Nostalgic memories of Washington's local history
Share your own memories of Washington 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 1 - 10 of 17 in total
I was born in my nanas house at Waterloo where my dad Harold bell had lived as a child with his 4 sisters Eleanor dot violet and Eileen he married my mam Winnie and moved to Brady sq in 1955 we lived there till I was 10 in Clyde tTce no 4 I think upstairs, loo in yard
I remember the kitchen cabnit and geezer which basically was the kitchen
I attended Biddick school at the bottom of the street in 1962 does anyone ...see more
I was born in Birtley (were my mam come from, at my grannies home). I was brought back to my mam and dad's house in Washington (Viola Street). I was only a few days old. When I was one we moved to Wood Terrace to a 3 bedroom house, my grandad Henry Smith lived with us. When I married in 1976 it was from this house. Sadly my grandad died in 1982 so my mam and dad moved into a 2 bedroom house. Surprise, it was back to ...see more
When I got married in March 1976 at Washington Village (church on the hill) we held our wedding reception here, with a sit down meal for 60 guests. My mam and dad often went to the Welfare on a Saturday night, and we used to go to the dinner dances they held there. Now it is a sad looking place.
I was born and bred in Washington, in fact one of my claims to fame is I was born behind Woolworths, well No.3 House Terrace. My Dad lived in Washington for almost all of his life and when he past away (2002) he left a hole in my life which can never be filled. One strange thing is how he appeared in this postcard wearing a black suit in front of a telegraph pole. It has brought back so many memories not just of ...see more
After the level train crossing was the off-licence which my grandad called the 'Long Pull', I don't know if that was it's right name. Then after that was Rutters shop which sold everything under the sun, then Bells the butchers and pie maker, then over the road was a Methodist Church which I used to go to later as a youth club. Opposite Rutters was a sweet shop then houses. In the same road from where the picture ...see more
My dad, Arthur Nesbitt, used to work at the co-op with the horses when he was around 14 or 15 and used to take his horse, Bobby, to the blacksmith at-the smithy. He often said he used to run from Spout Lane with the horse to the smithy and quite often the horse used to turn and bite him, seemingly Bobby was difficult sometimes. He loved working with the horses but as he got older, after doing national service in the R A F, he turned to driving wagons which he did for around 45 years.
I lived and went to Biddick Junior School, very close to here. I believed at the time, it was Brady Square (not Brady's) but learned later that it was named Brady's Square because the newsagent's shop there was originally 'Brady's'.
Born in 1943 and living in 'Washington Station' (now Columbia). I remember watching horses being shod here many times, when I was a child. I still remember the fierce heat from the furnace, with the Blacksmith and the horses wringing wet with sweat.
My father, Joseph MacNab Sproul, his brothers, sisters and parents always lived and were born in Washington, they are all gone now and I am trying to find some information on them. My grandparents were Samuel and Ellan, I was told by my cousin that there is a Sproul on the North East War Memorial right side bottom, left list.
I have been trying to find photos and addresses but I'm not getting anywhere, if you ...see more
I used to go to Usworth Park to play football or go bird nesting down the planton at Waterloo. I also used to go round collecting bottles to take back to shop and get the money for the pictures. We had 3 picture houses in Washington, the Kings, the Queens and the Regal. I went to Saturday matinees and saw Flash Gordon and Hopalong Cassidy.