Ushaw Moor Memories

In the 1950s I saw two of the very local amateur teams playing professional league teams in the FA Cup. First up were illustrious amateurs Crook Town who played a first round tie against Derby County in November 1955. About 9,818 fans witnessed an exciting match. Many of the locals had got there by train, often thanks to efforts made by Working Men’s Clubs. Derby had actually won the FA Cup ten years earlier but in 1955 they were in the doldrums – second off top in the Third Division North. The first twenty minutes belonged to Derby County thanks to some silky football and the score line reflected this – Crook 0 Derby 2. Part of Crook’s problem during that opening half hour was that they were trying to match Derby’s classy football. It changed from then onwards as Crook, by sheer determination, forced their way into the game. Crook were not dirty – merely determined- and they fought back to equalize by halftime.

The second half brought cut and thrust from both teams until a crisis hit Derby – a penalty was awarded to Crook. The Crook centre forward had persistently fouled Terry Webster the Derby keeper throughout the game and seemed just about to do the same when Webster, with the ball safely in his hands, lost his cool and elbowed him. That meant a penalty and it was correctly given, even though it was very rough on Derby. The penalty kick grazed the outside of the right hand post, much to Derby’s relief.

For much of the remainder of the game Crook held on despite significant pressure applied by Derby. Towards the end the amateurs, having put so much into the game, were clearly tired. Jesse Pye, the England international, almost won it for Derby with a jinking run that ended in a 35 yard shot that crashed against the Crook woodwork. It would have been rough on Crook if that shot had gone in because their display on the day had been magnificent. Crook Town supporters had a right to be proud of their team’s performance. They were a major amateur force at this time and their display against professionals had not let down the Crook faithful.

The second game was Durham City’s 1957 second round clash against Tranmere Rovers. Durham had come into the game after a comfortable 3-1 first round win against Spalding United. Tranmere were expected to win bearing in mind that they fielded three Irish international players. Durham could not have had a worse start because they conceded a goal after 25 seconds, scored by Eglington. The Durham players picked themselves up and fully contributed to the remainder of the game. The score line of 3-0 to Tranmere was a little flattering especially as their remaining two goals came very late in the game. Even as a youngster I could see that the professional side had a cutting edge – quick to take their chances – whereas Durham had a lot of possession but created few chances.

Durham; Briggs, Nainby, Newton, Ayre, Thompson, Wilson, Armstrong, Walton, Bowron, Stevenson, Johnstone.

I recall Raymond Ayre and he is mentioned elsewhere on site [you can use the search button to find him]. Ken Bowron was a schoolteacher and I am sure he subsequently played some professional league football.

Best wishes

Wilf Bell

My name is Andy Graham, I live in Cannock Stafforshire

My Moms side of the family are from Ushaw Moor, thier surname was Hirst, they lived in Whitehouse Lane. (no 18?)

I was surprised looking at your religious pages that there was no mention of the Salvation Army in Ushaw Moor. Somewhere I have a load of old Ushaw Moor photographs so I can send you them if thats ok?

I have some very fond memories of Ushaw Moor, even though the last time I stayed at Grandmas (Lydia Hurst) house in Whitehouse lane was in 1975!

I can remember a shop that seemed to sell just about everything, especially toys!! I think the shop was called Stan Watsons?

There also used to be a fantastic chip shop in one of the back streets in the lower end of Ushaw Moor, the best chips I have ever tasted.

My Dad (George Graham) was from Hetton-le-hole, although I am sure he worked for a while at the pit in Ushaw Moor.

Grandad was in the Durham Light Infantry, he name was Brooke Hurst, I am lucky enough to have some great photos of him in his army uniform.

Kind regards

Andrew Graham

Ten years ago, during one of my infrequent visits to the Deerness Valley, I decided yet again to do the ‘grand tour’ - a sort of ‘all our yesterdays’. I went into the New Brancepeth church, at the bottom of what was Unthank Terrace bank, and it seemed quite grand; it was certainly well polished and clean. The cleaning lady happened to be there and I asked her whether she could recall the Dodds’ family and also young Margaret Reed, who I believe married an artist in the 1950s [I seem to recall that he was much older than her] – the cleaner could recall them all and clearly had a very good memory.

I was made aware of local historian Ken Clark who I believe was living in Woodbine Terrace, which is opposite the church but a little further down .He made me most welcome and presented me with a steaming cup of tea and the very last copy of his book: Deerness – A Short Industrial and Social History [Sleetburn Press 1987]. What a thorough and very useful book it has proved to be. I believe there is a copy of it at the Durham Records Office.

I then popped into the New Brancepeth Working Men’s Club at the top of Unthank Terrace. Several senior citizens were having a quiet drink and I engaged them in conversation about the area, in particular New Brancepeth Colliery. ‘Soccer’ Gleghorn was part of the company and I was actually delighted to buy him a pint – I think Soccer was delighted as well! He was surprised that I knew about the German engineer that worked at the pit in the early part of the 20th century.

Later that morning I was walking up Station Road in Ushaw Moor and would you believe it, a motor cyclist, who was travelling down the road nodded at me, in the way Geordies and Wearsiders do - with a sideways tilt of the head. That was very friendly but that would not happen with motor cyclists in the south of England, for a multitude of reasons.

Somewhere in Durham Road, Ushaw Moor I noticed an information board which explained the times available for confession at the local church. I am not being facetious when I say that my first thought was – not much time allocated for confessions - I supposed there must be few sinners in the village. I am sure that Ushaw Moor residents, whatever religious denomination they follow, if any, have a sense of humour and therefore will not be offended by what was no more that the wry thought of a traveller. These days, because of so called political correctness, many people are reluctant to express themselves for fear of offending – which can sometimes be wise but it has gone far too far and is at the point where freedom of expression is under threat. That last comment might give future generations an inkling of the present political and cultural climate.

I then visited Ushaw Moor cemetery in order to pay my respects to my grandparents and others but I was shocked to find that I could not locate any of them without the utmost difficulty. That had never happened before and I was totally convinced that the cemetery had been radically rearranged. Are there any comments forthcoming about that? It surprised me so much that I absent mindedly left my wife’s umbrella on the seat in the cemetery. It was only when I got onto a bus at Bearpark [destined for Durham] that I realized what had probably happened. I got off the bus, went back to the cemetery and sure enough there was the umbrella. That effort probably prevented a very awkward half an hour with my wife! I got onto another bus for Durham and after showing my ticket and explaining what had happened I was able to continue on my way without further charge.

Wilf Bell

Hi there ..stumbled upon your website after looking for ways to locate pictures of junior marching bands of the 80’s and I remembered the Ushaw moor Moorlanders run by Billy Coatham.Wondered if visitors to your site could help either with photos or by visiting the following site and leaving memories on the guest book page.

www.freewebs.com/colburnfusiliers

They were good times and deserve celebrating !!!!

Thanks for any help or advice given….

Les Clarke (bass drummer..Colburn Fusiliers jazzband 1975-84)

Concessionary coal –New Brancepeth Workmen’s Coal Ticket

I have such a ticket and it dates from 1953, the year in which the colliery closed. There are columns on the ticket that show the date of issue of the coal, as well as the Keeker’s initials [which are CB] and the initials of the Checker [WS].In Durham County coalmines the Keeker was in charge of the coalmine surface. This particular record indicates that one ton of coal was delivered to the employee every month of the year until pit closure. Although no charge for the coal was made by the National Coal Board it was very much a part of each worker’s pay package. In the early 1980s the National Coal Board’s view was that it was an inherited obligation from pre-nationalization days. The Board felt that it would have been too expensive to buy out this long term arrangement.

Were there any problems during WW2 with people tripping over the parked concessionary coal during blackout? Did you pay someone to put the coal in your bunker? Did coal dust really dirty the washing on the clothes line? What is known of Mr ‘CB’ and Mr ‘WS’? I suppose they may have moved to Ushaw Moor to take advantage of the post war council house building programme.

The Sanders’ family

What sort of Christmas did miner William Sanders, of 7 Ladysmith Terrace, have in 1900? He had a large family – namely: Elizabeth [wife], and children John, Ralf [or Ralph], Grace, Mary, Elizabeth, Robert, Gilbert and the youngest, George. It is true that his sons’ John and Ralf were also employed in coal mining and that would have helped financially. Clothes could easily be handed down and of course that still goes on in families today – a very sensible idea. It appears that the number of employees at Ushaw Moor was steadily growing during the early years of the 20th century so I imagine that the family was probably not hit by unemployment during that first decade - but of course I cannot discount the possibility of injuries. Are there any descendents of the Sanders family still living in Ushaw Moor?

Coffins

We already have an immensely interesting ‘coffin’ story submitted by Geoff Turner [see note 7 of my article published on 20/09/06]. Now we have another - but admittedly it relates to the village of Langley Park - still Langley Park is not far from Ushaw Moor! In May 1942 an elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Bolton, who lived at Blackburn Cottages Langley Park, were notified that their youngest son private William Bolton had been killed and that his body would be flown home for a funeral with full military honours. The turn out at the funeral was enormous. About two weeks later he turned up at home. Understandably his mother fainted.

[Source ‘Esh Leaves’ issue 10 in the month of November 2003]

Happy New Year

WB