My memories of East Holywell are many and varied. I was born in the house that my Grandparents had lived and died in at 24 North Row. The house had no running water, was lit by gaslights with a coal fire which heated the water and on which my mother cooked and baked.
Mary Scott (nee Barnfather)
My memories of East Holywell are many and varied. I was born in the house that my Grandparents had lived and died in at 24 North Row. The house had no running water, was lit by gaslights with a coal fire which heated the water and on which my mother cooked and baked. There is nothing today quite so good as the 'stotty cakes'and 'tatey pot' she used to make.
There were four streets, Burn Row, Double Row, Office Row and North Row - the latter had the postbox at the top and a dairy at the bottom with the milkmaid coming from the farm twice a day. One girl used to collect cans of milk on her roller skates. How I envied her as I couldn't even manage on one skate!
The school at the top of our street opened in 1914. Miss Madge Turner taught there from the day it opened until it closed in the 1950s. Mr. John Barker was the Headmaster - he taught the boys to knit and darn just in case there was another war. One of the highlights of the school year was the Gala at Bates Cottages. We'd walk down the track running beside the 'Tanky Engine' Line and through the small dene with many stops for taking off sandshoes etc. We'd march along the colliery rows where people stood at their doors calling 'It's the colliery bairns. God bless them!
Our pleasures were many but cost nothing, such as sliding down the pitheaps, having picnics - a bottle of water and jam sandwich wrapped up in newspaper - picking blackberries. At school we played chasey, skipped, played two ball and leapfrog. In the summer holidays our mothers took us to Seaton Sluice buying a bucket of boiling water with which to make the tea.
Holywell Hall built in 1654, picture taken in 1949.
Most children went to Sunday school. I took part in the anniversary events and received many books as prizes. There were social evenings and outings, usually to Morpeth, Hexham or Warkworth. We also had Rechabite outings. Mr Davidson the chap who ran those was also in the Salvation Army. I recall the band playing outside our door and Mr Davidson shouting to my uncle "Come on Tommy. Another penny to make a shilling."
The only shop we had was a sweet shop. The old chap who ran it was Billy Wilson. He always gave you a tune on his fiddle - whether you wanted to hear it or not! He also kept goats on the Green but I was never keen to pass them. Though we only had one shop, the shops came to us.
The Co-op boy took your order and the goods were delivered. The butcher, greengrocer and milk were delivered on carts and various men with flat carts selling herrings - very cheap in those days because there were no fridges In season they came with bilberries which made delicious tarts, though the juice made your tongue turn black, and
Poly-Lizzie the ice-cream lady came in a horse and trap.
In those days there were quite a lot of beggars, some singing, others doing odd jobs or selling pins and needles. Some were just grateful for a slice of bread and jam. Though we had a pit and pitheaps we were surrounded by farm fields which all belonged to the same family, the Dixons. East Holywell was a very friendly place where everyone knew each other like one big family.
If you have any pictures or stories to tell Remember When, email Ray Marshall or write to him at: Remember When, Evening Chronicle, Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1ED. You can also phone him on 0191 201 6239.
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Holywell Hall built in 1654, picture taken in 1949.
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