West Hartlepool memories
Here are memories of West Hartlepool and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of West Hartlepool or a West Hartlepool photo.
My Childhood
I was born in the town,and spent my first ten years in what would now be regarded as the slums of Stranton, Bower Street, going to school at Oxford Street juniors. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Bower Street and neighouring streets were demolished, and its inhabitants moved to the new council estate at Owton Manor, to the west of Catcote Road. I walked to school daily along Catcote Road. I remember the "Catcote" pub at the top of Oxford Road, and another called (I think) the Pink Admiral, and the building of Brierton Secondary School.
My Childhood
My parents were married at Stranton, and I was baptised there. We lived in a neighbouring street, Bower Street, in what would now be regarded as a slum property, with outside toilet and a single tap that was also outside. My lifelong hobby, ringing church bells, also began here. The vicar at the time was Canon Hancock, who later became vicar of Sedgefield, and whose son John also became a vicar in the diocese. The organist and choir master was Alf Peacock, a real character. He tricked me into joining the choir, telling me that I would then get a chance to join the bellringers when I was 14. However, it all rebounded on him, as my voice was terrible, and I only lasted 3 weeks! In the 1950s the church was one of the most active and well-off in the town. The ringers consisted almost entirely of the Maughan family. Brothers Bill and Jack also ran the Boys' Brigade and were active in the Sunday School.
Methodist New Connexion Preachers' Plan 1989-90
I have a copy of the the above which I found as a a scrappy piece of paper in one of my family's bibles. I have since had it copied and laminated, named on it as part of the preachers for the Hartlepool Circuit for 1889-90, which includes Stranton Street, were two of my Great Grandfathers - Thomas Blenkinsop and George Raine. The former's eldest daughter, Mary Jane married George the eldest child of the latter from which my maternal line stems. My paternal grandparents Clara Fox and William James Hinds were married at Stranton Street Church in about 1893.
When was this church demolished?
Phillips Teesside Operations Site Build at Seal Sands
I am currently researching the build of the Phillips Teesside operations site at Seal Sands. I am wondering if anyone may be able to help me with any information related to the time of the build. I am hoping to gain real information and events. E.g what the Economy was like in Teesside at the time that Phillips began the site build at the Seal Sands? Was it welcomed? Did it bring jobs to Teesside? But most of all I would love to be able to make my research real by adding actual stories/events, peoples feelings and memories of the time or pictures.
I wonder if you have any information/articles that may be useful to me ?
Watsons of Church Street, West Hartlepool
My grandfather's parents had an inn on 5 and 6 Church Street, West Hartlepool. His name was Thomas Watson, he was married to Ann Elizabeth and he was a Baker, Confectioner and Restaurant keeper. Does anyone know the name of the Restaurant or Inn or have a photo?
Memorial to South African War
I need your help. The man who modeled for the statue seen in this photo is my grandfather. Unfortunately, the museum has the wrong man as the model, a relative with a close name who wasn't even born when the statue was made. Is it possible for you to get the original newspaper article stating who dedicated the statue as I believe that person was my grandmother. The model's name was Joseph Andrew Bright McClure and he worked for the stonemason who did the statue. I have the paperwork to prove it. The statue was vandalized and the bronze taken and only the boots remained for many years. Now only the cairn remains. I am anxious to clear this error before my mother dies as it was her father. Diane
Chisholm Cottage
My great-great-great grandparents lived opposite Wesley Chapel in the late 1800s, behind the trees on the right-hand-side of the 1901 Wesley Chapel photo.
During the 1830s, Richard JACK (b1813) and some of his brothers moved to Hartlepool from Dalkeith Scotland. In 1841 Richard lived in Northgate Street, with his brothers nearby - they were coal trimmers. Richard lived with the WALTONs from Hexham, Northumberland; Thomas WALTON a Mason by trade; son William WALTON, a Joiner. Richard married Thomas' daughter Margaret WALTON (b1819).
In 1851 Richard and family were on their own in Northgate Street.
Richard JACK and two sons (Samuel and William Chisholm) were not found in the 1861 census, but Richard's wife and their youngest son were with the WALTONs - now on the East Side of Old Hart Road, Stranton, among the houses known as Fountain Terrace. (The area is now Raby Road, and on the north side of Wesley Square.)... Read more
North Cemetery,California,Stranton,Hartlepool
My great,great grandfather, Thomas Hugill, was the Sexton of the North Cemetery for over 30 years until his death in 1896. I have just visited the site and found that the half the cemetery had been totally landscaped, apparantly due to its vandalization in the 70s. There is nothing to commemorate him there at all. The staff at the bereavement services in Hartlepool were very helpful and I found that the lodge he lived in was at the top of the raised mound where there is a tarmac path laid now, and a church stood to one side of it. Thomas and his second wife Mary were buried at one side and his first wife Elizabeth and son Thomas were buried at the other side. If anyone has any memories or photos of the North Cemetery I would love to see them. I am also looking for Mary Elizabeth Hugill his daughter who married James Jenkinson, they had a daughter Elizabeth in 1872. Mary Elizabeth also had an... Read more
Anderson's Stranton
Hi, I am looking for my grandmother's family, Hannah Anderson, she was born in Sunderland in Southwick in 1898 and moved to Hartlepool to 22 Portland Road in about 1904 and then moved to 6 Marmion Road, Hartlepool. Her father was from Hartlepool, he was Thomas Anderson, born in Stranton in 1862.
Mitten Family
My father took me and my sister Jean to see a family in West Hartlepool whose name was Mitten, they had a boy named Brian, one girl Lucy then Gwen and two other sisters whose names I cannot remember. As my father had been in the war with Mr Mitten he thought that he would like to see all his family, they were so kind to us all. I do remember being taken for a walk down to a place which they called the Dean which was by a railway. I think the girls all were members of a morris dancing team, they did come to my home which at that time was in a place called Rhostyllen near Wrexham. It would be nice to have any news of this family.
My Great-Grandmother Mary Robson of Hartlepool
My great-grandma Mary Robson lived at 40 Hermit Street with her father William, (mother - Frances - deceased), a brother called William H Robson. Mary Robson had an illegitimate child called Frances, the child was born to a member of the well-to-do Field family. I would love to know more about the FIELD/S FAMILY all I know they were a very well to do family and influential, and possibly related to the Fields of LARTINGTON HALL in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Though I could be wrong and have been given the wrong information. Before Hermit Street they lived at Temperance Street. If anyone has any info for me, being the great and great-great-grandaughter of Frances or Mary and the grandaughter of the baby Frances, I would love to hear from you. My email is terick.farrow@ntlworld.com
My Grandparents Were From West Hartlepool...
I live in Alberta, Canada now, but my grandparents were Edith Readman who married Ernest Rowlands in 1912. If anyone has any information about them from when they lived there or their families.. please let me know.
Thanks
W. Hartlepool WW1
My father, Maurice Arthur (1902-1982), was the son of the GP, W. B. Arthur, in Wingate. He kept a daily diary from 1917 to 1982. There are many entries regarding Hartlepool, WW1 and the Durham Minefields. However, in 1918 he states (040218) "Hartlepool Tank gets £803,421". Then on 090218 he states, "Tank No 130, total to 4 pm. £2,200,000". And there are other references.
These refer to a lot of money in those days. Were they some kind of War Effort? I wonder if any local historian can tell me what these "tanks" were?
roland@rebarthur.f9.co.uk
Memories of County Durham
Sun, Swimming, Sand & Sandwiches on The Fish Sands
As a child I swam in the sea next to the Sandwell Gate and the ruins of The Freemasons Arms which was an old pub that was on the Fish Sands. I remember sunny days, swimming and picnics with sand in my sandwiches with my friends. One day my friends noticed that when I walked back up the beach after a swim I left 'red' footprints. I had unknowingly stepped on a piece of broken glass, so I hobbled all the way round to St Hilda's Hospital where they took out the piece of glass, cleaned & bandaged my foot and gave me some 'ket' for being brave! ('ket' for those that don't know was a name for sweets when I was a child). I knew so many of my grandmother's friends that lived along the town wall that if I got caught out I could knock any house and ask to use the toilet. The lady of the house would ask "Are you hungry bairn? Would you like a slice... Read more
War Memorial
This war memorial is in what we called Old Hartlepool, near the sea by the Hartlepool Docks/Headland. The war memorial for West Hartlepool was called the Cenotaph and was in Victoria Road, West Hartlepool.
Family
I remember as a kid living in Hartlepool and always visiting there. My mum is from Hartlepool, daughter of Edith Harrison who passed away in 1986. I always remember St Hilda's as a child and my grandma's place in St Hildas walk, we used to go up every year to visit and stay on a caravan park in Seaton Carew and as an adult I brought my children here. I remember playing on the beach and were we used to live overlooking a football pitch. I haven't been there in a long while so would like to find out more about my family history especialy from my granfather's family which was Herbert Harrison and my grandmothers name was Edith Harrison, nee Edmundson so if any one can help I'd love to hear from them .
Hartlepool
I am trying to find any info on my grandmother, Frances E Robson who was born in Hartlepool 1894. Her mother was Mary Robson born 1874 and her mother was Elizabeth Frances Robson born 1842. Her husband was William Robson. They lived at numorous addresses being Hermit Street and Temperance Street - both streets are no longer there in the Headlands. I am trying to find out where these streets were - can anyone help me, as I would love to visit these places? I know Temperance Terrace still exsists. My great grandmother Mary also worked at an egg warehouse around 1911 - does anyone where this could have been? Also, does anyone know of a factory that made cosmetics or soap or anything like that - the business could have been called Fields. Or does anyone know of a family called Fields - they were a well to do family who would have lived in a big posh house with servants... Read more
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