Nostalgic memories of Hexham's local history

Share your own memories of Hexham and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying Memories 11 - 16 of 16 in total

I went to Dukes House Wood camp school at Easter of 1968. A whole group of us from the Boys' Grammar School in Gateshead (Avenue Road) went there. Most of us were in Oaks dormitory. I remember that huge tree growing in the middle of the field where we played cricket. Does anyone know if it is still there? For some reason, I remember the poplular songs of that time that were often played on the radio. They were ...see more
Hello Alan, I was interested in your comments about the camp. Are you sure you were there in 1940? I was trying to see the rest of your article but somehow I couldn't get the rest of it. You didn't say what school you attended and was it in Gateshead. Our school Alexandra road attended the camp in November 1945 with lads from South Shields. and we also were in Poplars. I was trying to get onto your e-mail but ...see more
I was at Duke’s Wood School in 1940/1 at the age 10 years (I’m not sure whether it was called that at that time). I stayed in the ‘Poplars’ dormitory and, as I recall, there was a veranda at the entrance to the dorm, not shown in your photo. We all had bunk beds and I had a top tier. Everyday we made our beds before going to the classrooms. One day the tuck shop fridge broke down and all the juniors ...see more
My recollection of  a dance that was arranged in the sports hall made me and another lad George Bishop decide to abstain from the proceedings as I think at the time, in fact I am sure about myself that I was very self concious about contact with the opposite sex in those days. We  both decided to hide away in the toilets until after the event. However there was an informer in our midst and we ...see more
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 ...see more
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 ...see more