On Bedlington.uk Now...

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) @Justine MatchettLooking at those two photos, Alan, I think they show exactly the same buildings with Milburn House first on the left. I've had another think about the location and today I've compared OS maps with the enumerators route on the 1901 1911 and 1921 census returns and also the 1939 register. I'm now inclined to think that Garden House maybe still exists and could be the white house (albeit renovated or even rebuilt) immediately behind the bungalow adjacent to Milburn House. Looking at maps I can see that there has been a building on that spot, immediately behind the Railway Tavern (formerly Railway Hotel then Railway Inn) since the 1860s. Here's a map from 1898. I've arrowed the building in red: The map below is from 1924 (simply because it has the best detail). The Railway Inn I've arrowed green. What I believe to be garden House I've arrowed red, and I've arrowed an L-shaped building to its rear, on the same plot of land, which I'll come back to. Note that the present day bungalow isn't there. That corner where it stands appears to be land belonging to the house. The Railway Tavern is now demolished to make way for the new car park but the side street behind it, leading from the main road and giving access to the two buildings is still there. I had a little wander down that side street (with the help of Google) and I could clearly see that the L-shaped building is still there and seems to be very old. If William Graham, Benjamin's father, ran a carting business and later a market gardening business (at his home address, according to the 1921 census) then that would be the ideal place - maybe stables for horses when he was carting. The name Garden House, from 1911 when William was a carter, may well be a topographic name - referring to the fact that it was the only building there with a garden which faced the main street. making it easily identifiable. Look at the old maps and you'll see that all other buildings had a back yard and/or an allotment garden along the length of what is now Melrose Villas and Melrose Terrace. All in all, the census returns show that the Graham family have lived on the same spot between the Railway Tavern and, after its construction, Milburn House. From 1911 it had the address Garden House. On early maps this is the only house adjacent to the Railway Tavern. What do you think? Could this be Garden House? Anybody living in the area today who fancies knocking on the door and asking? I'd love to know.

Welcometo the group @John Cole

she did indeed, and remembered a lot of bairns she delivered, she remembered me as easily delivered but my younger brother as a squealing problem😀

Can't find the old photo that I mentioned online so I will have to wait until I can access the Evan Martin books and look throuth them. What I did find on the FB group Bygone Bedlington was 'now & then' image that @John Fox (foxy) had posted, in 2016, showing Melrose Villas before the bungalows that are now there were buit. Foxy dosen't have a date of the old photo just his scribble on the photo (cos people kept downloading his old photos, having them printed and sold on ebay) :- So is the first house on the left of Foxy's photo Garden House ?

Hi again Justine, for the Graham family I have census records 1911, 1921 and 1939 (the pre-war register). For Minnie, I have census records 1921 and , I believe, 1939. I also have a birth index for Minnie which would enable you to obtain a copy of her birth certificate. I'll send them to your inbox (the envelope top right of screen).

Thanks Alan! I hadn't seen Rothley Shield. Bernicia is also still there but now has a wall plaque to the right of the door.

@Justine Matchett after @Canny lass posted her comment walong with the map I had a look (as CL has done) on Google street view and I zoomed in and took a screen shot of three of the houses in Melrose Villas that have the old names displayrd on the glass pannels above the front doors :- No 1 Milburn House N0 4 Rothley Shield No 8 Creswell House I can'r remember the bungalows from when I was 12 years old in October1960, but that's nothing unusual for me not to remember. I do rememer seeing an old photo (probably in a book by local man Evan Martin, showing Melrose Villars when they were fairly new. I will have a search through my stuff and see what house are in the photo.

Just to be sure that Minnie was a housekeeper at this address I looked up her probate records, where you can always find the address at which the deceased lived. There an be no doubt that this was the correct person.

This is tremendous, thanks so much. Anything you can send me would be greatly appreciated.

PS If you want any of the documentation to prove the Graham family residence was 'Garden' House let me know and I'll send them to you.

Hi Justine, welcome to the forum. I'm pretty certain that I can help you with that. Benjamin Graham never lived at Garton House. That is a spelling mistake or a printing error in the newspaper article. Benjamin lived at GARDEN House in Bedlington Station (often referred to as West Sleekburn). I don't know if you know the area but I'll try to explain its location. The site may well be occupied by a bungalow today but the remainder of the neighbouring houses are certainly still there. Benjamin's father moved into Garden House when it was newly built around 1910-12 and the family were still living there in 1939. Benjamins father, originally a carting contractor, branched out into market gardening and possibly the house got its name from that. The house was situated between the Railway Tavern (which was located on the site of the new car park) and Milburn House which is now number 2 Melrose Villas. Here is a map of the area Railway Tavern marked with black + and the 9 houses of Melrose Villas, marked in red. previously had the address 'Melrose Terrace, plus house name only (no number). These names were (in order from the Railway Tavern to Bank Top): Garden House, Milburn House, Wesley House, Prior House, Rothley Shield, Bernicia, Thurston Villa, Gladstone House and Cresswell House. Milburn House, Bernicia and Cresswell House have retained their names. Milburn House is arrowed in black and Cresswell House is arrowed in yellow. The adjoining terraced row, Melrose Terrace is marked in Green. Here are some pictures. I think Garden House may have been replaced by the bungalow. I myself have no recollection of a bungalow there but perhaps someone else can throw a bit of light on when it was built. However, the other houses, all built within a couple of years can give you an idea of how Garden House was. Melrose Villas looking towards Bank Top. The first of the 2 storey, semi-detached houses is Milburn House: If you zoom in you can see the name above the door. The last of those 2 storey houses is Cresswell House and the name is still above the door:

@Justine Matchett - can't remember the name Garton House, or the house owner Benjamin Graham, ever been mentioned before. Did a search on this group and the local FB geoup, Bygone Bedlington, but no results returned. No doubt you have Googled/online searche for Garton House and nothing returned for Bedlington. Doubt if the house name would get mentioned on the old maps but i will have a look. Would it be Ok if I download your newspaper article and post it on the Bygone Bedlington group to see if any member has heard of garton House?

I am hoping that someone can help me find Garton House, or at least where it used to be as I think it may have been demolished. It was occupied by Benjamin Graham in the 1940’s and his housekeeper (Minnie Pipe) was my grandma. Any info on the house or Minnie would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Answers to the New Year Quiz: 1. Brazil 2. Italy 3. Scotland 4. Nyepi (one of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced!) 5. Russia 6. Mexico (but even other Latin American countries such as Ecuador and Columbia) 7. February 16/Fire Horse 8. Philippines 9. Buckets full of dirty water 10. Haiti 11. It is forbidden to conduct or participate in a wedding 12. The Danes 13. Jump as high as they can 14. Wearing red underwear 15. Always at the Vernal Equinox, whatever the date 16. The Catalonia region of Northern Spain 17. Bread 18. Onions or pomegranates 19. A Southern dish based on a West African pea stew that’s meant to bring good luck and prosperity—the peas represent coins, and the green stands for dollar bills. 20. In the icy waters of the Firth of Forth, Scotland. (one of the coldest things I’ve ever experienced!)

I understand Alan, My windows Vista is on old computer but not on line, can't beet some of those old programs. Steady daily snow 2-3" here, -20c keeps the mosquitos away.

It started snowing here at 9pm last night and we have 6-7 inches

Knowledge is never a heavy burden to bear!! Just think how all this new found information can be used to impress friends and relatives!

It did Vic. Don't have access to my old photoshopping software (Microsoft Digital Image Pro 10 on Windows Vista) at the moment so I am having to play around with some other free software, Paint 3D, and it is challenging but does help fill in some time. It started snowing in the NE this morning so we have our first snow of the season, about 1 1/2 inches

That kept you busy Alan? Thank you Canny lass, I look forward to the annual brain check.