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An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

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  4. Memories

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.

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 Washington

Displaying Memories 11 - 17 of 17 in total

The Past
I was born at Usworth colliery and lived at Old Row. I went to Usworth Colliery School and when I left there I went to work at Usworth pit.
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Added 14 March 2011

Gilbert Scott My Father And Me 1915 To 1998
My dad was born 1915 and I was born 1947. At the age of seven he went blind so he went to Queen Victoria Blind School in Newcastle till he was 15 years old. When he came out he learned to play the accordion, he went round the clubs in the North East and played to people in the pubs and clubs. When he was 6 he went blackberry picking on the Glebe pit railway line with my aunt, there was ...see more
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Added 31 August 2010

The Gassy Gutter
Does anyone else remember the gassy gutter as we called it at Coxgreen? I still remember the lunatics sliding down it into the River Wear. This is before the footbridge was built and there was just a rowboat ferry there, it was actually the outlet for the effluent from the Washington Chemicle Co and I dread to think what was in it. We also used to play on the "space ships" (old storage tanks etc) on top of the ...see more
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Added 27 August 2010

The Waterside In The 1950s
I lived at High Barmston Farm down the Waterside and had a fantastic childhood there before moving to Alnwick when I was 11. In the 1950s there were loads of houses down the Waterside and Coxgreen. Sadly not much remains of the Waterside I knew. I remember Blast Row, Wilden Terrace, Middlefield Row and many other houses in the area. A friend of mine lived in Staithes House which is still there. It is a ...see more
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Added 08 June 2010

Washington Brady Square
One of three children who lived at Hillthorn Terrace, just next to the railway lines. I can remember as if it was yesterday when the coal train used to travel from Washington "F" Pit down towards Brady Square, through the houses on route to join the main line. We often used to jump on the coal wagons as a dare or place a penny on the railway lines to flatten it. I can still remember a lot of the kids ...see more
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Added 18 April 2010

Margaret
Margaret lived at 20 West View in 1951 and came regularly to Gateshead. She had a friend who lived near Saltwell Park. When I was called up to do my National Service on 4/10/1951 we were pen friends but she stopped writing after a good while. I went down to Washington for the first time in many years in 1979 and walked up to the door where Margaret lived at 20 West View but I didn't knock. 20 years later I was in ...see more
Washington, the Village Green c1955
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Added 29 July 2009

Washington Chemical Works
I was born at 55 Pattinson Town about 20 yards from the chemical works which manufactured products from asbestos.  Most of my mother's side of the family worked at the factory and have since died of asbestos related diseases. I am surprised that no mention or photographs exist of this factory.  I used to pass through the village green going to Washington Glebe secondary school.  The school had terrible ...see more
Washington, the Village Green c1955
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Added 28 May 2007