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Whickham - Farming
The following farms, Glebe, Grange, Windy Hill, Wood House, Southfields, Marshall Lands and Riding Barns were still there in the thirties. Over the years they were often called by the incumbent farmers' names. Through the century most of the farms and their fields have been swallowed up by housing developments.
Whickham Front Street is today a bustling shopping centre and there is little sign of the farm that once stood at the heart of the village. Glebe Farm was demolished in 1960 and has given its name to a small housing estate adjacent to Whickham Front Street. What is now Glebe Avenue was the track leading into the farm. Part of the old farm wall remains.
Dunston Hill farm
West Farm also known as Dunston Hill Farm or Dunston West Farm is to be found on Whickham Highway and was originally part of Dunston Hill Estate. According to Kelly's Trade Directory of 1906, Thomas Easey was the farmer. Grant aid was available for its restoration. It is currently owned by Mr. Hood and is run as Livery Stables.
Betty Oloman remembers Easey's Farm.
Betty's father who was originally from the Hobson came to Whickham to work as a Farm Manager on Easey's Farm. The whole family had to help out, and were expected to work on the farm as farm work was then and still is now, a seven days a week activity. When Betty got older she used to drive the milk cart delivering milk in bottles, door to door on a regular round.
With her farming experience, Betty was able to provide a home for Billy when he returned from the war; apparently Betty being the daughter of a farmer and used to hard work and working with animals she was offered the position of Dairy Maid, with a cottage to live in, if she could milk several cows per day. Betty gladly accepted the challenge and the cottage. The house
they lived in 'Windy Hill' is no longer there, in point of fact, it was demolished to make room for the new road now called 'The Broadway".