The Castle School For Boys.
I was actually born in Middlesbrough in 1953, but being a bit of a handful in my life early life I was placed in certain boys' schools, one being The Castle School at Stanhope. My memories of my 3 yrs there are full of happiness and adventure.
I now try to recall some of the places that I remember but am finding it very hard to locate pictures. Has anyone out there got old pictures of the Wear Bridge that I seem to remember just behind the school, perhaps pictures of the old school itself, the cobble market place that I remember so clearly that used to host the small fun fair yearly, the old church on the hill? I would be so happy to hear from anyone with any info on these things, because Stanhope was a big part of my early life. I was there around 1963 to 1966.
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Comments
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
You went to Castle School at Stanhope and you say it was a happy time for you, but for many it was not so happy, guess you were there at the right time.
Comment from Ian Lambert on Friday, 24th April 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
I was there from January, 1956. I remember Bowles, his wife (MATRON), his fat overgrown daughter. Mr. Maddison: nice fella, McTavish, wasn't a bad guy considering. Bandy Jones (TWERP) music and English teacher. Tashy Wheeler Woodwork and Basket. Mr. Nicholson, Garden, Mr Stewart Geography. But the best of all was Daddy Davidson Art and science......When I first arrived there the houses where after famous sailor captains, Hawkins, Drake, Nelson and Grenville. Later to become Softly, Beaugly (question of spelling??) and Crawley. I have fond memories of that place, notwithstanding the monthly caning either from Bowles or Mr. Williams (deputy Head), (I was in the same ward at Bishop Auckland hospital when he died in 1958. His job was given to Mr. Mellody. the song: we are some of the Castle boys we are some of the best, see us walking. Ah! well. I was Number 58, Goddings 57, Barry Bell, 54, Luckhurst, 56, Robby Footitt 61, Eric Shuttleworth, 3. Here I am 50 years on, remembering some of the good times I had there. No I saw no cruelty as some of you state here, only correction... the good (Whitby camping, potato picking, gardening, Mr. Maddison's stories about his exploits during the war, Church Choir and the list could go on...). The bad: Gym, with Mr. Taffy Walters, football with Taffy Walters and field sports, which I thrived on... yes, by Taffy Walters. Anyway I did manage to win most of the races 4 years in a row including the Marathon. I leave you here as I can't or won't remember any more but just this last word which has made me what I am today; a Doctor of Law, CAN'T means WON'T so TRY and try again. Tashy Wheeler to anyboy who ever said I can't.
Comment from Les Beaumont on Friday, 29th July 2011.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
I was at the Castle School from 1945 to 1950 and did not see any signs of abuse either by Mr Bowles, who was a gentleman in every sense of the word, or by any other member of staff, the deputy head namely Mr Williams being the exception, he was a sadist who enjoyed inflicting pain with his lead-loaded cane.
Comment from Victor Bates on Sunday, 17th July 2011.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
I guess there must have been two Castle Schools in Stanhope? Because the one I went to bears no resemblance to the one I attended for five years.
Comment from Victor Bates on Sunday, 17th July 2011.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Well, it's been nice reading these articles on Castle School. I was there from 1958 to 1962, left there in February. It must have changed a lot after I left. I remember Mr Bowles too well. I absconded once, I didn't get far, one of the dinner ladies saw me in the village, so I went back. Hence to say I was reported to Mr Bowles. And I have felt that walking stick also, so I know what it was like. There was a teacher there I liked, a Mr Mcintosh, he was good, he took me all the way home to Doncaster in his car when I left there. There was good times as well. I used to look forward to the yearly camp trip to Whitby. Then there was the fair that used to come to the market square, and not forgetting the hiking trips to Barnard Castle. I went to Stanhope in June this year (2010) to see the school. It's all separate flats now, and the outside toilet block has been burnt out. It was far away from home, but it taught me a lesson or two. I was hoping to get down to the playing field when I went back in June, but all the trees were overgrown, and I could not find a way down, but I asked at the local information place just across from the school when it had closed down, they said it shut down in 1981. When I left there in 1962, I had a few jobs, then in 1969 I joined the Army, and did 12 years. Now I'm retired from work. I used to know a couple of lads, there was the Hays brothers, and a good friend of mine then, Alfie Bird, he came from Todmorden. It would be nice to meet up with them again sometime. My email is: dave2948h@hotmail.com .
Comment from Dave Haddock on Wednesday, 10th November 2010.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Hi to the boys who was at Castle School from the 1960s. I was in Softley House when Mr. Stewart was house master, Bowls sacked him then we had a Mr. Harding, he was a Salvation Army man. I remember the head master, he was a right F..... and the rest of them. Mr. Wheeler used to pull my cheek and in woodwork he clonked me on the head with the cane baskets we made. I still remember most of the boys, we used to all pile up at the window in the yard to see how much pocket money we had looking at all the points given to us. I left Castle School, I went into the Army and served 20 years of hard service. A lot of memories come back to me from school days, it was hard. Anyway, to the boys who were there when I was there, it was hard times but we are older now, even retired like I am I wish you all the best to those who I knew and those that knew me. My name Reg Ingleson.
Comment from R Ingleson on Friday, 17th September 2010.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Hi Keith, Kenny Melvin here. Yes, you were there at the same time as me and my brother Philip Melvin, he was in Frostly House, I was in Horsly Maddisons House. I know a few lads' names that were there, 2 brothers called Even and Clive Barry from the Boro and 2 brothers Robert Hay and Raymond Simpson. Yes, Whitby - we had to do a lot of rose hip picking and potato picking. I think we were called Robin Hood's Merry Men by the locals, morning and afternoon we had to stay on Saltwick Bay beach then on a night we could go into Whitby for a few hours. I was up Stanhope lasy year and had a look around, the teaching part where Mr Day was the head teacher has all gone, along with where we used to keep our footy boots. That play barn on the field had just been built when I left. I was coming down them steep steeps to the field one night when I fell and smashed my ankle, I got a pot o it that night then the next day I got the cane of Bowles. Can you remember us all going to Sunderland to see 'The Sound of Music'? God, I still know every word to that. Can you remember in the hall on a morning singing around the big piano, a Mr Wheeler playing it, then you would get someone saying "Can we go to the elephant trees", a walk of 6 miles. I hope we can chat some more. Take care mate. crazykennymelvin@hotmail.co.uk
Comment from KENNETH MELVIN on Saturday, 3rd July 2010.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
My name is Keith Cutts, I was at Castle School from 1961-1964, I was 11 when I arrived. You are right, Kenneth Melvin, Mr Maddison used to pick me up by me face on to my tip toes, and Mr Bowles used to give me 6 of the best with a walking stick. I can't remember many names apart from Arther Lowther, I chased him up a tree for breaking my pop bottle on a walk which I would have got 3p for, I got 6 of the best off Mr Bowles and cleaning the toilets for a week. I can also remember pea picking in the summer to go to Whitby Camp, and we were called 'Lincoln Greens' as all our clothes were bright green. I live in Halifax now, but if anyone can remeber me or anyone there the time I was, please e-mail me on: keith_kdot@hotmail.co.uk Keith Cutts
Comment from Keith Cutts on Saturday, 10th October 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
agree with you kenny melvin, well said, dave raynor dont understand you mate, nothing against you at all, you say
you enjoyed it fair play, like to hear more from you and all.
Comment from Ian Lambert on Wednesday, 5th August 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
I agree with you Kenny Melvin, well said, Dave Raynor - don't understand you mate, nothing against you at all, you say you enjoyed it, fair play, like to hear more from you and all.
Comment from Ian Lambert on Wednesday, 5th August 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
agree with you kenny melvin, well said, dave raynor dont understand you mate, nothing against you at all, you say
you enjoyed it fair play, like to hear more from you and all.
Comment from Ian Lambert on Wednesday, 5th August 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
To David Raynor, I was at the school the same time as you, I was in Horsly House, I do not know how you can say you had a happy time there, are you at the right school? It was a hell hole, nothing but beatings, mental torture, you did not dare to look over your shoulder in case you saw a master. I have known lads in there with perforated ears, my brother had his ear busted by a Mr Maddison who loved to slap you over the side of your face with his very big hands, so please don't say you were happy there because you cannot be from this planet. I'm sorry but I just cannot believe you.
Comment from KENNETH MELVIN on Monday, 3rd August 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
to david raynor i was at the scholl the same time as u i was in horsly house i do not know how you can sayyou had a happy time there are u at the right school it was a hell hole nothig but beatings mental tourcher you did not dare to look over your shoulder incase you saw a marster i have know lads in there with perferated ears my brother had his ear busted by a mr maddison who loved to slap you over the side of your face with his very big hands so please dont say u where happy there because u canot b from this planet im sorry but i just canot beleve you
Comment from KENNETH MELVIN on Sunday, 2nd August 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Hi Ian,
I guess it all depends on your family upbringing, at the time it felt like a holiday camp, ok the headmaster, Bowles I think was his name, was a right you know what, and I was on the end of some lovely canings. But when I was allowed home I wanted so much to get back.
Stanhope from what I can remember was a smashing little village, and the river behind the school was brill. I remember we went to church every Sunday morning. In the winter, I remember one half the school against the other, snowball fighting on either side. I also remember the walks and the bonfire nights and the excellent schooling, everything that today's kids require but don't get with this sorry system that we have installed for our children. Perhaps you may have had it bad, but I bet it made you a better person.
Remember the gym? I fell from the top of the bars and smashed my arm in 2 different places, at 10 years of age I cried, 'naturally' Bowles gave me 6 of the best the next morning at roll call - "Men don't cry", he kept telling me. Yes it was hard, but good hard.
Guess the other reason was that I never got any visits which is why it was so nice. Enjoy yer life mate.
Comment from David Raynor on Friday, 24th April 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Hi Ian,
Guess it all depends on your family upbringing,at the time it felt like a holiday camp, ok the headmaster Bowles I think was his name was a right you know what, and I was on the end of some lovely canings.
But when I was allowed home I wanted so much to get back. :-)
Stanhope for what I can remember was a smashing little village, and the river behind the school was brill. Church every Sunday morning.
In the winter, I remember one half the school against the other snowball fighting on either side.
I also remember the walks and the bonfire nights and the excellent schooling, everything that todays kids require but don't get with this sorry system that we have installed for our children.
Perhaps you may have had it bad,but I bet it made you a better person.
Remember the gym I fell from the top of the bars and smashed my arm in 2 different places,at 10yrs of age I cried,"naturally" bowles gave me 6 of the best the next morning at roll call,"men don't cry he kept telling me". Yes it was hard, but good hard.
Guess the other reason was that I never got any visits which is why it was so nice. :-))
Enjoy yer life mate.
Comment from David Raynor on Friday, 24th April 2009.
RE: RE: The Castle School For Boys.
Hi, I was at Stanhope Castle School from 1951 till 1955. I hated every second I was there. Bowls the number one bully and his gang, Maddison, Pearson, Wheeler, Jones. My only sin for being sent there was running away from home. I was sent there for care and protection. I think these bastards should have been before the courts. How they got away with it I will never know. I was there a week when I got six of the best off Bowls. I was given six of the best many times when I was there. One time I was working in the garden and picked a strawberry and ate it. I was seen by the gardner, old Pearson. I was marched over to Bowls' office. Gor this great crime I recieved 10 of the best off Bowls. My backside was black and blue. After a while my backside started to blister. The blister would burst and the blood seep through my under pants and my short pants. How can anyone call these men. Wheeler grabbed me by my cheeks and squeezed so hard that my face turned black and blue. I have had many a hiding off Maddison and Pearson and Jones, I know these bastards are dead now but they will not rest. The Bible states "Suffer little children to come unto me". These bastards say "Suffer little children to come unto me and we will give them a good beating". How a place like this could exist I just don't know. I know people higher up must have been protecting them.
Comment from Robert Henderson on Sunday, 7th August 2011.