Ushaw Moor Memories

There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 on 19/05/08 at 11.00am. For those that missed it, or are not aware of the issues that were involved, it was the story of the Durham villages that were lost owing to the closure of so many pits in the 50s and 60s.

As part of a 1951 redevelopment plan the County Council categorized each pit that closed on an A to D basis. A stood for villages that would have major investment, B villages would have modest investment C villages would only benefit from a care and maintenance regime and finally D villages would not have any investment.

Waterhouses was one of the D villages and it was featured on the programme this morning. Residents were expected to relocate to better housing and better employment prospects, which sounds understandable to me but a closer look indicates that Waterhouses was, and of course still is, far from being a slum area! It was originally designated as being what was called a Model Village.

During the programme Professor Fred Robinson, a social scientist at Durham University, explained that the 1951 redevelopment plan was a reassuring and carefully worded document that pointed out that no village would die and genuine village life would be retained. He queried what the phrase ‘genuine village life’ meant.

 

 

 

The question of category D villages presents some issues. For me one of the issues is that however well intentioned a plan communication is paramount – were residents invited to give their opinion before their village was given a D classification? Possibly not – or perhaps not enough of an opportunity was given. Another issue for me is the question of whether human beings need to be more flexible and make an effort to understand the bigger picture when evaluating a plan or the big world out there. Some of the reaction is entirely understandable but younger people in this type of situation might need to think more globally! The nature of urban life is often such that networks exist but not necessarily on such a localized basis! Having said that one extrovert that I know has one avenue in a particular town as all friends together! Not all people are extroverts - as an aside I like Brian Blessed.

Villages varied in their nature and it seems that the wrong decision was made in some cases – Witton Park for example. Many of its residents are passionate and proud of their village. It was labelled ‘the village that would not die’. It hasn’t died and I hope to learn much more about that very soon! At the time many of the residents were moved to the Woodhouse Close Estate near Bishop Auckland and some of the ex Witton Park residents call it the ‘reservation’ – likening it to a transfer of Red Indians from one place to another in the 19^th century. Of course New Brancepeth was a category D village and much demolition took place. Many of their residents moved to the new housing estate at Ushaw Moor and indeed I was one of them. What is left looks pretty much all right to me but maybe one or two of its residents will take the opportunity to speak for themselves via the comment button!

W Bell

I have been tracing my family history and one of my ancestors was a gentleman called Ralph Wilson. I think he was born in 1844 or 1845 and lived in the New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor areas. I was wondering if this could be the same Ralph Wilson who was the organist at the Methodist Chapel for 37 years.

I recall speaking to my Nana a few years ago about what she could remember or what she had been told about our past. She said that one of our ancestors (my great great grandfather), William Ellis, had been a preacher at the methodist chapel in Ushaw Moor and that his wife, Thomason (my Nana had thought she was called Jane), had been the organist there. My research has shown that Thomason’s father was called Ralph Wilson, so with my Nana being mistaken about Thomason’s name I wonder if she too was mistaken as to exactly which ancestor of ours had been the organist?

Any further information you could give me as to whether the two Ralphs are the same, and as to whether anything is known of William and Thomason would be very gratefully received. The kind of timneframe we’d be looking at for this to fit in would be very late 19th and early 20th century.

Thank You,

Michael Steel

I thought that I would go back to Victorian times and try and trace a few familiar names that matched the surnames of some pupils from my school days, as follows:

15 Ladysmith - Thomas Wilson wife Catherine and sons John and Richard

15 Temperance Terrace – Henry Forster wife Margaret and daughters Hannah and Isabella

20 ——–do———– James Stoddart and wife Frances

25 ——-do——- — John Myers wife Sarah and dtr Jane

3 East Terrace Thomas Stoddart wife Isabel and dtr Ethel

7 George Street Richard Brunskill wife Jane and dtrs Hilda, Hannah, Dora and son Richard

10 Albert Street John Brunskill wife Rachael and dtrs Candais, Jane and Hannah

20 William Street John Jackson wife Louisa and son Thomas

18 —–do——- Edward Jones wife Ann dtrs Elizabeth and Mary plus son John

12 West Street John Jolly brother Edward and niece Emily Wray

Of course the above Victorians might not have any connection to my old school chums – but you never know.

Cricket

Back in late June 1935 the New Brancepeth CC second XI continued their good form by beating Sherburn seconds by four wickets. E Sinclair took five wickets for 19 runs and A Marchant four wickets for 27 runs to dismiss Sherburn quite cheaply. J Ayre took at least two catches for New Brancepeth.

Wilf Bell