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An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

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Nostalgic memories of Hamsterley's local history

Share your own memories of Hamsterley 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.

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Add Your Memory for Hamsterley

Displaying all 5 Memories

Family Glasper
Lived in derwent crescent, remember the miners club up the hill, the railway wasn't operational when I visited and my sister and I used to go riding along the old track. My mum Sarah (read) glasper used to play bingo at the top of the hill leading to milkwell burn, Danny and Mary Shaw lived there with their two boys Tony and Geoffrey. I used to visit for summer holidays late 50s and trying hard to ...see more
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Added 04 February 2020

Memories Of Low Westwood 1955 1966
I was born at Low Westwood, a small mining village in the North East of England in 1955 – well, when I say I was born there, that’s not entirely true. Unlike today, children were born at home not in hospital and I was actually born in my Gran’s spare bedroom in the nearby market town of Consett at 2.00 one October Wednesday afternoon. The only “medical” intervention was ...see more
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Added 24 June 2013

Hard But Happy Days
I was working at Hamsterley colliery in 1963 to 1967, pony driving and putting tubs. Putting was sometimes hard work. All the pitmen were honest and good workers, pit ponies were our friends as they made the money for you, they say hard work never killed anybody, but go and look at any graveyard in northwest Durham and see the ages that they died - all for coal. The lads that hewed the ...see more
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Added 29 February 2012

The 1950s
Although I didn't live at Hamsterley Colliery, I spent all my school holidays with my grandmother, Mary Willis who lived in the top bungalow at Derwent Haven. She lived to be nearly a 100 which I suppose justified placing old people's bungalows at the top of a steep hill. My paternal grandfather and great-grandfather both worked at Hamsterley Colliery and my great-great-grandfather worked at ...see more
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Added 01 November 2011

Childhood Memories
I was born at 27 Langdale Terrace in 1963 at my lovely grandma and granda's house, Vera and Harry Kirtley. Granda worked at Westwood pit then Hamstley colliery and when that shut he worked at Eden. I remember standing near the old post office on the main road when the pit ponies came by, I was only small then but all the village turned out to see them pass. I don't know what year it was but ...see more
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Added 17 April 2011