johndawsonjune1955

Heres another pic of Glebe Road. Love the horse and cart. Where have all those great days gone. Its good to see pics that don't keep popping-up all the time. What you think of this one tho ?

Thats very interesting Malcolm. The theory i put earlier looks more probable with what you mention now.

Pic from 1954 How many recall this image. The above photo shows the Alma Inn, which was on the corner of Glebe Road and Oliver's Buildings. Oliver's Buildings, erected around 1850, was a row of stone houses, erected by a builder named Oliver. These houses were later leased to the Bedlington Coal Company. What was it like in the Alma Inn ? Anyone recall who had it in those days ? Any other pics of it ?

How about we begin with some old pics and stories of the area. There are a huge ammount , but lets get some not much seen of the area. Add some text or story. I will get it started as i have so many and we can see how it will go.

Heres that story on the grenade explosion at Choppington. Sad story indeed. The close knit community of Choppington went into mourning on Wednesday, December 29th, 1944, when two young schoolboys died in an explosion. The victims were cousins, eleven year old Ronald Chivers of 13 Front Street, Scotland Gate and James William Hopper of Stannington Street, Blyth aged thirteen. It all began when Ronald Tilbury, George Jobson, Allan Cairns and Ronald Chivers went for a walk to a field in Barrington. The field was used by various units of the Home Guard for practice and was fenced in to the north, east and west boundaries but the entrance to the south was open. While in the field they each picked up parts of what they thought were exploded bombs. George Jobson was seen to pick up an object that was painted yellow with a green mark around. The top appeared to be broken and Jobson threw the object away. Ronald Chivers eventually picked the object up and flung it against a stone once or twice. The boys returned home, but Ronald Chivers took all the parts they had found with him. Ronald Tilbury called at the home of Ronald Chivers that night and saw him showing the parts to James Hopper who was staying with him. At about 10. 30 pm, James Nicholson, a back overman at the local colliery, of Richardson's Buildings, Scotland Gate, was walking along Front Street towards his home, accompanied by his brother, Douglas, James Emmerson and John Spence. They were opposite the social club, when they heard a loud explosion in Front Street. They hurried along to 13 Front Street and found the ground floor window of the dwelling house had been blown out as if by an explosion. Someone had burst the door open so James Nicholson and the others went inside. The room was in complete darkness and full of fumes. They had torches on themselves and used these to see what had occurred. Immediately they saw the boy Ronald underneath a table in the centre of the room. Ronald was crying out as he had serious injuries to both legs, head and arms. They got him from under the table and carried him to a neighbours house. They then searched the room where the explosion occurred and found it in great disorder with the furniture and glass being broken and scattered. The other boy was found lying close to the fireplace. He was unconscious and terribly injured about the hands, feet and legs. He was still alive, but they decided it was best not to move him. Mr. Spence then ran to seek Dr. Hickey for help. A message was also sent to the police at Guide Post, to inform them of the explosion. The doctor eventually arrived at the scene, but there was nothing he could do for James Hopper as he had died from a sustained fracture of the base of the skull and other bodily injuries. Ronald Chivers was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle for treatment. The next day, December 30th, Ronald, died with identical injuries as his cousin. The inquest into the tragedy was held at Bedlington Police Station, on New Years Day. The inquiry was conducted by Mr. E. Emley, Deputy Coroner for South Northumberland. Evidence of identification was given by James William Hunter, of Colliery Square, Scotland Gate, a miner, the uncle of the two boys. He explained that he had seen the bodies of the two boys at the mortuary. Ronald's father he said was a stoker in the Royal Navy, and James Hoppers father was a miner, but was serving in the army. Ronald Tilbury gave evidence and recognised the parts of the grenade when shown. He told the coroner that anyone could go into the field, and no one had been told at school, not to pick up parts if they saw any. Captain J. R. Johnston of the Home Guard, explained that the place in which the children were playing was open to the public. Continuing he said other units of the Home Guard used the field. There is a check on all weapons after practice and all our grenades are accounted for. Someone else must have been using a grenade there, he said. Captain Johnston stated the procedure was when a grenade failed to explode the practice was stopped and the grenade picked up. Sadly that was not the case this time, but we always do it. Police Sergeant Barton was next to give witness. He said a damaged rolling pin was found on the floor, also a knife, the latter the property of James Hopper. It appeared to him that one of the boys had hold of the knife over the explosive, and used the rolling pin to strike it as it was all marked. A pair of pliers was also found. The police officer told the Deputy Coroner that children were periodically told at school not to pick up or touch such things. Summing up, Mr. Emley said that if the instructions received in school had been followed this sad tragedy would never had happened.

copy a dozen up and pass them onto you Malcolm. Its handy as you know more the members than me. Need anymore just l;et me know. Cracking short footage too. Cheers Malcolm.

Yerh they said there was a few lads earlier in the day. Were you on were the home guard practised when it was found. BTW they recon Mrs McHugh was blown out of her bed. She was living in an upstairs flat next door i believe.

There are two trees you can punch in Bothal Churchyard. Just to the back of the church on the left. Got a cracker here for you too. My ex-son-in-law believed he was gifted to talk to the dead. I was sick of him rabiting on about it i deceided to teach him a lesson. I got my other son-in-law with his mate to go down to the bridge at Bothal sawmill. I gave him a white sheet and a torch. I then got the other and took him down and asked him if he could get any messages from there. My daughter sat in the car with me and we watched him cross the bridge and then saw the torch light up. Next we heard hollow thuid thud thud as he crossed the bridge from his feet as he ran. He came to the car as white as a sheet and shouted drive. "What for Lee" we said. "I seen a ghost cross the road in front of me" We took him home and came back for my son-in-law. We were in stitches. As John lit the torch up and walked across the road, all Lee saw was the top half lit up. We never told him for about a year what we had done.Needless to say he wasn't a happy chappy. But fun all the same.

Hi all. That Market place footage is complete. Its fully digitised, but only about 5 minutes, and quality footage. Its free if anyone wants a copy of it. It shows the Cross, St. Cuthbert's, Elliots Garage (Nice to remember as its gone now) Barnes fruit and Veg shop And a few other little scenes. Full colour and enhanced to a high quality. Tuck it away for the future its a canny little bit of history from 1970s. I can get a few copies done and members can help each other by duplicating a few.

Does lone Ranger remember the grenade blowing up at Front Street, Choppington ? John Chivers brother and friend found a grenade where the home guard practiced at Barrington. They took it home and were hitting it with a screwdriver and pliers. It blew up killing and shocked the whole area. What a terrible accident. Charlie Chivers was away at sea at the time. I aint old enough to remember but know about it

He was a very ;uck fellow. I believe he had tickets to go. When he didnt arrive from work a full search was done and thats how they found him.

i have listened to this before and will have a look see what i can find. its very interesting to see what we can find. Got more ghost stories get them on here and share them

yes your right Malcolm. I have run this passed a couple of the groups members and given them the info. They are going to look into it more as they think this is acceptable. They couln't believe its taken a Forum to get people looking into this as it should have been looked into many moons ago. I will come back on it when i hear from them. I will be looking into it a bit more too.

There is another reference i have come across to back my theory before this post. St. Cuthbert's in Elsdon was built in the early 15th century on one of many sites where St. Cuthbert's body was rested on its travels. The same also apllied too, as of Bedlington. Interesting fact too about its pele tower, of what we once had at Bedlington. Most of us are familiar with what the pele tower was actually built for, but at Elsdon they say it was also to protect the rectors against the unwelcome attentions of the reivers. Also King John, in the year he was suppose to have visited Bedlington in 1216, he was also at Mitford in 1216, as part of reprisals policy he burnt the village. It is said that much of the original church was destroyed too. So they said King John was supposed to have stayed at Bedlington in 1216. This looks more likely looking at this information on Mitford. Back to the Market Cross. I think looking at what i have uncovered it opens a lot more to debate on Bedlingtons early history. With the medievil link and St Cuthbert, i would say as Mrs Wade's memories it has religous links. The best guess is what i may have come to find. However, i can only go off what i have unearthed, but it sounds a really good bet to me now. If it was for speeches or buying whatever, the Cross could have been the focal point of the village then. Then when we look at King John, with what he did to Mitford, maybe he did stay at Bedlington after his burning of the village. Its very interesting, and i thank Malcolm for starting this topic, as i have only began to delve deep into this through him. There is more i can, or members can look back too and get an insight into the history, and it is interesting, but you need the right archive material to get an insight into things. I wish i had done this a few years back when Evan Martin was still alive. He was a man that inspired me over the years and i am proud of his help in the time i knew him. Evan also stated to me that there was no religous link to the Market Cross, (The Nail) as we call it. But maybe we have hit the nail on the head and got it right. It looks a good bet to me. And what Evan said about King John in his Bedlington book. We now have a very good reason why he stayed at Bedlington in 1216. What do you think ? I think the members and myself have really uncovered the possible links to the topics we talk about here, but now what do you think with what i have unearthed. ? Lets know

The Market Cross at Otterburn is very similar to that of Bedlington. It is said that it was a medievil custom to erect a cross marking the place where the coffin of an important person rested each night on its homeward journey. Its very interesting to know, but could the body of St. Cuthbert have been laid where the Market Cross was originally. We may never know, but this medievil custom gives a interesting point of discussion. If it is true, could the original Cross have been made of wood ? We know for sure that the original St. Cuthberts was made of wattle and daub. The wattle is made of thin branches or slats in upright stakes. The wattle is then daubed with some sticky material like mud, clay, sand or animal dung combined with straw. This method is still in use today in certain countries not well off, and has been in use for over 6000 years. As i say, we know that the original church was built this way, but could a certain Cross have been made this way as it was a medievil custom ? Then as the years went by a more purpose built Cross may have been built as we know it today. But, just think about this medievil custom of building a Cross where a body was laid on its way home ? You never know, we can't say for sure, but it does look plausible to me now. As i say, we may never know, but with what Mary Wade said in her memories this could well be the purpose of the Cross. No one has ever put this medievil practice to me before, and its just with this topic on the Cross that i have began to look further afield on my quest for an answer. What do the members think of this now. Lets know, and you never know we could well come up with the answer, thats if it hasn't been solved now by knowing about this medievil custom. It really makes me believe it more now, but i will keep looking to see if there is anything else i can come up with. But, hey, St. Cuthbert, what an important person he was, and this really has me buzzing now.

They say there was a Bank Top Ghost too. Anyone recall hearing it ?

Chris Arkle was trapped in the High Pit shaft on a Cup Final Day. He was found several hours later. He was soaking with wet and very cold, but made a full recovery. Tony Arkle went to Guide Post Secondary Modern School with me. He is now a bus inspector for Ariva i believe and lives at Bedlington Bower Grange area.

Here is the story as promised. There were many accidents in all the collieries and i will have most of them archived. But heres the Choppington Explosion. A coal miners day was long and arduous, and they lived constantly in the shadow of harm from the explosion of mine gas, the slumping of coal piles, or the collapse of tunnels. Even the miner's equipment and environment in which he operated. The explosive powder used to dislodge coal, the flame in his lamp, the gases within the mine packed lethal potential, compounded by a persistent failure to heed safety measures. News of accidents was announced by the unexpected blast of the steam whistle that marked the rhythms of the day, alerting residents of the village of possible disaster. People streamed out of their homes to see what was occurring. This was the case on Thursday December 14th, 1945, when the unthinkable happened at Choppington "A†Pit. An ignition of gas underground caused an explosion resulting in twelve miners being burned, four of them seriously. The four men who were severely burned came from Scotland Gate, and were carried to the surface on stretchers. They were: Ronald Twist, from Third Row; George Rice, Front Street; Robert Dixon and Robert Ramsey, both of Stoker's Buildings. Fortunately the accident was not complicated by falls of the roof, and it was possible for the rescue work to proceed quickly and smoothly under the direction of the under manager, Mr. J. Dobson, and Mr. L. S. Wylie, foreoverman. A number of other miners had a narrow escape and counted themselves lucky to avoid serious injury. Among them were William Routledge and his three sons who were working together on a conveyor. The son of the colliery manager John Spence, a conveyor attended also escaped serious injury. Others injured were Harry Smith, Third Row, Choppington, Arthur Rough, East Gate, Choppington, Jack Routledge, Third Row, Choppington, John Hannay the deputy, Front Street, Scotland Gate, Wilfred Dobson, Pioneer Terrace, Bedlington, Jack Crackett, Ridge Terrace, Bedlington, James Armstrong, Westmorland Avenue, Bedlington, and William Smith, Fifth Row, Choppington. It was 29th December 1945, some two weeks after the explosion and one of the miners who actually walked out the pit after the explosion died. Harry Smith, a hewer, only forty two years of age died from blood poisoning due to the burns he received. His one wish before he died was to see the lads come home from the war. Pit officials who inspected the scene after the explosion discovered a cigarette lighter with it's cap off, three cigarettes in a tin box and a waistcoat with six cigarettes in one of the pockets. The owner of the waistcoat, lighter and cigarettes had never been traced. The pic is of Harry Smith. He was in the Home Guard when this was taken.

In a post, that i can't find again someone was talking about a ghost story connected to Bedlington. This is the story. The Ploughman And The Flower In Bedlington, lived a very rich but very mean natured couple, whose only daughter was so beautiful she was called 'The Flower of Bedlington'. She was in love with James Robson a young man who loved her deeply. He was well liked, well mannered and hard working but her parents disliked him as he was very poor and worked as a ploughman. Her parents wanted nothing to do with James and tried all they could to split the couple up, so that she would marry a rich man that they chose. Nothing the mean parents did could keep the couple apart, so in a final attempt to separate the couple the girl was sent to live with her uncle at his farm in Stokesley in North Yorkshire. The couple said a tearful farewell and pledged their love, the girl pledged: "of love and truth through life sincere, nor death should part, for from the grave, short time should the survivor save." The separation devastated James and in less than a week with a broken heart he died. This delighted the girls parents and they already had a wealthy suitor they planned to marry her to at once. The day that James was buried, the parents had everything arranged to collect their daughter from Stokesley and bring her home to be married. They went to bed early so as to leave early next morning to fetch their daughter. At midnight on her fathers favourite horse, James arrived at the farm in Stokesley to meet his love. As he knocked on the door the girl called out and he said "Come quick love. Here is your mother's cloak and hood and your father's good grey mare, you are to ride home with me at once." The girl rushed out followed by her uncle. The uncle was unsure at first but when he saw the horse and clothes which he recognized, he let them go with his blessing, and off they went. On the journey James complained that his head hurt so the girl wrapped her scarf around him saying "My dear, you are as cold as lead." As the moon came from behind a cloud the girl noticed that James cast no shadow but she and the horse did, she had no time to ponder the thought as they had reached her parents house. Gently lifting her from the horse James said "Your mare has travelled far, so you go in and as I'm able I'll feed and tend her in your stable." Knocking on the door she called to her parents that she was safely home with James, thinking her parents had changed their mind as they had sent James to fetch her home. Her father hearing this started to shake with fright, knowing that James had just been buried. He rushed to the stables to see who was there only to find his horse covered with sweat from a long ride. Inside the house the mother told the girl the news of James death. With a sharp cry the girl fainted and fell to the floor where the colour drained from her face and her whole body started to shake. Carried to her bed she lay still and white, where even the best doctors called in could find no physical reason for her condition, but it was clear she was fading away. The only time she spoke again was to request she be buried in the same coffin as James and filled with grief and remorse her parents agreed. A few days later the girl passed away. When the coffin was opened the parents saw the girls scarf wrapped around James just as their daughter had told them on the night he brought her home. Thats it. I dont recall anymore Ghost Stories similar to this.

For the member looking for info on Hartford Hall. Heres a little more on Augustus Edward Burdon. Hope it helps you out. Few county gentleman were better known or highly respected in Northumberland than Augustus Edward Burdon. In all that appertained to agriculture he took a deep interest, while the public life of the North laid in him one of it's most devoted servants. A keen student of the social and political movements of the times, he was a well known figure at public gatherings, and when he spoke he was listened to with the respect that his knowledge and attainment commanded. He held a high position in the Masonic craft, and also took a prominent place at leading society functions. He was the son of Colonel Augustus de Butts of the Madras Engineers, his mother being Hannah Georgina Elizabeth, daughter of Admiral Inglefield, C.B., a distinguished officer in the British Navy. Intended for service in the army, he was educated at Sandhurst. For a time he served in the 17th Lancers, but eventually left the army. His retirement did not, however, produce a lessened interest in military matters. He became an officer in the Northumberland Hussars, and rose to the position of Major. In 1870 he assumed by Royal Licence the surname of Burdon. He married in 1875 Alice Gertrude, third daughter of Major Thos. Pakenham Vandeleur of Bellfield, County Limerick. Mr. Burdon had been for many years a county magistrate, carrying out the duties connected therewith at Bedlington, where he later became the presiding justice. He was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1908. Other public duties included that of representative of Bedlington on the Northumberland County Council, and a member of the Standing Joint Committee. His interest in Freemasonry was great and extended over many years. He was Provincial Grand Master in Craft Masonry for Northumberland, succeeding the Right Hon. Viscount Ridley. In addition, he held high office in Mark Masonry, being a Past Grand Warden of the Province of Northumberland and Durham. He was also an officer of the Grand Lodge of England. Major Burdon devoted great attention to political affairs. He was an active supporter of Conservatism in the North and had often been asked to come forward as a candidate for Parliament, but he always declined. The affairs of the Primrose League found in him a whole-hearted supporter. He was Ruling Councillor of Bedlington Habitation from it's formation, and during the summer season with Mrs. Burdon, entertained the members at garden parties at Hartford House. He was chairman of the Wansbeck Division Conservative Association and a member of the executive committee of Northumberland Division of the National Association. The popular president of the Northumberland Lawn Tennis Association, Major Burdon, assisted by his wife, was of great service in bringing the organisation to success. He succeeded Lord Armstrong in that office, which was formerly held by Richard Clayton. In addition to Hartford Hall, near Bedlington, Major Burdon had seats at Wooperton, Newbiggin and at Prior Hall, Penrith. His kindly disposition and constant desire to help in every deserving cause made him extremely popular with all classes, while his unassuming nature prevented him from accepting public honours, for which his abilities and position made him in every way qualified. In November 1908 he went to London for the purpose of undergoing an operation, but the doctors advised that he should return home, and the operation performed there. For a month his health had not been satisfactory, but none except his close friends knew the gravity of his ailments and his sudden death in December 1908, came as a great shock to them all. He was survived by his wife and a family, a daughter being the wife of the Hon. Arthur Joicey, eldest son of Lord Joicey of Ford Castle.

i knew the date was 1859 as my earlier post , but what nook is it in Adam ? It will be nice to read it some time, maybe get a copy somewhere

More info on the First Miners' Picnic, The Albion Etc. The first Miners Picnic was held at Polly's Folly in 1866. In much searching about the solution of the mystery of this forgotten location I was able to find some facts. Polly's Folly, it seems was at the north end of Shankhouse, very close to the now demolished Albion public house. I remember a friend of mine who drank there and always referred to it as "The Folly.†This now leaves the related questions of Polly's identity, and the nature of her folly to be solved. Remembering local mine owners habit of calling pits after their wives, the "Bessy Gray†the Isabella,†and so on, and the nearness of the marsh, now tamed between Shankhouse and Bog Houses, one could guess that somewhere here was a new made pit that flooded hopelessly. Perhaps a fitting memorial could be erected here. Maybe close to where the Albion once stood.

Have we any information on Heppells Shop in that old 1938 pic of the Market Cross in disrepair. i just uploaded. ?

From 1938 this pic. I call it a pic, but its actually a photocopy. It shows the Market Cross in disrepair.

Oh. Nearly forgot. Here the Toll Cottage too. From my private collection. Not the best images but woth having in my collection.