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https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/miller/5241321 Those who remember Joyce Miller (and Biffy the dog), please see the attached. She loved Hartford and telling patients “there’s no such thing as can’t - if you say you can’t you really mean you won’t”.

The church did a list of burials / I believe It has been opened for cremated remains . John Grundy did an article on the church yard and graves . I think it was covered in the forum Good luck

I haven't heard of either identity discs or first aid kits for children. However, I do recognise the name Lifebuoy - a soap in common use during my childhood, When the pit-baths opened at Netherton Colliery my father refused to use it. He thought it smelled like 'women's scent'. If I'm totally honest, the words he used were "like a whores handbag". I thought it smelled like carbolic myself. He stuck to the hard, green, Fairy Household soap that was grated (on the cheese grater) to put into the washing machine/poss-tub.

The closure order for burials at St Cuthberts was as late as 1983. There are some very old gravestones so it might be worth investigating further.

Thank you so much for the information Netherton isn’t far from Bedlington perhaps the families knew each other. I believe my grandmother had bedding in the drawers, but China in the top. Now the China it’s still there and the drawers are full of family documents and correspondence from 1906 until 1960 . I am trying to upload it onto my iPad. It is taking me ages as I get so caught up reading stuff that it my progress is dead slow stop. I have all the furniture that belonged to my grandparents apart from their beds. I just love it. And I am sure that your family press was just as beautiful.

That is a PRESS - and a very beautiful one if I may say so. There was one in my childhood home as well, though not quite as elegant as yours. Do you know that they were originally intended to store linen, bed clothes, curtains and such. My mother told me that it was one of her 'jobs' as a youngster (and many other young girls too) to make small pleats in the tapes on pillow cases (used to close them) using the edge of a knife. All of these pillow cases would be placed on the shelves with the pleated tapes hanging outwards. When the family had guests they wanted to impress the doors of the press would be left open. I don't know if this was just something done in Netherton Colliery or if it was a general thing in the north east or even England as a whole.

My uncle Bill of 34 Shiney Row Bedlington was a school child during the First World War and each child at his school was given a first aid kit in case another zeppelin was dropped on Bedlington

This will be long! Make a cuppa and get your feet up! The Gibson family research has had to wait while I've been without specs. The six weeks I was told would be needed before getting new specs after my ops turned into three months. I had the temporary specs only ta few days before I got a bleed inside my eye, another op and an inflammation that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! However, the Gibson family didn't have i easy either - read on! I left the widowed Henry Gibson in 1881, then aged about 67 years, living in the family home on Front Street east in Bedlington. He is still head of the family and the ironmongery business. Also resident are his two sons Philip Hedley Gibson, aged 34 and as yet unmarried, and William James Gibson, aged 26, who has with him his wife of eight months. She is Sarah (nee Mostyn), born to Edward Mostyn and his wife Anne in Flintshire, Wales, but the family moved to St Helens, Lancashire a few years after her birth and it is in St Helens the marriage took place. Sarah seems to have been a gifted child and was studying to become a teacher at the age of 17. Both brothers, having branched out into the world of banking, give their occupation as “Ironmonger & bank agent” but William James has the addition “nail & chain manufacturer”. The company is now calling itself “Gibson Bros & Co.” The “& Co” bit consists of – or at least includes - the husband of their sister, Jane Elizabeth, whom I mentioned earlier when she married engine wright John Archbold in 1863. Just when the partnership was formed is difficult to say but I can say with certainty that it ended in 1883 when, according to a notice in The Commercial Gazette 24 May 1883, the partnership was dissolved due to debts by William James Gibson and Philip Hedley Gibson to John Archbold. Thereafter, the Gibson family, father Henry and the two brothers, continue to run both businesses and despite being owed money, John Archbold doesn’t seem to have done too badly. On his death in 1897 he leaves to his family £2 871 – worth about a half million today (2025). The dissolution of the partnership is not the only misfortune to be suffered by the Gibsons around that time. William had married in 1880 and now it was the turn of older brother Philip Hedley. Like his brother, Philip Hedley does not marry a local girl but takes his bride, farmer’s daughter Jane Brookes, from Salop (Shropshire). They marry September 27, 1882 in the parish church of High Ercall, Salop. The marriage is, unfortunately, not to be a long one for Jane’s death is registered in the 2nd quarter of the following year. They were married for less than one year and as Jane’s death is registered in the Morpeth registration district it’s fair to assume that she had moved north to Bedlington with her husband. By 1891 we can see big changes in the family. Henry, the father, is now 77 years old and still working but the roles of father and son have now reversed. Philip Hedley, 44 year-old, is now the head of the household and his father, 77 year old Henry, is his assistant in the ironmongery business. Bank House must seem very empty now with only Philip Hedley, widowed, and his father living there together with a live-in general domestic servant. However, as I mentioned earlier, sister Mary Ellen and three of her children return to live at Bank House for a while before her death in 1901. William and his wife Sarah had, prior to 1891, moved to a home of their own, which brings me back to a photograph, posted by @johndawsonjune1955 which appeared in his first post in this topic: John Dawson could date the photo to 1888 and raised the question of where it might have been taken. @Maggie/915 thought it might have been taken at Vulcan Place, in Bedlington. I am now inclined to agree with her as it is in Vulcan Place, a few doors down from the Northumberland Arms, that William James and his family are living in 1891. At that time the couple have five children: Mary 8, Edward Mostyn 7, William Henry 5, Lilian 4 and James 9 months. If the photo is dated 1888 then the child in the photo could be the eldest child, Mary, who would then be about 5 years old, and the woman behind her could be her mother, Sarah. I’d then hazard a guess that one of the two men behind Sarah could be her husband, William James Gibson and the other may be his brother, Philip Hedley Gibson. Just a thought! The clothing of the three persons, 2 male and 1 female, to the right of the group suggests that they are workers and the tell-tale soot above the door behind them suggests to me that this could even be a nailer’s workshop. Could this have been to the rear of the buildings in Vulcan Place? The woman and child look as if they've just stepped out of the house for a minute, rather than being on a visit away from home. The man in the middle is, however, a mystery. Following the death of their 80 year-old father Henry in 1902, the brothers continue to run the business. Philip Hedley continues to live in Bank House on Front Street East and if the following photo is from 1910, as stated by Cympil (Gibson house is first on the left), then it must be Philip who is responsible for the neo-classic details, of which some still remain, on the building, and the new entrance (now blocked up) into the banking agent’s premises. Philip doesn’t marry again and has no children to take on the business after him when he dies shortly after his father, in 1906. Strangely, while Philip Hedley’s death occurs in Bedlington, his address is given as Newcastle on Tyne. He didn’t do too badly either, leaving £1 395 - worth about £216,761 today (2025). William James, on the other hand, has plenty of children and it’s to them I’ll look to see what happens the ironmongery and nailing business. A bit more research to do yet but it’s a fair bit easier now that I’ve finally got my specs! Watch this space!

Just looking through some family stuff and thought I would share it with other members

Thank you. I just tried to message him direct. Can you add this link to the page? https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/miller/5241321

Hi David This is Judi, Joyce's eldest daughter. I remember you, the dinner, which I believe I cooked and of course the cut glass, which she cherished. She retired, almost 30 years ago and moved to Gosforth, where she continued to be a regular gym goer and social butterfly. Sadly she passed this week at the age of 91. A celebration of life will be held in April. As for the grey lady she was definitely a thing. I practically grew up at Hartford and have never seen so many tough men so rattled after one of her visits. I 'me't her once in the Dome room. She was sad, not malevolent. She was the rich daughter of the Hall's owner, who fell in love with a stable boy, and threw herself do her death when she was not allowed to marry him.

Thanks for the information . I lived in Bedlington as a child, but moved away, when I was twelve. I spent a lot of time visiting my grandparents who lived in Shiney Row and was delighted after spending yet another holiday up north my husband and I moved back to Northumberland .

Seeing as ab n interest was shown in the Bedlington terrier teapot I thought that I would share another of my grandmother’s teapots with you . i

Have you heard of identity discs for children during the Second World War ? These were like dog tags worn by soldiers , which had the child’s name and address and identity number on These discs were worn round the neck by the child, were as adults had identity cards. Sorry if this is of no interest.

Of course you can share the photos. The biro is just to give an idea of how small the first aid kit is as I couldn’t find a ruler to measure it. All is I know that my uncle was a pious in school in Bedlington and shortly after the Zeppelin crashed there (1915) I think. all the children were presented with one of these.

Your Linen Press looks to be made from Satinwood commonly used for this purpose as its natural oils deterred moths and other creepy-crawlies (fleas). When I have a minute I'll upload some photos of my Satinwood bedroom press and dressing table for comparison ... similar carving. When the fashion for presses ended many were converted into wardrobes but they lacked the depth (front to back) to accomodate clothes hangers on a rail like modern wardrobes, so hooks were usually screwed into the carcassing around the inside. I also have a very large Victorian mahogany linen press in another bedroom which has some 'converted hanging space' but also retains internal drawers for folded clothes; again, a photo to follow. It's good that your linen press seems to be unaltered as much 'old' furniture has been repurposed.

Thanks Canny Lass, I will. I'll contact St Cuthbert's and take a look at the burial records for the cemetery to see what I can find. Thanks for your help.

No problem, thanks Alan.

@Miner Granddaughter not something I have ever looked into and i think the only active members that I have noticed posting in connection with St Cuthbert's are @Maggie/915 & @Bedlingtonian

Think she just liked china . I have about twenty teapots ,various tea services amazing ribbon plates and loads of jugs all in a piece of her furniture , which I think is called a PRESS. My grandparents were married in 1906 and my grandad worked at the dr pit . Their home in shiney row was typical of the time filled with ornaments, or dust collectors as my mam called them .

That certainly beats Mrs Bucket’s Royal Doulton with its periwinkles! Absolutely wonderful! Was your grandmother a collector of Tea-pots?

I have joined the N E group, and I have mentioned it on there. I simply think that a 200th anniversary is rather 'special'. Only the Dandie Dinmont has an older pedigree. Contact some local papers etc., get your local TV involved........

I did a search John and I the Bedlington Terrier North east Club has a Facebook group but only members can view it and I can't find any way of contacting them outside of that group and i don't want to join the group Found some images online showing phots from the yearly meet up of the group on the 20 acre field in 2021 : 2021 gathering :- Tallantyes have advertised previous gatherings but can't find any notifucation for this year :- 2022 advert Tallantyre 2024 advert :- Facebook group :-

I'm the founder member of that club

Do the people of Bedlington realise that this year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first ever litter of pups to be called 'Bedlington Terriers'? Joe Ainsley and Ned Cotes bred that litter in the Vicarage in Bedlington. Ned Cotes ended up in an asylum and Joe Ainsley married and moved away, but there were plenty of others in the town who carried on that breeding. Perhaps there should be a 'celebration' of some kind? I might even turn up to it myself.

@Canny lass check out @John H Williams post from 2020 :-

Looking at that tea-pot, the terrier seems to have changed shape over the years. Did it not have it's lovely, cuddly, rounded back then! And .... what wouldn't I give to have a tea-pot like that at my 'afternoon teas' - surpassed only by Mrs Bucket's candlelight suppers!

I remember the spitfire too. I think you may have also tried to help fix my Morris Minor at one point

I’m that daughter and mum has just passed away aged 91.