Workhouse

[oakeyboy]

Was there ever a workhouse or something similar in bedlington?

[ex Bedlingtonian]

Was there ever a workhouse or something similar in bedlington?

I think the building which was demolished to make way for the council offices was a workhouse. Maybe someone can confirm this.

[oakeyboy]

I thought that aswell but I haven't been able to find any evidence to show that there was one. Have searched the internet and could find ones in Morpeth, rothbury and Bellingham but not in Bedlington. I have also tried looking at http://communities.northumberland.org.uk but still nothing. I would be quite interested to know if anyone knew where I could find some info. Thank You, oakeyboy

[Andy Millne]

Found this which shows "Mitchell Robert, governor of the workhouse" which would suggest one did exist.

That's the Parson & White trade directory from 1827.

[Vic Patterson]

My wife's grand parents lived in it, it was called the "Old Hall" sort of a multi dwelling place, she remembers going through an archway to a courtyard that had about eight dwellings. not sure about it being called a work house.

[oakeyboy]

I have so far gathered from a map from 1860 the position of the workhouse. It clearly shows the eight dwellings Vic has mentioned. I am not sure however at this moment in time whether it was the WORKHOUSE demolished to make way for the council offices. Is there a difference between the workhouse and bedlington old hall? Perhaps someone could enlighten me on this matter. If anyone would like to see what I mean then please go to http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk. In my last post I made a typing error in the wesite address so sorry. If you enter the site and click on bedlington then ordnance maps and click on the first 1860 map you will see Old hall marked and a courtyard (wilson's yard) with a smithy. Thank you to everyone that has so far posted. Keep the information coming! oakeyboy

[mickypotts]

How about the old houses that sat across from Whitley memorial just down from Reddifusion, there was an Arch leading to a courtyard and about 8 units, My Grandmother lived in the right front of the arch and an Aunt lived upstairs in the back, they were decrepid to say the least, Milnes field was on the other side of the back wall and the end unit across from the butcher shop used to repair and rent old washing machines??? just an idea

[threegee]

Better memory than me; though perhaps your's was a bit earlier. Though one thing I can remember is that there are two L's in Millne! I'd imagine that the folks in Millne Court are constantly correcting this too.

For newbies in the Town we are talking the Tesco car park here. The buildings in question being along the West side of Vulcan Place and down from the garage (Tired & Exhausted?). An area now mostly grassed.

[mickypotts]

Better memory than me; though perhaps your's was a bit earlier. Though one thing I can remember is that there are two L's in Millne! I'd imagine that the folks in Millne Court are constantly correcting this too.

For newbies in the Town we are talking the Tesco car park here. The buildings in question being along the West side of Vulcan Place and down from the garage (Tired & Exhausted?). An area now mostly grassed.

Maybe if this could have been the workhouse, then it kept the riff raff, ( Rabble ) ( ha ha? ) off the main street of Bedlington and more out of sight but it was still a more central location for Farm labor,( Wades tettie field ! ) The Dr pit was close by and a walk down the hapenny woods to the iron works to clean the !*!@# pits out.

Heres a thought..... what came first, the Whitley or the Monkey, who thought of a Pub next to a school?? a knock on the side door at 6:30 pm with a kid holding an empty tizer bottle and a few coppers would always get it filled with ordinary by saying "me Dad sent is ower fera fillup"

[oakeyboy]

From the 1860 map the workhouse was clearly on the Front Street. You can clearly see the rooms in the courtyard (wilson's yard). will try to upload picture of map. Keep it coming! oakeyboy

[oakeyboy]

Here is the map clearly showing it. It is in the bottom left corner and I have included the market place and proof of its location. Look for the words wilson's yard ( as quoted in previous posts). you can also view this pic in my gallery. oakeyboy

[Cympil]

I have so far gathered from a map from 1860 the position of the workhouse. It clearly shows the eight dwellings Vic has mentioned. I am not sure however at this moment in time whether it was the WORKHOUSE demolished to make way for the council offices. Is there a difference between the workhouse and bedlington old hall? Perhaps someone could enlighten me on this matter. If anyone would like to see what I mean then please go to http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk. In my last post I made a typing error in the wesite address so sorry. If you enter the site and click on bedlington then ordnance maps and click on the first 1860 map you will see Old hall marked and a courtyard (wilson's yard) with a smithy. Thank you to everyone that has so far posted. Keep the information coming! oakeyboy

From the 1860 map the workhouse was clearly on the Front Street. You can clearly see the rooms in the courtyard (wilson's yard). will try to upload picture of map. Keep it coming! oakeyboy

If you`re saying that Wilson`s Yard was the workhouse, then in answer to your question `Yes, there is a difference between Bedlington Old Hall and the workhouse`...they`re in two different places.

If you look at the top map, you will see the Council Offices (Old Hall), then Wilson`s Yard. The `Institute` on the top map is where the Community Centre is now.

[Cympil]

My wife's grand parents lived in it, it was called the "Old Hall" sort of a multi dwelling place, she remembers going through an archway to a courtyard that had about eight dwellings. not sure about it being called a work house.

Could this be the building that you mention? This is the Old Hall. It looks like what you`re describing.

[Vic Patterson]

Yes Cympil that is where Walter Dagless lived with his wife Sarah Jane (with 5 bairns!)the door was sharp right in the arch.

[Brian Cross]

My wife's grand parents lived in it, it was called the "Old Hall" sort of a multi dwelling place, she remembers going through an archway to a courtyard that had about eight dwellings. not sure about it being called a work house.

I can remember something which i think was the "Old hall" my grandparents lived in East Riggs and i can remember as a boy cutting thru or going down the side of the Old hall to get to my grandparents home.

[Symptoms]

Brian - did you get into your Granny's house through the back. The reason I ask is that you'll remember at the rear of East Riggs were allotments juxtaposed with the back gardens of the houses and through the allotments ran a couple of 'clarty' paths - called The Cut (for our younger viewers all this was where Windsor Court is now ... ah, what would we poor exiles do without Google maps). The Cut linked Front Street to Acorn Avenue. You maybe picked-up The Cut around the back of the Old Hall.

There were a number of buildings that had archways leading to courtyards; Dowson's Buildings on Hartford Rd (between Catholic Row and Hartford Cres ... next door to the Sally Army and the Masonic Hall [i think]) had a number of dwellings around the cobbled courtyard with the arch access to Hartford Rd. There was another one on Front St (opposite the 60s Council Offices and next door the Eddie Millne's house) but I can't remember the name; the courtyard backed onto Eddie Millne's walled orchard ... yep, we used to shinny over his wall to nick the apples. I've forgotten what we used to call this activity ... I'm sure it wasn't scrumping - anybody know the correct local term?

Edited February 5, 2010 by Symptoms

[Cympil]

Brian - did you get into your Granny's house through the back. The reason I ask is that you'll remember at the rear of East Riggs were allotments juxtaposed with the back gardens of the houses and through the allotments ran a couple of 'clarty' paths - called The Cut (for our younger viewers all this was where Windsor Court is now ... ah, what would we poor exiles do without Google maps). The Cut linked Front Street to Acorn Avenue. You maybe picked-up The Cut around the back of the Old Hall.

There were a number of buildings that had archways leading to courtyards; Dowson's Buildings on Hartford Rd (between Catholic Row and Hartford Cres ... next door to the Sally Army and the Masonic Hall [i think]) had a number of dwellings around the cobbled courtyard with the arch access to Hartford Rd. There was another one on Front St (opposite the 60s Council Offices and next door the Eddie Millne's house) but I can't remember the name; the courtyard backed onto Eddie Millne's walled orchard ... yep, we used to shinny over his wall to nick the apples. I've forgotten what we used to call this activity ... I'm sure it wasn't scrumping - anybody know the correct local term?

I was reading this blog not long ago which mentions Kidds Yard at the top of Glebe Bank `We lived in Kidds yard at the top of Glebe bank. The entrance was through an arch`..The author of the blog also mentions Catholic Row etc

Some on here might find it interesting..he has some good stories to tell.

[threegee]

...There were a number of buildings that had archways leading to courtyards; Dowson's Buildings on Hartford Rd (between Catholic Row and Hartford Cres ... next door to the Sally Army and the Masonic Hall [i think]) had a number of dwellings around the cobbled courtyard with the arch access to Hartford Rd. There was another one on Front St (opposite the 60s Council Offices and next door the Eddie Millne's house) but I can't remember the name; the courtyard backed onto Eddie Millne's walled orchard ... yep, we used to shinny over his wall to nick the apples. I've forgotten what we used to call this activity ... I'm sure it wasn't scrumping - anybody know the correct local term?

He'll be turning in his grave if you call him Eddie! A little confusion there I think between the renegade Labour MP for Blyth with one 'L' and the local entrepreneur James H. with two (as in Millne Court)! They were neither related or politically compatible - assuming renegade Eddie could have been politically compatible with anyone. I'm pretty sure there was a huge disparity in collecting libel writs too; 36-0 being the likely final score.

The courtyard you are looking for would have been Fogan's Yard. It didn't back onto the Millne orchard but what was at one time the main road North (on its West side) and on the North side were probably allotments, although this was pretty close to the BUDC council yard.

The Laird's House (former residence of the Chairman of the Bedlington Coal Company etc. and later James H.) did have both a garden and an orchard. It also had a rather grand tennis court on the North side too, but I don't think it was ever used post WWII. Just about no one will realise when they are using the car park that they are standing in this tennis court. It's responsible for the shape of the car park, and most of the levels (including the grassy slopes down) remain largely unchanged.

On the left of the Fogan's Yard arch was an open-windowed wet fish shop (Mrs Todd?), and on the right, and just a few yards down, Mr Alsop [two L's two P's - someone correct me?] the Gents Hairdresser, a competitor of the (in)famous Billy the Barber further down the street near the Market Place. I recall being told that I didn't have to worry when in Billy's chair about his antics (including with the cut-throat razor), as he was the only person in the Bedlington who had a certificate to prove his sanity! Traditional Barber's Shop Singing really did take place, and in Bedlington too!

[Brian Cross]

Brian - did you get into your Granny's house through the back. The reason I ask is that you'll remember at the rear of East Riggs were allotments juxtaposed with the back gardens of the houses and through the allotments ran a couple of 'clarty' paths - called The Cut (for our younger viewers all this was where Windsor Court is now ... ah, what would we poor exiles do without Google maps). The Cut linked Front Street to Acorn Avenue. You maybe picked-up The Cut around the back of the Old Hall.

There were a number of buildings that had archways leading to courtyards; Dowson's Buildings on Hartford Rd (between Catholic Row and Hartford Cres ... next door to the Sally Army and the Masonic Hall [i think]) had a number of dwellings around the cobbled courtyard with the arch access to Hartford Rd. There was another one on Front St (opposite the 60s Council Offices and next door the Eddie Millne's house) but I can't remember the name; the courtyard backed onto Eddie Millne's walled orchard ... yep, we used to shinny over his wall to nick the apples. I've forgotten what we used to call this activity ... I'm sure it wasn't scrumping - anybody know the correct local term?

Yes i did get to my mammas house via the back and i remember now the paths were always "clarty" no matter how the weather was what you wrote brought back a lot of fond memories for me, the orchard i remember well altho my Grandad did not like me flogging apples as he was a special constable thanks for your comments .....

[Symptoms]

Yep, 3Gs it was Fogan's Yard ... why I'd forgotten the name is beyond me as my favourite Toon striker at the time had a similar surname. Also right again on Jimmy Millne and not Eddie ... what would we do without you and your 'exiles' memory fixes'? I'm sure we used to access the orchard across a derelict yard at Fogan's (usually covered with Rose Bay Willow Herb ... we'd get covered with the 'cotton wool' seeds)... trouble is Google Maps isn't much good for tracing our some of 'old' routes 'cos much has been built over.

Cymp ... where can we access a fuller version of your block plan as this would be just-the-job?

Another orchard we used to raid was also walled one off Catholic Row ... belonged to the Church; the boss Padre at the time (mid 60s) was a Monk guy with a brown habit who liked a drink (my old man often had a Drambuie or brandy or two with him) ... again, the Brother's name slips through the cracks in my memory. His orchard had pears, apples & plums. Is it still there?

My old man used to escort us when we were nippers to that barbers beside Fogon's entrance for a 'short back and sides'; didn't the shop have tiered seating, actually wooden benching, up the back wall for the victims. The shop was usually full of flat-capped pitmen and us boys; the air was usually thick was fag smoke. Ah, happy days!

Anybody clarify the local term for nicking apples?

Edited February 6, 2010 by Symptoms

[Cympil]

Yep, 3Gs it was Fogan's Yard ... why I'd forgotten the name is beyond me as my favourite Toon striker at the time had a similar surname. Also right again on Jimmy Millne and not Eddie ... what would we do without you and your 'exiles' memory fixes'? I'm sure we used to access the orchard across a derelict yard at Fogan's (usually covered with Rose Bay Willow Herb ... we'd get covered with the 'cotton wool' seeds)... trouble is Google Maps isn't much good for tracing our some of 'old' routes 'cos much has been built over.

Cymp ... where can we access a fuller version of your block plan as this would be just-the-job?

Another orchard we used to raid was also walled one off Catholic Row ... belonged to the Church; the boss Padre at the time (mid 60s) was a Monk guy with a brown habit who liked a drink (my old man often had a Drambuie or brandy or two with him) ... again, the Brother's name slips through the cracks in my memory. His orchard had pears, apples & plums. Is it still there?

My old man used to escort us when we were nippers to that barbers beside Fogon's entrance for a 'short back and sides'; didn't the shop have tiered seating, actually wooden benching, up the back wall for the victims. The shop was usually full of flat-capped pitmen and us boys; the air was usually thick was fag smoke. Ah, happy days!

Anybody clarify the local term for nicking apples?

The maps and more can be found here http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Bedlington_C14.htm (oakeyboy had put the link on already but it didn`t work for some reason)

[Dawn]

Rather late to the post but having just found it, someone may still be interested.

Wilson's yard

My MIL used to live in Wilson's yard. Wilson as far as she remembers was the blacksmiths. A big old house with a number of families. White and Gilhooley only names off the top of my head, will ask and update. This may only be an urban myth but she is convinced some or all of the blacksmiths shop went to Beamish.

Should anyone have any images, you'd make my Mum very happy.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

10 hours ago, Dawn said:

Should anyone have any images, you'd make my Mum very happy.

Searched the local facebook 'history' group sites Dawn but never found anything about Wilson's yard.

[Malc H]

Wilsons Yard was situated behind Rock Cottages and the Old Hall .there was a black smiths shop in the yard. As a small boy I remember watching him at work.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

Not the best image from the restricted view you are allowed via the online service, but from what I can see on all the maps of the area - 1865 to 1987 - this 1962 one is the only one to 'Wilsons Yard' named.

Link to the page where you can select each map :-  https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/425901/581880/12/100954

Edited August 2, 2017 by Eggy1948