Swalwell
A Glimpse of Twentieth Century Life in and around the Riverside from Dunston Staiths to Derwenthaugh
The fourth in a series of illustrated leaflets depicting life in the 20th century in the old Whickham Urban District, this leaflet covers the Riverside from Dunston to Derwenthaugh and is available free from all Gateshead Metropolitan Borough libraries. A leaflet covering Dunston will be available in 2011.
A Glimpse of Twentieth Century Life in Swalwell
The second in a series of illustrated leaflets depicting life in the 20th century in the old Whickham Urban District, this leaflet covers Swalwell and is available free from all Gateshead Metropolitan Borough libraries. Leaflets covering Dunston, Whickham and Riverside Industry will be available in 2011.
McGregor's Shops
Alex McGregor (1900-1974) of Swalwell had draper's shops in Swalwell, Whickham and Winlaton Mill. The Swalwell shop was next to the Highlander in Front Street and the Whickham one was in the block of shops below the park in Front Street. Alex McGregor lived in Swalwell and ran that shop, his wife ran the Winlaton Mill shop until the mid sixties when it closed. When Alex retired his son Alec took over the running of the Swalwell shop about 1966.
The Swalwell shop closed in the mid-seventies and the Whickham shop was the last to go being then run by Alec McGregor. By that time it had ceased selling draperies and concentrated on selling wool.
Alex senior was a strong Methodist and attended the church in Market Lane. He was a keen gardener while his wife was involved in the Women's Institute. Both attended Swalwell community centre.
Thanks to Stephen McLean, Alex's grandson for this information.
The Swalwell Chimney
The factory chimney at Swalwell, one of the few remaining on Tyneside, was once part of the Northumberland Paper Mills which operated from the late 19th century until about 1909. The factory was owned by William Grace and Co. and moved to Swalwell from Scotswood about 1887. It was powered from the old Crowley works mill race leading off from the River Derwent. The chimney was re-pointed when the Lidl supermarket opened and stands at one side of their car park. It is 106 feet high.
Delta to Paradise Ferry
A one man ferry once existed near Derwenthaugh, crossing the Tyne from the Delta works (Raines) to Paradise at Benwell in Newcastle. It was run by the Sadler family, some of whom lived at that time in South Benwell. This was the same family connected with the boat builder's yard in Dunston.
The ferry mainly carried workers back and forth across the river.On one occasion Mr Sadler was awarded the Royal Humane Society's medal for saving a man from drowning. That part of the family also ran The Boathouse Pub on Scotswood Road in Newcastle.
Swalwell School
Swalwell Board School was opened in 1874/5 by Whickham School Board, coming under the jurisdiction of Durham County Council in 1904 and Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council in1974. Having been extended in 1893 it functioned as a school for all age groups until 1964 when seniors attended Whickham school. In 1973 the infants moved to a new school in Southview Terrace and in 1987 the juniors also moved there and the old school was closed and demolished.
Swalwell Hoppings
Swalwell Hoppings were held from at least the 18th century on ground beside Ridley Gardens. Originally they were probably more than just a fair, being more of a carnival with horse races and sporting events. The Hoppings were still popular in the 1950s when roundabouts and sideshows would appear on the 'Hopping Field' in the late spring and stay for about a week.
A popular local song, Swalwell Hopping, was written by John Selkirk, a Gateshead man, in 1807, and refers to the exploits of the notorious Crowley's Crew, the ironworkers from Swalwell and neighbouring Winlaton and Winlaton Mill.
The Hoppings ceased in the 1960s.
Football in Swalwell
Football in Swalwell was originally associated with the various churches in the village. The Church of England, the Presbyterians and the Primitive Methodists each had their own teams. The school also played in the local leagues organised by the schools of the district.
Swalwell School team 1948.
Mr Smith at left,
Mr Brogan at right,
and Headmaster Mr Crozier centre.
Swalwell Primitive Methodist team 1920.
Robert Stubbs at front right.
Swalwell Association Football Club played on the former Presbyterian's ground (who played in the North Eastern League) adjacent to the cricket ground. Swalwell AFC were in existence from 1949 until 1998 when they were removed from the league after finishing bottom. Beginning in the Northern Combination league they played their final season in the JPL Wade Northern Alliance League.
A new club, Swalwell Juniors FC, was inaugarated in 1998 and runs around twenty teams, both boys and girls. They have a new clubhouse with excellent facilities and are located on the site of the former Derwenthaugh cokeworks.
Swalwell produced many players who went on to the professional game, among them Joe Laidlaw (Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers).
Hikey Bridge
Hikey BridgeThe Sands suspension bridge, known locally as the Hikey Bidge, was built in 1903 to link the allotments on either side of the River Derwent.
Swalwell Cricket Club
It was formed in 1880 after a number of meetings in the old "Crows Trees Inn", which stood on the site of the present Blaydon Rugby Club.
Several well-known Swalwell families, such as Bruce, Watson, Lee, Norvell and Fletcher, attended the meetings.
The first matches were played between 1880 and 1892 on the "Forge Field" situated at the Dam Head. Sir Henry Clavering then gave them permission to play on the "Avenue Ground". In 1999 they moved to their present home at the Derwenthaugh Country Park, situated on the site of the old Derwenthaugh Coke Works.
During its long history the Cricket Club has played hosts to Swalwell Presbyterian Football Club, Swalwell Hockey Club and even a Tennis Club, whose court later became a Putting Green.
During the 1939-45 war the ground and pavilion were commandeered by the Royal Air Force for use as a Barrage Balloon site. An arrangement was made with Ryton Cricket Club to use its ground on alternate Saturdays.
In 1975 and 1976 teams of Ladies from Ryton and Swalwell played an annual match. On each occasion the home side proved victorious.
Swalwell played in the North West Durham League with considerable success until 1932. In 1933 they became a member of the re-organised Tyneside Senior League where they have continued to play with considerable success, having won Division B and Division A on numerous occasions. They later played in the Fosters Northumberland and Tyneside Senior Cricket League.
The "Avenue Ground" was eventually sold in 2000 to Miller Homes, who have developed a housing estate called "The Pavilion", and a new ground at Derwenthaugh Park opened half a mile distant.
The Cosy Picture Hall, Swalwell
The Cosy was above the shops
Situated on Spencer's Bank, above the Chemist and Fish Shop, it was owned by the Watson family. It was bought in the 1920`s by a Mr Nicholls, who lived in Scotswood, and was later taken over by a Mr Whitfield.
The entrance and exit were seperate and the hall was triangular shaped with the projection box behind a partition and the screen at the other (widest) end
In the early days the manager, Hockey Watson, was the projectionist whilst his wife, Bertha, who had a voice like a foghorn, kept the children in order and sold pop and ice-cream during the interval. Tella Todd, a friend of one of Hockey's daughters, played the piano with great gusto. Entrance was up stone stairs and you paid at a cubby-hole at the top. It was a bare hall with rows of wooden seats, joined together in sets of 7`s or 8`s all along one side with an aisle on the other side. The best seats were at the back and these were upholstered. The hall was lit by gas and the programme changed twice a week. It was open every evening except Sunday and there were usually three films, a comedy, a drama and a serial. There was a matinee at 4.30 pm on a Monday and another at 2.30 pm on a Saturday. Every Christmas the cinema provided a barrel of apples and oranges for the children's matinee.
Eventually, like a lot of small cinemas it closed down in 1957 after magistrates refused to renew its licence on safety grounds, for its poor ventilation and the absence of natural light.
Farming Memories
Phyllis Tulip (nee Duningham)
was born at the farm in 1925. She recalls that cattle were kept on the fields which were on the hill going down to Swalwell, behind what is now Spoor's Chapel. The cattle were taken from the farmyard into the slaughter house behind the adjoining butcher's shop (Turnbull's). Phyllis's childhood friend, Della Knott, (nee Gibbons) can remember going into the dairy at Glebe Farm to buy milk.
Front Street was little more than a cart track, motor vehicles being a rare sight. Phyllis and Della remember harvest time, when the hay was transported from the fields on Hay Bogies (flat wagons) pulled by horses. A pike of hay was hoisted onto the wagon by a chain, then was taken along Front Street to the farm to be made into stacks to provide winter fodder for the live stock. The two girls were allowed to ride on the back of the bogie in the place of honour, with several other local children running alongside trying to join them.
Potato Picking
"Discussing the price of potatoes in 1984, £2.50 for four stone, took me back down memory lane to the years 1919-23 when we had a week's holiday in the Autumn to help farmers to gather in their harvest.
All the local village farms such as Glebe, Grange, Windy-Hill, Wood-House, Southfields, Marshall-Lands, (all of which are now demolished), were first to recruit their temporary labour force. Those children who were left including me and wanting work, had to go to Riding Barns, at Fellside which was a long walk for an 8 o'clock start. We did not know what a tractor or a trailer was. We carried our own buckets, no plastic ones in those days; we also carried our own bait and a tea mash.
Old Ned's wage bill for approx 20 pickers would be around £1 a day.
Sometime later he would travel the village with horse and cart, selling and delivering potatoes 4/- a cwt 2/- for 4 stone.
Spud Bashing
Spud Bashing was not the preparation of mashing potatoes for the Sunday Dinner; but the cold, wet, back-breaking work of picking potatoes for the local farmer. I did it once in 1963 for the princely sum of 10 shillings a week. It was the worst job I had ever done in my life and was glad when the week was over!
Every morning, at 7.00 armed with enamel buckets and a couple of jam sandwiches. We would be taken up the Lonnen to one of the potato fields on Smith's farm where we spent all day bent over collecting the potatoes churned up by whatever the appliance was called which did the job. Half an hour for a jam sandwich and a cup of tea and we were back at it until 5.30 in the evening. The 10 bob was spent at the Blaydon Pavilion at the end of the week and I realised the true meaning of slave labour. Apparently, and incredibly, similar work still exists in the UK!!!
If you need a translation send us an email.
Swalwell - Farming
South West Farm
South West Farm lost some of its land to housing in the 1970s, but is still a working farm.
North Farm
Some of the tenants at the beginning of the twentieth century were Snaithes, Osbournes then Herdmans. This is the site of the Metro Centre.
Mill Farm
Oxley's farm
Mill Farm was the home of George and Hannah Oxley. The farm had previously been the home of my great grandparents George and Elizabeth Oxley. My own mother moved to Mill Farm in 1911. The farm had a large apple orchard.
The family also had a haulage business. For many years they were under contract to Whickham Council because until about 1957 the Council did not fully own their own transport.
My grandfather received a great deal of work from the Paper Mills in Swalwell. He transported the paper to Newcastle sometimes at 2 am in order to catch a boat taking coal to London. Their schedules were dictated by the tides! They also had the contract for snow clearing. In the late twenties my grandfather nearly lost a horse on Fellside Road because of deep snow. He did lose a horse in a pit fall near to Swalwell Church.
When snow came, the police or perhaps a telephone call would sometimes come in the middle of the night. Then my Uncle George had to get the lorries and men ready to pull the snowploughs. Whickham of course was so open in those days that the snow often drifted and caused problems.
Part of the site of the farm is covered by the car scrap heap which is on Mill Lane leading to the Metro Centre from the B&Q roundabout. The farmhouse can still be seen beside the scrap heap!
By Sheila Carver
Picture Gallery - Shops' Advertisements
| Click on boxes to enlarge the adverts |  Whickham Butchers Charlie Young's |  Whickham Butchers William Armstrong's |
 Grainger & Percy Building Society |  Elite Fish & Chips |  Wilson & Ritson Newsagents |
 Bert T Armstrong Barber |  Sam Curry, TV,Radio and Cycle Shop |  Mrs Rainbow |
 R Hill Chemist |  W Henry Gents Hair Stylist |  Lily Butler, Milliner |
 Scott Butchers |  Laws Stores |  Swalwell Co-op |
 Dunston Travel |
Derwenthaugh Staiths
Workers on Derwenthaugh Staiths
Opened in the early eighteenth century as the Garesfield staith, they were owned by the Garesfield Colliery and Railway Company and rebuilt in 1899 by new owners the Consett Iron Company who had taken over in 1889. Coal originally came along wagonways from local pits at Whickham, Pontop, Thornley and Spen and coke from two nearby cokeworks on the riverside. Further enlarged in 1912-1913 they also shipped coke from the new Winlaton Mill (or Derwenthaugh) Cokeworks from 1929. A major fire closed the staiths from June 1951 to January 1953 following which parts of the staiths were no longer in use and were dismantled. There were 4 tanks for the storage of liquid tar and creosote alongside. In the twentieth century coal came from the north west Durham pits and mostly went to power stations or gas works on the Thames. The staiths finally closed on 23 March 1960.
There were some old staiths on the other (east side) of the Derwent in the 18th century, possibly supplied with coal via the wagonway leading from Whickham down what is now Coalway Lane to Swalwell and the river.
Derwenthaugh Staiths in 1960
Swalwell Industries in the Nineties
H & H Wholesale, owned by Mr Peter Hobson who has other business interests in Yorkshire, has been in situ for three years. Prior to this Premier Wholesale had been on the same site for approximately eight years.
Brunswick Warehouse, owned by Brown and Jackson who also own "Poundstretcher", moved onto the site in Swalwell in 1995.
Bespoke Concrete Products.
BUP Autoparts on Napier Road.
Comma Print on Napier Road.
Denture Centre
Denholm Electrical
The Cash Register Centre
Pringle Design
Paquart
Foxhills Driving School
In the Imex Business Centre in Swalwell
Take a Break
N.D. Autos
Thirlwell Coaches, a successful family run coach travel business which has been there for many years.
Ramsey's Bakers
Kells Lane Joinery Works
Milburn Electrical Contractors
Leonard's Pizzas
Valet Car Services
Swalwell Industries in the Eighties
D.H.Miller, Joiners Ltd.
D.M.Armstrong, Building and Roofing Contractors, 48,Richmond Avenue, Swalwell.
On the site where the Ebenezer Chapel stood for many years is a company called "Starplas Trade Supply", who sell windows and doors and another company called "Holt Insulations".
At the bottom of Swalwell Bank there is a company called " Sports Car Supplies".
Swalwell Industries in the Seventies
B & Q Warehouse, (originally called Dodge City), a multi-national company opened their branch in Swalwell on the 21st of April 1979. They had the whole of one side of the Sands Industrial Estate and a section of the other side where they had an Auto Centre.
Swalwell Industries in the Sixties
J.Gibson, Crowley Road, Swalwell - First Class Decorating.
Swalwell Industries in the Fifties
Opencast Coal Disposal Point
After World War II a plant was built in Swalwell for the transfer of coal from opencast mines from road to rail. A steady stream of lorries brought the coal to the plant at the junction of Millers Lane and Long Rigg where it was screened and poured into railway wagons which would then be shunted into sidings until there were enough to make up a train which would then be coupled up to a locomotive and taken away down the short branch to join the freight line at Derwenthaugh.
Coal came from opencast sites at Cut Thorn off Fellside Road near Whickham, Horsemouth near Ravensworth, Lumley Castle, Plawsworth, Maiden Law near Lanchester and Horsley in Northumberland. When the Metro centre was extended west the facility was closed and IKEA now occupy part of the site.
J W Ellis
Near the opencast coal depot was the firm of J W Ellis which also had railway sidings, with a crane loading girders onto the railway wagons that were also taken away via Derwenthaugh. The works are still in use by other firms. Formerly called Hannington's Works and engaged in engineering and scrap handling, Ellis had offices nearby and after the firm closed they were used by Metro Radio (picture from 1984 above) for many years.
General Concrete Products
This firm made concrete kerbs, paving stones and many other concrete products. They were situated near the Keelman's Bridge in the heart of the village and Mr C Patterson was the manager. A large moving crane moved heavy materials around the site.
Swalwell Industries in the Thirties
A.A.Fletcher & Son, Foundry Lane, Swalwell - General printers,engravers, book binders and wholesale stationers.
Raine Steel Company
The oldest established industry in the area, formerly known as Crowley Works and founded in Winlaton in 1691. Under the ownership of Benjamin and George Raine it later became the Delta Ironworks (or Raines factory) at Derwenthaugh from 1891 to 1990 it produced many materials for the mining industry, ships, etc.. It had a good access to a main railway line with its own private sidings. It had also two deep-water berths. This provided a useful exit to local shipyards, collieries and for export shipments. Scrap metal was brought in from Consett, Middlesbrough, Belgium and Iceland. The firm was contractor to the Admiralty, Board of Trade and exported to the colonies and commonwealth.
Raines Delta Works in 1983
Big expansion in the first world war following increased demand for its products and again in the second world war, the decline in mining and other industry led to its demise and eventual closure in 1990.
Lampblack Works
The Blacking Factory
Owned by Richard Hoyle then later by Messrs Wood & Fairweather, the works were situated on the River Derwent. It employed one foreman, three blackmakers or firemen, one warehouseman, two coopers to make casks and two wherrymen to man the wherries which carried the produce to ships for transport to countries as distant as India and Italy. Lampblack was the smoke from burning a mixture of tar and creosote oil and was used in the manufacture of paint and rubber. The mixture was fed into fires and the smoke was carried by draught into "arches". These were sealed up by iron doors at the beginning of each week and were not opened until the end of the week when men went in to rake up the deposit of soot and put it into casks. The firm closed in 1930 having opened in the early 19th century.
Messrs A.A. Fletcher & Son Ltd., Printing Works
Mr A.A. Fletcher, a young engineer on a visit to a printing works was so impressed by what he saw that he decided to open his own printing business. He found premises at Foundry Lane, Swalwell, and the works opened in 1888. The typesetting was done by a team of compositors, Mr Fletcher did the machine work and a small staff of girls finished off in the bindery department. One of Mr Fletcher's achievements in 1909, was the introduction to this country of coloured postcards of local buildings etc. In 1914 Mr W.B. Fletcher, his son, became a partner in the firm and the business was managed jointly until the tragic death of both partners in 1952. Mr Alan Fletcher took over the business at a very difficult time in the history of the firm. He introduced mechanised typesetting and automatic printing machinery resulting in greater efficiency. The business expanded rapidly and in 1965 a larger building was obtained in Station Road, Swalwell. Eventually the business moved to the Team Valley Trading Estate and changed hands in the 1990s.
Messrs G.H. Snowball & Co, Fire Brick Works.
Situated between Swalwell and Derwenthaugh, the above brickworks was able to produce 50,000 bricks per week. Not only did the firm have a thriving home trade but also an extensive export market to countries including Russia, France and Belgium.
Messrs G.H. Ramsay and Co, Fire Brick Works
The founder of this business, Mr G Heppell, first established his brickworks at Derwenthaugh. Expansion plans were put in hand and the largest brickworks in the area were built, capable of completing 7 million bricks per annum. Clay used in the making of the bricks was transported from the colliery which was about 300 yards away.
The Firebrick Works
Built in early 1900s and at that time nearly all the output was despatched by barge to power stations. In the 1950s it was sent out by rail. 80% went to the UK power stations and the rest exported to Australia, Egypt, India, Iceland and Sweden. They used Lister fire clay from Denton Burn.
Messrs R and W Shield. Spade and Shovel Manufacturers.
Originally established by Thomas Shield in 1830, the works at Long Rigg were owned by Robert and William Shield and continued until the 1920's. At the time it was one of the largest in the district. The works consisted of forge and finishing departments and large consignments of shovels were supplied to collieries in Durham and Northumberland. The firm also had an increasing export trade shipping shovels to Siberia and other foreign destinations.
Trimmers shovels with their traditional triangular shape and sharp edge by which the shovel could be easily slide under the coal in a ship's hold.
The Forge
This company employed Blacksmiths who made wrought ironware but it also became famous for the work of its Anchorsmiths who specialised in the manufacture of anchors of different weights.It was converted into a sawmill in the early 1900's.The last owners to operate the plant as a forge were Bagnalls.
Whickham Industrial Estate, Swalwell
In 1972 Shield Brothers Ltd built the new complex called "Whickham Industrial Estate" located at the bottom of Whickham bank in Swalwell.
Team Valley Brush Company- original company started in 1936.
Swalwell Tyre Services.
Gateshead Council Cleansing Services (formerly Magnet Joinery).
Gateshead Council - Swalwell Depot.
Gateshead Council Public Works Area Depot Swalwell, Whickham Bank.
Crowleys Iron Works 1707- 1911
This later became Northumberland Paper Mills.
Swalwell Station
Swalwell railway station
Coal was sent down a tunnel (or drift) from the mine at the top of Whicham Bank to the station at the bottom where it was transported away by train or keel boat.
Iron goods such as anchors and chains for the Navy from the Crowley Millington Works, which had their own sidings, were transported away by goods trains.
Parcel trains were stopping to be loaded and unloaded.
Over the years trade fell away and Blaydon became more important. Passenger traffic ceased in November 1953, although excursion trains including Swalwell Social Club's annual trip to the coast, continued and the station continued to accept parcels until 1955 when this facility too was withdrawn, leaving only goods traffic. As this too declined as local collieries closed the station and the whole line finally closed on 7 March 1960.
A substantial station, with living accommodation and passenger facilities was built. A Station Hotel (now known as The Gamekeeper) was built on the other side of the road. Passengers from the surrounding districts of Whickham and Sunniside as well as Swalwell were using steam trains to take them to Newcastle, Consett, and Carlisle and even down to the coast.
1901 Railway traffic from Swalwell to Newcastle reached its peak with a totalof 98,000 passengers and fluctuated between 70,000 and 90,000 for the next twenty years.
1908 The work of enlarging Swalwell Station and putting in an extra line was completed.
By 1953 passenger trains no longer stopped at Swalwell and in 1960 the station finally closed.
Before 1920 the only other way to travel from Swalwell to Newcastle was to walk across Scotswood Bridge and catch a tram.
Swalwell Collieries
Axwell Pit
Swalwell was where coal was taken out of the Axwell colliery although the winding gear and pit head buildings were located at Whickham, up the hill from Swalwell. There were railway sidings here too, where coal was loaded and taken away by rail to its destination. The pit was sometimes called Hannington's Drift.
Axwell Pit
Henry Pit
Swalwell had another colliery, called the Henry Pit, and sometimes known as 'The Low' and situated at the bottom of Milers Lane and now the site of the scrapyard. It opened about 1830 and closed in August of 1940 and was operated by Garesfield Collieries.
Henry Pit miners; 2nd from left, Gilbert Gray
who won the Military Medal.
Gilbert (Gillie) Gray won the Military Medal while serving in Northern Italy.."BRAVERY IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE" Bolzano - Northern Italy ( Alps ). On his return he was presented with a clock from the people of Swalwell. He was the only person from Swalwell ever to be awarded the MM (Military Medal).
(A third pit, Bagnall's Axwell Pit, situated near the river Derwent close to where the cokeworks were, operated only from 1878 to 1887).
Farming
Introduction
Coal mining and heavy industry played a major part in the development of Whickham and the surrounding area, but agriculture also played its part. Much of the land above ground was given over to farming and market gardening. On the Ordnance Survey Map of 1897 there are many farms to be found. Today there are very few working farms and market gardens. There are still allotments to be found in the area.
Most of the farms in the area were owned by the Ravensworth or the Carr-Ellison Estates.
Swalwell Victory Celebrations. by Sheila Carver
On the night that peace was declared, the whole family went to Trinity Church for the thanksgiving service.
On VE day all of my family went to Holy Trinity Church for the Thanksgiving Service. All the church bells were ringing out at the same time. Before we left home for church Grandma gathered, all the family together. She said it would be a nice gesture if we would all climb on the bus and wish the Germans well. We all did with one exception, Auntie Betty. Grandma told her she was ashamed of her because her son was being returned safely to her. Grandma had always been kind to the prisoners, often giving them apples from the orchard. Most of them got out of their seats and embraced her, it was a moving sight.
The night all the bon-fires across England were lit my mother came and got me out of bed to watch from the window.
Later a Victory Day Celebration took place on the old cricket ground and my cousin Laura was the beauty queen. My Uncle George and my Grandfather did all the horses tails with ribbons.
I can remember a contest for lovely hair, a baby contest, fancy dress, tug of war and lots of others. I can still remember who won the prizes!
Golden Wedding
In 1944 George and Hannah Oxley of Mill Farm Swalwell celebrated their Golden Wedding, and while they had a party the real party was held when their two grandsons George and Tom came back from the war in 1945. Their cousin Sheila was scared of George when he came home because he looked so dark having spent his war in North Africa, Italy and Greece. For some time, she would have nothing to do with him.
Reports from Dr. Andrew Smith, Medical Officer of Health.
1900 Sanitary Requirements
1. All slaughter houses to be registered.
2. An isolation hospital should be erected as soon as possible.
1908 The main drainage scheme has been completed by the inclusion of Whaggs Lane, Cornmoor Road, Millfield Road, Sunniside and part of Marley Hill. It has now been decided to connect up the remainder of Marley Hill. Byermoor is still drained by open ditches.
Slaughter houses still remain unregistered but are subject to regular inspections.
Swalwell Shops
The Co-op
The village's main shopping services were provided by Swalwell and District Industrial and Provident Co-operative Society, (known locally as the Co-op or the store), but was supported by many small shops.
Co-op First Quarterly Report 1864
Co-op Drapers, Butchering and Grocery
The Co-op opened for business in March 1864 at premises in Long Rigg.
In 1889 land was purchased in Market Lane and a butchers and drapers shop opened there in 1890, with greengrocery and grocers departments commencing in 1903 and 1907 respectively, (see map E). Then a shoe shop followed by a chilled meats department, butchers, hardware and a chemist shops, (these last two in Lyndhurst Terrace, see map H) and upstairs in the drapery department was a Co-op bank.
There was also a Co-op grocery shop in Clavering Road, which later became Laws Stores and is now NBA A Stores.
Finally, a branch of Swalwell Co-op opened in Whickham in 1921.
From the 1960's the Co-op faced competition from supermarkets and changing shopping habits because of widespread ownership of refrigerators people no longer did their shopping several times a week in the village, but were able to do one big shop for food in town or, increasingly, out of town. This led to the demise of not only the Co-op but also of many other small shops.
Unlike many local Co-op Societies, Swalwell Co op, was not part of the North Eastern Co-op, and it closed in the early seventies. The old Co-op premises on the south side of Market Lane are now occupied by Denholm Electrical, Pringle design, Paquart, the Cash Register Centre, the Sink the Ink tattoo studio, Foxhill's driving school, and Amco accountants and tax advisor.
Many other shops existed and were to be found in:-
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
Barnes Shop
A street of terraced houses with a shop at the bottom corner called Barnes Supply Stores, a grocery and general dealer which later became Wilson's, a general dealer, then a bakery and it is now Ramsay's Bakery. There was a barbers shop next to Barnes in Crowley Road at one time, where the present Post Office now is.
Once had a butchers, Billy Browns, and at various times also had a barbers, fish and chip shop and now has a grocery convenience store NISA A Stores. The present fish and chip shop is called Carlo's Fish and Chips. Further west there is Parkdale Press Ltd and on Quality Row near Miller's Bridge is Sports Car Supplies for Triumph and MG spares. Along at the other end opposite the Community Centre is Henrys News Fruit and Wine store.
Ramsay's bakery was on the corner with Napier road, and is now Swalwell Barbers (Lawson and Wilson) and was formerly Colley's bakery. Crowley Road also had a cobblers in the 1950's called Ropner's, the premises later becoming a greengrocers (Jack's) in the 1970's.
At the extreme west end near Jubilee Terrace is the firm of Knox and Wilkin, corn merchants and pet food suppliers.
Agar's Shop
Further east a shop once existed near the school back gate called Atkinson's and known as the 'school shop'. Agar's general dealer's shop was at the corner of Crowley Road and Napier Road, this later became Friar's, then Hunters and is now Hussains Grocers.
Shield Bros. the builders once occupied premises opposite the back of the school now occupied by MMF Group, a firm specialising in flues and chimneys.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
Fletcher's the Printers
Here were the Co-op abattoir and Fletcher's the printers. These premises were destroyed in a recent fire although empty by then. Fletchers were also once in the old chapel in Station Road next to Bourgognes, or the Queens Head as it then was, before moving to the Team Valley. At present Star Plas double glazing and Holt's Insulation have premises in the street together with Swalwell Motorists garage, where MOT testing is done.
Swalwell Front Street
looking west 
Swalwell Front Street
from Station Road
looking east
Had several shops, on what was known as Spencers corner at the bottom of Hood Street, was Spencers haberdashery (now Pizza Luciano), then Hawkins hardware then T J Robinson, a butcher (now Ladbrokes betting shop), then R Armstrong, a barbers shop. Spencers shop was occupied at an earlier period by Robson Ryle.
On the next block came Alec McGregor's drapers (with branches at Whickham and Winlaton Mill) on the corner of Brewery Bank, the shop later became a funeral director's until quite recently.
Front Street looking east
from Station Road
towards Three Tuns.
Compare this picture with
the much later one above
Post Office in 1960's
with Highlander to left
and Lumley's Snack Bar to right
Then came the Post Office, once the Angel Inn, Swalwell's oldest surviving building and now the Angel Guest House and Angel Therapy and then Lumley's Café, much frequented by lorry drivers, who parked on the vacant land opposite the Queens Head pub on Station Road. Lumley's is now the Double Dragon, a Chinese take-away.
The vacant land west of Jubilee Terrace once had more shops but these had largely disappeared by the time of the Second World War (1939), and included Topsy Robson's shop which did survive until after the war.
Topsy Robson's shop
These were Logan's, a general dealers which was near to Fowles which was off Railway Street opposite the old Crowley pub.
The present day fish and chip shop, McGuire's, was once Dunford Smith and Moor an industrial chemist and later it became an electrical premises. Prior to all these uses it was the original Crowley pub.
Further east behind where the present War memorial is, there were other shops. Robinson's, a grocery, then came Hutchinson's greengrocers and Jimmy Foster who sold firewood, going around the doors with a horse and cart. At Christmas he sold wreaths, mistletoe and holly and he also kept pigs on the nearby allotments. (now B and Q). Browns the butchers moved next door to Robinson's from Spencer's corner where he had occupied Robinson' butcher's premises, later moving up to Clavering Road.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
On Hexham Road are Style Interiors (soft furnishings) and Nisha's Indian takeaway, next to Bourgones pub's Mamba bar, and McGuires fish and chips etc.
Opposite is the Jet filling station which has a car wash and shop. Just around the corner is Park Drive and Fred Kain roofing and building contractors and near to Blaydon Rugby Club's Crowtree Park ground and clubhouse.
Hawkins of Spencers corner built premises here, which housed a tool hire shop called Second Chance and now is Da Vinci's pizzas. Further up Hood Street the lane in Hood Street is a dental mechanic's called Dental Repairs.
Sammy Brewis's dairy was here, later moving to Napier Road.
Brewis's Dairy
Long Rigg (D)
On Long Rigg was Coxon's fish and chip shop (see Spencer's bank) and also Wendy's, a ladies hairdresser's was here for a time at Dial House, then a sandwich bar then a tanning studio - the Tanning Booth - and Pure Beauty all near to the Sun Inn.
Lyndhurst Terrace on Market Lane (H)
Swalwell's original Post Office was located here and was part of Rutherford's cycle repair shop photo on Market Lane near where the Co-op hardware was, then the Post Office moved to the Angel Inn, then back to the old Co-op hardware premises in Lyndhurst terrace and is now in Crowley Road. (but closed in 2006).
The old Post Office
in Lyndhurst Terrace
In Lyndhurst Terrace at present are the Swalwell Motorist's centre shop which also has the small garage across the road mentioned previously, Peter Pan Upholstery and the Newsmarket on the corner of Napier Road.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
Next to the Co-op (see above) which occupied the whole block from Napier Road to Spencer's Bank were, in the next block, a chemists shop, Blackburns, with large coloured glass bottles in the window which had to be broken up when the premises came down in about 1970. Then came Ken Waite's fruit shop, and at one time a grocers called Spoors. Also an electrical shop at one time, Gilmartins. Arthur Kimber's photo newsagents was on the corner next to the Seven Stars. Later Mrs Goodson also had a sweet shop on the block later on and there was also Ella Wright, a ladies hairdressers. Occupying the first floor above all these premises was the Cosy picture hall (1908 to 1957).
Robert Watson and Selby McGregor builders and undertakers were behind the Co-op.
Stephen Johnson's
newsagent's and tobacconist's
shop with the barber's next door
and Co-op at right
and the Sun Inn
and Three Tuns at left
On the other side of Market Lane were Stephen Johnston's newsagents (formerly P J Brown) and Armstrong's barbers shop.
Further east along Market Lane are the Bike Place and the Stepping Stones Day nursery in the former Methodist Church at the bottom of Colbeck Avenue and further east again is Croft Windows on Beverley Drive.
Further east along Market Lane at the top of the hill is Millers Lane with the new fire station at the top and further
down the lane are H G Block's auto parts and Herdman's, a haulage contractor where you can also buy soil, stone,gravel etc.
Napier road looking north downhill
Gregory's bakers originally sold their goods from their house and they also sold
boiled ham, broth and pease pudding.
Fletcher's the printers had a shop near the top of Napier Road. At the top of the Road .
On the east side was Nellie Fletchers a stationers.
Going down the hill from Crowley Road were Hutchinson's greengrocer's, next door to Hunters, then came Morris's, a general dealer, sometimes known as Edna's after Edna Bell who worked there, and now BUP auto parts.
Williamson's was a grocer's at the corner of Napier Road and Crowley Road. This
was then taken by Olive Hardy and her daughter then it became Gwen's, a ladies
hairdresser and is now Lynda's, still a ladies hairdresser.
There was once a haberdashery at this corner.
Craig Veitch's shop with Anne's
and the newsagents further down
On the other side of Napier road, at the bottom, was Lily Angus later Vevers, now a
newsagents (Newsmarket). Then came George Shields the cobblers, and this was later
Ann's family and ladies wear shop while next door was Craig Veitch, wallpaper, paints
hardware and timber, now Swalwell Taxis. In this block prior to Ann's shop a dentist
called Bowerbank once had a surgery. At the bottom, in the old Presbyterian Church is
Comma Print.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
At the bottom in the back lane was Ralfie's shop, actually Ralph Atkinson's, in an upstairs flat which only opened in the evening and sold everything from candles to chewing gum and washing powder to pop, cigarettes, razor blades, soap, etc. etc. If you ran out of anything Ralfies was the place to go and there would often be a queue on the outside stairs.
Mrs Hepple sweets and general dealer, another 'house' shop, later moving to Fletchers old shop in Napier Road.
Two long established fish and chip shops existed until about 1970 known as the 'top' and 'bottom' fish shops, the top one was Tinnions on Spencers Bank and the bottom one was Annie's (Coxon's) next to the Sun Inn on Long Rigg.
Also on Spencer's Bank were Faldon's fruit shop, a dairy and, at the top an abattoir belonging to Browns the butchers.
Several shops existed here before the War. Shields, a hardware and paraffin dealers was later occupied by Fowlis, who had a similar shop originally on Front Street. Miners from the nearby collieries used this shop to replenish the paraffin in their lamps.
Margaret Dabblers sweet shop was at the bottom of the bank next to the Elephant Inn. These properties were all demolished when the foot of Whickham Bank was widened in the late 1960's.
Further up across the road is Gateshead MBC depot occupying the old railway station approach and further up again is the Whickham Industrial Estate with Michaels Tile Centre, Café Mega, breakfasts and lunches, Factory Direct kitchens, conservatories and bathrooms, the Team Valley Brush Co, Ramsay's Bakers bakery, UK Tyres and Gateshead MBC Local Environmental Services depot. Finally just off Whickham Bank is Thirlwell's Coaches in the former Axwell Colliery buildings.
Just over the Derwent is E & M Motors and MOT motor engineers although strictly speaking this is in Blaydon, being across the river and has a Blaydon phone number.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
At various times both before and after the Second World War there were several carts or vans which made the rounds of Swalwell.
Angus Smith the 'stick man,' who sold firewood and who also kept pigs.
Walls ice cream van.
Boyle, a fishmonger with a van.
Billy Brown the butcher with a horse and cart.
The Co-op milkman (horse drawn), and Tommy Watson who sold greengroceries for the Co-op from a horse and cart.
Easton's the coal merchant, of Long Rigg with his lorry.
Gledhill's mineral waters from Gosforth with a lorry.
Gillie (Gilbert) Gray, a greengrocer who came around with a horse and cart and worked from a hut in his back yard at the top of Axwell Terrace, number 95. He was the father of the man shown in the picture of the Henry Pit under Swalwell Collieries.The stables, operated by Billy Wilkin, were in a field over the Hikey Bridge bordered by the railway embankment and the River Derwent.
Hepple was a rag and bone man in the seventies and 80's with a horse and cart.
Eddy Nixon with his horse and cart sold milk.
Oxley's farm at the bottom of Millers Lane sold produce from the farm and hired out horses and carts for removals or haulage.
Nancy Snaith who sold milk.
Ringtons tea were regular callers with their horse and cart and later with a van.
George Ruddick the 'egg man' from Whickham carrying a large wicker basket.
The only survivor being Ringtons.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
Swalwell only ever had two banks the Coop bank which was upstairs in the Coop building and Lloyds on Front Street at Spencer's corner next to Billy Brown's the butchers.
Few people used banks before the war or for some time after. In the fifties teachers at Swalwell School were still being paid cash collected from the bank by a member of staff!
The buildings on the north side of Market Lane were demolished in the seventies, but the others, including those in Lyndhurst Terrace, are occupied by a wide variety of businesses as shown above.
Swalwell Shops Gallery
Co-op female employees circa 1914
Co-op male employees
circa 1914
Co-op boot and shoe repairing,
greengrocery, hardware and
chilled meat departments,
circa 1914
Co-op Jubilee Celebrations
Programme 1914
Another view of Stephen
Johnston's newsagents,
looking east up Market
Lane, with Armstrong's
barbers shop next door
and the Co-op next to that
Stephen Johnston's shop
windows
Stephen Johnston's shop
interior 1
Stephen Johnston's shop
interior 2
Prices
Click here for a list of prices for various foodstuffs etc. recorded by a local resident.
Return to map of Swalwell Shops
The Blue Bus (Frazers) Founded 1937
Watergate - Whickham - Winlaton
This was a wooden seated Bedford bus, which ran every hour. It was owned by a father and daughter called Sarah.
Sarah was the conductress and was a very, very large lady who had difficulty passing down the aisle even when nobody was standing.
This bus was the only way to get to Blaydon, very few people having cars in those days. Blaydon was a very busy shopping area, with three cinemas, the Plaza, the Pavilion and the Empire and a Dance Hall, which was very popular.
On Saturday evenings the Blue Bus had more passengers standing in the aisles than sitting, there were even people sitting on each other's knees. Nobody was ever left behind at a stop. With the bus so full Sarah could not collect the fares. When the bus stopped at the bottom of Shibdon Bank, the nearest stop to Blaydon, Sarah stood at the front of the bus to collect the fares. However, many people alighted by the rear door, saving their 3p fare which they used to buy a bag of chips on the long walk home if they had missed the last bus at 10.30 p.m.
In winter weather the bus had great difficulty getting up Whickham Bank. The men had to get off and push it.
Sarah was awarded the M.B.E. by the Queen.
The Bus Company eventually became Derwent Coaches.
Swalwell
Swalwell Board School
Swalwell Junior and Infant Schools were built in Market Lane in 1874 and opened on December 14th 1874 by J.B. Alexander Esq. as Board Schools. The first entry in the Log Book was on January 15th 1875. Both schools were overcrowded from the time they opened and between the wars classes were also held in the Ebenezer Chapel. The Infant School moved to new premises in South View Terrace in April 1973. A site was allocated next to the Infant School for such time as a Junior School would be built. This took so long to happen that the parents formed SWAG (Swalwell Action Group) to fight the deferment of the building programme. One couple took their daughter to Downing Street to deliver a letter of protest. She was given VIP treatment and treated to a ride in the Prime Minister's car. The Junior School was finally completed in1987 when the 2 schools were combined to form Swalwell County Primary School. The old school was demolished shortly afterwards.
Swalwell Junior School produced a Centenary Magazine in 1975 and a booklet on Swalwell County Mixed School 1875-1987 was compiled on the closure of the old school. All who remember their time at Swalwell School look back on it with affection because of the school's friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The old building was regarded as "grand and proud, fashioned in stone, with spacious rooms and high ceilings, difficult to heat but very nice to work in". One inspector, who visited the school in October 1923 reported:- "One marked feature of the School is the corporate spirit found in every room. Teachers and scholars strive to produce the best that is in them, and the school is truly a habit forming centre, which cannot fail to exercise a high influence on the social life and outlook of the village in which it is situated. In a word, this school is one of high ideals, based, after careful and thorough preparation, on hopeful, enthusiastic endeavour, which overcomes inherent difficulties and achieves success of high order."
As with all schools, the wars of the twentieth century greatly influenced school life. Military victories eg the relief of Ladysmith and of Mafeking, were celebrated by the granting of half day holidays. During the Second World War, air-raid shelters were built in the school yard and from October 1941 pupils over the age of 12 years were permitted to take one week's holiday in order to help with the potato picking. Teachers, helped by villagers, were required to fire-watch from sun-down to sun-rise; watching for incendiary bombs which might fall from enemy air-craft after an air-raid warning. Some teachers, who lived a distance from the school, had to stay right through. The fire watching room was the staff room, but the only toilet facilities were across the yard. One lady teacher remembers walking the dark stairs , through the school and across the yard with only a small torch for lighting as more frightening than the possibility of bombs. At the end of the war the children gathered round the Union Jack in the schoolyard and sang patriotic songs with great gusto.
Apart from Military Victories, Royal occasions were also celebrated, such as Jubilee Day, May 6th 1935 and the Coronation of King George V1 and Queen.
Open Days have long been a feature of Swalwell Schools, parents visiting the schools as early as 1901:-
October 2nd 1901. Visiting Day. "About 60 mothers arrived during the afternoon. They were very much interested in the children's work and made themselves very much at home, clapping sometimes and talking to the children about the school. The children behaved well and were pleased with the praise. Drill was taken in the yard first, and as the mothers wished to see it again, the children drilled at the finish. The sum of twelve and sixpence was contributed towards the children's Christmas treat."
The school motto is "Hold Fast To That Which Is Good". It would seem that Swalwell School has done, and continues to do, that.
During the General Strike of 1926, Swalwell School played a large part in helping to organise a Soup Kitchen for the children in Swalwell affected by the strike. The meals were supplied in the church hall and the Head Teacher, Mr H.A. Davison, was the Superintendent of the Feeding Centre. In the first week there were 397 children on the meals list.
The School Board Man
I don’t know if they still exist but up until the 60s at least, one of the most feared officials for school kids was the School Board Man. The role of this gentleman was to wander the streets looking for kids who were playing truant (or playing the wag as we used to say)..
In the 50s and 60s in Swalwell, the School Board Man was a gentleman called Mr. Foster. A short, bald, bespectacled and moustached character in a Burberry raincoat, Foster would lurk around corners waiting to pounce on unsuspecting truants. If caught, you were generally dragged by the ear to your parents who would be lectured to by Foster on the erring ways of truants with a warning to ensure that you attended school.
On many occasions Foster would be spotted in the distance and we would run like hell to ensure that he didn’t catch us. He would never chase you but would yell after you that he would get you next time - he often did! Foster disappeared sometime in the 60s and was never replaced.
Does anyone else remember him?
From David Newton now resident in The Philippines.
Jack the Porter
Jack Lightfoot, a porter at Swalwell Station, was moved to Shotley Bridge but as he still shouted "Swaaalwell" when trains were approaching, he was soon moved back again!
Swalwell Dates
1901 Railway traffic from Swalwell to Newcastle reached its peak with a total of 98,000 passengers and fluctuated between 70,000 and 90,000 for the next twenty years. The line was also used for the transport of coal, bricks and clay.
1902 Swalwell Social club founded
1908 The work of enlarging Swalwell Station and putting in an extra line was completed. Blaydon Harriers was started.
1911 Metal works finally closed
1914
There was high drama at Swalwell Bridge as a motorbus teetered on the brink of toppling into the water.
1919 Motor buses first appeared in Whickham and had a disastrous effect upon railway operations in Swalwell.
1921 Rail passenger traffic from Swalwell fell to 46,000.
1923 Adamasez of Scotswood bought out Snowball's Brickworks.
1926 Coke ovens built near Winlaton Mill.
1928 Shopping and Carnival week.
1928 Rail passenger traffic from Swalwell fell to 46,000.
1930 The train passenger traffic from Swalwell was now less than 20,000.
1939 Shield, the builders from Swalwell, helped in the construction of enlargement of Norman's Riding Hospital.
1940 Henry Pit closes down due to flooding.
1945 Margaret Dryburgh died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. She had lived in Swalwell before becoming a missionary in the far east.
1952 Blaydon Harriers were disbanded because of the closure of the White City Stadium.
1953 Swalwell Station was closed for passenger traffic. Axwell Park Colliery closed.
1955 Swalwell Station was closed for parcel traffic.
1962 Fire Station constructed in the Greenfields area of Swalwell on Market Lane. Centenary celebration of Blaydon Races held at Blaydon Rugby Club
1962 Swalwell Station was closed completely.
1963 Blaydon Harriers were reformed and called Blaydon Harrier and Athletic Club.
1967 The Elephant Inn was demolished to make way for road works on the east side of Whickham Bank.
1968 Approval was given for the plans for the development of Derwent Walk and picnic area.
1969 Ramsay's Brickworks closed down.
1971 A proposal was made to start work on the Derwent Walk along the lines of the old railway. The Western Bypass was started.
1976 The Ebenezer Chapel was demolished.
1986 Opening of Metro Centre.
Swalwell school on Market Lane closed after 111 years and moved to new premises on Coalway lane
1981 The Centenary of Swalwell Cricket Club.
1998
Derwenthaugh Park opened on the Derwenthaugh Cokeworks site. This cokeworks was opened by Consett Iron Company in 1928 and operated until 1986. Reclamation of the site began in 1990 but, because of heavy contamination, the park wasn't opened until 1998. The opening of this park means that the public can once again access to a popular Victorian picnic spot, the Lady's Steps. This is the weir across the River Derwent which formerly diverted water to High Forge, of an old iron/steel forge, the site of which is now occupied by the Swalwell Visitors' Centre.
1999 Swalwell Cricket Club moved to new premises at Derwent Park and a new bridge was constructed across the Derwent to give road access.
2000 The Pavilion housing estate was built on the former site of Swalwell Cricket Club.
Miss Margaret Dryburgh 1890-1945
A Dutch woman sparked off a far-reaching chain of events when she donated a collection of music manuscripts to California's Stanford University ten years ago. For the meticulously handwritten manuscripts were far removed from any usual musical composition.
They were choral arrangements sung by 30 Dutch, British and Australian woman imprisoned by the Japanese during the Second World War. To cope with captivity the woman formed a choral group in their prison camp on Sumatra, Indonesia. The inspiration for this was Margaret Dryburgh.
Margaret was born in Sunderland, the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. W. Dryburgh. The family moved to Swalwell in the 1900's where he was the minister at the Presbyterian Church at the Ebeneezer Chapel in Market Lane. The family was very well liked in the village and they were all keen and talented musicians. Margaret became a qualified teacher and taught for a short time at the village school before going to China in 1919 as a missionary.
When war with Japan started, contact was lost, but in April 1942, after the fall of Singapore, she was found to be in Sumatra in a Japanese prisoner of war camp for women and children. 
Soon she began arrangements of classical works for a 'Voice Orchestra', where types of humming sounds were used for each instrument. She taught the other inmates how to produce these sounds and concerts were put on to raise morale. From memory Margaret Dryburgh wrote down pages of music from baroque to contemporary with the help of Norah Chambers, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
With only their memories to guide them they reproduced musical scores for over 30 orchestral and piano works by composers, which included Handel, Brahms, Chopin and Beethoven. Even the Japanese soldiers were amazed at the women's talent and used to listen at the door when they sang their services. The Saturday night gatherings grew so large and loud, that the guards peering in at the windows and climbing on to the dustbins, for a better view could not ignore them. They took to inviting themselves, sitting in the front row on cane chairs while the woman sat on the ground.
One of the pieces written by Margaret was the 'Captives Hymn', which was sung every Sunday at worship in the camp. 
Its main feature was the absence of bitterness or hatred of their captors, despite the dreadful conditions they endured.
Together the two women rearranged the scores for choral singing, condensing a 15-minute movement of a symphony into a 5- minute choral work without losing its sense of balance and flow. Unless needed for vocal ease, the new scores remained faithful to the original keys.
The choice of syllabuses to be sung was left to Norah Chambers. To keep the programme a surprise for the other captives, she rehearsed the orchestra in a sooty shed behind the kitchen, without so much as a pitch pipe for an aid.
Constant hunger and disease took their toll and Margaret died on April 21st 1945 after reciting Psalm 23, a matter of months before the war ended. She was buried on 23rd April 1945 among the rubber trees of "Belau Camp on Sumatra. On March 2nd 1951 Margaret was reburied in the Dutch War Grave Cemetery in Java. 
A year after the compositions were handed over to Stanford University, a women's chorus in California performed them in a series of concerts.
The story of the women and their music captured the audiences' imagination. It is thanks to a Dutch survivor, Helen Colijn, that their amazing spirit and Margaret's story lives on in her book which was later made into a film. The film -makers contacted Bill Fletcher, who played the organ in the Swalwell Chapel where her father was minister, to find out about her Tyneside background. The film,' Song of Survival', was shown in Britain on Channel Four.
In December 1997, a film, called 'Paradise Road', was released that showed the women's struggle to survive a horrific time in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in Sumatra during the Second World War, Margaret Dryburgh, was played by Pauline Collins.
Wards 9 and 10 at Dunston Hill Hospital were renamed 'The Margaret Dryburgh Ward' because of the hospital's connection with the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Association.
Dr Thomas Nicholson Wilthew
Doctor Thomas Nicholson Wilthew lived at Hillcrest until 1922 when he moved to Ravensworth Road, Dunston. He had a day surgery at Whickham in 1914 and another at Swalwell in 1934.
Swalwell Holy Trinity Church Choir 1930
Vicar, Reverent Pettilegean, Organist, Foster Bruce
Choir members, Harold Bruce, William Brown, Joe Jobling, William Mantle, Joe Hetherington, Tom Jewitt and James Smailes. James is holding the banner on the left. Other members unknown.
A. Reed remembers.
Swalwell Board School had been opened for 26 years when I first attended it in 1901. Mr William Spears was then headmaster, a greatly respected man although much feared, as were all the teachers. They were great disciplinarians and punished any misbehaviour or insolence swiftly and effectively.
At 8.55 am each morning the bell, high up in the school roof, would be heard. That was the dreaded first bell heralding all to school. At 9.00am, lined up in Standards 1 to V11, the day began. Silence fell upon the class with the approach of "Miss" or "Sir", and would remain.
Class instruction was always given and whether the subject was understood or not silence reigned. No-one asked anything. Every subject was taken very seriously and written carefully in pen and ink. Any, unnecessary mistakes were dealt with by a quick rap over the knuckles. Particular attention was paid to writing and spelling. I remember the hours and hours of tedious practice, but we all left school able to read and write properly.
David Newton now living in the Philippines Remembers his Childhood in Swalwell.
Marbles
Sometime around Easter for a two or three week period, It was 'Liggy' season in Swalwell. A liggy as all Swalwellers know is a marble. They came in all shapes and sizes and had wonderful names like 'White Tornado' and 'Tiger's Eye' with the favourite game being 'Killer' played out over three holes. Wonderful expressions were used like 'Nowts nee Belchies' which literally meant, "Don't hit my marble too hard", and 'Tibby' which was obtaining a free shot by hitting two marbles at the same time.
Where these expressions came from is anyone's guess. Games were fast furious and caused the odd fracas when disputes arose for strange offences like throwing the marble instead of flicking it. There was a special name for this 'offence' but I can't remember it at the moment. It may have been 'Fullicking' - anyone remember? Then there was the 'Iron Ponka Brigade", those who used to use ball bearings instead of glass marbles--frowned upon to say the least.
Our venue for these games was.' The Marble Square' which was a patch of land located next to the shop of Ian Hepple's family at the top of Napier Road. The square held its name even when; games were not played. It was a landmark.
I still can't figure out why we decided that there was a season for playing liggies? Maybe it coincided with the Easter school holidays. It's in the distant past now.
Sledging
Located on the side of a hill, Swalwell was a natural place for sledging during wintertime. I didn't know anyone who didn't have a sledge. Some kids had the swish store bought kind but many were just home made and having fathers who worked in the local engineering factories, runners were easy to come by. There were many odd looking constructions but they all went.
How we were never killed is anyone's guess. Then there was the 'DEATH TRACK!'. A 30-foot almost vertical drop located in a field at the top of Plantation Avenue. Never quite saw the fun in this after smashing into a rock and nearly setting my neck!! Popular with those who lived in the Pre-fabs though!
The Coiner
The ‘coiner’ so named because you ‘coined aroond thi corners like’, was the summer-time equivalent of the sledge. Most kids had one, and all that was need to make it was an old plank of wood, an orange box, a couple of sets of pram wheels, a bolt and a bag of nails. They were great fun and tearing down Ruskin Road or Whickham bank on one could be hilarious. You braked by sticking your feet out in front of you. Terrible on the shoe leather and the ‘softies’ would usually add a makeshift brake which would lock onto the back wheel
They were also very handy for lugging the shopping or the odd bag of coal.
I have never seen one of these in nearly 30 years yet they were one of our ways of having great fun.
Spud Bashing
Spud Bashing was not the preparation of mashing potatoes for the Sunday Dinner; but the cold, wet, back-breaking work of picking potatoes for the local farmer. I did it once in 1963 for the princely sum of 10 shillings a week. It was the worst job I had ever done in my life and was glad when the week was over!
Every morning, at 7.00 armed with enamel buckets and a couple of jam sandwiches. We would be taken up the Lonnen to one of the potato fields on Smith's farm where we spent all day bent over collecting the potatoes churned up by whatever the appliance was called which did the job. Half an hour for a jam sandwich and a cup of tea and we were back at it until 5.30 in the evening. The 10 bob was spent at the Blaydon Pavilion at the end of the week and I realised the true meaning of slave labour. Apparently, and incredibly, similar work still exists in the UK!!!
Best Butter
As kids in 50s Swalwell the best you could ever expect to get on your bread was margarine except, that is, on Sundays, when out would come the 'Best Butter'. I can remember buying this for my mother the day before. It was stored in the grocery stores in large wooden barrels and the shopkeeper would cut it with a wire and wrap it for you in greaseproof paper. No pre-packing then! The 'Best Butter' would be served up with bread for our Sunday Tea and it was FORBIDDEN to put anything else on your bread when the 'Best Butter' was used. I remember the beautiful creamy taste and rich yellow colour much different from the butter sold today. It was a treat and Sunday was the only day we were allowed to have it. Where did it go???
The Meat Safe
Our family never got a refrigerator until sometime in the late 60s. As most of our food was always bought fresh anyway, there was never much call for the fridge. We did however, have a meat safe. This was basically a wooden cupboard with fine wire mesh front and sides and was designed more to keep the flies of meat rather than to keep it cool. It was kept in the bottom of the pantry, which was probably the coolest spot in our house anyway. All of our meat; the joint, sausages, bacon etc was stored in here. In all the years that it was used, I can't ever remember our meat going off in this contraption. I think it eventually became a rabbit hutch.
The Club Trip
I don't think they are held any more but the annual Club Trip was one of the most awaited events in Swalwell - up until the mid 60s anyway. Most kids never really got out of the village much. Even a shopping trip to Newcastle 4 miles away was an adventure, so the Club Trip was something special. The village would empty on the day of the trip and whole families would converge on Swalwell station to take the special train to Tynemouth, Cullercoats or Whitley Bay, whichever was the chosen destination for the day. Going to the beach may seem like nothing these days but that ONE day would be talked about for weeks.
Our mothers would spend the previous evening preparing sandwiches and other nibbles which would be complimented by Fish n' Chips at the Beach. (I don't know why but they always tasted better there)
Our clothes would be prepared - nearly always new t-shirt and shorts - and our sandshoes would be painted white. We were spick and span when we turned out for the event.
The steam train would normally take about an hour and a half to reach the coast (about 13 miles away) and the ride was an exciting part of the day. Once at the beach, fathers and elder brothers would disappear to the nearest pub, mothers would rent the deck chairs and tents (for changing clothes) and then spend the rest of the day sunbathing and nattering with the group they were in. The kids would head straight for the sea or to the rocks to collect shells and crabs. Later we would get money from our parents to go to the Spanish City in Whitley Bay or the Tynemouth amusement arcade.
A great day would be had by all and we would return home with our candy rock and souvenirs; tired, sunburned but still excited from the great day out we had had.
A few years ago I spent 3 months touring the US and a further 3 months touring Europe - they couldn't compare to the feeling I had when I went on the Club Trip.
Val McSkimmings remembers .
"My grandfather, a pitman sitting on his back doorstep in Lonnen Drive, Swalwell cleaning his boots with Dubbin."
"When I was six years old, sitting on our back doorstep with my brothers and sisters waiting for our grandfather to call on his way home from his shift at Blaydon Burn pit. He always saved some of the jam sandwiches from his bait to give to his grandchildren. We waited and waited but he didn't come that day. Later we were told that he was dead, killed by a roof fall at the pit."
"My mother telling me about her and auntie Elsie walking to Swalwell Bridge to catch the Venture bus (because it was cheaper) to travel to Robertsons in Newcastle, where they both worked as dressmakers. They did this to save a ½p a journey, one old penny a day. The money they saved was used to pay for a week holiday at Whitley Bay!"
Sheila Carver Remembers Swalwell.
My mother moved to Mill Farm in 1911. I was born at Mill Farm, Swalwell the home of my grandparents George and Hannah Oxley and formerly the home of my great grandparents George and Elizabeth Oxley.
We never had a library but books were brought to Swalwell Church one evening a week. Most of the churches in my youth had some form of children's club running. The Headmaster too used to show films one evening a week and we used to pay 4d in old money. The teachers also often ran some form of club in the evening.
The Hoppings came every year to Swalwell. They used to be on the field behind Ridley Gardens. They used to get their water from the people who lived on Ridley Gardens and the children whose parents supplied the water received free rides.
All food was delivered to the door in those days from Grocers to Green grocers to Butchers and even vans with cakes.
Children from Swalwell, would come on Easter Monday and ask them if they could roll their eggs down our hill. My grandmother would sit on a chair at the bottom supplying eggs to children who did not have any. After this event, she would always direct her hens to the field and they would pick up all the shells dropped by the children from the eaten eggs.
Lots of children would play on the Hikey Bridge as we called it, because we liked jumping up and down on to make it move.
Sadly, grand-dad Oxley, died in 1946, and we shifted from the farm then and Uncle George went to live in the house.
Diphtheria - Sheila Carver
In 1944 both my sister and I had diphtheria. I was in hospital for six weeks but my sister was in for eight weeks and never off the danger list because she was terribly ill and could not walk for months. Lots of children died when we were in Norman's Riding Hospital. I know two children from Swalwell died so I suppose that we were lucky. I sadly was the carrier and had been immunized just the month before by Doctor Edward Smith. They were doing the immunizations in the old house, which once stood in Whickham Park. We were given nothing to eat for three weeks only hot milk, which I hated. We were also given a dose of Cascara every Friday night, such vile stuff, how primitive, every child could not possibly have needed that! Such were the times, doctors today would not agree with that policy.
Early Days-A Boy goes to School in Swalwell.
I was born on March 25th 1940, which was Easter-time and 6 months into World War 2, in the village of Swalwell, which was then in the county of Durham. I started Infant School after the Easter Holiday in April 1945. The war in Europe was still going on. It ended in May 1945 but the war in the Far-East lasted until the end of August.
I, like most children, thought that being sent to school was some sort of punishment, devised by adults to keep children in their place. The same idea as whatever all children seemed to ask for was met with the reply "No, you can't have it, there's a war on". (Much like the politicians of today promising "Jam and Good Things Tomorrow", but no way now.)
Most of the children starting school were examined by a School Doctor and a "Dickie" Nurse. Most were suffering some health problems because of poor diet during the war years eg. no fruit, too plain a diet with not enough starch or protein and not enough food. I had a dry, scurvy skin with body spots and was under-weight, so was given a special allocation of Virol (malt) and concentrated orange juice for Vitamin C (normally only for babies). I was 8 or 9 years old before I knew what a banana was or chocolate. I thought only boiled sweets were made. They, and everything else, were obtained via a "Ration Book" if available. Rationing remained in force for some things until 1954, the year after the Queen's Coronation.
Children started school straight after their 5th birthday (no nursery schools then). There were 38 boys and girls in my class. We were given a pottery beaker of milk each morning at 10.45 am and sometimes, special treats of pieces of cheese or Horlick's tablets. Once we were sent a crate of red apples, a present from the children of Canada. We got 2 apples each, what a treat!
The toilets were outside in the school yard. They often froze up in the winter, so we were sent home. There seemed to be a lot of snow in those days.
When the war ended, we all paraded in the school-yard, along with the Senior School, to sing "Land of Hope and Glory" and "God Save the King".
There were always plenty of textbooks, crayons, pencils, etc for all the children. The desks were doubles, so two had to sit together. This could cause a problem if no-one wanted to sit beside you. The teachers, all women, were held in awe. They were kind, but firm, and the Head Mistress had a cane, which she used if necessary. We had to collect Rose Hips in the Autumn time, with the help of our parents, to be used for the making of Rose Hip Syrup, which was rich in Vitamin C. We kept daily records, on the classroom wall, of each day's weather, by means of symbols of the sun, rain etc. We had large wall maps of the World, with lots of countries in Red. This, we were told, was the British Empire, owned by us. (Within 10 years, most had demanded and got independence.)
Early days at school were mainly pleasant, even with war rationing, and most children got on with each other.
A Sad Childhood Memory.
On February, the 13th 1933, Thomas Lynn (61), an unemployed miner and his wife Mary Jane Lynn (63), were found dead by their son in the upstairs room at 5, Cook's Buildings where they had lived for over 40 years. They were both suffering from terrible injuries. The state of the room indicated that there had been a grim struggle though the neighbours had heard nothing.
Henry Cotterell (21) employed as a putter at Whickham Colliery, occupied the same house as Mr and Mrs Lynn. Henry and his wife returned home about 11 o'clock to find the house in darkness. He knocked on the door but it was not answered, he kicked the door but there was no response. He went to his sister's house, Mrs Howell, who lived a few doors away in the same building. He obtained a key and a knife and returned. With the knife he pushed the key out of the lock but the key he had did not fit.
He then sought out his brother-in-law, George Lynn, who lived in the same street and he also informed Police Constable Atkinson who was on duty in the village. George managed to get the window open and discovered the tragedy.Constable Atkinson then forced the door open.
When Constable Edward Atkinson burst open the door a terrible spectacle met his eyes. Lying face downwards behind the door was the body of Mrs Lynn, she had head injuries caused by a blunt instrument - a heavy poker smeared with blood was found on the floor. In a corner was the body of her husband, his throat had been cut and the main artery severed and at his side was a blood stained table knife.
There were signs of a struggle, broken crockery scattered around the room and other signs of disorder.
It is thought that Mr Lynn was suffering from *nystagmus and had been receiving compensation. He was employed by Whickham Colliery but had not worked for the last two years.
When the funeral took place, Mrs Lynn's body was taken into church and then buried in consecrated ground. Mr Lynn's body was left at the bottom of the steps before the church and was not buried in consecrated ground.
Alma Willis lived near Mr and Mrs Lynn as a child and knew them well, she remembers her father saying at the time, "He didn't murder his wife, he took her with him."
*(Nystagmus Rapid involuntary movements of the eyes, that may be from side to side, up and down or rotary. It may be congenital and is associated with poor sight. It also occurs in disorders of the part of the brain responsible for eye movements and their co-ordination and in disorders of the organ of balance in the ear or the associated parts of the brain.)
Swalwell Tennis Club
In 1934 Swalwell Tennis Club had 2 tennis courts and a wooden cabin, for changing on the grounds of Swalwell Cricket Club.
When the Tennis Club had to close through lack of members the tennis courts became a Putting Green charging one old penny a go. Later all this area became practice wickets.
The Elephant Inn
The Elephant dated from the mid 19th century and was situated at the bottom of Whickham Bank and was demolished in 1967 when road improvements were made. It had closed in 1964.
The Queens Head
The Queens Head was situated between Hexham Road and Railway Street next to the Elephant. Since changes to the road layout at the bottom of Whickham Bank in 196,7 the entrance is now in Railway Street and the name was changed to Bourgognes in the 1980s.
The Crowley
The Crowley was built in the 1930s by Rowell's Brewery Gateshead and later became part of Newcastle Breweries. It was sold and changed it's name to The Poacher's Pocket in the 1990s.
The Clavering Arms
The Clavering Arms was situated in The Avenue , the old road which led past Swalwell Cricket Club and over the old 18th century Swalwell Bridge. The pub is thought to have closed in 1936.
The Old Crowley
Situated at the junction of Hexham Road and Railway Street the pub closed about 1940. The building is now occupied by Maguire's fish and chip shop.
The Seven Stars -Swalwell
The Seven Stars was an old Swalwell pub standing in Market Lane opposite the Three Tuns and The Sun. It was demolished about 1970 ostensibly in connection with the construction of the Gateshead Western By-Pass. The area is now landscaped and grassed over.
The Sun - Swalwell
The Sun was built in 1895, a Lady called Eileen Clavering had been the Proprietor there for many years. The present Manager, Mark Jobling has only been at the pub for three months but he had been manager of the Three Tuns for many years prior to its closure in 2000.
The Three Tuns - Swalwell
The Three T.
The Three Tuns.
The Three Tuns had been a very popular pub at one time, the pub closed in 2000, opening later with a new name 'Three T'.
The Poacher - Swalwell
This pub was previously The Station Hotel. It stands opposite where Swalwell Railway Station once stood, later changing its name to The Gamekeeper and it is now Jashn's restaurant.
The Highlander - Swalwell
The Highlander was originally the stables of The Angel Coaching Inn.
The Angel - Swalwell
The Angel Coaching Inn was built in the early 16th century. It was fairly recently used as an antique shop and Guest House.
Swalwell Social Club
Swalwell club 1930s before rebuilding.
Swalwell Social Club as rebuilt opposite old club.
After an inaugural meeting at the Clavering Arms Inn, Swalwell, in 1902, the Swalwell Social Club opened at the White House, which was formerly a vicarage. Affiliated to the C.I.U. in 1905, the Club (pictured) moved 6 years later to Taylor's Brewery, adjacent to the present building which was opened in 1939 after being built by the C.W.S. at a cost of £9,000. Success of the Club ensured that it took less than 4 years to clear the initial cost. With its Centenary now past Swalwell Social Club extends a warm welcome to members. The hours of opening are 11am - 3pm (Fridays to Mondays only )and 7pm - 11pm daily and facilities include a games room with snooker table and darts.
The club unfortunately closed in 2010.
Roman Catholics in Swalwell
Members of the Catholic community used a hall, which was above the grocery department of the Co-operative Store. There was a small committee room, which the priest used as a vestry. They also sold the Catholic papers there. There was a stage in one corner of the room and children used to sit to the left of this stage on wooden benches.
All the adults sat in the main body of the hall on chairs, which were so tightly packed together there was little movement. The Hall became a church every Sunday morning at 9am sharp, but during the week, the Co-operative Society and local Labour Party used it for meetings. The altar was a trestle table with a piece cut out to take the portable altar stone, and the Priest and altar boys had cushions to kneel on.
There was very little room for manoeuvre in the hall. With the large numbers that gathered in the hall to attended Mass, only the children and people seated on the ends of the rows could actually kneel down and trying to get to communion was very difficult.
Priests came from neighbouring districts to hold services. Today the good folk of Swalwell travel to either Blaydon, Whickham, Dunston or Lobley Hill to hear services.
Swalwell, Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity was consecrated on 15 December 1905.
Ebenezer Chapel - Swalwell
This was a Presbyterian chapel, which opened in 1750 and was not demolished until May 1976. Ironically for a Presbyterian chapel, its greatest claim to fame is that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached here in 1747 and in 1757.
Swalwell Wesleyan Methodist Church
The Methodist Chapel
after conversion to
a day nursery.
The Methodist Chapel
in the 1960's.
This church was situated on Market Lane at the bottom of Colbeck Avenue and it opened on 26th July 1930. It was built of brick and seated 250 worshippers. There was a sizeable organ and a small upstairs balcony at the rear of the church, which also had two vestrys at the sides of the entrance hall. A Sunday School was held in the afternoons and there were morning and evening Sunday Services. A Harvest Festival and a Christmas Party for children were annual events. It replaced an earlier chapel (1817?) also located on Market Lane.
Market Lane closed in the late 1990's and the premises are now used by a Nursery, the Stepping Stones Day Nursery, after considerable alterations were made to the building..
Swalwell United Methodist Church
This stone-built chapel was on Railway Street and could seat 200. It closed in 1965 and the congregation transferred to Market Lane. In 1966 the building was sold to a printing firm called Fletchers. It is now Comma Print.
Swalwell Primitive Methodist Church
This was located on Napier Road - it was built in brick and could seat 200. The nearby school used it to stage plays and other school productions. It closed in 1955 and the congregation transferred to Railway Street. The Napier Street chapel was sold in 1957 to Shield Brothers of Swalwell for use as a store but has now been demolished and replaced by housing.
Swalwell Churches
In the late 19th century there was seven different churches in Swalwell, unfortunately by the year 2000 there was only one left, the Anglican Church of "The Holy Trinity".
The earliest and most prominent churches in Swalwell were some form of Methodism, from Primitive to Wesleyan Methodist, United Reformed Church, and a Church of England Church, and although there was no actual Roman Catholic Church, Catholics held Mass in a room belonging to the Co-operative Society, Market Street.
Swalwell - Sands Cottage
On the banks of the River Derwent at Swalwell stood an old cottage which was built of wood boards, the cavity walls being filled with sawdust to act as insulation, and this was topped off by a pantile roof.
The cottage and two others of similar construction alongside, were built in 1832 to act as offices while the railway was being built from Scotswood to Blackhill and they were subsequently sold to a Mr. Lance Jobling for £10.
Mr Jobling's brother, Jack was the first occupier he had to give up his work at Vickers Armstrongs due to ill - health, and kept three cows to supplement his income - eventually ending up the owner of several farms in Sunniside area.
Unfortunately, old age caught up with the cottage, it lacked adequate drainage, the pantile roof sagged and leaked and visitors brushed their heads against the ceiling inside. It was only by frequent applications of tar to the wooden walls that dampness was kept to a minimum.
There was no electricity but there was gas. An unique feature was the heating of the bathwater - this was done by filling the bath with cold water and heating it by means of a gas ring under the bath. The last owners of the cottage, Mr Alexander Norrie and his wife, Margaret spent many happy years living there but could no longer maintain it, the Council condemned the property in 1969.
When Mr. and Mrs. Norrie were rehoused the cottage was demolished and another part of old Swalwell's history disappeared.
Swalwell War Memorial and Church
The war memorial was unveiled on Easter Monday 1919 by the Earl of Durham and several hundred people attended the opening. The memorial was rededicated on 9 November 1952 by Lord Lawson of Beamish, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Durham, when the names of those who fell in the Second World War were unveiled.
The Town gate showing
the War memorial in its
original position at left.
Notice that the war
memorial has been
moved from its original
site where road to the
B & Q store is now located.
Swalwell - The Angel
This building was originally a 17th century coaching inn. Built in 1640 it is the oldest building in Swalwell and has no foundations. (The stables are now The Highlander Pub!) It was at one time the Post Office and later became an Antique shop and B&B.
Swalwell - Bridge End Cottage
Tolls were taken here for the old stone bridge on the Gateshead to Hexham turnpike. The date 1760 appears on the wall and it is Swalwell's second oldest building after The Angel.
Swalwell - Whitehouse
This was at one time the vicarage, then the first social club in Swalwell and is now a B&B. The stream running along the side of the house was built by Crowley to supply his works.
Demolition at Swalwell
West View Terrace
Swalwell school
The changing face of Swalwell saw the demolition of the school, station, roads, factories, and dwellings
Swalwell - Entrance to Axwell Park
Swalwell - Origin of the Name
The village of Swalwell is situated south of the Tyne, south west of Newcastle. The village lies in a valley from which it gets its name, 'Swale' meaning 'valley and well'.
Sheila Carver
My first memories of the war were of men coming to the farm all dressed in different uniforms. going off to war. Most of them had played with my two cousins George and Tom at the farm. One young man, Jackie Rutter, was his name, walked up Millers Lane with me hanging from his neck.
He was in the RAF and was killed in Holland. When you enter St. Marys Church, Whickham, in the porch is a small stained glass window that the Scouts put in his memory.
My grandparents had purchased a Ford V8 car in about 1936-37, but sadly had to sell it to Whickham Council to be used for Civil Emergency in the war years.
I remember the balloons on the cricket field. I used to be very frightened, I remember that one got away and my cousin told me that men were in them and they would come and take me away.
German prisoners came to work on the farms during the war. The camp was on Lord Gort's estate at Hamsterly Mill. The prisoners, Italian and German worked on local farms travelling daily by bus. My sister and I went with grandma and Mrs Clark to look around the prison camp. The coach driver took us there and we went to so many farms picking up, that the bus got full. My sister and I ended up sitting on two German's knees.
Two of my cousins went off to war and as they had made a fuss of me I missed them terribly, but suddenly the Germans came to work; one whose name was Helmut, came to East Farm. I found him like my cousins. We used to tease him, shouting:-
There will always be an England
And England shall be free
Because of our brave army
Air force and Navy".
He used to pretend to be mad and throw turnips at us.
His home was in Leipzig. When the war ended I have often wondered what happened to him as that was in the Russian Zone. He was not bothered about going back to Germany because all his family were killed during the war. When the war ended, he would come to the pictures at Blaydon, grandma always insisting that he sat beside us in case of any trouble.
Remembrance Sunday, Swalwell
Remembrance Day (nearest Sunday to November 11) "The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month"
The Swalwell War Memorial
is opened by the Earl
of Durham on Easter Monday 1919
Until the early 60s, Remembrance Day in Swalwell was an event to be waited for. Members of The Royal British Legion, local military and TA units plus elements from the local army cadet forces and war veterans would all parade through Swalwell. The parade would start at the RBL building at the bottom of Ruskin Road and would march along Clavering Road, down Masefield Avenue, along Crowley Road swing into the bottom of Napier Road and then turn left on Market Lane to Swalwell War Memorial which was then next to Keelman's Bridge on the Waterside.
It was a grand sight.
Led by a military band the RBL would be flying all their banners and flags, the military units would be in their different uniforms and the veterans would be bedecked in medals. All would be carrying poppy wreaths to lay at the memorial - it was an inspiring sight and despite the solemness of the occasion it did have a kind of festive air if you were just a kid.
It made you feel proud to be British. Sadly this day is no longer what it used to be.
Mrs E. Kempton remembers Swalwell School During WWI
As Emily Ryle, I began Swalwell School in April 1915 and as many of my contemporaries will recall, we had a lovable, but firm, teacher in the reception class. Miss Ada Morrison was "mother" to generations of Swalwell children. This was during the First World War and we were taught at a very early age to knit double khaki scarves for the soldiers. Food was in very short supply and I well remember queuing, before school, for meat and jam. What a thrill it was to get a large jar of rhubarb and ginger jam! I remember clearly the day when Mr Sutcliffe, headmaster of the "big" school, paid a visit, dressed in his officer's uniform.
Part of the Peace Celebrations was a fancy dress parade by scholars in the schoolyard and on this occasion, each boy and girl received a Peace mug, which I still treasure.
[Mrs Kempton's mother, Emily Home, taught in the Infants Dept. at Swalwell School from 1895-98.]
Sergeant James Firth V.C. - Boer War hero
Sergeant James Firth, a Swalwell resident, though originally from near Sheffield, lived in Quality Row and enlisted in the Duke of Wellington's West Riding regiment in July 1889; winning the Victoria Cross on 14 February 1900, during the Boer War, when he rescued two men from enemy fire by carrying them to safety.
The citation reads, "At Plewmans Farm near Arundel, Cape Colony February 24th 1900, Sergeant Firth gained the Victoria Cross for two acts of bravery and devotion" "Lance Corporal Blackman had been wounded, and was lying not more than one hundred yards from the enemy, who were keeping up a severe hail of fire on all around" "Sergeant Firth scorning the bullets aimed at him and his brigade, advanced to the stricken corporal and carried him to the cover of their own lines". Shortly afterwards, second Lieutenant T H B Wilson fell dangerously wounded, in spite of the proximity of the Boers who had advanced quite close to the firing line, Firth carried the Officer over the crest of the ridge to shelter, receiving a bullet through the eye and nose, whilst engaged in this humane act".
In 1900, Sergeant Firth was discharged as medically unfit from the services. He applied for service again in 1914 at the outbreak of World War One, but he was turned down on medical grounds. After a long period of disability he died of tuberculosis in May 1921. He probably attended Swalwell School and a presentation was made to him by the villagers on his return from South Africa.