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Witton Park memories

Here are memories of Witton Park and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Witton Park or a Witton Park photo.

The Family Of:Charlton Liddle And Jane Ann Pearson (nee Atkinson)

Hi, I am researching my Family History in and around Howden le Wear/Witton le Wear/Crook/Weardale and I have had contact from a member of my Great Grandmother's Brother's family who were living in the area of Witton Park in 1901 and 1911. On the 1901 Census, Charlton Liddle Pearson and his family were living at:35, Garden Street, Witton Park St.Paul, in the Parish of:Escomb. On the 1911 Census, the family were living at:2, Viaduct Cottages, Witton Park. Would anyone be able to 'pin-point' either of these places for me? I think I may have got quite close to Viaduct Cottages, but would like to know more. In 1901, Charlton was a 'Drain Pipe Maker' and in 1911 he was an 'unemployed Surface Worker'. One of his sons was named:Alonzo, which was quite unusual for the time.

His son, Elijah and his family ventured as far as Bedfordshire, which is just down the road from me, in Cambridge. ... Read more

Memories of County Durham

Infants School

Born and bred in Red Houses (then Red House Estate) at a time when everyone took time and effort to keep their home and gardens beautiful.  Everyone knew everybody and it was a community that looked after each other.  I remember going down to the infants' school (just off from cricket field) having a birthday and being given a cardboard cake by the teacher to open and take out sweets.  Before Dale View was built that field had a lovely bank and at Easter we used to roll our paste eggs down the bank.  Going over quarry heads and picking all the rosehips and taking them to Mrs. Hart in South Road to cash in.

Toft Hill

My nana and grandad lived at Toft Hill and although we were Forces children, the trip back home to Toft Hill was always brilliant. Sat in front of the open fire with my Nana's home-cut chips (my nana was called Jean Alderson and my grandad Norman Alderson). My Aunty Ann ran the sweet shop down the road and my Uncle Gary would be down the farm. My Uncle Graham still lives on Toft Hill. I miss those times so much. Fab memories.

Family Residence

My Mother's maiden name was Mary Baker who lived in Witton Park . She had a brother, Jack who lived in Witton le Weir. He was a church going man and ran a clothing business from his house (at first going house to house with a suitcase!). He had a family of 2 boys and 2 girls. Isobelle, lived in the village up until her death a few years ago. His other daughter, Lillian, died tragically when she was young. She was drowned whilst swimming in the weir and was caught in the strong current. He had 2 sons, Desmond and (cannot remember his name). I used to spend my holidays with my mother's sister, Elsie, who lived in Garden Street in Witton Park. We used to visit Uncle Jack on a Sunday and I remember going all dressed in our Sunday best and were not allowed to play games or do anything frivolous. They were very happy memories for all... Read more

The Back House

I was born in Sedgefield and lived in North Bitchburn until I was 7 years old, me and my twin sister Elizabeth and my mam amd dad who worked at the pipe yard. We lived in no 1a Constantine Terrace, it was the back half of the house. Our cousins lived in Low Row, so did my granda and mother Coates (my nana). I have some happy memories of Bitchburn as when we moved away we came back every six weeks holiday, we played down the Naxy, were chased by the pit ponies and climbed the monkey trees. All the kids played out until it was dark, we played hide and seek along Low Row from no 1 which was Grants End as we called it to no 20 which was Peaks End. We used to take our granda's beer bottles back to Martha in the Red Lion and buy crisps with the money then run round the back and get the beer bottles back and go in and buy more... Read more

Grocery Stores

Newgate Street 1914
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My grandfather Thomas Edwin Mantle had a grocery and creamery in Newgate Street. He died before I was born but strangely my father Herbert Clayton eventually had his own store in Newgate Street, it was called H Clayton esquire, family grocer. I was two years old when we moved to Redcar in Yorshire. So I have no memories of my birthplace.

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