lilbill15

Hello @Canny lassYup! That’s definitely green 😃x Thank you very much for this x, although I’m not happy with this map, the Green Letch is indicated nearer Netherton than I think it really is. I’ve found one map suggesting it originated near Low “Eweherd”Hill (love to think about sheep), and runs North to join the Sleekburn eventually. I live on North Ridge Bedlington and I can look out of my window and see the course of the GLetch beside the bus stop across the road (B1331). I know you said that maps are really snapshots and I recognise they’re only as good as their authors. However, all that blether aside, I can now add Netherton Letch to the pot, and that does fit the picture. If I stand with my back to the “concrete things “ field, looking South, the GLetch is over to my left, at 9-10 o’clock ish. The Netherton Letch must be what runs in front of me from right to left, low down below in a deep gully. From this position I can look South and see the edge of the new houses built alongside the B1331. There’s a path I haven’t tried yet which drops down the steep slope down to the water, next step has to be follow this to see if this is where the Netherton and Green Letches meet? Best regards Roseanne xx

Also wondering what the two features adjacent to Francis Pit are (round/oval’ish ‘’’’’’’ markings around them)?

It’s not the Green Letch- there’s another stream travelling from West which looks like the Letch drains into?

Morning @Canny lass, thanks very much for this, more ingredients for the Bedlington pot x. I don’t think it’s the brickworks itself as the area lies not far from the Green Letch which is on my right as I face the Choppington road and approx 10-15 minutes walk from the road (sorry, I’ve never been able to judge distance). I usually approach from Blue House direction, but I followed a new path (to me) Sunday morning from Willow Bridge, past “the Deck “, over the railway line and eventually met the Green Letch and the brick/soil/stone area was on my right with the field of “concrete things etc “ on my left, north side of the Letch. It actually looks like recent movement of the area, making me wonder if it’s being dug in preparation for something or maybe just reclamation because the bricks and stones look old and mixed with soil and ?bulldozed into big heaps, good stone separated out. Alan Dickson has said he thinks the concrete things could be vents for an old clay pit which subsequently became a landfill. I have downloaded one old map app so far and was browsing when I got your response, yours is a much better map than I’ve found so far and I’ll try to find some comparisons to nail down the location in question. I’m just learning how to use Google Earth while I’m out and about, apparently it’ll give me map coordinates for wherever I am so I can reference it when I get home. Thanks again, regards Rx

Also.... now you’re getting sick of this! - there’s a grotto marked between Humford mill and? Attlee park, does this feature on any subsequent maps? Also interesting, iron mine near Foundry Bridge, makes absolute sense but never occurred to me that the iron was local originally. I’ll shut up for a bit xx

Very lovely indeed , @Canny lassdetails like the naive depiction of Ewart’s hill, making it stand out as a feature more significant then than it seems now. I’m wondering whether the mining activity has reduced it’s prominence in the same way the A pit heap has reduced over the years? I had a good look over that way this evening and there’s nothing so obvious on that horizon. Also, there is some evidence of industry in that area now, is there currently some excavation going on between RedHouse and Hartford road? x

Wow @Canny lass, now who’s inundated? HOURS of rummaging here, thank you very much xx

Well, seemed straightforward differentiating between the village and the colliery, so why wasn’t the colliery called Nedderton colliery to avoid confusion with Rothbury’s Netherton? Post Office has a lot to answer for (seems a little high-handed, like their computerised accounting system?) just having a dig😂x

Now, that is interesting, I like to see how place names change over the years, just like language. I can see no sign of Nedderton on this map, has it replaced what was Netherton, well along the road from the Blue House? Maybe another name which has evolved over time? You know, I start off with a plan and get diverted all around the houses with each new snippet of information- fascinating stuff. Thank you very much x

Thank you very much, James, another couple of bricks in my Bedlington wall. I’m matching history to the present and negotiating this website as well, interesting fun x

@HIGH PIT WILMA if you haven’t published yet it’s high time you did. Your beautiful description of the site and especially the movement of the machine is almost poetic, while reading it I could see it as if I was there. Who needs dvds when such graphic written records are available. I’ll be looking for more of your posts during my rummagings in Bedlington then and now, if that’s ok. x

Thanks again, same forwarded to Josephine. And houses on the right hand side of the picture. ALL the backs of those heads look like someone I used to know, that memory trickery again 😂!x the clothing and hairstyles all look 50’s but that doesn’t necessarily date it accurately, not everyone dresses bang up on date. Josephine has just texted-keen to explore for actual remains down the Bedlington bank- looks like that’s the next excuse to get the dogs out-after the rain stops. We’re very grateful for your continuing information feed, and I’m sure Poppy and Max appreciate you too xx Currently trying to buy visitors pass for Woodhorn online - NOT a user friendly process! However, as it’s still raining then happy to rummage about online.

Thank you very much Alan, I shared these pics with Josephine and she’s chuffed to see them, she’s sure she saw this bridge back in the day. We’re planning a trip to Woodhorn with the dogs to combine their run and swim with our visit to the museum- another very useful steer, thank you very much kind sir x

Thanks again x Sorry to ask daft questions; regards R x

PPS sorry, forgot to ask for the date of this picture, please? Also have found dates for maps I’ve looked at (1947) x

Blimmineck! Before we heard that cuckoo this morning we were on top of the heap and Josephine was telling me to that bridge, describing it’s position. Now we’ve got a picture- is that on permanent display at Woodhorn? My rummages involve maps/www/on foot with friend and dogs, plus car for further afield. I’m presuming Woodhorn is opening up like the rest of the world? 🤞🏻🤞🏻x P.S. Are you a wizard Alan(Eggy1948) all-seeing/hearing/knowing???x

Wow 😳, you’ve seen some history! My Granda Graves worked at the Dr Pit too. Your prompt then took me to 60’s maps of Bedlington and Choppington, showing what I think is the course of the Green Letch from the High Ewart Hill area all the way to ?Willow Water Choppington and into the Sleekburn then on to the Blyth etc. Lovely x, this week’s rummage completed ✅. Thank you very much for the steer x

Hi Rigger, thank you very much for this. You prompted me to have a look at older maps of Bedlington, found High Ewart Hill and Low Ewart Hill either side of the Hartford road. (?60’s), so now I know the right area. Thanks again, regards x

Thank you very much x

Hello, this week’s rummage has been watercourses- Green Letch-> North Sea and also tracing back Bothal Burn.... trying to avoid buying OS maps if possible. Trying to pinpoint Ewart Hill in relation to the Green Letch (obviously got nothing better to do 😶) x have read previous posts about flooding Westlea and cemetery and Ewart hill opencast x

😁x

Right, will attach photos (hopefully), please don’t scoff when you notice that there isn’t a “green door “- amazing how my memory deceives me 🥴! Mr Dickson is probably exactly right about what these are; I was misled by “hut”. Regards to all x

@Keith Batey Hi, Keith, after 💬 with Josephine this morning suggest you follow up “Mona Taylor Maternity Home “- lots of mentions on this Bedlington forum. Stannington being the significance xx

Thank you very much, Alan, another stab in the dark xx