Wearhead, County Durham

Growing up in Ireshopebur

We owned the Post Office/ Store in Ireshopeburn and I think the photo you have of it has my Grandmother standing in front of the shop. We moved to New Zealand but I have never forgotten the wonderful years living in Ireshopeburn. I lived there from the age of 3 until I was 8 but the memories live on.... [more]

Good old days

In or around 1959 I went on holiday to Ireshopeburn to my grandparents' house, they lived at Woodbine House which was just up from Earnwell.
My grandfather used to work at West Blackdene spar mine which was on the other side of the River Wear.
I ended up going to school at St. John's Chapel and then on to Wolsingham secondary... [more]

My Ancestors

My aunt is 95 years old and now lives in San Francisco but she talks a lot about St Johns Chapel. She was born there and went to school there. Her grandfather (John Slater Freeman) was headmaster of the school for a number of years. She was born in a large house there and the tradition was that... [more]

Barmaid Marylin

We used to rent the bottom cottage down from the Co-op and the top house pub. My younger brother had a massive crush on the barmaid of the middle house. She was called Marylin (he is called Ben). Is she still there? I believe her younger brother was a milkman? We rented the cottage for about 4 years on the bounce... [more]

The Castle School for Boys

I was in Castle School from 1961 to 1964. It was good at times and also bad. Mr Bowls was the head, and didn't we know it. I had the walking stick on many a Friday morning after assembly. I cannot remember any names from people there. 12 months after leaving I went in the Merchant Navy on the catering side,... [more]

Merry old Stanhope

Ok 'anon', who are you? I think I know but can't remember the name. I was in Bewdley House from 1975-77, a lot should remember me, the best keeper in the school for 2 years, the last match I played was in 1977 when the Bewdley B side won that year's tournement, there was a protest because I played in that... [more]

The Castle School, Stanhope.

I think I must have talked to about three ex-Castle School kids since I wrote my memories about the the school. It was opened by an Act of Government during the Second World War in 1942. I can remember one of the teachers telling me it was also partly used as a hospital as well for injured troops. I'll give credit... [more]

Merry old Stanhope (what a place)

Now then, what year was Stanhope cut off on all sides, Crawley had snow almost up to the telephone line, going to Frostley was impossible, in fact it was about 6 days that we were stuck in for, latest jobs were snow clearing from most footpaths. I remember Mr Fleaming and Mr Corner and oh yes Mr Pervis from Hartlepool (are... [more]