mickypotts

The new settlement, comprising convicts and a military guard, arrived at the Hunter River on 27 March 1804 in three ships: HMS Lady Nelson, the Resource and the James.[9][12] The convicts were rebels from the 1804 Castle Hill convict rebellion. The link with Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, its namesake and also whence many of the 19th century coal miners came, is still obvious in some of the place-names – such as Jesmond, Hexham, Wickham, Wallsend and Gateshead. Morpeth, New South Wales is a similar distance north of Newcastle as Morpeth, Northumberland is north of Newcastle upon Tyne. Christ Church Cathedral dominates the skyline of Newcastle. Under Captain James Wallis, commandant from 1815 to 1818, the convicts' conditions improved, and a building boom began. Captain Wallis laid out the streets of the town, built the first church of the site of the present Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, erected the old gaol on the seashore, and began work on the breakwater which now joins Nobbys Head to the mainland. The quality of these first buildings was poor, and only (a much reinforced) breakwater survives. During this period, in 1816, the oldest public school in Australia was built in East Newcastle.[10] Newcastle remained a penal settlement until 1822, when the settlement was opened up to farming.[13] As a penal colony, the military rule was harsh, especially at Limeburners' Bay, on the inner side of Stockton peninsula. There, convicts were sent to burn oyster shells for making lime.[9]

Welcome in Paul, all the best

Aah niver said I bought Orange juice Aah watched it!!

When we moved to Newbiggin to a colliery house in 1969 Oswald Road had the Lofts all connected in common and I recall a scandal in the Early 80,s when a lad who lived up the street started watching people leaving the house and then dropping from the loft to rob them, the stupid buggar left dorty prints aal ower the loft hatches so the police knew how it was being done and put a watch out til he was caught, I believe when he got out, the neighbors got hold of him and took their justice out of his hide

Great story John, no one on the trip seemed to realize how dangerous it could have been for them, I made the trip via Cape town many times and it took about 30 days to Sydney, via the Suez it took almost 2 months, any guesss how the town of Newcastle up the coast from Sydney got its name??? aal bet a few geordies put a word in.

Wey Aye man aah membas it right weel and the ice cold orange and lemonade machines were better to watch than what was on the telly!!!

As for making it out of coal................... how long before the Yobs put a light to it!!!!!

Leading the campaign would not be feasible for me since I live in the US but I am glad to help in any way possible, and yes Symtoms has it dead right, keep it for Bedlington by Locals and for locals, The miner with his helmet lit and maybe a lit miners lamp in the market place with maybe a tub and a pony would be a dramatic image at night time, imagine at Christmas with snow on the ground...........

Well said Symptoms, I only wonder how political correctness could cloak any well thought out designs if any councils or the like are involved, I just thought that if the Miners still around with us and their kin were centered around the ultimate design concept it would give tribute to them as well as those unsung thoasands who are not. The Market cross is a revered part of our town and so should this memorial be. ps. dont understand LR,s point wanting to bury and forget history for those who lived it.....

Maybe Tesco can chip in??

How about about every Pub from the Station up te Netherton gets involved and a Lottery is set up to raise funds, there would be a winner of course who maybe could dedicate a brass plaque memorial and the bar that raises the most could have the plaque inside on the wall so it would be safe. business for that bar should increase due to people wanting to see it. Just an idea

My reason for starting this post was to remember just what these Lads gave to their towns and why the towns do not have a single memorial to thank them, both the living and the dead

It is good to see the interest this new topic has garnered and my condolences to all who have lost someone dear to them, all of the war memorials in every town on Earth and not one is standing in all of the mining villages to say a kind word about the poor buggers who gave their all for the pits............

Aam sayin nowt, Best te haad me Gob

Happy Borthdaay Foxy, aal the virree best te yi an many mair as weel

Does our town have any memorial with the names of miners killed in the pits, the NUM has lists of them all???

Very Funny!!!

Ed Brady was from Sheepwash not Choppington

Does anyone recall an Ed Brady from Choppington who had a bus fitted out as a grocery store and would drive down all the streets in the area???

the Dr. Pit heaps had plenty of red ash and it was free so mebbees thats where they got it

Anyone remember the trip to Bamburgh to watch the filming of " The Vikings " with Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas ??

The Boss teachers in the lake district trips were Mr Cook the gym teacher and Mrs. Cook the cooking teacher, one year Mr. Cook got caught by the wife with Ms. Ramsey the Asst. gym teacher and a cold cold wind set in real quick like!!

And the only place I remember as "the Budge" was in front of the infants school in the Market Place, the others were just bus stops to me

Maybe when all the seats in the budge were filled someone came in and said " Howay man, Budge ower an gis a seat!!! "

The 2 Swine that bombed Boston recently in the so called name of Allah turns out that the older one was a murdering drug dealer way before the marathon event occured, so the 2 in woolich may be of the same Ilk using religon to cause mayhem, shame that the cops were not able to send them back to Allah