On Bedlington.uk Now...

Ditto Canada. Our government is also pouring BILLIONS of dollars into foreign companies to build batteries but we are still to see production! or any significant improvement in battery technology that make EV's viable in our climate and geography. Steam and electricity were the automobile preferred means of power until gasoline/petrol took over, (gasoline/petrol was a discarded byproduct) when and if they improve EV's to be at least as practical in all environments, and not just city driving. Industry will be clamouring to build batteries and not having to be bribed too! I don't see ANY proposals for remote or emergency electrical generation that presently uses IC. I rely on my small IC generator for our power outages, especially at -40c or +30c! I can see small nuclear power packs! I still think tidal power is still the largest unharness source of global power! I do hope that the proposed Data Center is built, even if the employment numbers aren't as large as advertised, there is still construction and then maintenance.

Pity they aren't interested in establishing themselves here! Northvolt premises should be available soon! They promised the earth but despite having thousands employed they haven't been able to produce more than 5% of what they promised. BMW, one of their biggest investors has withdrawn an order for billions because Northvolt simply isn't meeting the promised production and Scania have done likewise. Plans for a further three factories has been placed on hold. Soon there won't be any need for batteries here as sales of EVs has plummeted because of the uncertainty. Having said that, it hasn't helped that Northvolt has had a spate of 'mysterious deaths 'at their factory this year or that petrol prices have reached an all-time low.

£10bn data centre investment in Northumberland shows UK ‘open for business’ says Starmer https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2024-09-26/10bn-data-centre-investment-shows-uk-open-for-business-says-starmer?fbclid=IwY2xjawFiDcZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHW3u9BRGSAaD82D8QwcSDSH0w9O2LcCAJjyWLdRLgGKUGoW4GQmosIAKhw_aem_hZFxFJyrdyhIAdR82QTzsA

👍

Thank you, Alan & Canny Lass. I’m sorry about Derek’s death. We shared some good information. I’ll use the picture, and I will credit this forum. I think that’s the best compromise.

No way!

Am getting dafter - I forgot all about that link

This link that you posted in topic: Obituary still works. https://www.newmp.org.uk/memimages/05. Enlistment Project Compiled Version.pdf

@HeatherW -sadly Rigger - Derek Johnstone - passed away suddenly in early 2023. One of the last projects Derek started, and completed, was Bedlington Soldiers Who Died in WW1 that @Symptoms came accross and posted in the History Hollow section. Unfortunately the link that Symptoms posted nolonger takes to the web site that Derek created - it taked tou to :- @Canny lass do you ave an alternative link to that site that Derek created?

Hello. I posted on this forum a few years ago and exchanged some info with member @Rigger. Is he/she still around? He posted a photo of the Anvil Inn, Guide Post, which is useful in my researchers. I'm updating my website and the website designer is checking I have copyright to use the photo he posted. I just want to check it's ok to use it, and I will credit him/her as owner of the pic. I think it's good etiquette to credit - it's not right to go lifting stuff off the web. I don't make any money from this, so this is really a courtesy Thanks, all.

@Miner Granddaughter Do you know about the Durham Mining Museum? The site is run by volunteers and it gives info on all the mines in the Northumberland and Durham area. This is a direct link to the Doctor Pit = one of the bedlington area collieries :- http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/b022.htm

Thank you, at least I will know where it was situated when I next visit.

Hi @Miner Granddaughter and welcome to the forum. Bridge Inn, East End, Bedlington has nothing to do with Hartford Bridge Inn. Bridge Inn, East End was located on the main street (Front Street) in Bedlington’s East End on the corner of Walker Terrace. The following map, dated 1859, is not particularly clear but Bridge Inn is in fact named. It can be seen somewhat better, though not named, on the map from 1860. The best map I can find is 1897 which shows the Bridge Inn (marked red) and the Wheatsheaf, its close neighbour, marked blue, on the corner of Chapel Row. In the extract from Evan Martin’s book, which Alan posted above, Robert Leslie is named as the innkeeper of Bridge Inn, East End. I found him in the 1881 census in the building marked red on the above maps - on the corner of Front Street and Walker Terrace.

Thank you for such a comprehensive reply. The area round Ridge Terrace makes sense as the pit is nearby - they were coal miners.

Thank you for your help. It could well be the Hartford Bridge Inn. I did look through the albums before posting, but didn't make the connection with the name Hartford as a prefix. It looks to be in the right area, though.

@Miner Granddaughter - had a search of the group and no trace that I can see for Charlton Buildings or Ridge Cottage. You may have already looked at the old maps but just incase you haven't the following show the Ridge Farm on the 1858 map and Ridge Farm + Ridge Terrace on the 1896 map but Ridge Cottage not identified. The West End of the town is the area around what is now known as The Red Lion and down the West End Front street.

It's horrendous to think that is just a couple of generations ago. We have it very easy with today's working conditions yet there are still those who complain.

Oh happy days! That brought back a few memories

@Miner Granddaughter - welcome to the group. I don't research via census records etc. but I have looked at a few books on Bedlingon and the Bridge Inn has been mentioned but I can't remeber an exact location having been identified. A Bridge Inn is also in a list of pubs that was posted by @Reedy - the list was one made by his dad who lived on the Bebside side of the river Blyth in the 1930's near the Furnace Bridge and all the familie's in that area were rehoused on the new council housing estates that were built after WWII. A Bridge Inn on Front Street East is listed in the Bennett's Business directory of 1905. I don't have that directory but I have extracts from it on Bedlington :- I know a few members have looked on various old maps and as far as I can remember any Public House , marked 'PH' on the old maps have been identified. In the Gallery section of this group under the Historic Bedlington section is an album 'Bedlington drinking establishments - Then & Now' that was created with any old images of pubs that we could find. The last entry in the album there is posting for the Jollyanglers Inn next to Hartford Bridge and Hartford Bridge is at the bottom of the Bedlington Bank that is reached when you go past Bedlington Front Street East. I can't remember where the map extract was found but it shows 'The Hartford Bridge Inn' :- This is a list of drinking establishments that Evan Martin published in one of his books on Bedlingtonshire :- Can't think of any other info that has been posted but I will have a search and let you know if anything fond.

All true CL,and Vic!..not so long ago,my GrandMother was just one of a set of children aged 14 yrs old working at Ashington colliery with the ShaftSinkers when they sunk the later shafts..the Men did the hard work drilling and firing the bottom up but the lassies,because they were small and took no room up in the confined space,were employed to fill the basket with the stones that were fired up.That would be in the very early 1900's..Ashington was five pits in one with five shafts ...5000 miners..and the biggest mining complex in the world in those days.

my Father was coal minor at isabella pit Jonty jobson as kids the joppa's would steak in and nick the pit props and cut them up for firewood we were chased by the caretaker one night as it happens we got a good hiding good old days the gala every year my first taste of caramac 1950's