Newbedders

Thank you Eggy, your response seems quite likely however, in the photo the plot seems less than flat enough for footie, unless that was a later development.

20 minutes ago, webtrekker said:

I'd heard the developer took a shotgun into the middle of a field and tried to blow his head off but missed, leaving him alive but terribly injured. 

Anyone know if this is true? 

Yes it is, however he succeeded later with the help of a train.

Further ref to the gates, more info can be found at hot following website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisjackson/2011/11/keeping_your_eyes_peeled_gets.html

2 hours ago, Maggie/915 said:

If houses are to be built on our car parks, what happens to all the people parking for the Courthouse and associated businesses .

Regeneration will bring many more people to our town.

It would be a shame if the parking becomes critical and people then do not come along to support the planned buisnesses.

Is the car park suitable for development? Why has it never been built on before? Is it possible that this area of land was subject to   relatively shallow mining activity related to the drift mine, part of the Doctor Pit?

Thank you HPW, once again your recollections paint such wonderful pictures of landscapes long gone. You are a living local history book.

20 hours ago, bluebarby said:

That brings back memories! 

Between the railway and the Willow Burn there was an area that we always knew as the golf course, was it ever a golf course? 

I have a drawing some where of the wooden viaduct that the railway to the Pit went over. 

I'm intrigued to see references to a golf course. Is there any more info? It's a bit surreal to think of such a thing in the midst of so much industry.

1 hour ago, Canny lass said:

Another mystery solved! Well done!

I second that, and thank you for all of the contributions.

Just had to log in again. However beforehand the only thing I couldn't do was to access the Live option. All other topics were open to me, unlike previously when some topics were restricted to members only.

Never get sick of your shared experiences HPW, but accept that you need your rest.

Where did the Green Letch take water towards the Wansbeck or The Blyth ?

It drained Ewart Hill northwards and eventually joined the Willow Burn at Choppington and then into the Sleekburn, and eventually into the Blyth.

I've since found out that the threes unmarked cars were involved in a high speed pursuit. I've also heard that the large police presence was possibly related to the sighting of someone carrying a machete.

Anyone know the reason for large police presence at Atlee Park and 3 unmarked cars that flew down Front street at 09:45.

This instance was definitely recorded in a census of Bedlington.

Does anyone know where Coach Lane was, or is under another name. This came up on a census (1901) when I was tracing my wife's ancestors.

Could it be the furnace bank with the Bank Top Hotel in the background. Dad has a very similar picture. I'll see if I can upload it onto here later.

The river at furnace bank/bridge is a relatively straight section

Ovalteeny, I agree with your explanation regarding the buildings. However I still think the photo was taken from the field behind the 2 houses at the bottom of the bank, although there would only have been 1 there then. On the photo, to the right of the title, you can see that part of the river bank has been built up with stone or brickwork, so the photographer must have been fairly close to the existing path alongside the river. I've only lived in Bedlington for 38 years but I recall that the field did extend almost to the base of the road bank, and that section has gradually succumbed to overgrowth of vegetation.

Eggy, I think your original theory was nearer the mark, but one of your localisations may be a bit off beam, ie the house on the top. I still think that it was Millbank (House) and in the photo there is an inclined path/track, which remains, leading to another smaller house, hence the name Millbank. In your later posting you suggest a viewpoint down Humford Woods and I know the exact place you have in mind. However, if you could see Bank Top cottage from there, without the current level of vegetation, it would be almost level to the viewer, whereas it appears higher up in the photo.

I also think that the house on the top is Millbank, as shown on the OS maps of the period (Northumberland Communities, Bedlington )

It looks as if the photo was taken, looking north, from the small field at the bottom of Bedlington bank where they used to have whippet racing, and which was crossed by the trellis bridge and access road during the opencast years.

As far as I know its getting levelled!

To leave Greggs on its own, and create an even bigger eyesore?

Thank you eggy.

Sorry folks, the only old school I know of is the one on Church Lane, and I can't find any new plans related to it's current status. Can you please point me in the right direction.

Which old school, and what new plans? Intrigued!

There is also news about Blyth Foxy.

Huge investment at Poundstretchers I think that may be the old Coop building.

That's in Ronnie Campbell's Window on Westminster column page 14 NPL last week.

The figures of investment and pay back in rent are interesting to calculate.

Some people claim there is a wealth of mis information without explaining where error lies.

This article claims the progress is labour lead and Arch will invest £1.476m

Then The Heritage Initiative is mentioned , surely that means funding from that group.

Not exactly clear.

My fear for Bedlington is that the powers that be leave a note saying 'No Money Left'

Then our kids and grandchildren end up paying forever.

Not to mention the new hotel on the Commisioner Quay, again funded by Arch.

And all of the terrier seats popping up helps towards being proud of our town.