Contributor Leaderboard

The shop was there before Bobby took it over but I can not remember the name of the owner. Bobby would have taken it over in the early sixties I think it was him and Raffie Davison that owned the shop at that time but I could be wrong.

Your correct CL it was Jimmy Routledge and the family did live in those houses, South Row I think. My great grand parents on my grandmothers side lived in Shop Row and the gardens were detached from the houses. If you follow Allan's directions to Barrington school (turn right when you get through the Auld pit) you would be walking down Shop Row. The houses were on your left but the road was just a dirt track and the gardens were on your right and they were quite long. That's how I remember it anyway.

Many thanks to everyone who has replied to my topic - you have all really helped to set my ancestors in context. Because I have seen miners' rows in the west of Scotland, where the houses were single storey, I had assumed they would be similar in Northumberland, but that is clearly not the case. The accommodation looks well designed and the generous gardens a good feature. The outside toilets I am not so sure about!

Demolition of South Row - 1974

You've got a goodun there!