Nostalgic memories of Stanhope's local history

Share your own memories of Stanhope 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 41 - 50 of 59 in total

I have read the memories of this school with tears in my eyes. I am 72 years of age, and I was sent there in 1948. If the Mr Bowls was the same man I met, then God help him, I still carry the hate for this man in my heart, he was the most evil man, the only thing I have or ever will hate. If anyone reads this who was there in 1948-51 they will remember me. I was made to carry a pair of size ten boots every ...see more
I was in Castle School from 1961 to 1964. It was good at times and also bad. Mr Bowls was the head, and didn't we know it. I had the walking stick on many a Friday morning after assembly. I cannot remember any names from people there. 12 months after leaving I went in the Merchant Navy on the catering side, but had a car crash in 1969 which ended my career. It must have all changed now, being flats and all.
HI KEN, CANT REMEMBER U NAME, I WAS THERE 1963 TO 1969, I KNOW MADDISON. EX ARMY SGT. I REMEMBER 2 BOTHERS IN HIS HOUSE( HALF BROTHERS MAY BE ).MY NAME IS PETER SMITH, BEWDLEY?. TAKE CARE M8 .XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I think I must have talked to about three ex-Castle School kids since I wrote my memories about the the school. It was opened by an Act of Government during the Second World War in 1942. I can remember one of the teachers telling me it was also partly used as a hospital as well for injured troops. I'll give credit to a lot of the teachers and staff and say they had a difficult job to deal with all these ...see more
Now then, what year was Stanhope cut off on all sides, Crawley had snow almost up to the telephone line, going to Frostley was impossible, in fact it was about 6 days that we were stuck in for, latest jobs were snow clearing from most footpaths. I remember Mr Fleaming and Mr Corner and oh yes Mr Pervis from Hartlepool (are you still in Hartlepool?). You know me, I was a small kid, I was in Crawley ...see more
now then what year was stanhope cut off on all sides crawley had snow allmost up to the telethone line going to frostley was immpossible in fact it was about 6 days we were stuck in for latest jobs snow clearing most footpaths but mr fleaming and mr corner oh yes mr pervis from hartlepool {are u still in hartlepool}you no me small kid was in crawley house lived on the top dorm shall i tell u who i ...see more
ok you loti do remmber some ofyou stanhope was not that bad their were places that you could not get out like acliffe near darlington {mr corner}and if i remmber 1 in middelsboro }mr pervis} you no me but you dont know wereim at i also know a few facts like who stole cars in stanhope if i remmber at least 2 cars bet the locals were happy when it closed down wish you would meet up some day you know scare stanhope day 300 ...see more
So what, you got the cane, you deserved it, you were a baben. The locals semed to hate us, the school was hated by most of the local villagers, we brought them crime, burglary, theft, the lot. Was I glad when I left, too right. Bye bye Stanhope, hello freedom. How many of the lads who were in Stanhope re-offended, I bet you there are loads locked up right now, in HMP Durham or other prisons in the UK. I think ...see more
Hi, I'm Kenny Melvin, nickname by the school 'nimble Nat'. I was in there from 1962 until 1967 in the house called Horsley. I remember my first day I got there, one lad would look after you for a few weeks till you got settled in, he told me if I came across the headmaster, then called a Mr Bowles, look him in the eye and open your mouth when talking to him. I was unlucky to meet him on the stairs ...see more
Well, I have been reading some articles posted on this website, about Castle School in Stanhope from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Well, I was in Castle School from 1958 - 1962. I was in because I was a badden, lol, just like those who have posted messages on here. When I was driven up the driveway to the main entrance, I looked, and thought "This is not a school, it's Colditz". Reading some of the ...see more