Tudhoe & Spennymoor Local History Society
John Bull Magazine on 8th March 1924 told the story of Mr G Simpson of 12 Baff Street, Spennymoor who had paid £8 2s 6d for a “Horti-Plow” from Messrs Motes Limited, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, London, S.W.
The plough worked by a steel cable anchored at the far end of the field. You jigged the handle of the plough up and down, which wound the cable round its anchorage, and pulled the plough through the ground. (Patent No. 130437)
It had won a silver medal at the Royal Show, Cambridge and the Dublin Show in 1922. It claimed it could be worked by a man, woman or child with ease and replaced the need for a man and horse. Mr Simpson ordered the plough, paid for it, and received a receipt, but the plough never arrived. He wrote to them several times but had no response. John Bull had also written twice and hadn’t received a reply.
However on 12th April 1924 they updated their report to say Mr Simpson’s money had been returned from a director of the firm which was being reconstructed.
In 1921 George Simpson, age 39, was a hewer for Bell Bros Ltd. at South Brancepeth Mine, Page Bank. He was living at 12 Baff Street with his widowed mother Mary Simpson age 70, born in Thirsk and her brother Thomas Dunning, age 77, a retired North Eastern Railway carriage examiner. His sister Beatrice Corbett, her husband Thomas Corbett and their daughter were also living there.
Why did George, a miner, want a plough as he lived in Baff Street until at least 1929? By 1939 the family have moved to Todd Hills Poultry Farm on North Close Road, now opposite Misty Blue Farm. George Simpson and his brother-in-law Thomas Corbett were smallholders there with assistance from their family. Thomas Corbett was involved with the Durham County Agricultural Education Committee egg laying trials to help the Land Settlement Scheme. In 1934 he came second in the Light Section with white leghorns producing 102 eggs and 1031 points. In 1935 he came third with 1051 eggs and 7353 points.
Near Todd Hills Poultry farm was the Moor Farm Estate smallholdings opposite Rock Road Cemetery, these were organised by Durham County Council Land Settlement Committee to assist ten families during a period of high unemployment in the mid 1930s. They built ten houses each with five acre plots and families were chosen to be settled there. It was devoted to poultry-keeping and market gardening, ten Dutch type glasshouses were constructed for growing tomatoes and hen houses and chicks were supplied. By 1938 a stock of 3,000 head of poultry was being maintained. The second world war meant employment prospects improved as men returned to work in the mines.
From oral accounts in the 1940s one of the families kept pigs, goats, cow, bullock, chickens, geese, rabbits and grew veg and wheat. They scythed the fields by hand and it was very hard work. Locals came to buy produce, cow and goat milk and eggs but the scheme wasn’t successful and it was difficult to make a living for a couple and impossible for a family.
In the 1950s the tenants were offered the smallholdings to purchase but most couldn’t afford them so the land was split between two farms and the houses sold as residents moved out. The houses had two bedrooms, a box room, downstairs sitting room, large kitchen with coal store under the stairs behind boards, an outside washhouse and toilet. More employment prospects were available and new factories in the area provided work for both men and women.
Another hint from Marjorie Elizabeth Sawdon (b1910 Spennymoor) of Diamond Terrace, Tudhoe Grange in 1921.
To Clean Thermos Flasks - When cleaning these flasks great care should be exercised. Put some crushed eggshells in the bottom of the flask with a little vinegar, shake well, then half-fill with water, and let it stand for a while. Shake again, empty, and thoroughly rinse out. Invert the flask in a jug, and when dry put away, but do not replace the cork or the flask may become musty. M E Sawdon, Spennymoor.
Another recipe from Isabel Dalkin, Low Spennymoor.
SNOW WHITE CAKE - Four ounces of flour, 4ozs of cornflour, 3ozs of butter, 2ozs of citron peel (cut small), two eggs, one candied apricot (cut small).
Method: Cream the butter and sugar together, add eggs; beat well, then add cornflour and the fruit last; add a teaspoonful of baking powder, and mix well together. Put the mixture into a greased shallow tin; bake for three-quarters-of-an-hour. When cold, cover with white liquid icing, and sprinkle fine desiccated coconut over, and cut into squares. L Dalkin, Low Spennymoor.
UNDER_GARDENER Wanted, between 19 and 24 years of age, single, for glass and kitchen garden; board-lodgings and washing provided. Apply, stating wages required, to R.D. Shafto, Whitworth Estates Office, Spennymoor.
The Northern Weekly Gazette was published in Stockton-on-Tees between 1895 and 1932. It was A Home Journal Written by the People for the People. One of the regular sections was the Children’s Circle organised by Daddy, children completed application forms stating I promise to obey my parents and respect my teacher, to be kind to my schoolmates, and to all dumb creatures. Lists of new members were published in the paper as well as publishing the letters written by the children.
On 1st Mar 1924 a letter from new member Lydia Smith was published in Daddy's Happy Circle.
Dear Daddy,-I have longed so much to be a member of your happy Circle, and have at last succeeded in doing so. I am eleven years old, and attend King-st. Council Girls'School. Our house is facing the park, and in summer we have a beautiful view before us. I am sorry to say I have no pets to tell you about. I am in Standard VI., and my teacher's name is Miss Walker. At Christmas I received a number of very nice presents. Among them was a gramophone, which is quite real (not a toy). My best game which I play at school is net ball, and my favourite lessons are composition, history, nature study, and reading. Hoping to see my letter in print, and wishing you and your merry Circle good luck. -Your new member, Lydia Smith, Spennymoor.
In 1921 Lydia (b1912 West Rainton) was living at 4 Park Parade, Spennymoor with her father Samuel Smith (b1874, Hexham) a North Eastern Railway general clerk in the railway passenger department at Spennymoor Station. Her mother was Margaret Jane Curry (b1872 West Rainton). Lydia had two siblings, Elizabeth Smith, (b1899 Durham City) a North Eastern Railway booking and parcels clerk at Spennymoor Station and Frederick Curry Smith (b 1905 West Rainton) who worked for Bolckow & Vaughan at Dean & Chapter Colliery as a screen boy. Also living with them was Samuel's father James Smith (b1837 Leicestershire) who was a retired Railway Telegraph Linesman.
Two articles mentioning the new Town Hall were published on 4th and 13th March. The Town Hall opened in 1916, it was started in 1913 but was delayed by the onset of the First World War.
SPENNYMOOR LECTURE SOCIETY - The annual meeting of the Spennymoor Lecture Society was held in the New Town Hall, Spennymoor, when the officials recorded the great success attending the lectures held during the past season, All four lectures were well attended by the general public and sufficient season tickets were sold before the commencement of the series to cover all expenses. The treasuer's report showed a balance in hand of £10 13s 7d, and it was decided to proceed with arrangements for a course of six lectures for the 1924-25 season. Officials were elected as follow:-President Rev. J Rutherford; vice-chairman, Mr R Walker; treasurer, Mr E Roberts; secretaries, Messrs R P Hope and P Lambton. Committee-Messrs W Coldwell, F McNamara, J McNulty and J Reaveley.
SPENNYMOOR AMATEURS AND ROYALTIES ON OPERAS - At the annual meeting of the Spennymoor Amateur Operatic Society, a balance in hand of £9 15s 2d was reported. This was £57 less than was in hand last year, but it was explained that £56 had been spent in stage accessories and scenery in order that the performances could be given in the new Town Hall, the rent of which was less than the local theatre. Dr. Pattullo was elected president, and Dr Tinsley, vice-president; Mr A Bertram, musical director; and Messrs T Lambert and G S Gleaves, hon secretaries. It was decided to give "The Sorcerer" this year, the voting being very narrow, namely, 15 for "The Sorcerer" and 14 for "The Gondoliers". A number of members refrained from voting, saying that the Society should produce an opera on which no royalty need be paid, as aprotest against what they described as the "high royalty" due on Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
This month there were two entries, one by M E Sawdon for a chocolate pudding and the other by B M Sawdon with a hint for putting up curtains.
In 1921 at Diamond Terrace, Tudhoe Grange there was a Sawdon family. The father was Frederick John Sawdon (b1883, Stockton-on-Tees), a schoolmaster at North Road School Boys Dept., mother was Louisa (b1882 Darlington), they had two children Marjorie Elizabeth (b1910 Spennymoor) and Beatrice Mary (b1913, Spennymoor). Also living with them was Frederick's niece Alice (b1907 Stockton-on-Tees) whose parents were both deceased.
STEAMED CHOCOLATE PUDDING - Required: 2ozs suet, 2ozs white sugar, 2ozs flour, 2ozs breadcrumbs, a teaspoonful baking powder, a teaspoonful chocolate powder, a little vanilla essence, three-quarter gill of milk, a dessertful cornflour. Method: Mix together the suet, flour, white sugar and breadcrumbs. Add to them the baking powder, chocolate powder, vanilla essence and milk. Mix thoroughly, and turn into a greased mould. Steam for one and a half hours. M. E. Sawdon, Spennymoor.
A CURTAIN HINT - If the casement rod is difficult to pass through a curtain hem, as sometimes happens with newly-washed thin ones, put a large thimble on the end of the rod, and it will slip along easily. B. M. Sawdon, Spennymoor
NEWFIELD COLLIERY PRESENTATION - After 26 years' service as under-manager of Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Company's Robson Pit, Newfield Colliery, near Willington, Mr John Carroll is leaving to reside at Byers Green. There was a crowded attendance of colliery officials, workmen, and residents of the village in Newfield Church Institute when Mr Carroll was presented with a gold watch as a token of the high regard in which he is held. To Mrs Carroll was presented a silver salad bowl. The gifts were handed to Mr Carroll by Mr M H Watkin (schoolmaster) who said Mr Carroll had served the village well. Mr G W Thornton also spoke highly of Mr Carroll's services. A musical programme was rendered by Mr Jacob Brown and party, of Bishop Auckland.
John Carroll (b1856 Sunnyside, Crook), his parents were Alexander Carroll (b1812 Ireland) and Catherine (b1821 Scotland), who had seven children. Alexander injured his back on 14th January 1861 by a fall of stone at Tanfield Moor Colliery and he died on 7th February 1861, John was only four years old. John married Margaret Jane Wilson (b1858 Tow Law) in 1878 and were living at Hedleyhope in 1881/1891 with their daughters, Elizabeth Ann, Jane Ellen and Margaret Emily, where John is a deputy. Between 1901 and 1921 they are living at Newfield where John is under-manager. John died in 1927, his wife is living with her daughter Jane Ellen Lonsdale and son-in-law in 1939, at Coundon, she is decsribed as incapacitated and dies in 1940 at the age of 82.
KILLED AT PLAY - Spennymoor Child Run Over by Motor Bus - A sad street fatality occurred at Spennymoor, yesterday. the victim being a child named Jean(Eugene) Webb, aged two and a half years, daughter of Arthur Webb, wholesale confectioner, Spennymoor. It appears that the child was playing in King James Street, when it was knocked down by a motor 'bus. Dr Bulmer was speedily upon the scene but could only pronounce life extinct, death having been instantaneous. The 'bus passed over the child's head.
Eugene Webb died on Monday 24th 1924 and an inquest held on 25th March by Coroner J T Proud questioned Wilfred Heenan who was driving the bus from Oglanby's garage, Back King James Street, High Grange Road. He saw two girls on the footpath then heard a girl shout as he turned the corner. He felt one of his rear wheels bump and stopped, he hadn't seen the child. Her father Arthur Webb asked as to the outlook he had kept also as to the length of time he had been driving. He had been driving for 18 months but only driven a motor bus for a fortnight. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. (Newcastle Daily Chronicle 26/03/1924)
In 1921 Arthur Webb (b1882 Spennymoor) lived at High Grange Road, Spennymoor, with his wife Mary Ann, four daughters and two sons, he was a confectioner/sugar boiler with premises at King James Street. In 1901 Arthur was an apprentice sugar boiler, he married Mary Ann Parkin in 1904 and they lived at 18 King James Street in 1911 with their two children and niece. In 1939 they are living at Wood Vue Farm with their two daughters and a son Eric who was a dairy, pig and sheep farmer.
Arthur's parents, David and Emma Webb, were born in Norfolk, he was a marine store dealer. They moved to Barnfield Blocks, Spennymoor about 1875 and lived at 29 King James Street in 1891/1901 where he was a cowkeeper/general dealer.
I. Dalkin, Low Spennymoor wrote an article explaining how to wash embroidery.
Could this be Isabel Dalkin, daughter of John & Margaret Dalkin of 73 Upper Church Street, Low Spennymoor?
In 1921 was Isabel working as a parlourmaid at Waldenheath, Harrogate, a private school for lady companions?
In July 1908 he reported to Spennymoor Urban Council, births in the previous month Spennymoor 22, Ferryhill 12, Tudhoe 35 and the urban district 69, a rate of 49 per 1,000 per annum. Deaths in Spennymoor 5, Ferryhill 5, Tudhoe 9 and the urban district 23, a rate of 16.5 per 1,000 per annum. The birth rate was above average and the death rate below. Of the 23 deaths, 10 of the children were under one year of age.
In October 1911 he reported 55 births and 26 deaths, during the month, giving a birth rate of 37 per 1,000 and a death rate of 17 per 1,000 per annum. The death rate was very high in Ferryhill Ward, high in Spennymoor ward and very low in Tudhoe ward. Of the 26 deaths, 16 were in children under one year of age.
Advertisement for Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills which strengthened weak kidneys and cured headache, backache, nerves, tiredness and rheumatic pain. They were endorsed by a lady, described as A Spennymoor Helper, from 7 Wilson Terrace, Durham Road, Spennymoor who started taking them in July 1917 and by November 1921 she said “My health now is first-rate, thanks to Doan’s Pills”.
Margaret Emma Hammond (nee Woodcock b1884 Spennymoor) who is endorsing these pills was living in 7 Wilson Terrace in 1911 having married Alfred Hammond (b 1880 Castleford Yorks) in 1909. He was a colliery labourer, by 1921 they are still at the same address and Alfred is a fish merchant.
Railway men on their way to work in the early hours of Wednesday 20th Feb found subsidence on the LNER line, this was between Byers Green Station and Burnhouse signalling cabin towards Spennymoor. It was where the line crossed the Byers Green Colliery workings and this had caused a large hole 35 feet by 23 feet and 23 feet deep. The line, sleepers, telegraph poles and wires and signalling apparatus had fallen in. The last train to pass was the 9.45 from Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland on the Tuesday night.
Many trucks of ballast were rushed to the scene but they thought it would take some days before normal service was resumed. Passengers were conveyed to Byers Green station and then walked to Burnhouse cabin where they boarded another train. A similar plan was used for the journey from Ferryhill to Bishop Auckland. There had been slight subsidences before, Byers Green Station had suffered one a few weeks earlier. It meant a serious delay to goods traffic which was diverted by Leamside and Darlington. There was no damage to workings at Byers Green Colliery and the men continued to work.
A meeting of the Old Folk’s Dinner was held in St Andrew’s Mission Hall, Rev Canon W M Wykes presided. County Councillor J Reavley JP presented the report, £60 6s 2d had been raised with £3 8s 1d in hand, so thanks to the generosity of the public there was enough to provide the next month's dinner as well. The cost of the dinner was reduced due to gifts of beer from North Eastern Breweries Ltd, stout from Vaux & Son, lemonade from Mr B. Cora, fruit and vegetables from Messrs Simpson, Edwards and Tudhoe Co-operative Society. Entertainments were given by Mr A J Vasey, Tivoli Picture Hall and Mr E Gowland, Arcadia
On the 13th January 1924 Philip Nash Gee, a cobbler aged 47, was murdered at his workshop at 9 Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor. He usually closed his shop between 7-8pm but stayed open on a Saturday night for people needing repairs for a Sunday. His landlady had called at the shop for her rent at 7pm. George Wilson, a grocer, lived at 9 Whitworth Terrace where the lockup shop was in the front rooms of his property. He returned home at 10pm and noticed the door was open but when he checked inside he couldn't see anyone. He informed Sgt. Taylor who secured the door and sent a message to 106 Durham Road where Gee, a man of temperate habits, lived with his sister. They received a reply at 1.30am to say he hadn't returned home so the shop was inspected again at 2.45am and they found a body with his head under the counter in a pool of blood. There didn't appear to have been a struggle and they found three sixpences under the body and a shilling under each hand. The postmortem, by Dr Pattullo of Spennymoor, found Gee had severe wounds to his scalp and a fractured skull in five pieces.
Gee was buried at York Hill Cemetery on 16th January after a service at St Charles' Roman Catholic Church. Gee's metal watch and chain were missing.
Superintendant Headon of Bishop Auckland was in charge of the investigation. A week after the murder with no sign of a weapon, a struggle or motive the police were searching for a man suffering from religious mania who had been seen in Spennymoor, Crook and Stockton.
On 28th January the police arrested Thomas McGowan, a labourer in his 30s, as his coat was blood stained and they found a blood stained shirt on a refuse tip near some disused houses at Tudhoe Grange. He was of no fixed abode. He came before magistrates on 4th February, he had given two differing statements as to his movements on the day of the murder and was detained for another week. His blood stained coat with grey hairs in the pocket was sent to the County Analyst. On 29th January the coroner Dr Proud adjourned the inquest until 12th February due to the arrest of McGowan.
The inquest took place on 12th February. A witness Mrs Martha Hind of 30 Charles Street, Spennymoor said she went into the grocer's shop in the same property for sweets at 8.20pm. She heard raised voices from the cobbler's shop and as she was interested she ordered more sweets and a tin of mustard. Two people were quarrelling and then it was quiet. When she went outside a man rushed from behind a chip van, stopped and stared at her then ran along Princess Street, she heard him raise his voice as if to sing. He was a little man about 35 very shabbily dressed like a man on the road. She hadn't seen him since. The final verdict was wilful murder against some person or person's unknown. After being detained a fortnight McGowan was released on 14th February. A deaf and dumb man detained in Sunderland was also released.
The Northern Echo in 2008 seem to have solved the murder and Norman Elliott was caught when he murdered someone else with a cobbler's knife. He was hanged on 10th August 1928 at Durham gaol. How cobbler’s killer was brought to heel
The Gee family - Philip Nash Gee was the son of James Gee (b 1839 Chadlington, Oxford) and Catherine Nash, married 1869 West Bromwich. In 1871 they were living at 8 West Street, Tudhoe, James was a labourer at the ironworks and they had two children William,age 1 born in West Bromwich, and James aged 3 weeks, born in Tudhoe. Also living with them were Catherine's parents Edward Nash, a blacksmith, and his wife Mary.
In 1881 they were at Walker Street Tudhoe Grange with six children and Edward Nash now aged 80. The children were William, 11, John, 6, Mary, 5, Philip, 4, George, 1 and a child who was 14 days old but hadn't been named yet.
In 1891 they were at 2 Hartley Terrace where the baby has been named Sarah Ann. William is now a shoemaker and John works as a labourer at the Ironworks.
In 1901 still at 2 Hartley Terrace but James has died and the only children with Catherine are Philip a boot and shoemaker, George a coal hewer and Sarah Ann.
In 1911 at Rose Cottage, 106 Durham Road Sarah Ann has married Joseph Ramshaw and they are living with Catherine, her mother, Philip and George.
In 1921 Joseph, Sarah Ann and Philip are still living at 106 Durham Road. Joseph is a labourer at Weardale Electric Power Station, Spennymoor and Philip a boot repairer at 9 Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor where he was murdered.
In 1939 Joseph Ramshaw and Sarah Ann are at 94 Durham Road and Joseph is still working at the Power Station.
Results of the Scholar's Essay competition in connection with the recent Shopping Week of the Spennymoor Chamber of Trade.
The winners were selected by headteacher's of the school with Mr T. M. Welch headmaster of Alderman Wraith Higher Elementary School as adjudicator.
The opening ceremony took place with a gathering of members and officials from Spennymoor Urban District Council. The scheme was carried out under the supervision of architect Mr C. Franklin Murphy of Morpeth, over a period of 20 years. The sewage works were situated on Tudhoe Mill Estate over an area of six and a half acres. It was designed on the bacterial system, the filters and tanks could treat, with a dry weather flow of 198,000 gallons per day. The total cost of the scheme was approximately £33,250.
Prior to the opening a luncheon was provided by the architect in the North-Eastern hotel. Mr Murphy stated that due to lengthy stoppages the work had cost £12,700 more than it should but they had saved £1,500 by using direct labour. It was due to be completed in 1914. Mr Murphy presented a gold watch to Councillor George R. Crane, chairman of the Urban District Council.