of my memories, but they were good memories no matter what. I just love my home, town's my roots as they say.... Read more
Where I Lived
Hi, my name is Howard David Williams. I used to go to Wheatley Hill School. I used to live at 4, the Avenue, lived there since 1966 when I was born.
Wheatley Hill
Hi, my name is Shirley Cross, my name was Shirley Stokoe and I lived in Thornley. My dad's nme was Robert Stokoe, he has now passed away. My memories of Wheatley Hill are nice. I remember spending a lot of time there growing up. I used to go to Wheatley Hill School up on the hill, you could see it from Thornley, and I used to love the school, and the school in the front street of Wheatley Hill. I remember we had to have different lessons each day so we used to have to leave one school and walk to the other school, it was fun. Also I remember the pyjama factory that I used to work at just over the road from school. My best friend was Barbara Vest, now known as Barbara Lard. I love her lots in friendship. Wheatley Hill to me is just one of my favorite memories, I love it there xxx. Thanks to all of my lovely friends wherever they are xxx. Shirley... Read more
Not A Care in The World.
If anyone were to ask me when I was most happy, I would have to go back some considerable time to those years spent in Wheatley Hill, more especially the late 1940s all of the 1950s and early 1960s. Truly magical times, as I'm sure a lot of those my age will agree. It always seemed to snow at Christmas time and the 6-week summer school holidays were always fine and sunny, at least I think they were! Not for us, the now compulsory TV, games console or I Pod, no sir. Pit heaps, quarries, home made sledges or go-karts were far more exciting and healthier too! Short excursions to exotic places like Crimdon, Seaburn or Seaton Carew seemed far more appealing than Benidorm or Orlando, but even better had to be a weekend to far-away Blackpool for the Illuminations! What fun, a very long journey on a Friday night, first to spot the Tower won half-a-crown. Two nights in a boarding house, a show or two, maybe a trip... Read more
My Dad Ronald Peel, Born 1932, Still With us
My dad Ronald Peel was born in 1932 in Wheatley Hill. He lived in Burns Street and he had a brother Tom and two sisters, Florence and Mary. My dad stayed in Wheatley Hill till about 1954, he married Jean Blenkinsop of Cassop. I loved visiting my grandma Peel, called Frances, and my granda called Thomas, who died about 1964. I visited the heritage centre 6 months ago and I am now trying to trace the Peel side but I cannot find any info, my great-granda Tom Peel lived in the railway coaches, even my own father cannot remember his wife's name, terrible eh. My grandma Frances Peel lived her last years in Johnson Street in a bungalow and died 1978. My aunt Mary lived her whole life in Wheatley Hill and married a Leslie Smith, she had one adopted son called Jerald who is now deceased as well as Mary and Les. Florence is still alive and lives in Bishop Auckland. If anyone has any memories of the Peels... Read more
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