The Council Houses

A Memory of Esh Winning.

i moved with my mother two sisters and brother to esh winning in 1956 I think. We had a terraced house in Evenwood Road where my step grandmother Ethel Galley also lived.
My mother managed to get a three bedroom council house at the Oaks on the outskirts of the village towards Waterhouses. I thought the council estate was very smart which I think it was at the time being fairly newly built. All open plan and modern.
I have many happy memories of playing around the area, where we had a lot of freedom to roam and have fun - there were few cars around then. I remember one of our neighbours Mr Berry had a car and it was quite a big deal. I walked with my older sister to the school in Esh Winning which i thought was quite a long way and an adventure in itself. I remember the reception class had a rocking horse but I cant remember ever being allowed to ride on it! I really cant remember the teachers names however. i was quite happy there. i went to see 'The King and I' in the cinema next to the school although I also remember it being a shirt factory!
My Aunty mary Galley lived in the house we vacated in Evenwood Road and another Aunt and Uncle, Ethel and Jonathan Hewitson lived in Station View. They seemed very old to me and rather serious. My older sister went to the secondary school which I think was in College view but I may be wrong. I seem to remember going to the 'Pineapple Club' which seemed very sophisticated to me but I think it was probably part of the working mens club. A highlight was a visit to the Co-op department store which seemed huge to me at the time. I went with my mother to collect her 'divi' - quite an occasion as was the visit to Father Xmas there. I think both this and the council house has now been knocked down but they were both surrounded by such lovely countryside I hope they have made good use of the land. I remember the station and am sure i went on a train from there to the seaside. There was also once a train to the 'Big Meeting' (miners gala) although I was never allowed to go to that until we had moved out of the area.
My sister Mary married the son Of Mr Raine who had the newsagents and hardware store, and was married in the methodist chapel. The chapel was a big part of our social life with the Sunday school every week and the 'anniversary' every summer. I remember going out singing hymns at Easter with a mobile organ and there were many chapel fetes, My mother always made us fantastic fancy dress costumes out of crepe paper. We moved to a house in Belmont nearer to Durham when I was 8 in 1962 so i was only there for 6 years but they were as they say my formative years and so they are very important to me. My maiden name was Fawell so if anyone remembers me or that time get in touch.