Brian, My name is Taylor, Eileens name was Chambers and now its Kirtley.
Lucy

 

A very useful and informative website, thank you. Best wishes for 2009,
BobH

 

Wishing everone a Merry Christmas & a happy new year
www.zentek.org.uk

 

To all the people who run the site may I take this opportunity to thank you all again for such a wonderful site and also wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.

 

Thank you Lucy. If you didn't know Eric, I can tell you he was a gentleman of the first order.... we really miss him.
Brian

 

So sorry to hear that you have lost a valuable member of your group.

 

as grandaughter of William Henry Prudhoe who was cousin to Margaret Florence Prudhoe of the article about the Prudhoe family I would like to thank the authors for a very interesting insight into my ancestors. Well done and once again many thanks to Brian Scollen and David Angus.

 

I have just been in to the new Families page and you have all done a very good job in tracing this persons family for him.Great work once again.
Lucy

 

The new photographs are fantastic lots of places I remember being there when I was young

 

That's correct Lucy.
Brian

 

Hello Dave,many thanks for the photograph, considering it was taken over seventy years ago the response was remarkable

 

Brian, the house you mention, is it the House where Mr Cooper (butcher) lived.
Lucy

 

Hi Dave
Thank you so much for the photo's,they are just perfect,and I have added them on on tree already.Maureen

 

Hello Edward, the photograph you asked for of yourself in a sailor suit is on its way to you (post number 144)

Dave

 

Maureen, your photographs of H'ton Church are on their way. Good to hear from you.
Dave

 

Hello Lucy
If you go towards Dalton le Dale from Seaham St Johns vicarage , when you get to the bottom of the bank there is a house on the righthand side just before Daldon Tower - that is the place. mr Brydon was famous for his champion Clydesdale Stallions.

Hope this helps.

Brian

 

Can anyone tell me where Studd Farm , The Deans , Seaham Harbour owned by Mr Thomas Bryden was Situated
Lucy

 

Hi
I love looking through the photo's and the site in general.
Would it be possible to have a couple of photo's of St Michaels and All Angels church code numbers HTON 018 and o19 that is the church my husband's grand parents
Ann Wilson and Henry Elsbury Dawson were married in 27 May 1912.When we were up that way the other year,I did try and take a photo of the church,but there was a wedding going on,so I didn't like to intrude on them to take a photo.Thank's Maureen


 

I am looking for a photograph taken about 1931/32 of the then new Vane Tempest banner. This photograph which includes the miners association commitee of which my father was one was taken in the miners welfare hall located near Seaham railway station. In the photograph I am standing next to my father. I was 5/6 years old and wearing a sailor suit

 

Thank you so much Brian much appreciated.Lucy

 

Lucy - that picture should be with you now.
Regards
Brian

 

Hello Lucy, thanks for your note about the Dray Cart and yes, you are correct, the Dray Cart was in Frances St, at number10, eastern end, southern side.
This error was pointed out to me in this g/book way back in June by Gerard Marshall and I have still not got around to correcting it. I promise I will this time.
I rec'd an email from Bob Williams last night telling me that one of my Horden pictures is actually Haswell, I was a few miles out there!!
Always happy to be corrected.
Dave

 

Photo PB008 in the Pub Gallery section shows the Dray Cart Pub and it states it was in Frederick Street. I beg to differ as my uncle was licensee in that pub when I was young and it was in Frances Street

 

To Brian Slee, the photo you have of the party at Ryhope SB BS 007 I think I see my sister and myself in it ,I am the one behind you, I think it said you were at the front with bow tie.I would be very happy if you could send e me a copy .
Lucy

 

Hello Graeme, I can't add photographs to the guestbook but will send you a bigger file of the Elgeys photograph which may help you identify your grandfather. I have several photographs of Elgey's staff but unfortunately I don't think I have names to go with any of them but will check later.
Dave

 

Hello. Do you have any information about the group of workers in photograph TR004 showing Elgey's in 1925. The man 3rd from the left looks like mygrandfather Ben Lacey (1890-1971) who lived in The Avenue Deneside.
Kind regards Graeme

 

thank you brian for taking the photograph at dalton-le-dale graveyard for mwa and jim in pheonix , you are a star its our greatgreat grandmother and father we can read the inscription thxs

 

Hello again Lucy

Further to your request about pictures of Jennings Foundry, there is a good aerial shot on Old aerials AER 003.
Glad you're still enjoying the site.
Brian

 

This site just gets better and better still loving it

 

Hello Seaham harbour - if any Laceys or Tizards read this would love to hear from you as I am trying to research my family history.
Graeme Lacey - used to live in the New Seaham Inn ans then the dawdon Hotel. Attended Dawdon Junior School. Left seaham harbour 1960.

 

just found out about this site some great photos especially old football found a picture of my husband on it , he played for dawdon tigers .

 

Thank you Dave and Brian, I asked about the foundry because I was on some site and someone was asking for info about Jennings foundry.I have now sent the info you both gave here in a mail to this person.Great pics of the beach in days gone by.

 

Hello Lucy,
Robert Wright's Iron Works opened in Ropery Walk in 1843, it was extended 1854 and sold in the 1870s, after various owners it began trading in 1899 as Seaham Foundry Co Ltd., taken over by Jennings c1950 it closed in the late 1960s. Foundry Houses were demolished between 1933 and '36.
Dave

 

Lucy
If you look up BW021 in the Bottleworks section and GW014 in the Groups and Workers you will find two pics of Jennings Foundry.
Brian

 

Does anyone Have any photographs or information on Jennings Foundry Seaham

 

Thank you Dave for including the Photos of the Foggins and Taylors of Seaham in the Shoebox

 

Here I am again having a look around the site and still loving it .

 

I just love sitting late at night scanning through all the old pics.Thank you so much for all your hard work in making this a real good site to visit.

 

Calling Uruguay.
You are one of our most frequent visitors. Please post a message or email to tell us about yourself and your links to the North East.
Intrigued.....
Dave

 

Love the site and all the pics

 

Brian. great work. Any docs you could let me have copies of would be grand. Never thought it'd be possible to gather up so much detail on the great grandfather - always thought of him as a name on the monument. I've got the whole family of Smiths sitting on the edge of their seats!
cheers
mick

 

Hi, A message for Mike Smith Re. McGloghlan killed in the 1880 explosion. Whilst making up the display boards for the forthcoming exhibition at Christ Church parish hall following the service of remembrance for the victims of the 1880 explosion and dedication of the 1929 lodge banner, which is on the 8th Seaptember 2008 at 7pm. I have discovered a note, FIVE O'CLOCK WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING TO GOD and singed by RILEY, McGloghlan,Fletcher and Drainer. I have from research found a plan taken from Explosions in Coal Mines by W.N. and J.B. Atkinson H.M. Inspectors of Mines dated 1886. No1 Plan shows places where bodies were found and where multiple bodies, a number showing how many, there are, only two places which show were there were Four bodies ie No 1 Hutton Seam Far Off Way east return and No1 Hutton Seam at the Polka Turn in the returns. This may help in your search if you need copies no problem. Brian

 

Thank you so much Brian Slee for the photo's you sent me. I have very few photo's of my grandad. I was only 4 when he died. The family will be delighted when i show them. Thank you once again. 

 

Hello, I've been looking at the photos of the old east end of sunderland, is there any way that I can download these pic's??

 

Hello Dee, you need to tell me which photograph you are talking about.

David

 

Was looking at the pictures of the lifeboats on this site and came across a photo of my grandad (James Freak) who was a volenteer. Was wondering how i would go about getting a copy. Would be very greatful x

 

Just wanted to say a profound thank you to Dave in his endeavours to overcome my problems in posting to this web site forum. Appears that the security on my computer wont let me post, hence any comments will have to come via the guestbook.

Thanks you Dave for a wonderful web site. It is brilliant, the photographs outstanding.

Kind regards from Linda from Murton

 

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help. I am trying to trace some old friends that I knew when I lived in Wynyard St. Dawdon. Joyce Baxter who I think lived in Longnewton St. Herman Goodall who lived in Wynyard St. Jimmy Hope. All will be in their sixties by now.
Here's hoping. Ray Kinnair
raymond.kinnair@ntlworld.com

 

Great site special thank you to brian scollen who found me documents on my grandfather 10/10 and dave for this lovely insite off the area

 

Hi Dave
Decided to take another look at your excellent site, after mentioning it to a distant relative.

You certainly have been hard at work since my last visit, more photos which are fantastic. Keep up the good work!

best wishes
Joanna

 

Excellent and fascinating site. For a Man of Kent it is particularly interesting seeing photographs of where my ancestors (the Plane family originating in west Norfolk) lived: Easington, Hetton le Hole, Houghton le Spring, Ryhope, etc. I wonder, are there still Plane family members in the area?

 

This is a great 'interactive' site. We can really get a good look at the way our ancestors lived. My grandfather (Robert Potts) was born in Dalton le Dale, and baptised at St. Andrew in the late 1870s.

Thanks again,

Jim

 

Damaged photographs ?

old picture repairs ..see website

 

SEAHAM HISTORY GROUP
Do you live in the Seaham area?
Are you interested in local history? (must be or you wouldn’t be reading this)!
A very informal group of 9 or 10 meet, usually fortnightly, on a Tuesday night
for a chat and a couple of pints in a back room of the New Seaham Conservative Club.
Everyone is welcome, no need to have a vast knowledge of local history, just an
interest.
Guaranteed no committee or membership fees.
Please get in touch if you would like to be notified by email or telephone of each meeting. dave@east-durham.co.uk
David

 

I would like to thank Dave for emailing me about my message I added on the guestbook.I got in contact with Brian and two other's who's name's I have forgotten and we met up in Seaham last Friday(4th July 08) and had a nice chat about my husband's 3x great grandfather Henry Elsbury.I was given a lot of info and a few photo's.I was able to look inside the Church and take photo's.I also took photo's of the Memorial stone that's at the Church and the final resting place of the men and boy's who died in the 1880 Seaham mining disaster. Maureen

 

john i noticed some time ago you were asking about john robbo from the docks you may know by now he died a few year back when he left the docks he went to dawdon with my best mate jack dunn i moved to cambridge and lost touch with them until jack rang me and told me he had passed on
denis gail

 

Dave & Brian,
An excellent web site for Seaham and surrounding area. Dave thanks for the old ship pictures you gave me back in '79 of Seahan Harbour. Well done from an o'le Seaham copper................

 

Wonderful site and I have forwarded the address to all members of my family. The administrators are a credit to Seaham, and the opportunities that the WWW has to offer. Well done, and a heart felt thank you from an ex-patriot.

 

my name is john dobson i was brought up in silver street murton ( colliery houses) i now live in sunderland and i was wondering if any one can remember me or my family. it would be interesting to hear from you. i`m 65

 

Re Gwendoline Reed. Two chemists shops in Dawdon at that time No 8 Queen Alexandra Rd East Durham CO-OP and No 12 Queen Alexandra Rd E. Pearce. As you can imagine these shops are now serving different customers No 12 being a bookmakers. If you would like photographs please reply. Brian

 

My grandmother, was one of the REED family who lived in S Railway St in 1900, a cousin of my mother, Gwendoline REED ? worked in a chemists shop in Dawdon around 1948/50
Would anyone have information re: the shop

 

Hello Gerard, the reason you can't remember the Dray Cart in Frederick St is because it was in Frances St, three streets to the north.
Sorry, I will correct the caption next time I update the Pubs section.
Thanks for pointing out my error.
David

 

Hello all

I was born and brought up in Frederick St (well after 1961) but I cannot imagine where the Dray Cart pub would have been situated therein. Can anyone help?

 

Anybody remember the brennan family who lived in Seaton in the fifties?

 

I have looked around on this site and liked what I saw.My husband's family came from Durham/Northumberland.
Some of his Dawson family came from Seaham.I live down South in Hertfordshire and we were up that way last year for a week looking up the records,and also having a look around.I thought Seaham was a lovely place.Maureen

 

Re Message No 95 from Mick Smith
William McLoughlin (McGloughlin) was living at 54 California St at the time of his death in the 1880 Colliery Disaster. California St was on the western side of the old A19, where Westlea Rd is now.
In 1891, his widow Isabella McLoughlan was living at 19 Adelaide Row with her three sons, one of five families at the same address. Adelaide Row runs north from Church St in the town centre. There was an Australia St at Seaham Colliery but no Adelaide St or Row.
David

 

Hi Noreen. If you look at the 1841 census you will find Joannah living at St. Blazey along with husband Moses and family. I think that this is where you should start for Maiden name of Joannah. Local records should help ie marriage of Moses and Joannah about 1820 ish. there is a record of Joannah Moorish r.i.p. Seaham 1882 Christ Church aged 84 yrs. Best Of luck in your search Brian

 

Nice, dense site.
I was born in Tyne street in the Harbour in '56. My old man was Gerry Smith who had the Vane Arms in Church Street, he also shared a fishing boat in the North Dock, a converted ships' lifeboat ,'The Dolphin' she was called. He later worked at the Tempest. His Father, Jocka Smith had a pub in church street, later run by another son of his, Leo who was later a bookie.
My great grandfather ?William, McLoughlin was killed in the big pit disaster and has his name on the monument at the church opposite the Nack pit site. His wife shown as Isabella McLofflin is shown in the 1891 census as a widow and annuitant living in ? Adelaide street ? a terrace at the top of the Mill in bank on the Eastlea side of the A19.
Jocka brought his family to Seaham from Southwick in Sunderland where he was a 'soldier and miner'. The McLoughlins came from Tyrone in Ireland via the pits in Whitehaven possibly moving to leave the famine. Somewhere there're the lyrics to an old Seaham song where Jocka's known for drinking 14 pints at a go. Family lore suggests he spent some time in the arms of the law in the Harbour - having a great thirst on him.. There's also a tale about someone in the family having spent some time in Durham jail as a result of kidnapping a sheep belonging to someone else - who knows?
My father Gerry joined up with the DLI for the second war and saw service in France, leaving via Dunkerque. He later spent time with Monty in the Desert, in Italy and again in France as part of the Normandy landings. (He may well have liberated Paris single handed..) His 'Seaham brother' Leo was in the Navy and served as a cook on ? 'The Hood'.
Gerry was offered a professional contract with a first division football team when professional football restarted after the war but decided to head back North instead
He and Leo later played for Seaham Wednesday and won a cup - not sure which.
As you can see I've a fair bit of family history but anyone capable of answering any of my '?' points or adding more detail would be very welcome to chip in!
cheers, and thanks for a very handy and well presented site.

 

hello

 

Hello Noreen, I can't help with the maiden name of Joannah Morish but you may be interested to know that her son in law Samuel aged 52 and her grandson William aged 24 both died in the gas explosion at Seaham Colliery on Wed Sept 8th 1880 along with 161 other men and boys.
David

 

Hi am searching my Family History Female side .looking for imfomation regarding Joannah Morrish born in Cornwall in 1803 want to know her maiden name .in 1880 census was living in Cornish St Seaham age 78.Many Thanks Noreen

 

Hello John, I believe the current Seaton Hall (or at least part of it) dates from around 1600. As Seaton has been inhabited for at least a thousand years and probably much longer I have no doubt that there was an earlier manor house quite possibly on the site of the present building which is just to the north of the village green. The Hall is shown in three photographs in the AERIALS OLD section, nos 011,032 and 033.
I would be very interested to hear any information you have on Seaton or the Hall itself .

David

 

My ancestors used to own the Manor in Seaton in the 1400's

Anyone have any info on the Manor?

 

This is a wonderful site! I'm originally from Murton, and it was very interesting to see the old pictures of streets I recognised.
I've been researching Murton recently as I'm interested in learning more about my Grandfather's family, who went by the surname 'Curry'. I beleive they used to live in a house known as 'Phaeton (sic?) Pastures', since demolished. If anyone has any info it would be much appreciated. Thank you

 

Hello Bob

I was advised that The Poplars house was located behind the village (if driving from Ryhope to Sunderland behind the houses in the village on the left hand side before you reach The Albion Inn). I did drive around there recently and couldn't see a house like it and assumed it was demolished to make way for the new builds.

As regards Cherry Knowle Hospital, I understand they were all named after plants/trees The Laurels, The Hollies, The Willows, The Poplars etc

However if anyone knows better please let us know.

Hope this helps and thanks for your kind comments.

Brian

 

What a supberb site ! I have worked in and around Sunderland for 15 years and had no idea what it used to look like and what history there is under every foot step I have taken .
My wife was brought up in Ryhope and and worked at Cherry Knowle Hospital for many years and wonders where Polpars House is or was ? And did it have anything to do with the naming of "The Poplars" complex at the Hospital ?

Keep up the good work !

Bob & Denise

 

I am secretary of the North East War Memorials Project and am looking at the Easington District. I have been to see the memorial in the cemetery at Easington Colliery. (The only one we have listed for the town) It seems strange that there is only one. Do you know of any others? Thanks for your help

 

Thank you David for bringing back so many happy memories. The photos are absolutley great. My family and i are over the moon to see a photo of we 3 sisters together. Thank you ever so much .I will be in touch again
PS. you say you have more photos of jubilee celebrations would love to see more.
MANY MANY THANKS AND GOOD LOOK WITH THIS WONDERFUL SITE

 

Am looking for details of the relatives of Robert, Frederick and James Land all born in Southwold and married into local families any details would be gladly received.

Thanks John

 

Love this site, I was very interested in the item about St Hild & St Helen, Dawdon which was "my church" from birth until I was married there. My father was churchwarden for many years and my mother Mary Middleton was a stalwart of the church. The Middleton family have many memorials in the church and it saddens my sister and I that the church is now closed. We understand that the memorials to our parents can not be removed from the church unless we have some other church to transfer them to. As our family are not together geographically there is little we can do. It is always good to read about Seaham, I am lucky that a cousin of mine keeps me up to date as she is still living in Seaham.

 

i really good site.

 

Hello for the third time,

Having had a conversation with David, I now understand that he has put much work into the photos and provided them for everyone to see, so I feel that it is quite crass to complain about a comparitively small inconvenience.

Thank you David.

Sincerely,

Carol weaver

 

The watermarks on the pictures reduce the viewing quality anyway.

Sincerely,

Carol Weaver.

 

I agree with the correspondent from Australia about the watermarks across pictures being unnecessary, and although I would like them removed, I don't think that it's necessary to reduce the definition.

Sincerely,

Carol Weaver

 

Hello, can anyone put me in touch with the family of George Hitchin, author of Pit Yacker which was published in 1962.
David

 

What a great site.
My father Harry Whitelock was born at 4,Adelaide St, Seaham Harbour in 1907.My grandparents Edward and Annie Whitelock lived at Fenwick St and Fenwick Row,Adelaide St and Gallery Row.
My father moved to Lincolnshire but we still have relatives living in Seaham.
After reading the Up the ladder by Adeline Hodges nee Corkhill I realised Adeline was in my family tree.Her sister Mary Ann married William Whitelock in 1917.
The photos and stories of Seaham bring my tree to life.
Thankyou.

 

Hello Len,
Mary F Campbell was living at 34 Church St, Seaham Harbour in 1861, aged 2 with her father, a joiner, and her mother Margaret.
In 1871 the family lived at 68 Marlborough St, her father now Town Mining Engineer. I assume you have checked census entries so will not go into details.
Marlborough St was in Seaham Harbour, not Dawdon or Easington, and was some of the best housing in town at that time. I am sure number 68 was not a shop though Mary's mother Margaret was listed there in a trade directory of 1889/90 (no trade mentioned).
Mary's brother William is listed in trade directories as operating from 68 Marlborough between 1893 and 1902 under various titles, collector of taxes, rate collector, assessor, estate agent and Secretary of Seaham Harbour Technical Education Committee. By 1910 listing had reverted to Margaret Campbell. There is no mention of the family after that date.
To locate Marlborough and Church Streets go to SEAHAM/North Tce and Green/Map. St Johns Church is just above centre, Marlborough St is immediately north of the church and Church St runs east from the church towards the coast.
There are photographs of both streets under SEAHAM/Streets/Church St and ditto/Various Streets.
Hope this helps
David

 

The pictures are a great help in my time trip back to my great Grandmother. And beyond. They were the Campbell family of 68 Marlborough street (Dawdon?)I can find precious little on the family. Mary F Campbell married John Wilkinson of Easington and they moved to Sunderland.
I was wondering if the Marlborough street address was a store , a drapers or milliners perhaps ?
What currently confuses me is where exactly Marlborough street was , Easington or Dawdon ? Or did it run through both?
Thanks again for a great website.

 

What a wondefull web site - I found it from the BBC which a featured the most 'homogeneous' town in England - Easington. I lived until 1969 in South Shields, many of my family still remain in the area, but I now live in the Connecticut, and I return frequently to the Northeast. Caption DE 020 looks like the back of the house of Dr Anderson, his back garden went down to the Dene.

 

Congratulations on your web site would love to see some old pictures of South Shields where I was born.

 

I have been visiting this site for a few weeks now and in my opinion if the resolution of these pictures is reduced as suggested by the previous post the quality of the site would be compromised.
The very slight inconvenience of the watermark allows us to view these superb pictures in good detail which would otherwise be lost at a reduced resolution.
The internet is already littered with enough sites carrying poor quality low resolution pictures.
There is no substitute for quality.
Kind regards
Terry Edney

 

Shame about the watermark on all the pictures. It's not really necessary just put lower res pictures up.

 

I was born & bred in Durham and often visited Seaham on club trips. I have fond memeories of the Durham Miners Gala in the summertime, watching the bands come in and the dancers. I remember they started at the top of the town and wound their way throught the town to Old Elvet then on to the race course, the adults to listen to the speeches and the children off to the shows... ah happy memories.

 

Great site.

 

Great site.

My family came from Bishopwearmouth, Deptford, Monkwearmouth, but latterly Roker, from where the family moved to Glasgow.
My dad used to visit in the 1940's staying at Aunt Emma's, (Emma Howard nee Laing.)
I have lots of family images on Roker Beach

Would be great to connect with some family...

 

Many thanks Joanna, an important aspect of the site is to collect information on the pictures, your help is much appreciated.
Your dad's info will be added next time I update the Parades section.
Regards
David

 

re previous post - Parades PA003 - on closer inspection the guy at front holding mace is not my dad, Jim, think he is the third bugler back on the right, which might indicate that the photo was taken in 1949 as Dad took over the mace in 1950.

Joanna

 

I found 2 photos with my Dad in 1946-1950 and his comments were:
Parades PA003
"The guy in front is me(Jim Tulip) carrying the mace . The central drummer is Ronnie Nelson, big drum ' Mac' cant remember his name. The ocassion was church parade from St. Hilda and St. Helen church [ I think that is the name ] back to the drill hall up from the Castlereagh Hotel beside the co-op."

Dawdon DAW019
"Jim Tulip, back row, left holding bugle. Next to me Gordon Magee, Bobby Barrat 3rd from right at back (his father Sam was I believe Secretary trade union quite well known) At the back with the mace at that time was the guy called Gibson who passed it to me around 1949 I think. At the front on left chap called Turner and on right George Seth they were the officers. I do recognise most but can't remember the names!".

Also think I found a photo of where my great-great grandmother lived!

Joanna

 

N. Smith Your post here was a good one for us. We are researching Seaham & the Great War & we have a bit of information on the Robinson Family. Robert Donkin Robinson fought with the Tyneside Irish on the Somme. When we get home we will hunt out what we have and post it on the forum section of this site. You may like to post what you know on our forum thread on Seaham & the Great War. Just go to the Forum section, click on the photo of the war memorial then click reply to this message. Then just type it in and post reply. You don't give your first name in your message or where you are from now, so we have had to be a bit formal in our reply.
Regards
John & Kathleen

 

This website is a gem! I was born in 1958 in Durham, lived in Great Lumley & Fence Houses & nursed at The Royal Infirmary Sunderland before moving to Lincolnshire. My parents, Linda Bell born in 1912 & William Laidler born in 1915 grew up in Cornforth & Shiney Row so I have connections to many areas in the North East. It is so lovely to see places where my parents may have spent their younger years & very nostalgic for me as I had many happy times in Sunderland-although it has changed rather a lot over the last 28years!

 

I was born in Seaham in 1929 and left in 1943 my parents were Thomas Emmerson Robinson and Mary Jane (nee) Anderson and my uncle Robert Donkin Robinson was killed on first day of the Somme and his body has never been found still we live in hope. I was interested in the photos of Dawdon Collery as my grandfather, uncle, father and eldest brother worked down the mine Is it possible to purchase copies of these and also the Bottleworks as my granmother worked there and I have a bottle that she blow in 1913

 

I have been coming up to the NE since WW2 and love the area.My grandfather was a steel erector on the Tyne Bridge,my Grt.Grandfather was a Blacksmith in Gill Bridge Ave,Sunderland and died in Borough Road 1899.I have not been to the area for several years now as the last of my ancestors have all left this earth.
I find your photos very nostalgic and remind of the the trips I took around the area and all the roads my ancestors lived in,which I now believe have been redeveloped.
I am interested in a St.Stephen's Church,Bonners Field,Sunderland during the 1880s where my GG grandmother was the caretaker.Does anyone using this site have any information or a photo of this church,I would greatly appreciate anything about it.
I believe also that some of my McBay ancestors were in the Coastguard and stationed around the Easington area.
I look forward to revisiting your site on a regular basis and thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories.

 

My sister inLondon sent me the address. I will certainly return to the site again. History is happening every day - will you be including some more recent photos of Seaham?
I return to England on a regular basis and love visiting family, friends and familiar places ie Byron's Walk, sea front, Londonderry offices, the Dene to name but a few. Congratulations, keep up the good work.

 

Fred & Claire, you must both have a few stories to tell. Why don't you post them on the forum and see if anyone can remember them (& you) We look forward to reading about what it was like in Seaham when you were growing up.
Regards
John & Kathleen

 

My dad came from Seaham..Bill Swan born 1908,,he had a brother Andy born 1911, and 5 sisters,His paents also lived there,
I remember visiting when i was a little girl,,,,walking on the sea front and watching the big wheel go round at the pit head when the men were changing shifts,
Love the photo's...keep it up..!!

 

The photographs shown on this site are more than excellent and will give many, many visitors a good view of the place where I was born and bred.

 

Bernadette Keeffe
Send me full names of your family in Seaham in the 1850s and I'll see what I can come up with.
David Angus

 

Thank you so much for the pictures of Houghton-le-spring. My GG grandparents came to the USA from there in 1857. Their names were William and Annie Nixon Lawson. It's wonderful to be able to see where they lived. As others have stated, I too will return often to your site. Again thanks, you have made history real.

Anna

 

Spendid display of old photos! Thank you. I've been a Durham Cty family historian for over thirty years and many of the photos in this display are of towns and villages I've done family history studies in - many of which I've visited. It was a pleasure to browse through them. It would be fun to include old family photos from E. Durham as well?

 

What a useful and interesting site

I'm tracing both sides of my son's family and Seaham has figured mid 1800s - the family started out in the NE and then moved to the East End of London, which is where we stayed until 20th C. Surnames from NE include Kay, Errington and Madderson.

 

What a lovely site. I moved from the north east when I was six, and apart from visiting my grandparents when they were alive, have not been back. I started researching my family tree 3 years ago and it is lovely to see old photos of the places where my ancestors might have lived. Have forwarded your website to my parents which will give them very happy memories particularly of Byron's Walk where they courted!
Joanna

 

What a wonderful site. I have visited my cousins in Seaham for the past two years and I felt as if I knew the area very well indeed. Well done, I love the photos. Any chance of finding out the names of the people in them? It is certainly a site I will return to again and again.

 

This is a great site.

I've seen hundreds of photos of old Sunderland, but theses are new to me. I hope people send you all the old photos they've had in the shoe box for years.

I'm particularly interested in East Cross St, Bishopwearmouth, and Dundas Street, Eglinton Street and Portobello Lane, Monwearmouth pre-1950s.

Also, the open land between Grindon and Thorney Close c1960s or earlier, before it was demolished into a 'park'.

Keep up the good work!

 

I lived in Low Moorsley,Hetton-le-Hole from 1929-1945
and still visit relatives up there. Good to see old pictures of Hetton. Anyone got any old photos of the old Grammar School at Houghton where I attended during the war. My wife comes from Easington Colliery so those photos are also very interesting. Good luck & thanks for your website.

 

Good Morning Austrailia. Have you tried looking the family up on Durham Records on line? It's a good site and although you have to pay a small fee for the information we have found it very reasonable for what you get. You could also try posting some family information on the Forum section of this site.
Regards
John & Kathleen

 

As I live in Australia I am not sure if South Shields is included in the Seaham guestbook so here 's hoping!
One of my ancestors, William Anderson, was born in South Shields in 1750. I am trying to see if there is any connection between him and Joseph Anderson, born 1758 in South Shields. Joseph married Sarah Holiwell/Holywell 1777 in St Cuthbert's Darlington. I suspect they were brothers but have been unable to trace the parents. If anyone can throw some light on this it would be much appreciated.
Cheers Tom

 

Kathleen, it was interesting to hear that your family moved to the US and stayed. Our Kathleen's family moved out to Scanton US in the 1880's to work in the mines and her Grandfather Thomas William Ogden (known as Billy, or Pa to the family) was born there. there was talk of naming Pa' Arizona as that was the name of the ship they travelled in. The family came back and eventualy settled in Seaham, working at Dawdon. Thomas William eventually left the pit and became the Groundsman at the Green Drive where the family lived at the Green Drive Cottage. The Dene became known locally as "Oggies Dene". Have you thought about posting your family story on the Forum? Were sure that there must be many local families with similar tales to tell and what better place than on this great web site.
Regards to all.
John & Kathleen

 

I have ancestors who came to the US from Durham in 1854. I find this website very interesting and will visit often. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and the glimpse into the past.

 

David, you should be well proud of yourself for the creation of this site. Your years of dedication to the history of the area make your knowledge unique. Thank you. We live in France,work in the south and make as many trips up north as we can to visit family & friends. We see this site as a wonderful opportunity to keep in touch with friends, old (& new), share information & further our research. We are; John & Kathleen Anderson (nee Ogden) and those of you who know us will be aware that our great passion is the history of Seaham & it's people during the period of the Great War. We are currently compiling many years of hand written & tape recorded research into a digital format which will make access a lot easier. The biographies of Seaham men who served in the DLI is now nearing completion and we continue with many other regiments including the Tyneside Scottish & Irish with whome many local lads served. We have also compiled a list of the town's war memorials & roles of honour (approximately 28 individual memorials) & Brian Scollen has suggsted that as it will be the 90th aniversary of the armistice this year it might be a good idea for people to share their stories on this guest book. We are constantly searching for new information on Seaham & it's people during the Great War as after many years of reseach the one thing we know for sure is that we do not know everything. So, here is the challange, what information do you have on the town and it's people during the period, & will you share it with us in order to ensure thar our project, Seaham & the Great War Anthology is as accurate and complete as it can be? Our current interest as well as the men who served is the role of Seaham Hall as an auxillary convalecence hospital & also the role of Seaham women in this period as nurses, munitions workers, land workers, factory workers, army cooks, drivers etc. indeed all who kept the home fires burning. Did anyone have a relative serving with Lady Londonderry's Womens Legion? Please get in touch if you would like your family information to be recorded as part of the Seaham & the Great War Anthology. Best Wishes to every one in Seaham and beyond & good luck to David for the furure of this excellent web site.
John & Kathleen

 

Great site! Keep it up.
I lived in Daphne Crescent, Parkside from 1956 to 1967 and then lived at The Crest, Seaton Village until 1978. I have been in Vancouver for 20 years. I played football for Seaham United, The Dun Coww Inn and the Purple Army and cricket for Seaham Park.
I have writen several songs about Seaham since I lived out here. I can send MP3s if you want.
Keep up the great work.

 

Surely the website is about and includes whatever it's creator wants and is called whatever it's creator decides to call it. If you read the introduction by Mr Angus he does not say it is exclusively about East Durham, indeed he invites people from East Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle to become involved. He also says "We want this website to be a permanent and growing archive of North-East England's local history"
It's always the same when someone dedicates so much time and effort to a project as this man must have done then along come the nitpickers to find fault.
Personally I think this site is what the North East has been waiting for and I for one will visit regularly.
Keep it going Mr Angus
Kind regards
Terry Edney

 

If this is a website exclusively for County Durham then should we leave out SouthShields,Ryhope,Washington,Hetton-le-Hole,Houghton-le-Spring etc.etc.as they are no longer in County Durham but along with Sunderland and Newcastle designated as being part of TYNE and WEAR?I think any reasonable person would still claim them as being part of our beloved region.May I suggest we re-read the excellent itroduction on the Home page of this welcome and worthy website.

 

This is a website about County Durham so whether or not Newcastle is part of Northumbria is immaterial.

 

Hi friends
Last point on the inclusion of Tyneside,I was pointing out that NORTHUMBRIA inciuded Tyneside as well as Wearside.There,I think I've got it right Tom

 

The are no negativre remarks about Tyneside on here. This website is about East Durham and should therefore not include Newcastle which is of course historically part of Northumberland. If your going to dabble with history - get it right!!

 

Hi.Pity about the negative remarks regarding the inclusion of Tyneside in your brilliant site.I have lived and worked in East Durham all my life as did my father and grandfather ,they both married Tyneside lasses and they both served in the Tyneside Scottish Regiment in the 1st World War.I,along with thousands of others,am proud to be a part of the whole of the ancient Kingdom of NORTHUMBRIA,paticularly East-Durham.

 

A superb record of sunderland and surrounding areas. any chance of including old photos of Peterlee.
Very well done

 

Stan, thanks for info on the North Battery, it will be added next time I upload pictures to the beach section.
I can't get back to you as you left no email address.

David

 

Just read of this site in "Echo". Lived Sunderland 1921 to 1958 (Chester Rd then Beechwood St.) before moving to Abingdon. Few photos of these times but lots of great memories and now hope to get as involved in the site as poss. Great idea

Len

 

Hi
Looking forward to seeing the site grow and develop.
I have a newspaper cutting of the Seaton School pic STN014 from the Sunderland Echo of Oct 22, 1980. Pupils are name as including Vera Best, Sarah Taylor, Carrie Furness, May Carr, Millie Thompson, Anne Spoors, May Swan, Nora Wiseman, Ethel Vuerry, Hannah Taylor, Jennie Curry, Mary Hannah Reay, Ethel Dawson, Dorothy Thompson, David Bissett, George Lumssden, Robbie Spoors, Norman Furness, Joe Dixon, W Bissett, Fred Dixon, Willie Reay, Henry Reay, John Peel and Harry Tarbitt. Head mistress was Mrs. Reay and a teacher Miss Murray. Barbara Carr who sent in the pic is 3rd from left front row.
Anybody out there who can put all the other names to the faces?

Jim

 

Brilliant site! Absolutely great picture collection!

BE16 The North battery picture must be dated later than 1942. My family lived in that house for 17 years. We left when it became unsafe through undermining by the sea. That was in 1942. The 5ft wooden fence to the seaward side was still in place. In the photo it is gone.
This site will be looked at by my family wordwide.
Many thanks,
Stan Cooper

 

Can't understand why you have received a couple of negative messages regarding the inclusion of Newcastle on your site. Nowhere on the site can I find where you have remotely intimated that Newcastle is in Co Durham. However you do state that the site is about North East Englands local history. (For those people who are not quite sure ,Newcastle is in the North East).
Been watching the site with great interest enjoying all the updates and to see that the Sunderland Echo has aired the site on two and a half full pages over three editions speaks volumes. Keep it up it's great.

 

very interesting the addition of street maps and possibly then and now photo's would be a welcome addition just to compare

 

Re Photo of football players in wide back.
I played football & cricket in the wide back in the 1930's.
I lived in 17 Wynyard street.
Jim Shaw.
Excellent site.

 

An outstanding local history resource even with much more to come!

 

an outstanding local history resource yet still a long way from completion!

 

Well done!! lets hope that you get lots of feedback and donated photos...there must be treasures all over the world stuck in old albums and kitchen drawers.With the new technology people can share their photos..without giving them up.I am an ex pat from Castletown.
cheers Peter.

 

Congratulations to the photographers who took all these wonderful photgraphs. This website is a joy to all us Xpats living all over the world. Cant wait to see more

 

hey message 4 thank god there is no place like Seaham ha ha.Great to see any old photo of the NE, I`msure those feet did indeed walk upon Durham grass. First picture I`ve seen on Easinton railway station.Keep up the good work old bean(in tomato sauce) there is loads to expand on.I would not have wanted to grow up in any other place than Easington Colliery in the 60`s, Haway the Lads.

 

Great Site.

 

Grand site and will be an asset to the area.

 

Grand site

 

Since when has newcastle been in c/o durham.still cant understand why people from c/o durham support newcastle.

 

My Relatives lived in Pemberton St, Hetton from 1841 to 1847, John Robson was a Joiner.
A great Site.

Allan Robson

 

With reference to the photo of Numbers Garth in the Sunderland section. I don't think that that is actualy a photograph of Numbers Garth, it is a house on Russell Street at the north entrance to Numbers Garth. I have another photograph taken of the same house but which also shows the houses on the other side of the entrance with Garden Street School in the background. You can just see the school in the background on your photo and the lamp at the very left edge of the photo is at the end of Numbers Garth.
Apart from that this is a very welcome new site.

Stan

 

JUST READ ABOUT YOU IN THE SUNDERLAND ECHO. I HAVE BEEN REMINISING WITH MY OLDER BROTHER (85) ABOUT SUNDERLANDS EAST END. I HAVE A PHOTO OF JOINERS WHO WORKED IN J.L.THOMPSONS SHIPYARD AROUND 1946 BEFORE THATCHER DESTROYED THE INDUSTRY ON THE WEAR

 

A website about east Durham which includes Newcastle but not Horden, Blackhall, Wingate, Shotton etc. Totally bizarre.

 

When did Newcastle become part of County Durham. I think someone needs Geography and History lessons.

 

Fantastic site Really nice to see Seaham well presented on the Internet - am looking forward to all the updates too.

 

Stunning site. The people of East Durham and ex pats around the world will I am sure find this site rivetting.
Up The Ladder by Adeline Hodges was brilliant and the Seaham Newspaper 1857 is an extremely interesting read. The photographs speak for themselves and I look forward to the updates on future visits.
ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE

 

It's great to be able to look back on the history of Seaham. Well done on the site; can't wait to see the updates and how the site evolves. Keep up the good work.

 

Class Site, full of information and the number of pictures are 2nd. to none. "Up The Ladder" is Brilliant Reading. I will certainly send this site to all of our friends.

 

this site deserves to grow!!, I left for sunny surrey in 1961 as a 15 year old.--still proud to be a "Murton man"

 

Best wishes for the site. Very informative and brings the memories flooding back - that Swing bridge!

 

8) Great site, very interesting. Keep up the good work.

 

Hi friends
Sorry about the confusion my message of 1.17.2008 may have caused I should have written picture number STN 010 instead of MTN010.
Carry on the good work
Eddie

 

Best wishes with your new site.
Picture number MTN 010 ,Middle row should read J.Rawling;P.Appleby
Regards E.Rawling

 

What a joy to see all of thos wonderful photographs of our home town!

It made us very nostalgic seeing them from our new home here in Vancouver.

Well done!