Canny lass

Thank you! Nice to know you enjoyed it. They were an important family in Bedlington's history so I thought they were worth a bit of effort. My own family history research is at a bit of a standstill so I have some time over from that and I might as well put it to good use.

The 6 inch maps show only the 'footprint' of the building. If you want more detail it's always worth having a look at the 25 inch. Size really does matter!! PS Sorry, that should say 1881 NOT 1901.

The photo shows Front Clayton Street with the spire of St Johns in the distance. Back Clayton Street was, in fact, the same row of back-to-back houses entered from the rear of the buildings. No need to check the census, Alan, I’ve ‘wandered’ up and down Clayton Street many times on maps and census returns as I’ve had relatives living in both Front Clayton Street and Back Clayton Street in 1911. In 1901 these streets were called First Street and Second Street. Both streets were comprised of 36 two-roomed dwellings that housed mostly miners. They appear to have been extremely overcrowded with many housing 9-10 people – of which a couple could be lodgers! Imagine the sleeping arrangements!! The map below shows the houses on Clayton Street (green) built in two blocks of back-to-back houses. The first block with 40 dwellings, was located between Pheonix Street (blue) and the entrance to Cross Street (red). The second, with 32 dwellings, was located between the entrance to Cross Street and North View (Not shown on this map). Here’s a zoomed view of the first block nrs. 1 - 20 Front Clayton Street (red) and 1 – 20 Back Clayton Street (blue). Nrs 1 and 2 Back Clayton Street was a “Bake House” and did not house a family in 1911. From the photo, it appears that nrs. 1 and 2 Front Clayton Street have also been some sort of business premises. You can clearly see the back-to-back style of building with entrances on both sides of the block. I’ve often wondered how the toilet facilities worked. As you see, these are facing Back Clayton Street. However, there appears to be some sort of passage way connecting front and back every 8 – 12 dwellings. Must have been a nightmare for the residents of Front Clayton Street on cold winter’s morning.

Happy to have been able to help.

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) @Justine MatchettLooking at those two photos, Alan, I think they show exactly the same buildings with Milburn House first on the left. I've had another think about the location and today I've compared OS maps with the enumerators route on the 1901 1911 and 1921 census returns and also the 1939 register. I'm now inclined to think that Garden House maybe still exists and could be the white house (albeit renovated or even rebuilt) immediately behind the bungalow adjacent to Milburn House. Looking at maps I can see that there has been a building on that spot, immediately behind the Railway Tavern (formerly Railway Hotel then Railway Inn) since the 1860s. Here's a map from 1898. I've arrowed the building in red: The map below is from 1924 (simply because it has the best detail). The Railway Inn I've arrowed green. What I believe to be garden House I've arrowed red, and I've arrowed an L-shaped building to its rear, on the same plot of land, which I'll come back to. Note that the present day bungalow isn't there. That corner where it stands appears to be land belonging to the house. The Railway Tavern is now demolished to make way for the new car park but the side street behind it, leading from the main road and giving access to the two buildings is still there. I had a little wander down that side street (with the help of Google) and I could clearly see that the L-shaped building is still there and seems to be very old. If William Graham, Benjamin's father, ran a carting business and later a market gardening business (at his home address, according to the 1921 census) then that would be the ideal place - maybe stables for horses when he was carting. The name Garden House, from 1911 when William was a carter, may well be a topographic name - referring to the fact that it was the only building there with a garden which faced the main street. making it easily identifiable. Look at the old maps and you'll see that all other buildings had a back yard and/or an allotment garden along the length of what is now Melrose Villas and Melrose Terrace. All in all, the census returns show that the Graham family have lived on the same spot between the Railway Tavern and, after its construction, Milburn House. From 1911 it had the address Garden House. On early maps this is the only house adjacent to the Railway Tavern. What do you think? Could this be Garden House? Anybody living in the area today who fancies knocking on the door and asking? I'd love to know.

Hi again Justine, for the Graham family I have census records 1911, 1921 and 1939 (the pre-war register). For Minnie, I have census records 1921 and , I believe, 1939. I also have a birth index for Minnie which would enable you to obtain a copy of her birth certificate. I'll send them to your inbox (the envelope top right of screen).

Thanks Alan! I hadn't seen Rothley Shield. Bernicia is also still there but now has a wall plaque to the right of the door.

Just to be sure that Minnie was a housekeeper at this address I looked up her probate records, where you can always find the address at which the deceased lived. There an be no doubt that this was the correct person.

PS If you want any of the documentation to prove the Graham family residence was 'Garden' House let me know and I'll send them to you.

Hi Justine, welcome to the forum. I'm pretty certain that I can help you with that. Benjamin Graham never lived at Garton House. That is a spelling mistake or a printing error in the newspaper article. Benjamin lived at GARDEN House in Bedlington Station (often referred to as West Sleekburn). I don't know if you know the area but I'll try to explain its location. The site may well be occupied by a bungalow today but the remainder of the neighbouring houses are certainly still there. Benjamin's father moved into Garden House when it was newly built around 1910-12 and the family were still living there in 1939. Benjamins father, originally a carting contractor, branched out into market gardening and possibly the house got its name from that. The house was situated between the Railway Tavern (which was located on the site of the new car park) and Milburn House which is now number 2 Melrose Villas. Here is a map of the area Railway Tavern marked with black + and the 9 houses of Melrose Villas, marked in red. previously had the address 'Melrose Terrace, plus house name only (no number). These names were (in order from the Railway Tavern to Bank Top): Garden House, Milburn House, Wesley House, Prior House, Rothley Shield, Bernicia, Thurston Villa, Gladstone House and Cresswell House. Milburn House, Bernicia and Cresswell House have retained their names. Milburn House is arrowed in black and Cresswell House is arrowed in yellow. The adjoining terraced row, Melrose Terrace is marked in Green. Here are some pictures. I think Garden House may have been replaced by the bungalow. I myself have no recollection of a bungalow there but perhaps someone else can throw a bit of light on when it was built. However, the other houses, all built within a couple of years can give you an idea of how Garden House was. Melrose Villas looking towards Bank Top. The first of the 2 storey, semi-detached houses is Milburn House: If you zoom in you can see the name above the door. The last of those 2 storey houses is Cresswell House and the name is still above the door:

Answers to the New Year Quiz: 1. Brazil 2. Italy 3. Scotland 4. Nyepi (one of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced!) 5. Russia 6. Mexico (but even other Latin American countries such as Ecuador and Columbia) 7. February 16/Fire Horse 8. Philippines 9. Buckets full of dirty water 10. Haiti 11. It is forbidden to conduct or participate in a wedding 12. The Danes 13. Jump as high as they can 14. Wearing red underwear 15. Always at the Vernal Equinox, whatever the date 16. The Catalonia region of Northern Spain 17. Bread 18. Onions or pomegranates 19. A Southern dish based on a West African pea stew that’s meant to bring good luck and prosperity—the peas represent coins, and the green stands for dollar bills. 20. In the icy waters of the Firth of Forth, Scotland. (one of the coldest things I’ve ever experienced!)

It started snowing here at 9pm last night and we have 6-7 inches

Knowledge is never a heavy burden to bear!! Just think how all this new found information can be used to impress friends and relatives!

Would that be the two in the picture?

It'll keep you out of mischief!