Kelloe, Bowburn, Cornforth



Kelloe, Bowburn & West Cornforth’, are all very individual, independent unique villages. All, have been supported by their own Collieries that employed a high percentage of the personnel from the communities. All of the villages had Workingmen’s Clubs, Community Centres and a host of shops and licensed premises where they spent leisure hours away from the grime and hard work of the pits. All of the Villages also had allotments where they grew fruit and vegetables, where they grew leeks and other produce good enough to exhibit at annual shows.

I have published the book ‘Areas around’ ‘Kelloe Bowburn & West Cornforth’, in three sections which are shared equally between the three villages. I was lucky enough to have been able to acquire enough photograph’s of the three areas which I feel will create much interest. I have also set aside an area for a series of photograph’s that I have received from Raymond Johnson, his father W. R. Johnson was a Forman joiner for the Co-Operative and he also advised other branches on their joinery needs generally, or at the time of expansion. He was also part of many Community projects in the area such as the ‘Boys Brigade’, & ‘Home Guard’. Raymond sent many photograph’s of these times too late for inclusion in the Coxhoe books so I have included these in a section especially for this reason in this particular book. Raymond now lives at Lancaster many miles away from this area these photograph’s are unique but may have not been available for the present Coxhoe people to see. The photograph’s contained shots of the home guard, which his father was part and I have also included these that I am sure, will contain photographs of many people from our area.

There is now a Cornforth Web site on www.cornforth.org.uk and it is presented brilliantly. One of the administers is Stephen Pennick and he very kindly sent me many West Cornforth Photograph’s which I have included in the book; just as I have mentioned before there are still many ordinary people within our community who have no access to computers and therefore the Internet, and I hope I rekindle a few memories for these people.

My source for Kelloe was mainly from Ronnie Taylor and includes many people that were employed at Kelloe Colliery; I was also lucky enough to get from John Chisholm details of the Stan Seymour family and their association with Kelloe. Seymour was nick-named ‘Mr. Newcastle’, and he brought many trophies to the Football club which is in short supply today. His sister Isabella Alice Seymour in the book writes a wonderful story about early life at Kelloe. There are also many photograph’s of very brave people; involved in both world wars; one of these being the late Tom Hardy who won the M.M. early in the war, he served in the Royal Marine Commandoes. Tom was one of the first to land on D. Day and later killed at Hamburg on 11/4/1945 two weeks before the end of the war.

Harry Wilson helped me out with the supply of Bowburn photograph’s and also names; anything Harry can do to help further memories of his younger life at Bowburn he goes out of his way to do.

Just prior to going to press I have been informed by my friend Ken Robinson that there is a story about Bobby Bateson and Yvonne his daughter, by John Gaffney in this month’s ‘Ringwise ‘, and My friend Maxi Walsh is sending me a copy. I intend including this story in the ‘Coxhoe Extra’, section of this book:

 

 

A well known view of Bowburn, showing St. John' Mission built 1926 at the height of the strike. Was converted by Mr. Granger to a house in 1967 a little further north is the 'Hare & Greyhound'. For years they had two small monkeys at the back of the pub. Below Durham Road and the first Colliery houses. On the right 'Durham Road West'. Later the Co-Op traded here; the 'Picture House', was also sited here and very popular. Later the Village Hall and the Library which was on the left served the Bowburn people for years:

 

 

 

 

Above ‘Pit Laddie’, Nr. Bowburn at the start of the Construction for the Motorway. Below, ‘Pit Laddie’, 1926:

 

 

 

 

Durham Road and Chapel Bowburn 1930; Below Durham Road West Bowburn 1930

 

 

 

 

 

Stevenson Street Bowburn 1970; Below Durham Road Bowburn 1930

 

 

 

Cape Universal factory (closed 1990) Below Bowburn Colliery Banner.

 

 

 

Bowburn Modern School 1959; Below Bowburn School 1913

 

 

 

Above It would seem now a house but in the 50s it was a café where teenagers met and enjoyed the company of friends. Below Bowburn Post Office:

 

 

Above the Bowburn Library and below the Methodist Church:

 

 

 

 

 

Modern day approach to Bowburn Village, so important in the past for supplying work at the Colliery and also the brick yard, below the Recreation centre:

 

 

 

Christmas Party Miners Institute Bowburn 1938; Below 25th. Anniversary:

 

 

 

 

 

Bowburn Junior School class 1952 Among others Norman Blenkinsop, Harry Wilson, John Wilson, Jeff Hewitson, George Baker, Smudge Smithsun, Terry Wood, Jim McGlochlan, Valerie Latue, Shirley Lloyd, Barry Peters

 

 

 

 

Group in front of the ‘Pit Laddie’, 1950, among others Mattie Hall, Alf, Swainston, Harry Stevens, Harry Cairns, Reg. Fenwick, ?Jones, Geordie ?, ? Wright. Below a group of men in ’Crowtrees Working men's Club’, 1950:

 

 

Above Bowburn Colliery man riding Shaft:

 

Bowburn NUM Lodge banner by the original miners Institute, Among others Jack Ramshaw, Joss Wright, Jack Allan, Harry Ebdon, Tommy Roberts, Harry Wilson, Tommy Graham, Harry Wood

 

 

 

Bob Greathead and Bob Ward shoeing a horse at the Forge; Below Bowburn pit pony racing was popular early in the century.

 

 

 

Dedication of Bowburn War Memorial 1995; Below workers from Barkers Brick Flats who produced the bricks to build the Colliery rows:

 

 

St. Pauls Church Quarrington Hill; Below Tug of War team 1947:

 

Above Bowburn Albion Football Team 1910-11 Only two identified middle row Bill Whitman and Jack Willey:

 

Bowburn Football team photographed by Chisholm of Coxhoe 1930-01 back row Frankie Morris, Charlie Bainbridge, Arthur Thomson, Tommy Moore, Mr. Haigh. Rear Ralph Kirkup Jack Walsh.

 

Above Miss Stainthorpe & Harry Wilson she looks very much like a ’Guardian Angel’ with the lay-out behind her. below L/R, John Gray, Harry Gray, Harry Wilson, Violet Gray, Miriam Wilson.

 

Above, Miriam Wilson & Violet Gray:

Below L/R John Gray, Elizabeth Milburn (jun), John Wilson, Harry Wilson (Jun), Jack Milburn, Elizabeth Milburn (sen), Harry Gray, Violet Gray, Harry Wilson (sen), Miriam Wilson:

 

 

Left Miriam Wilson

BelowL/r front Harry Gray, Violet Gray, Miriam Wilson, Harry Wilson (sen), Harry Wilson (jun.), John Gray, John Wilson.

 

 

 

Above L/R Trevor Willey, Harry Wilson, John Wilson, Harry Gray, John Gray, Violet Gray, Elizabeth Milburn, (jun), Elizabeth Milburn (sen)

Below among others John & Harry Wilson:

 

 

Above among others John Wilson, John Gray, Harry Wilson (jun.), Violet Gray, Harry Gray, Harry Wilson (sen), Miriam Wilson, Elizabeth Milburn, (jun), Jack Milburn, Leo Hall, Mrs. Hall, Elizabeth Milburn (sen); below among others Miriam Wilson, Violet Gray, Harry Gray, Mrs. Kirkup, Mrs. Orton, Charles Orton, Harry Wilson, Raff. Kirkup:

 

 

 

 

Above L/R Violet Gray, Mr. Martin, Miriam Wilson: Below Having a lie down Harry Wilson, Miriam Wilson, Mrs. Isabel Reid, Richard Reid ?

 

 

Among others John Gray, John Wilson, Violet Gray, Harry Wilson (jun), Miriam Wilson, George Hilary, Dennis Taylor, Harry Gray, Harry Wilson (sen), Elizabeth Milburn below Harry Wilson with the London Chief Executive holding the Document for the freedom of London:.

 

 

Above Geoff Atkinson and Harry Wilson below L/R, Chris Arnold, Ned Headley, Dave Wilson, Don Millon, Darren Millon, Dean Smithson, Brent Smithson

 

 

Top L/R Linsey Millon, Harry Wilson, Joanne Wilson, Carol Freak

Bottom Paddy Lenagh, Beverley Hudson, Trist Hesler, Colin Hesler, Mary Leckenby:

 

Harry Wilson, Don Millon, Brent Smithson, Dean Smithson, Chris Arnold, Darren Millon, Ned Headley:

Bottom L/R, Billy Hardy, Harry Wilson, John Davison:

 

 

During the fifties a new estate was established at Park Hill which was built to house many workers for Collieries in the area; many moving from the Grove at Coxhoe. Bella Taylor was one of the families she is seen left with a cousin from Wallsend. Below some neighbours of Mrs. Taylor and below right a young Winnie Short:

 

Friends at Park Hill among others are Ernie and Tony Gardner Peter Taylor, Eddie Robinson Alan Kingston & Peter & Mike Cleary:

 

 

 

The ‘Pit Laddie’ was the pride and Joy of Bowburn and even ‘Park Hill’, but it had to go to make way for progress and the new A1M north:

 

 

Walter Greathead senior Bowburn Horse keeper with pit pony

Below Bowburn Blacksmith Walter and Robert Greathead:

 

 

Above Bowburn Secondary Modern School 1959; below Bowburn Mixed school 1950 class names unknown:

 

 

Football once was a boys only game, but not these days above under 13 Girls team; below, Below Under 12 Girls ‘Holden's generously supplied the strips:

 

Again girls football, this being girls under 10 team Holden's again supplying the strips they seem very generous supporters of sport in the Bowburn area; below Under 8s. Play in the Russel Foster Legue seen receiving a sponser cheque from Bowburn & Park Hill Partnership:

 

 

The ‘Cooperage’, settled quickly into the community as a modern themed public House; below it has its own successful football team:

 

 

Boys young footballing side, again lovely football strip supplied by it appears to be ‘BLC Builders’, in the team below one of the players a girl; below the photograph taken in winter time, sadly no team names:

 

 

 

 

Shincliffe Station and village below, only a matter of two miles walk from Bowburn on the A167 road. At the south entrance the ‘Seven Stars’ . Hotel where fine evenings Bowburn people walked for refreshment, near by, was High Shincliffe and the notorious bank that had to be climbed in winter by traffic, (since improved). Shincliffe had its own station, Colliery and beautiful church, St Mary’s consecrated 1910:

 

 

 

Bowburn Colliery I worked here, from leaving school, for the following 5 years, working, in the Hutton, on a Loader, then as a Hand Putter. The early owner of this pit was William Hedley, and later ownership was passed to West-Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company, after this the Bell Bros., Colliery was sunk by the piling method, in 1906, by E. Johnson and sons, mainly to relieve the excessive haulage from Tursdale Colliery. Later Dorman and Long owned the pit, a new screening plant and washer was added to the pit in 1932. The coal from Tursdale was drawn through the goaf, by a drift, to the Bowburn shaft, in 1930, using the old shaft for ventilation, coal drawing and man riding. In 1930 639 men worked at the pit, rising to 2,358, in 1940, and 2,102, by 1960, finally closing in 1967. Below emergency staff covering the Colliery during the 1926 strike:

 

 

Above the ‘Hare and Greyhound’ for years a popular public house and where we all met when completing a shift at Bowburn pit in the 50s. Below the ‘Oak Tree’, further up on the estate and is very popular always had music weekends:

Photograph’s by Author:

 

 

The ‘Church of Christ the King’ idea more or less of Father Bill who was a well known eccentric Minister in the 60s also called ‘The Pineapple Church’, opened 1978 the last service was 5/9/04; it was actually a landmark for years. It will be shortly demolished and replaced by a new church, the spire will remain. On my visit I took the above photograph and it was in a bad state of repair:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Continuation of Station Road only interrupted by the Welfare Hall. The road runs right to the Railway Station. On the other side of the road is Coronation Terrace; these houses look nice and tidy with the mosaic tile bordering. Below The Oval showing the shops on the right these served a busy West Cornforth new development established post war:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above and below again the historical railway of West Cornforth showing the level crossing below that allowed motor traffic to use the road into West Cornforth:

 

 

 

 

West Cormforth Station said to be the shortest branch line on the North Eastern Railway; this particular line serviced the mineral line and Coxhoe Basics north of Coxhoe and Coxhoe’s second railway line: below In contrast the same line with now up-to date diesel locomotives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrislington The Bottom Hutton was proved in 1835, by a series of borings that year, by 1843, the pit started production, and later was sunk to Main Coal, and later operated as the Mary pit, by the Rosedale and Ferryhill Iron Company, mainly to supply the Ferryhill Iron Works in 1867, until the Company collapsed due to the recession in 1879. Thrislington Coal Company took over operations shortly after, by 1911, most of the Hempstead was destroyed by fire. In 1914 it passed to the North Bitchburn Coal Company, then in 1932, to Henry Stobart & Company. In 1930 there was a work force of 1005, but by 1940 this total dropped, but later peaked to 1,124, in 1950, later in 1960 dropping to 805, finally closing on 4th. March 1967.

 

 

 

 

 

Above West Cornforth Colliery Banner at a May day procession at Coxhoe; below the banner at Durham Big Meeting:

 

 

 

There was a serious fire at Thrislington Colliery 25th. November 1911. The heap stead was completely destroyed. Fortunately the shaft was okay and within a short period production re-started, below after the fire:

 

 

 

 

 

Just a short distance from Coxhoe & Cornforth is Mainsforth Hall in 1920, seat of the ‘Surtees Family’, The Hall was re-built in 1725 and was described at the time as a good specimen of an English Mansion. The house was combined with comfort and elegance. The Hall sadly fell into disrepair after the second world war and finally was demolished in 1962: Below St. Michael's Parish Church taken in 1967. Robert Surtees the brilliant Historian and writer of the History of Durham is buried here together with his family. Another famous soldier is also buried here, Sgt. Robert Oswald scaled the heights with General Wolfe to capture Quebec in 1759:

 

 

 

 

 

Above Thrislington Hall, taken summer 1974; below Thrislington Villa, was built by the owners of the ‘Iron Works’, for their Manager and other important personnel:

 

 

 

 

 

Above a very vibrant and busy Cornforth High Street. The ‘Good Intent Hotel’, can be clearly seen where Andrew Smart played the Piano and Claveline most nights; below looking at the High Street from the other direction and probably the same period. To the left the entrance to the new housing estate built to house miners that worked at the thriving Thrislington Colliery; to the right the entrance that led to West Cornforth Club & Institute:

 

 

 

Above and below Staff employed at the West Cornforth Co-operative; it would seem in various tasks, in at least two of them flour for making bread and confectionary; below probably the meat cart that took meat to customers. The store was proud of their Shire horses all were looked after well. The above picture taken around 1893

 

 

 

 

 

The 1926 strike was a terrible period for the population of the North East, but it brought people together and each village formed soup kitchens to feed the less unfortunate; above the West Cornforth people busy with this task. Below prior to 1800 this was the mode of transport, especially Doctors. The quality of some of the combinations was amazing with highly polished brasses and leather harness. Most Inns and Hotels offered stabling facilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above and below West Cornforth ‘s First Post Office; the above photograph taken a few years on, and now shows the young gentleman wearing a watch and chain like his father or possibly Grandfather there is also an increase in staff:

 

 

 

 

Two very successful business, above H. D. Bailey ‘Grocer and Provisions with a very well stocked window with hams and barrels of flour in the foreground with Also very interesting people one of which having a bowler hat and looking like a Tax inspector or official. Below an impressive line up of staff from West Cornforth Co-operative; the dividend this particular year showing £2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above Newmans Groceries one of the best Grocers in the area also did a great deal of business in Coxhoe, Kelloe and Bowburn; the picture shows 16 staff so one can imagine the various departments. Below one of West Cornforths most popular pubs just across the street from where Newman's traded. This particular day the Horse drawn hearse can be seen.

 

 

 

Two local Cornforth Hotels, the above the ‘Victoria Inn’, it would seem the pub had a good following of locals; below the ‘Thrislington Hotel’, built 1870 and it was demolished 1968. This was a massive Hotel and owned by the well known Hartlepool brewers ’J. W. Cameron’ who supplied many local Pubs in the area:

 

 

 

 

Above a very impressive and stylish wedding all dressed up in fine fashion of the day, the bride and groom and the two little girls at the front are examples of the period. Below a school class later in the Century, I went close into the board that the young gentleman held and it reads ‘Cornforth Lane, Council mixed, Group 1, 1920, an amazing thing about this group photograph was that there are at least three sets of twins on the photograph:

 

 

 

 

Above and below West Cornforth Hair dressing salon, the top photograph shows Watkins or Watkinson in the window' Hair Dressing & Shaving’. The same premises now showing Wm. Easter , with two possible apprentices and a dog. Getting shaved at the barber’s was common place in these times, the barber’s using cut throat razors and Leather belts to sharpen them.

 

 

 

 

Above West Cornforth School at Vicarage Road, West Cornforth, Below the board reads West Cornforth, UM Junior Choir, winners of the Golightly Shield, September 5th. 1931, obviously some very good vocal youngsters at West Cornforth all smartly dressed for the occasion:

 

 

 

Above on reading the board it says Class 1 1950 possibly the first class in the senior school below a photograph of kids later in the century; they all look happy:

 

 

 

 

Above 1960 a senior athletic class obviously successful showing a cup. Below, one thing about girls they are not afraid to act out an occasion; these in particular could be ‘St. Trinians’, possibly for a local carnival:

 

 

The interest in the ‘St. John’s’, Ambulance at this time was tremendous at West Cornforth. The unseen work that they do attending free, at any event was brilliant and they must have saved thousands of lives over the years. Below numbers were maintained in the Fire Service because of the Wars, below the Firemen from West Cornforth were as good as any; in this photograph there is a young lady in the front and a person on the left is wearing an army tin helmet:

 

 

 

 

Above West Cornforth Accordion band, playing at the Church Garden party, Eddy Crosby , Fred Crosby, Jack Glancey, Rene Greenwell, George Walker, Bill Vasey. The Crosby’s were well known for years as a quality Accordion band my sister Hilda played with the band at this time she could also play an accordion well:

 

 

 

 

Gwen & Tommy Dodd's; photographed with some of the Youth Club in 1980. Many years ago in the fifties Gwen worked at the confectionary section of the Spennymoor Co-op near Queens Street in Spennymoor. Gwen spent her dinner hour at my wife’s parents home where she was friendly with them and knew all of the family well. Tommy and Gwen ran the Youth Club at West Cornforth and infact would do anything for anybody: