17 Ceagside Gardens

A Memory of Lobley Hill.

1960 to 1983. I was born at the QE in October 1960. My parents lived with my grandparents at number 17. My grandparents moved into the house when it was new (built by Leech) in the late 30s. They intended to buy but the war came along and Leech offered them the opportunity to rent, which they did all their lives. Granda was a painter and signwriter so wasn't allowed to go to war. He painted the ships at Wallsend. However, he became a sergeant in the home guard and used to fir the gun 'big bertha' on the field between Hillhead school and St John Fisher School.
A few months after I was born, my parent's bought 19 Cragside Gdns. My sisters were born there. At number 15 my godparents lived with their daughter Jackie who was a good friend of mine (born in July 1960). My best friend was Eleanor Morton who lived at 1 Belsay Gdns. The gardens of the two properties met at the back. I loved Cragside Gardens. We used to go to the butchers at the end of the street for roast pork and stuffing stottie cakes - bliss. We moved in 1965 to Bensham but my grandma stayed at Cragside Gardens for the rest of her life. She moved into Cragside Court in the latter years of her life. I loved her house - no central heating. It always was a happy house which I look back with fondness on. Old fireplace that you could cook on with an oven. Fireplace in main bedroom etc but great and happy days there.

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