Wingate memories
Here are memories of Wingate and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Wingate or a Wingate photo.
I Lived in New Row Also
Hi, I went to Wingate Infants. Moved away and then returned to live with my grandparents for a while and went to junior school. Anyone out there remember me? I remember Christine Chapman who also lived in New Row and also John and Alice the twins. I think I lived in number 389 around 1953.
Born in Hutton Henry
I was born in Hutton Lodge, Hutton Henry in 1946. Mother Audrey and father John Joseph (Jack) Walton. We moved to New Row, Wingate, because my father worked at the pit. I loved the school and have very happy memories of the place.
Born in Wingate
Great to read about the place I was born in, ie Joe Cunningham brings back memories, I recall same as you. I now live in the Midlands since moving when Wingate closed. Nice to keep in touch on this site, do you remember me Joe? As I think I know you, do you have a brother Harry? Chris Tarren PS I lived at 362 New Row.
My Life in Wingate
I was born at 6 Salters Lane, Wingate to parents of Ann and Albert Hodgson. I have good memories of the village till I moved to Shotton when I was 15. My dad was a miner at Horden pit till the big strike ended his work. I remember going down Dominic's for our Sunday treat of ice cream and cream soda and my mam taking me down Cissy's shop for shoes and her wool, she was good friends with my mam, and also goin to Turnock's for my sweets, she had the most fab selection to a child, all good fun. I'm back in Wingate and so many changes and faces, I'm living in the tin houses in the vicarage and would love some input on the houses.
Mary Ann White
Hi, has anyone got any information on a Mary Ann White who lived in Wingate? My grandfather was took in by her, maybe in the 1920s, I think they were travellers. My grandfather's name was Andrew Gilling and he married Alice in 1931.
Can You Help?
I am researching my family history and my grandparents and great-grandparents lived in Station Town and surrounding area. They were Elsie Forster and James Allen, and William Cooper and Ellen Newstead. Any info would be much appreciated.
Lived Here 1923-1928
I am writing on behalf of Frederick Beck, aged 87, whose mother was Mary Kernick (nee ??) whose family lived in 262 Johnson Street, Wingate. It was a family of seven children. Names recalled are(oldest to youngest) Ben, Isabella, Mary, Mark, Alice, Margaret and the youngest, Thomas. Mary's father, Thomas Kernick, worked down the Wingate Pit. He retired during the Second World War and died shortly after. His wife Maud Bloomfield (nee ???) is believed to have survived him well into her 80s. She was then living in Coronation Street, Wingate. Frederick Beck was born in rooms above the butcher's shop. Thomas Kernick was a van driver for the chemist shop Ortons or Altons, close to the butcher's shop. Their doctor's name was Dr Russell, whose surgery was at the end of the row of shops at A Womens clothes shop, "Binns" is also remembered. Fred moved to Edmonton at the age of five and now lives in Southend, Essex. But still has fond memories of his birthplace. ... Read more
Wingate
I was born 1943 in 6 Moor Lane, Wingate at my grandparents' house (Joe and Margaret(Ginny)Lee, then moved to 53 Kings Road, before moving to Trimdon Village in 1953 just after the coronation. I too have fond memories of the place. The Palace and the Empire, the pit heaps, the Sprays/Johns cafe/Pirelies cafe/Glasses Pond. My uncle, Harold Rutter, was the cobbler whose shop was at the bottom next but one to the post office and Booths paper shop. Daddy Darvel who was the headmaster at the school next to the Palace Cinema also Mr (Fatty) Brass the teacher who lived in the house next door down to the Palace. Frankie (Snozzel) Sawdon the barber on the crossings/Michinsons shop/ Here are a just few names of lads and lasses I used to know at the time: Harry Elliot/Ray and Pauline Wilson/Richard Roberts(Roberts Coaches)/Ian Tarrent/Tom and Terry (Snipe) Hart/Barry Butterfield/Anne and Jenny Thompson/Collin and Peter Moyle/Joe Fisher/Gloria Anderson/Allan Thirlaway.
Childhood to The 1960s
Hi, I am Joan Bean, formerly Edwards. I lived my childhood and teenage years at Market Crescent. The things I remember as a child are standing on top of the railway bridge and letting the steam of the railway engine blow all over you as it passed below, also a bit more adventureness was sliding down the pit heaps on tins, also Saturday morning with all the shoppers coming to Wingate, Neilsons Bazaar. Another highlight was going to the pit canteen every Saturday morning for an ice cream. In my teenage years I remember the sixpenny hop in St Cuthburt's Hall. Happy memories.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
I was born and bred in Wingate 1953, I was born in a flat in North Road East just down from the Co-op. My dad worked underground in various collieries throughout his working life from the age of 14 until he reluctantly retired at the age of 65. We moved into our first council house when I was 4 years of age in 1957, no. 7 Williamson Square, way back then the houses had no bathrooms and the loos were outside, but it was heaven to my parents. I can remember clawing my way in the dark to the gloomy loo, so scary in the dark when you're only 4. I can remember just about everything from being aged 4, and have watched with interest the regrowth of the village,"out with the old and in with the new". Lots of the old building have long gone...along with the residents, there are so many strangers in the village now, I'm not sure if all of the changes have made the village better... Read more
William
My memory of Wingate is of my dad who passed away 10 years ago, he talked about the village when he was a lad. If anyone knows of him or has any history please e-mail me. My dad was William Johnstone, his dad John or Robert Johstone was killed down Wingate pit in 1936. Thanks, David
Family
Can anyone remember Anne Kernick who lived in (we think) Garden Street, Station Town? Her dad was Mark and her mam was Priscilla, she had 2 brothers who we think were called Rrichard and Benjimin. This is my mam's half sister and we would love to know if anyone knows of her whereabouts, her date of birth we think was 1943. Thanks if you can help.
Personal Recollections
From age 11 to 16 I lived in Station Town from 1950 to 1955, at 2 Rodridge Street,( now thankfully the street has been demolished). When I saw the old photograph of the Main Street it was mostly as I remembered it. Booth's the Paper Shop was where I had my first Sunday paper job, deliveriing to the Main street, Sinker's Row and eventually finishing with the Pit Manager's House. All for 2/6. The shop almost opposite Booth's was to feature stongly in our adolescence, it was the Ice Cream Shop, owned and run by Luigi Pirelli. Another prominent place of our attention was further up the Street, The Billiard Room, run by Jack and owned by Domenico's. I remember an occasion when my Mother, exasperated no doubt by my inattention to schoolwork knocked at the door and demanded I come home. With the money being won these days, she would probably be telling me to practice more. I later found work at the Palace Cinema as a young Projectionist... Read more
Looking For Family
I am trying to trace GLORIA ADAMS Married name unknown;
she is related to Harriet and "Father John" Adams
who used to live next to my Nanna in Kings Road.
Harriet & John were cousins to my Nanna Margaret (Adams) Robson;
This request is purely to ask a couple of family history questions.
Anne McDonald. Brisbane Queensland
Percy And Joan's Fish And Chip Shop
I'm wondering if anyone remembers this couple? Joan is my dad's cousin but I can't remember her married name. I'm trying to trace back the KEW side of my family and Joan's mam was Molly (nee Kew). If Joan is still around I would like to ask her some stuff. Anyone....help! Thanks, Doug Kew.
Greys Drapers
Grandfather William Grey owned a number of shops in Wingate, Co. Durham one was at 47 North Road West, Wingate, it was a drapers shop. Grandfather died in 1962, his last remaining shop was closed by my mother Winnie England and made into a house. My family were once very prominant in Wingate, they consisted of the Greys, the Races and the Tarrens. In the 1800s Robert Tarren owned the Plough Inn in Hutton Henry. I would be very interested in any information about current family members.
Fir Tree Inn
I remember the Fir Tree Inn in its hey day. My Aunty Peggy was the landlady; she was a wonderful person; she always wore spectacular dresses when behind the bar.
The Inn was at the top of the village just where Wellfield Road began.
Sadly Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dick are with us no more but memory is a marvellous thing, a part of me will always remember the atmosphere behind the bar even though I was(technically) too young to work there.
Anne Wagstaff
Memories of County Durham
Station Town
I lived in Rodridge Street and attended Wellfield Grammar School. My best pal was Peter Scott who lived in Milburn Terrace. Peter emigrated to Australia on the £10 package trip, I never heard from him after that. He had a brother Bernard, who was in the R.N. After school I went to work on a dairy farm near Trimdon Village. I later worked at the Palace Cinema in Wingate as a projectionist with Walter Gibbon and Eric Smith. My abiding memory of Station Town is the rows of streets around Rodridge Street, most of them inhabited by Miners, and the great feeling of 'togetherness' about the place.
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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