pilgrim

an excellent picture. it was taken facing north towards Scotland gate as stated. the signal box is on the right and the station masters house is one the left. on the right side just within view is what was yarrows shop, although I suspect that it was someone else running it at the time of the picture. the actual station and platforms were on the left behind the station masters house.

station terrace is the row of houses on the bedlington side of the crossing. the station was immediately beside the lord clyde with platforms on both sides - one for trains towards bedlington station and the other towards hepscott and morpeth. the station master's house was on a plot of land at the side of the road immediately opposite the signal box. travelling towards bedlington along station terrace, there was a small gap and a large building known locally as the german club - allegedly as someone had tried to signal out to sea from an upper floor, this was demolished in the very early 60's. further on towards bedlington where there are now stables was a single very large allotment with two pear trees. I should have clarified earlier that the lord clyde is at choppington station and not choppington itself and there was another pub opposite the lord clyde.

further to above -- no 2 station terrace was a woman called 'olive'. at the bottom of the bank beside willow bridge was a garage used by Barnfathers business. as you travelled towards Scotland gate on the west side I think Billy Dixon lived there and he had a horse and cart. from Yarrows shop going down to the bridge I recall the Candlish family lived next to the shop then the Miller family. Jacky Wades mother in the Lord Clyde was called Barbara.

not sure if its been covered but - going wayyyyyyyyyyy back most churches named after Cuthbert were named after his resting places on the return to lindisfarne - there was one at causey park for example. although I suspect that the church at bedlington predated that because it was built on top of the sandstone ridge and most churches were at that time (or indeed took sites that were previously 'holy' under whatever god) you can trace the line of these churches all over the country -- but locally they are all on high points - bedlington next is Horton aside cramlington - cramlington itself earsdon on the way down the coast --and many many more -- its interesting to get a map and plot them by contour points and gives some insight on early and indeed pre-Christianity.

interesting comment re Anthony quaile - I was aware of he site at Plessey but of course any information is not easy to get.

ty all -- been many years since I lived there - still have a house at the station which we rent out -- but thought to put in my ragged and random memories afore they were lost forever

ty -will do

thinks... am I mistaken - but during 'the strike' did he not buy a new house and kept it quiet when folk couldn't feed their families??

billy gradwell died on his last day on shift as well

I recall many years spent swimming there etc etc and you could drive in beside the bridge and park etc. - although I am puzzled as to how and under what legislation anyone parking beside the bridge now gets a ticket??????????????????? I am aware that the quarry there was used for the stone for Hartford Hall but I also seem to have found a reference that the stone was used to face tower bridge?? I also believe that there was a 'secret' base in the woods in case of German invasion during WW2 - any info on this??

stumbled on this site whilst looking at local history so chucked my bit in -- born 1955 lived at choppington station - went to Scotland gate school... know a bit about the locality so have posted some stuff which might be of help

I recall visiting the 'domino' when it was a picture house -- used to get the train there from choppington but had to walk back as it was after 9pm and no trains then!! I seem to recall seeing a film called 'Tarzans greatest adventure ' there well under age !!! and oh yes the claggy mat -- I recall it was a bit dull there one night so they had a football match on the 'dance' floor

I seem to recall tony arkle (would be about 60 now) lived in a house located at -- travel from willow bridge toward Scotland gate - over the bridge go up the bank was about the 2nd or third house on the left (west side of road)

there is a 'date' stone on the front -- it was built as a magistrates court with separate entrance and the buildings at the back and linked were the superintendent's quarters.

at the top of the bank and over the railway line on the right side (west) was station terrace - 5 houses - a mrs Syrett lived in no 3 and bred golden retrievers - she had a lodger that worked at remploy and had one of those 3 wheeled invalid cars. next door at no 4 was George Barnfather who had the demolition and scrap yard at the back of the street, then in the last house was the Rice family who had the chip shop at Scotland Gate . the station was used for passenger trains much later than previously stated. a man called Clifford was in the station house, but his wife had a few mental health problems as far as I recall (apologies if that is wrong) next to that was a separate house where an old gent lived (only known as 'old army') barnfather had two sons - one lived on the road to Scotland gate on the left side past willow bridge and the other had a house on willow bridge as far as I recall. there was a shop at the top of the bank in the photo opposite the white swan which was then the Lord Clyde. the shop was owned by norman yarrow and his wife peggy - they had a son brian who is/was a milkman and a daughter Maureen, they opened up a shop in Vulcan place in later years. the lord clyde was owned by mrs wade but run by her son Jacky. when she died he got married and moved to france I think. he had a dion de bouton vintage car stashed away behind the pub. after the beeching report the sidings behind the station were used for storing steam engines prior to being scrapped. I hope this information helps.