Nostalgic memories of Witton Gilbert's local history
Share your own memories of Witton Gilbert 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 1 - 10 of 13 in total
HELLO AGAIN, CAN YOU REMEMBER THE PRISONERS OF WAR USED TO GET DROPPED OFF AT THE TOP OF THE STREET BY ARMY WAGON AND THEN PICKED BY TRACTOR AND TAKEN UP TO HANKEYS FARM UP THE NORE LANE TO WORK ON THE FARM. PLEASE LOOK IN YOUR MESSAGES AND ACCOUNT ON YOUR FRANCIS FRITH WEBSITE YOU HAVE NOT READ MY MESSAGE. GOOD LUCK, DAVID.
I grew up in Witton Gilbert, Rose Lea in the 1980/90s. (not really 'history' I know) But my childhood memories, which always make me think of it as a small close village with so much character, are the milkman, Tommy (I think) (who in my mind looked like Jack Nicholson!), an oldish man who used to ride past on the road everyday on an old bike with a basket of pigeons on the front. The coal men who everyone new, ...see more
In the early years, when I worked for the N C B at Langley Park Pit, all the lads, myself included, looked up to the big coal hewers, Garforth, Calland, Gardner and Co, but there was another fella there that we would like to be a friend of but were too young. His name was Dennis James, he joined the army and when he came home on leave he brought with him a monkey. This monkey kept getting out into the streets. ...see more
We have read the memory about the Coal Motor and George Garforth remembers the following: I remember the Coal Motor very well but not in the detail that you do David. I do remember that there were 2 or 3 lads that followed it round so that they could put the coal into coal houses for a shilling or two. One of the lads was called Joe Smith who was handicapped quite severely. He was the one I chose to ...see more
The blacksmith's shop was at Jack Geddes' farm opposite the Quakers' burial ground. I used to go in and watch sometimes when my brother and I were bringing milk from Cockburns farm further along on the other side of the road. I lived in Park View till 1948. I remember Geddes had a great big Irish wolfhound called Ruff, he used to sleep under the table that the milk churns stood on waiting for collection. My ...see more
I worked at Langley pit and coming home one morning from work on my motor bike, a 350 AJS, I hit the milk cart, Barney was dragging Toby across the road in front of Nuttalls shop having come from hillside, no one hurt, head ight broken, happy days.
The stream in front of the war memorial ran down to the Browney river a few hundred yards below the Dean, where half of the Witton school kids learned to swim in deep pools created by dams made by Harry Bell and Davy Reynolds, they were much older than me and both very good swimmers and catapault makers. A lot of local familys picnicked at the bathing holes or the green bridge. Mr John Holmes, farmer, owned ...see more
I remember this photo well as I was born and brought up in Witton Gilbert. I was born in 1949 in Cheviot House at the bottom of Greens Opening, a very short walk from the Dene. I went to the "Tin School" which was the Infants school and now forms part of the by-pass which desecrated the village. I was told there had been a murder in the house in the dene which is why it was left to go derelict. ...see more
My great great grandfather Joseph Curran was a police officer and it appears as though he was the local police officer for Witton Gilbert. He certainly lived in Witton Gilbert in the 1881 and 1891 census but I have an article from the Police Chronicle July 1894 where PC Curran moved from Witton Gilber to Bearpark and was presented a watch and chain by the residents of Witton Gilbert, this was done at a ...see more
My great-great-grandfather, John Mingins, was a tailor living in Witton Gilbert with his family. Unfortunately, in December 1853 an Irish navvy, Michael O'Brien, picked a fight with John outside the butcher's shop and consequently John was injured and died one week later. Michael O'Brien was found guilty of manslaughter at Durham Assizes and I assume he served the appropriate sentence. I live in East Anglia but intend to make a pilgrimage to Witton and would love to see some early photos of it.