Thompson's red stamp stores was a shop that I worked in in the early 60s and was managed by a Mr Anderson and his wife. It was the first shop in Dunston to have what is now a self service. Other shops in Dunston to remember were Harry Harris where you got your comics and he had an American car, almost unheard of in those days. Can anyone remember the Chinese laundry which was next to a general dealers just round the corner from Victoria Street?

What about that old hardware shop that was down past the Excelsior Club towards the Tyne, it was on TV once for its rarity, does anyone remember the name of it ? The shop that is not the TV show.

Can anyone help with this query about the hardware shop in Dunston? I think Staiths Road is the name of the street.

Ken,
The shop was called Plewes and was next to the ship's chandlers.

Hi, cheers but Plewes's shop (derelict now) is still there and is before the Excel, see here..

http://www.dunston.fotopic.net/p35624752.html

the shop I mean was down past the excel on the same side just before the railway line,
see here http://www.dunston.fotopic.net/p10576376.html

its the bricked up shop on the right which is the shop I mean,

ermm by the way what is the " ship's chandlers " that you mentioned ive never heard of it before ?

cheers Ken

Ken, thanks for the information about Plewes shop. Looking at the photos you mentioned, on the second one there is a car standing outside what used to be the Ministry of Labour and National Service building until about 1957, well, next to that and nearer the camera is another building with the window bricked up, we think this was the ship's chandler's, it was certainly next to the Ministry offices. See our website, Photo Galleries, go to Unidentified Photographs. The last picture may be that shop, ie the chandler's.

When I was about 3 years old (1953 ) I lived in Victoria Street on the left hand side looking up towards the park. I remember playing with children from across the road. One day I was told that I could not go out to play with them as the father had killed them all, can anyone remember this?

My Mother's family were called Sadler and they lived in Dunston. Famous for boatbuilding and champion rowers. One of them married Harry Clasper's sister. I have the family tree and am trying to get some bearing on where they had their boatyard in Dunston and somewhere called Sadler's Square. I saw an Ordnance Survey Map of Dunston of about 1840 and noticed Sadler's Staithes on The Tyne. I've tried to find the map again to get a copy but can't find it.
Shortly after 1900 young William Sadler and his father and mother moved from Dunston to Boathouses in Paradise on the other side of the river. My Great Grandad William's father had Sadler's ferry. It ran from Paradise to The Delta.
I'd like to find any maps of old Dunston that would help in my searches?

Thanks,

Keith.

Thanks for the information. Re Sadler Square. The first Ordnance Survey maps date from about 1860. Copies are held in local libraries and also the Tyne and Wear Archive in Blandford Street, Newcastle. Godfrey's maps publish an edition of Elswick OS Map for 1894 that shows Sadler Square. It was just south of Railway Street and very close to the River Tyne.
do you have any further information about the Sadler's ferry?

re first item on Ganny Willis. Can anyone give info on her? I am great grand nephew of Wm. Willis 1836-1924 to whom 2 stained glass windows and a plaque are dedicated in St. Mary the Virgin Church and doing Willis Family of Whickham research. Norm Willis, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

I was born in Drury buildings in Dunston and my father was Bart Pyle of Dunston and my mother Mary Richards, we lived at the junction on Wellington Rd and Dunston Rd at the fish and chip shop. Tipladys butcher shop was on the corner. Does anybody remember us, this was from 1961 until the seventys, I live in Canada now thanks.

Hi

I'm tracing my family tree - Ralph Broadbent who owned the drapers in Ravensworth Road is related to me. We thought that there was also maybe a music shop? His sister was Mary Anne Broadbent and she was a music teacher - according to family recollections there was some link with her and the shop? Can you help with any more info please - we have very little to go on and anything would help. Thanks

Re the question from David Ross about the "murder" near to Victoria Street. It is in fact true. It happened as you say about 1953 and took place in the top house in Athol Street (I think it is still standing). The father I believe murdered someone (not sure who) and according to legend, after committing the act calmly went to the "Top Hall" Picture House, where he was arrested.

i believe the house the murders took place was the white house on the corner of Athol St and Church St.

Ref Margeret Pyle Canada ref Bart Pyle not sure if related but Tommy Pyle lives in Beech Drive Dunston and I live in the only remaining house called Drury Buildings no 2 Colliery Rd Dunston.

Ken, not sure if it was a hardware shop as well as a ship supplies which sold seamens socks etc. which I think was the last shop on the left before entering the staithes on Stathes Rd.

The name of the hardware shop Ravensworth Road was Catterick's.

Thanks for the name of the hardware shop.

Cattericks was on Ravensworth Road, the shop I mean was walk down past the Cross Keys walk down past the Excel Club and the shop was about 3 shops down past the Excel near the Tyne.