Tudhoe & Spennymoor Local History Society
Jesmond Preparatory School - On 27th July 1882 an advertisement appeared in the Newcastle Daily Journal for the opening of Jesmond Kindergarten and Preparatory School. This was to take place on 12th September 1882 at 14 Victoria Square, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, previously Jesmond Vicarage. The advertisement stated it was being opened by Miss Hutton assisted by a competent staff of teachers.(27th July 1882 The_Newcastle_Daily_Journal)
In September 1939, due to the start of the Second World War the school was evacuated to Whitworth Vicarage. It was organised by Rev. R T Heselton at St Paul’s Vicarage, Newcastle and the headmaster was Mr R R Cottam. (14th Sept 1939 Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
On 2nd December 1939 they advertised in the Newcastle Journal for Day Pupils and six extra boarders. The tuition fees were
The 1939 Register completed on 29th September lists the following staff and boarding pupils.
| Name | Position | Date of Birth |
| Richard R Cottam | Head Master School | 10th Aug 1878 |
| Gwendoline L Cottam | Head Mistress School | 22nd July 1885 |
| Norah Rooney | Domestic servant | 16th Nov 1910 |
| Mary R Greives | Domestic servant | 26th March 1900 |
| Irene E Blacklock | Unpaid domestic duties, visitor | 1st Oct 1907 |
| Jane I Edmondson | Unpaid domestic duties, visitor | 15th Dec 1894 |
| Susan Heselton | Unpaid domestic duties visitor | 24th Dec 1896 |
| Basil W Lynch | Pupil | 19th June 1925 |
| Michael H Garbutt | Pupil | 12th Oct 1931 |
| Peter R Heselton | Pupil | 13th Sept 1930 |
| Leonard Muscat | Pupil | 4th Nov 1934 |
| Michael J Gilbert | Pupil | 17th May 1925 |
| Stuart C Leach | Pupil | 8th Jan 1927 |
| Peter M Hutchinson | Pupil | 17th Mar 1933 |
| John B Smiles# | Pupil | 10th April 1928 |
There are 15 pupils whose details aren't available at the moment.
In 1940 the school stresses the safe and beautiful surroundings for the evacuated children.
2nd April 1940 the school advertisment says Summer term begins Thursday April 5th. Private bus collects Boarders at 3pm on that day at Cathedral, Newcastle. Full time Education guaranteed. Ideal conditions. Vacancies for three Boarders.. (2nd April 1940 Newcastle Journal)
8th April 1940 they advertise for an assistant master “wanted immediately; usual subjects and games”.(8th April 1940 Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
May 1940 they advertise Full-time Education in Healthy and Beautiful surroundings. Recommended as the ideal scheme for Evacuation. (22nd May 1940 Evening_chronicle)
20th Aug 1940 they advertise that the school is “open during the holidays. Next term begins August 31st. Beautiful surroundings. Full education.” (20th August 1940 Evening Chronicle)
Advertisements appear at the start of each term. In 1941 they mention the Kindergarten department is run by Mrs Cottam, b 1885, the wife of the headmaster, who was trained at St Mary’s College, Cheltenham and that small boys were well cared for. (5th Feb 1941 Sunderland_= Daily Echo; 5th May 1941 Sunderland Daily Echo)
Richard Robinson Cottam, b 1878 Worcestershire, in 1901 he was a schoolmaster at Bournemouth. He marries Gwendoline Lydia Smart in 1912. she was a teacher at a board school in 1911. In 1921 Richard is an assistant school master at the Modern School, Newcastle. They are living at 55 Church Road, Gosforth.
In 1942 the school year began on 17th September and the boys from Newcastle were travelling to Spennymoor on the OK bus. (31st August 1942 Newcastle_Journal)
In March 1944 the boys raised £70 for the Red Cross P.O.W. fund by holding a bring and buy sale. (4th March 1944 Newcastle_Journal)
In October 1945 they advertise for a Kindergarten Mistress for boys aged 5 to 7. (23rd Oct 1945 Newcastle Journal)
In November 1945 they advertise again saying they need someone to start at once or in January. (15th Nov 1945 Newcastle Journal)
Peter Kipling attended the school as a day pupil in 1950s. He got a grant from the War Department as his father was killed in the war. The head teacher was Mrs Hopkins assisted by her husband, Peter thinks he was a professor at Durham University. The matron was Mrs Wallace and two teachers were George Pilling, who taught French and Latin, and Arthur Craven, who taught History. The Vicar of Croxdale taught religious knowledge. There were 60-80 boys mostly boarders. Peter caught the Jewitt's bus at the Four Lane Ends or got a lift from a Mr Harrison whose son went to the school.
He said the change in education was quite dramatic to the local school, class sizes at Rosa Street were 32 but here they were of 8-9 pupils.The curriculum at Rosa Street was mainly maths and english but here it included science, history, religious education, Latin, French, algebra, geometry and geography. They also played rugby and cricket and went swimming at Durham School. He left the school in 1952. (Spennymoor Remembered by Bob Abley page 105)
There is a picture of Jesmond Prep School Concert 1951 in (Spennymoor Remembered by Bob Abley page 105.)
There are three pictures of pupils who attended the school in 1950s, does anyone recognise them?
Whitworth Vicarge/Jesmond House - Dodd, History of Spennymoor, 1898 says Vicarage formerly stood within the Park, but it fell into bad repair and when the Rev. R. Gray came to the parish he was compelled to take up his residence in Durham. In 1847 it was taken down and a more commodious building was erected on a pleasant site overlooking the Wear, about a quarter of a mile from the Church. He wrote soon after his arrival: 'All this district has been much neglected. I found a great portion of my parish and of Byers Green little better than infidels and I have reason to believe that Tudhoe is much in the same state, with a little leaven of Romanism'. Mr. Gray built the National School at Spennymoor and did much good in the parish. He ultimately became Bishop of Cape Town. (Dodd, History of Spennymoor, 1898)
The Vicarage was built by Arthur Duncombe Shafto in 1847 and enlarged in about 1860 by Charles Carr and again in 1883. (Spennymoor Remembered book 5 page 45 by Bob Abley)
Richard Swales (1837-1911) - Mike is looking for information about his ancestor Richard Swales. He was born in 1837 at Eskdaleside in North Yorkshire where his father was a farmer, aged fourteen Richard was an apprentice shoemaker. In 1865 he married Rebecca Shields, born in London in 1847, and they were living at Hinderwell, Yorkshire in 1871. By 1881 they had moved to Esh, Co. Durham with six children, three born in Yorkshire, George, John and Mary, two born in Sunderland, Rebecca and Richard and Joseph born in Sleights.
In 1891 they lived at 58 Albert Road, Jarrow where Richard aged 55 is still a shoemaker, his wife is a grocer with their daughters working as a grocer's cashier and a confectioner. His son Richard is an apprentice salesman. In 1901 they are living at 21 Cheapside, Tudhoe Grange where he is a bootmaker with his two youngest sons also working in the business. In 1911 they have returned to Jarrow at 75 Albert Road and Richard has retired, he died later in 1911.
On 29th March 1900 the Northern Echo stated John Stringfellow (13), of Tudhoe Grange, was ordered to be detained in custody for a week, and then sent to the North East Reformatory at Netherton, Stannington, for five years, for stealing a pair of boots, value 3s 11d, from Mr Richard Swales' shop, at Tudhoe Grange.
In the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough on 11th September 1900 Richard is advertising for a boot repairer. Boot repairer (steady): constant seat work. Apply R. Swales, 21, Cheapside, Tudhoe Grange, Spennymoor.
His shop in Cheapside is mentioned in Kelly's directory in 1902.
Edward Boyle (1836-1904) a Spennymoor poet - Edward was born in 1836 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, he married Jessie Robina Farrier and they had twelve children of which nine survived. The children were: Edward born in Liverpool 1865, Elizabeth in Scotland 1867, then in Sunderland Jessie R 1869, Robert 1870, Annie 1873, then in Spennymoor William 1877, Mary Jane 1880, Christina 1882 and Ernest John 1884.
In 1871 they lived at 8 Peacock Street, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland where Edward was a bellhanger. In 1881 they had moved to 2 North Street, Spennymoor, 1891/1901 at 18 George Street, Spennymoor. Edward is described as a licensed hawker and in 1901 a shoemaker. In 1901 Edward is living with his daughter Christina, a tailoress, and son Ernest John a tailor/journeyman. His wife Jessie is living with their son at Stella, Blaydon, he was a widower with three children aged 1-5.
Edward died in 1904 and in 1911 Jessie is a housekeeper at 2 Duncombe Terrace, Ferryhill for the Cornell family, James Cornell is a railway signalman. In 1921 Jessie is at 34 Chester Street, Cargo Fleet, with her daughter Mary, son-in-law James Durkin, a road labourer and Mary's two sons with her previous husband, Ernest Carr, a labourer at the Pease & Partners iron foundry and Raymond Carr, a labourer at the steel works at Cargo Fleet Rolling Mills. James and Mary also had two school age children. All three men were out of work on 1921 census but this is probably due to strikes at the time. Jessie died in 1924, aged 80.
Edward’s poem about the Seaham Colliery Disaster on 8th September 1880 can be seen at Seaham Colliery Disaster poem.
The History of the Urban District of Spennymoor published in 1897 pages 239-241 by James J. Dodd gives us a glimpse into Edward Boyle's character.
Mr. Hedley is not the only poet that Spennymoor can lay claim to. There is at present a man living in Spennymoor who is a poet, not of the first rank, or even of the second rank, but a poet not-withstanding, and one who might fairly have stood in the second or even the first rank of the poets had nature gifted him with a better education. Edward Boyle is a native of Paisley. He commenced to write poetry at the early age of eleven, and shortly afterwards his writings got into print. He is now getting on in years, but for half-a-century or more he has poured forth poem after poem, and there is scarcely a house for miles round that does not contain one of his broadsheets, carefully folded away as too good to be lost. He is a Liberal to the backbone, and his poems are the crytallization of Liberal principles. Each line he pens is a marvel of compressed journalism, the entirety of a leading article boiled down into a single sentence. He troubles not himself with mediaeval legends or songs of love; his poems are written for the poor, and bum with the cry for liberty and human sympathy. Yet on a pinch he can write a Royal ode as well as Mr. Alfred Austin could do it, and when an election is pending he can throw off verse after verse filled with brilliant sarcasm, verses at times that Burns would not have been ashamed to sign his name to. But it is in a political meeting that he shines. Woe betide the Tory orator who has Edward Boyle in his audience! Just as he makes his pet point of the evening, it is turned to ridicule by two or three words from the Spennymoor poet, a brilliant shaft that goes straight home, to the infinite delight of the Liberal portion of the audience. It is useless to argue with him; this only gives him the opportunity he longs for, and whether his arguments are sound or otherwise, they are delivered with such a fund of wit and with such telling force that no ordinary mortal can stand up against him.
Edward Boyle is a shoemaker to trade, but it is many years since he sat at the bench. He travels from town to town selling his own poems in the market place, and is better known in the locality as “Cheap John” than by his own name. He sells his poems without profit, he speaks for no fee, he writes for the papers without pay, and he is a poor man. But he is a true poet, and he has genius, and those who buy his poems would do well to bear this in mind. Poets must live, be they ever so improvident, and Edward Boyle must never be neglected by his townsmen.
For details of the other poet mentioned, Mr Hedley, go to Requests for Information April 2020.
Spennymoor Horse Racecourses - William is researching a history of horse racecourses and asked if we could confirm the position of the two courses in Spennymoor.
Dodd's History of Spennymoor written in 1897 mentions the Whitworth Racecourse Company and says the racecourse was behind Spennymoor House which you can see on the map at the Four Lane Ends crossroads. The book is available online here. (see pages 192-4 of the online PDF of the book)
It also mentions the races continued on a field behind Carlton Terrace which is now the south side at the top of Clyde Terrace between St Paul's Church and the Four Lane Ends. It is called High Street on the old maps.
In 1936 the first 106 North Eastern Housing Association houses were erected on the Racecourse Estate site. (Spennymoor Town Council).
Naylor/Birkett - James is researching his family tree and wondered if anyone could remember his mother Mildred Elizabeth Cook nee Birkett (1903-1981). She taught at a local primary school from 1924 – 1928. Her sister Cicely Birkett, (1898-1956), taught in a Primary school until the early/mid 1950s.
Their father was Lionel Percy Birkett, b 1871, in 1891 he lived at 84 Weardale Street with his father, Christopher, b 1837 at Rotherham, and three younger sisters. Lionel was a clerk at the ironworks and in 1893 he married Elizabeth Naylor, b 1870, sadly he died in 1904 leaving Elizabeth and six children, Lionel Christopher William, b 1897, Cicely, b 1898, Nellie, b 1900, Sylvia, b 1902, Catherine Muriel, b 1902, and Mildred Elizabeth, b 1903.
The Naylor family - William Naylor, b 1834, was an iron roller in Dawley Shropshire in 1851, he came to Spennymoor about 1853 and started work for Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co about 1858, he married Catherine Thew, b 1833 Hetton-le-Hole, in 1859.
In 1861 they lived in Queen Street, Spennymoor. By 1871 they were at 136 Iron Workers Row (later renamed Weardale Street), with four children, Annie, b 1895 Spennymoor, Thomas, b 1865 Darlington, William, b 1868 Darlington, and Elizabeth, b 1870 Tudhoe.
In 1881-1901 the family are at 104 Weardale Street and William is now Forge Manager. Catherine died in 1894, aged 62. William was employed by the Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co for over 40 years and was the Forge and Mill manager for 30 years. When the Ironworks closed in 1901 he was so respected that a committee was set up to organise a presentation on Saturday 21st December 1901.
Spennymoor Foreman's Testimonial Presentation at Spennymoor
An interesting presentation took place on Saturday evening. The recipient was Mr Wm. Naylor of Weardale Street, Mount Pleasant, who has for the last thirty years fulfilled the capacity of forge and mill manager to the Weardale, Steel, Coke and Coal Company at Tudhoe Ironworks. Owing to the closing of this great industry the workmen, who were under the charge of Mr Naylor, decided that he should not leave them without an acknowledgement for his long term of office, and the good feeling which existed between him and his workmen as a foreman. A committee was at once formed, which consisted of Messrs W. Belcher, J Burrows, D White, H Banks, J North, R Boyd, S Milward, J Black and J Hillman, who were responsible for a handsome sum under the circumstances, and it may be said that the list included cheques from Sir C Furness, Mr A W Hollis (Kingston-on-Thames),Councillor Thomas Colpitts (Durham), and Mr H Fairless (Durham).
The presentation took place at Mr Naylor's private address, in the presence of the deputation appointed, which consisted of the committee. It was in the form of a purse of gold, together with a splendid silver-mounted briar pipe, suitably inscribed. Owing to the chairman appointed (Mr Belcher) being indisposed, and unable to fulfil this duty, a substitute was found in Mr David White. He had found Mr Naylor an upright, steady, and obliging gentleman both to old and young men at Tudhoe Ironworks, and he regretted very much that they had to part with each other on so serious circumstances as the closing of the works at Tudhoe.
Mr Naylor in feeling terms thanked the donors very heartily for the valuable presents received. It came as a great surprise to him when he was informed about it, and it was quite unexpected, seeing there was such gloom in the district. He had always tried to do his duty both to masters and men, and to work harmoniously with them. It was 48 years since he came to Spennymoor, and out of that time he had worked 43 years for the Weardale Company, for the last 29 years of which he had been foreman in the forge and the steel and plate mill department right up to the closing of the works. He had served under five general managers in the names of Dyson, Rogerson, Duprez, Hollis and Wraith, and works managers in Sanderson, Taylor, Hutchinson, Smith, Black, Hedley and Campbell. And now after all these years, years of long service, he must leave the district, and he felt it more so by leaving old associates whom he had known and respected almost all his life, and it seemed to him like being driven from home. (Durham County Advertiser 27/12/1901).
William didn't want to leave Mount Pleasant and sadly he didn't, shortly after the presentation he had a stroke and died three weeks later on the 20th January 1902, he was buried on 22nd January in Tudhoe cemetery.
Thomas Naylor, b 1865, became headmaster of East Howle Colliery Schools and honorary secretary for Tudhoe Rugby Football Club.
William Naylor jnr, b 1868 Darlington-1940, married Agnes Lister in 1896, unfortunately Agnes died in February 1902. By 1911 William had taken in his sister Elizabeth and the children at 3 North Road (Moor House), Mount Pleasant, Spennymoor where Elizabeth was housekeeper. In 1921 William Naylor was Secretary at Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co at Tudhoe Ironworks. Elizabeth’s children Lionel Christopher William Birkett, was an analytical chemist student, Cicely was a teacher at King Street school, Nellie, Sylvia and Mildred Elizabeth were teachers at Mount Pleasant Infants.
In 1939 William and Elizabeth with Cecily, Nellie, Catherine and Sylvia were still living at Moor House. By 1970 there were only two members of the family living there so the house was sold and they moved to Acklam, Middlesborough.
James Dixon Murray MP 1887-1965 - Holly is looking for a photo of James Dixon Murray, MP for Spennymoor 1942-1950, Spennymoor constituency was abolished in 1950 and he became MP for North West Durham 1950-1955. He was a Methodist minister and in 1958 opened the Murray Independent Methodist Church in Brandon.
Beamish Museum Collections have a picture of him and of the opening of the Methodist Church.
There is also a photo of him meeting Ada Fishburn who did an exchange visit from Duralite Limited to the USA. (The Shields Evening News 2nd March 1949). For more details of Ada's trip to USA go to Duralite Limited.
Waddington & Sons, High Street, Spennymoor - Tony contacted us for information relating to Waddington & Sons who manufactured pianos and had several music shops in the North-east. The shop was at the top of the High Street near the railway bridge. It was number 58 in 1912 but the High Street was renumbered in 1916 when the new Town Hall was built so it is now probably closer to number 70.
To see a film of the company making pianos at Scarborough click here
Blackburn family - Kelly contacted us to identify Robert Blackburn on one of our photos. She also sent us a photo of the family with Tudhoe Lodge banner taken before a Big Meeting.
It shows Robert Blackburn (1899-1957) and Alice (nee Brown, b1901) with sons George (b1927) and Norman (b1931), and granddaughter Rita (b1943). Robert and Alice also had two older children Elenor (b1921) and Robert (b1924).
In 1921 Robert is working as a putter for Bell Bros. at Tursdale Colliery. In 1939 Robert and Alice were living at 27 Front Street, Croxdale where Robert was a miner. His son Robert, aged 15, is working at Tursdale House Farm, Croxdale.
Robert's parents were Thomas Whitling Blackburn and Sarah Barleyman Clements, both born in 1868. The Blackburn family moved from Northallerton to Hett by 1881, where they worked in the coke industry.
Walter Mason, Grocer at Kirk Merrington and the Vester family - Jonathan is looking for information about his ancestor Walter Mason, b1890, who ran a grocer's shop, "Mason's Stores", in Kirk Merrington in 1940/50s.
He would be interested to know where the shop was situated and if it is still exists. He has sent a photo which seems to match the shop to the west of St John the Evangelist Church on a 1966 photo in the Northern Echo. This property is now a house.
In 1911 and 1921 Walter was living with his parents at 16 Waldron Street, Bishop Auckland. In 1911 he was a grocer's assistant, by 1921 he was manager of Brough's grocers in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland. In 1925 he was manager of Brough Stores, Spennymoor (see photo).
In 1929 he married Eleanor T. Vester, b1899 Tudhoe, and they were living at 28 Diamond Terrace, Spennymoor.
In 1939 they are living at 193 Durham Road, Spennymoor and they moved to Kirk Merrington into their own store in 1940s.
These photos show