Victoria Terrace

A Memory of Newburn.

Thanks to everyone who sent their memories of Newburn and Millfield, it brings it all back! I lived at 16 victoria terrace from about 1955 until it was demolished. I remembered how overcrowded we must have been in a one bedroomed house, what with my mam, dad, me and my brother in the only bedroom, and the front room occupied by my newlywed aunt and her husband(who was doing his national service), what a way to start married life.Thay eventually got a flat in Westmacott Street(near the stench from the pigstys).
I remember the Bateys and the Tates, Ann Veitch used to babysit me when I was about 5 or 6.
Can anyone remember Mrs Peekers shop in a bus at Millfield, sold sweets and maybe cigarettes I think?
When we first got the telly in it was a big event with people who didn't have it yet coming for the evening to watch programs like Rawhide and Waggon train.
My cousins use to live in a row of pit cottages that were further down from the Leazes towards the riverside. When did they get demolished, they were nice homes!
Everyone knew the Rendels, Duggie used to work in the pit with my dad.
We use to take a picknick consisting of a bottle of tap water and bread and sugar sandwiches to the burn next to Samples stables,or for a big treat, we would walk with my,to Ryton park, or to the Shuggie boats on the willows. I can just remember the hoppins at the riverside what year did that stop?and the Sunday school trip up the river on a boat to the coast. What about the winters didn't we have the best snow for sledging from the clay field down Millfield bank.
Happy days.
Claire Ross nee Adams

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