Reedy

Keith, re the comment you left on the previous gallery picture of the Clayton Arms, I agree that the more recent building looks a lot different but I think this latest picture shows it in the same place as it is now.

Dad has an album with over 40 Bedlington 'Then and Now' pictures. We took the more recent ones in 2003/2004 so no doubt even more changes have occurred since then. We tried to get into the same positions wherever possible. I'll start scanning and posting some of the pictures once Christmas and New Year are over but for starters here is the Clayton Arms with windows intact.

www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9654/

Moved by the council in 1972 according to Pmsa.org which also gives a good description of the monument and inscription. Google has a few sites where it gets a mention.

We came across this picture whilst sorting through Dad's albums. I wasn't sure which was the best place to put it as it has some relevance to Whitley Memorial School, Bedlington Terriers FC and Hollymount Square. The picture seems to have been taken from St Cuthbert's Church and shows what I believe are the grounds and buildings of Whitley Memorial School, with the Hollymount area and what is now the park and the Terriers ground also featured. The windows of the building at the bottom left are still evident today above the general dealers next to the solicitors office close to the Northumberland Arms. I've seen quite a few pictures taken from the same position showing the Neuk and Dr Pit area but haven't seen this view before.

My Grandad George Harris was killed during the 2nd World War in an explosion on Cambois Beach. I believe he was Coastguard and a mine exploded. My Mother was taken out of Cambois 1st School and I remember she once told me that the class heard the 'bang'. His name was added years later to the Cambois War Memorial.

14th Battalion Home Guard - taken outside Bedlington Grammar School in 1943.

Wren, sorry for the late reply to your post but I came across it whilst searching for something else and thought I'd reply. Benny Andrews ran the general dealers shop at the top of Melrose Avenue in addition to also running his business from his horse and cart. I lived at the bottom of the street and one of my neighbours, Mary Bowman used to work for him. The shop was changed to Ian Gerrard Cycles and I think Benny used to still live at the back of the premises in a flat until he passed away. There were also garages at the back which he used to rent out. Jennings field was directly opposite the shop and was run by Joseph Jennings from his premises about 100m away between Glassey Tce and Jubilee Tce. I'll ask my Dad if he has any other information as he worked for Jennings when he left school about 70 years ago and I can also speak with Ian Gerrard if you wish.. I've attached a photo of Mr Jennings for you.

Hi Jen, and welcome to the site. I've attached a school photo from Barrington 1959. If you're not in it you might recognise someone.

The guy that ran Hovels shop had an early state of the art security system inside which consisted of numerous strategically placed mirrors which allowed him to observe the whole area without getting out of his chair behind the counter.

The Barrington was called the Monkey because it used to have a live Monkey behind the bar. There was also a shop down the road called Hovels which also had a live Monkey inside which was dressed in a hat and coat. The shop was on Park Road just off Beech Grove next to the Terriers football ground.

Foxy, after speaking to my Dad he confirms that he was born in 1928 in the upstairs rear flat which was accessed through the archway shown in your photograph. It was known as Stokers Buildings. He says it had windows when he lived there - so did the Clayton.

I think it was the other direction as you head towards Bedlington Station. I'll show him the photos though. Thanks.

Ivan, I haven't seen Heather for years. We were in the same class at school from about 1975 until 1978. Foxy, spot on with the photo. My Dad was actually born next door to this in Stokers Buildings in 1928.

Looks like the Whitley Memorial picture is the same as the one in Foxy's album so apologies to both Ivan and Foxy. My Dad has a picture of the area of Front Street taken from possibly the top of St Cuthbert's Church which shows the area behind the Northumberland Arms and might include Whitley Memorial School. It's lent out at the moment but when he gets it back I'll post it on this thread and put it in my album.

Ivan, my Dad who's nearly 85 can remember a family called Hemsley from Bedlington who had loads of children. If they're the right ones then he reckons your Grandad was called Jack Hemsley and he was a plumber at the 'A' Pit at Bedlington Station. My Dad was his apprentice. One of Jack's sons, also called Jack, ran a fruiterers business from his home next to the 'coffin chapel' down from Vulcan Place and Whitley Memorial school. The house had a stable at the back for his horse and cart and still stands there today despite all the others around it being pulled down and new homes built. I went to Bedlington High School with Heather Hemsley who lived there in the late 1970s. I've attached a picture of Whitley Memorial School too. Hope they're your Hemsleys I'm referring to.

Ivan, my Dad who's nearly 85 can remember a family called Hemsley from Bedlington who had loads of children. If they're the right ones then he reckons your Grandad was called Jack Hemsley and he was a plumber at the 'A' Pit at Bedlington Station. My Dad was his apprentice. One of Jack's sons, also called Jack, ran a fruiterers business from his home next to the 'coffin chapel' down from Vulcan Place and Whitley M

The Grange Park children's home was on Reavley Avenue and there was also another home opposite the Ridge Farm - possibly in Rosedale.

Sorry I can't put a date on this picture but it shows Canon Whitley (seated) who was linked to St Cuthbert's Church. The Whitley Memorial School was named after him.

Apparantly the ash came from the hundreds of coal fires in Bedlington which was collected by the local council and dumped there.

From about number 35 to 50 melrose avenue was built on an ash tip. These houses back onto the main road under the 'black bridge'. Numbers 1 to 32 were built first and used land previously used by rag and bone men such as Jakey Miller, and fruit and veg sellers such ad Benny Andrews, Ben Jennings, Joe Jennings. This land was solid ground. Dad still digs up bones when he hoes his garden at the bottom of the street. I remember as a kid helping/hindering Harry Speight when he was starting to build Summerson Way and finding loads of old bottles in the earth.

Dad refers to the shop as 'Bartie Butchers' and possibly has a photo in an album currently out on loan. He remembers that in the early post war years (2nd WW), Bartie used to sell 'under the counter' cigarettes to the miners. He was a good businessman as he would sell the cigs individually, splitting the packets and upping the price and his profits. He would still have long queues outside when rumour of a delivery started. Moscardinis at Bedlington Station also cottoned onto this sales method.

List of names for the Old Folks Treat Fund 1938 - 1939 Market Place Club v Top Club football match. Seated L-R jimmy Jarrett, Tommy Fox, Reg Gill, unknown, Referee (holding match ball), unknown, Archie Maughan (Top Club Manager), unknown, Luke Muldoon, Bradley, Bill Docherty. Standing L-R Percy, Joe Curley, unknown, McSherry, unknown (goalkeeper in cap), Matty Hall, Jenkins, Alec Burns, unknown (in suit and tie), Sanderson, John Walton (Manager Mkt Place Club in shirt and tie), 2 behind unknown, Finlayson, George Campbell, Jim Miller, unknown, Tait (leaning on post), Jim Parr, 2 x unknown, Thomas Reed (goalkeeper), unknown in cap, Billy Wales, unknown, unknown in trilby hat, children unknown. Hopefully some ancestors will be on here. Any additions welcome.

Think the shop at the end of the terrace near the Station club was called 'Dorriies'.

The 'butch woman' as you refer to her was called Elsie. I remember that she always wore huge pit boots. I think my dad started work for Jennings in about 1942 straight from school before he went to the Dr Pit.