johndawsonjune1955

Yes, I saw Billy Ward had died, but I used to work with another Billy Ward when I was an apprentice painter for BUDC and got confused. I tell you what, Billy the photographer must have some incredible photos of Bedlingtom. As I said elsewhere, I believe he was the schools photographer as well. Can you imagine finding that cache in his attic!!!

Yes i can confirm he did school pics, you are right. I wonder what is going to happen to them pics he had ?

Maybe go to the Records Office at Woodhorn, or the family migh be selling them ?

Billy Ward was the official photographer in there Keith, he was often to be seen taking pictures of the acts both onstage and backstage. When he retired I bought quite a lot of pictures from him but because he knew i was keen on music he gave me some "proof" prints F.O.C. Some he has identified on the back, I've got a canny few so here's a couple of starters.

I see Billy Ward has died. It was in the newspaper about two weeks ago.

Lovely fellow his pics were great and he had a canny knowledge of the area too.

To be honest John I'm not a big sports fan - but I would love some photos of the groups and bands they had on down there. I believe Tony Christie played there once. I'm fortunate in having seen it as a cinema and a nightclub - throughout it's transitions. Some good nights and bad nights had down there. Cheers.

Tony Christie, i am a big fan of him

John,you got me puzzled noo!!

First you quote my posting aboot Puddler's Raa,saying it was called Pisspot Raa,now you posted this pic of Phoenix Raa,and are saying THIS was Pisspot Raa....come on,which one?,cos this is the first time i have ever heard this nickname used..and i was at Bedlington A pit for six years,working with really old timers who were born in the early 1900's,and knew the area's history very well,and also married a lass that was born in Puddler's Raa...and SHE,and Her Family,including Her Mother [born 1909],hadn't heard of it either.

Hi. Missed this Post and appolgise HPW

Phoenix Row was suppose to be the dirtiest place in Bedlington. It was nicknamed "Pisspot Row" or to us with our twang "Pisspot Raa"

My appolgies abot the confusion. Hmmm just wondering if i had a few wee drams earlier on my original comment.

It's probably been asked and answered before elsewhere but when did the Wallaw cinema close in Bedlington?

Keith as soon as i get a chance a will look it up as i know i have a lot of info on the place.

BTW. Got some cracking pics of Super Mac at the Domino if you want them on-line ?

i knew ganny mather very well the gaff had wood benches at the front of the hall ganny would shove as manny people as she could to get more people in ( no health and safety then ) just pack them in . happy days at the gaff

The "Gaff" had the smallest projection room in the country.

I got some details on it somewhere. If i think on i will post them

This was over the road from Lucy's but cannot remember Fat Mo's being there.

Spot on John, Only went there a couple of times. However, we had a little more than the kids these days i recon

John,

I think it would be best to run it as a separate site, like GGG says we are here because we buy into a Bedlington site, Ashington would have its own distinctive readership/membership.

Once its set up, and it looks like GGG is offering, you only need a handful of mods to keep it running and promoting it.

going to ask one of the lads or two i can't as i havent got my health.

i enjoy visiting here as it helps me as does my history with the group.

i recon Derick could well be up to it as one tho. he loves anything like that and he keeps our site going too.

An interesting article about Hartford Hall, has kindly been sent in by Mrs. Valerie Metcalfe, of Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire. Valerie is Bedlington Born and bred and left the area 27 years ago.

Just thought it might be of interest for anyone looking for relations that maybe worked there. Or help in a family tree.

Anyway here it is, and hope it may be useful for someone

Hartford Hall, 1881

Owner : Augustus Edw. Burdon. aged 29 . Born : Madras, India.

Wife : Alice Vandeleur. Aged 25 . Born : Ireland.

Daughters : Aileen 4 . Norah 3 . Georgina 1.

The Staff.

Footman : Thos. Watson 24 . born : Lanchester.

Cook : Ann Harrowsmith 29 . Born : York.

Kitchen Maid : Annie Cheeseman 23 . born : Durham.

Housemaid : Mgt Maughan 23 . born : Bedlington.

Under Housemaid : Lizzie Hindmarsh 21 . born : Bedlington.

Nurse : Susan Loftus 60 . born : Dublin.

Nursemaid : Sophie Dacre 22 . born : Liverpool.

Laundrymaid : Mary Mason 38 . born : Scotland.

Laundrymaid : Agnes Baird 21 . born : Scotland.

Living in Estate Cottages.

Gardeners : Robert, Frank & William Common . born : Alnwick.

Gardeners : Thomas Rutherford 16 . born : Bedlington.

Woodman : Thos Hindmarsh . born : Hartburn.

Dairymaid : Jane Hindmarsh (wife) born : Hartburn.

Groom : Rbt Newton 29. born : Wooler.

Coachman : Richard Burr 23. born : Pimlico, London.

Coachman Wife : Isabella Burr 21. born : Bedlington.

Gamekeeper : Thos Nicholson 38 . born : Alston.

Butler : Wm Birrell 37 .

Land Agent : Wm Biggs (widower) 24 .

Children : John, aged 1 . Edith, aged 4 months .

Cook : Isabella Strothard, aged 19 & Sister in Law Blanche .

Nursemaid : Mgt Barr, aged 19 .

It could easily be organised if you want to run it! PM me if you are interested.

I can't, but thanks, i will ask the members if its ok and see if one or two will, it will be interested, or maybe we can still talk about it if there were a Ashington slot on here too ?

What does Malcolm think ?

Could there be a connection here John?

yes indeed foxy m8

there aree other pics on our website.

i am looking at the people in both photos and there are a few in the pics on the website.

The biggest raid over here was during 15th June over wallsend and Jarrow. Death toll was high and the devestation was beyond belief.

Getting back to April 14th, The Germans they still thought Bedlington Ironworks was in production, and had their info wrong as we know, but just shows you, they wanted to halt production there.

Here a map of the two raids both mapped out for you Foxy. Its interesting. Just wonder what else can be found on the raids. ?

Some of the oldest ruins in the area are situated around there.

What fascinating history that is connected to them too and connected to Bedlingtonshire.

The Ashington area has some fantastic history, does it have a Forum ?

My knowledge is not just Bedlingtonshire, as most users know, but there is fantastic history around our area and a fair bit is tied-in, or should i say connected to Bedlingtonshire.

The website has again been updated and this time for the 17th of May.

The new story, The Zeppelin Raid on the North East, includes photographs and newspaper reposts with pics.

Log onto : http://www.sixtownships.org.uk

Here is a little from it.

About 8. O' clock the Zeppelin passed over the Choppington district on its way to Bedlington. When first seen it was coming from the coast and seemed to have come up the river. In a few seconds a large crowd ran down near to Mr. McHugh's sale rooms, where the Zeppelin was plainly visible, the noise being like that of a steam thrasher. Just at that point men were seen inside the Zeppelin as it hovered over the Social Club on the opposite side of the road, and proceed in a southerly direction. Immediately afterwards there was a flash, and a crack from a bomb followed by others.

The Zeppelin bombardment is stated to have commenced at 8.12 pm, and to have lasted a very few minutes. The first bomb dropped with a terrific noise just behind the Workmen's Social Club near Choppington Station. The club however suffered no damage, nor was there damage done to any other building or a person injured, though five or six other bombs fell. Three of these fell in Mr. Huntley's field on the Bedlington side, close by. They were incendiary bombs .

Interesting how a head of the National Coal Board was MP for Wansbeck in 1945 then Blyth Valley in 1950-1964, Alfred Robens Also helped Create the Health and Safety at work act 1974 the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive.

No interest in Robens after the Aberfan disaster. He took money from the fund set up to see to the slag heaps. Took years to get it back. But, Aberfan, Robens told too many lies. He didnt have any decency in him.

Shame of him

very interesting old grave head stones., You know what really gets me today is the pushing over of head stones for health and safety reasons.

I think its more of a liability leaving them the way they do after pushing them over.

Old mineworking cause subsidence, as we know, but why do they not think about putting the headstone down on top of the grave neatly ?

I would have thought that would be a better idea as not to loose the identitity.

Or may laying the headstone just abouve the grave so it can be seen ?

I dunno, the amount of headstones that are old just pushed over and broken and left on the ground as they fall. Its sad to think that people of the past paid as much for the headstones and today they are pushed over

and broken as they fall. You would think by todays standards we would think about doing it in a better way.

What a shame. Just imagine if it was one of our loved ones. ?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

Comments as alweays welcome

Good stuff. Using the bottle tops for Christmas tree decorations in hard times is a nifty idea.

Not just bottle tops for crimbo decorations, paper too and painted, but bottle tops looked really cool

Heh Heh! Thanks John,things seem to have settled doon,aam deaing aalreet noo!

By hell,ye brought me sum gud aad memories there noo,Ted Candlish,a used to trail aal the gearboxes,motors,coalcutter parts,conveyor belt installation,everything heavy,wi me powny.

Me and me marra used ti work wi Ted,and he's marra Geordie Carr,building up the conveyor drive-heads,etc

as weel as aal the other fitter and electricians,like Eddie Hagerty,["Uncle Ed..!!]

Smashing blokes ti work with,aal the Nicholsons filled coal in stretches next to each other,they took the whole face up between them!Raffi Nicholson,was [still is!]a big lad,he was timber-leading before filling coal.

So did the Dryer family,aal luvly blokes,especially young Dor,who,even though he was a few years older than me,was still more like my age than the old-timers.We got on really great,but then,i got on well with most every man at the pit,considering i was a kid growing up fast,among older men.

I knew every man at the pit,when the workforce was only about 300.Bart,John,Harry [Harper],Stewpot,Big Toss,[although some were at other pits where i worked.]

My Father worked with Toss and Bart,and Old Salt,Les,["Fingers"],and all the rest,cos He started High pit in 1929

aged 14 years old.

Sory missed your last post WPW.

Ye there was Dor, he played the harmonica too, is i right, ? i remember him playing it at new years at the house.

Did i tell the story about my uncle Tucker and the pit manager ?

It was over how Tucker walked into his office as he was short changed on his pay.

He just opened the door and said to the manager "I am short on my check" and still in his pit clothes.

The manager said "Tom, thats no way to come and talk to me about your pay being short, i will show you how to do it right. You be me and i will be you, sit down at my desk and i will go outside"

The manager knocked at the door, and by this time many miners were wondering what was going on.

Tucker said "Come in"

The manager gos in and Tucker has his feet, with pit boots on, on the managers desk. and he says to Tucker "Excuse me, i have been paid short. Can you sort it out please"

Tucker turned around and said "Get out, your getting nowt more"

And the manager just couldnt believe it and the miners who were watching were in hysterics.

Can't believe it. Sorry to hear this. Fancy ripping someone off on their BIG DAY.

Hope you find someone reliable and enjoy the big day.

I have been through and amended the first post made by John with the updates thereafter.

If you keep posting in here John with updates I can keep going through and adding them to the first post so that the entire timeline appears in one post but the thread consists of discussion and snippets of relevant dates.

Will make for a good reference post that people can revert to for dates/information.

Thats very kind of you. We have a lot more to add, so many thanks. Its a brilliant reference at the end of the day for anyone interested in Bedlington

I have been through and amended the first post made by John with the updates thereafter.

If you keep posting in here John with updates I can keep going through and adding them to the first post so that the entire timeline appears in one post but the thread consists of discussion and snippets of relevant dates.

Will make for a good reference post that people can revert to for dates/information.

Got more updates to it in our archives at

http://www.sixtownships.org.uk

Drop some updates in our forum for us and we can keep it up-to-date

If any user is into the secret army, that was in the country during WW2 and Bedlington its in our archives too.

Still got pics to update, but full story is online.

We have to keep some information back as it shows in detail bomb making and the title of books with the instructions in too.

You never know if we put them online the details would be useful to wrong people these days

But have a look, a lot about Bedlington and the Auxillary Army (Secret Army) we had.

Read what was to be done if the Germans had invaded, its a true story, when the pics are updated i will let you know. Derick should have them up by the 15th he said.

Here is a sketch for you at Hartford.

thought so, but cracking pic. Just imagine if we were around then ?

Just really good pic and the old signs too.

thanks for that

John, I am interested in the Chartism dates.

In 1832 were we the start of Chartism or were we following others.

Would be great to think we were there first.

1838 until 1848 seem to be the main dates for the movement.

The details i have found were

Chartism in Bedlington was 1832-1839 and Augustas Beaumont was the main speaker in our area

I will be seeing Mark in a couple of days and ask him to pull out the details the group holds and update you

Extra Extra

Read all about it!

Super. Was that at Beamish ?

It just gives you a great impression of how it may have looked after the murders.

Well-done

John,

Fantastic stuff, thank you very much! I'm very interested in the military hideouts, and whether any evidence of them still exists. Incidentally, when I lived on Hollymount Terrace - before the houses were built on the green - an archaeological dig took place there as permission had been give for building to go ahead. I believe the team were from Newcastle University. They uncovered evidence of buildings that they told me were 'older than had previously thought existed in the region'. This was probably some ten years ago, I have no idea if the results were published but it would be interesting to find out more.

I remember them digging. Wheres that 10 years gone ?