The Houghtonian Magazine Vol 2 Issue 3 - Houghton-le-Spring

THE HOUGHTONIAN | SEPT 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 3 | ISSN 1757-3890WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?Can you help solve these Genealogical& Heritage Quests?NEWBOTTLE EX-PATMy name is Lynette Young and myfamily lived in Newbottle,Philadelphia, Houghton-le-spring formany, Many generations. I am tryingto gain some information about myNewbottle genealogy. Although I wasborn and raised in Sunderland fortwenty six years, I am now living inSan Diego, Southern California,U.S.A. Yours,Lynette YoungSan Diego, USANEWBOTTLE CHURCHYARDDear Paul, I take my neighbour's dogfor a walk through Newbottlechurchyard and particularly in thesummer meet people searching fortheir ancestors graves. Is there aproject to record the gravestones?The stones are getting damaged andbroken by vandals. I would be happyto spend a couple of sessions a weekmaking a start on recording theinscriptions if someone sets me off inthe right direction as I have beengrateful for other's hard work in othercemeteries when I have been lookingfor family members. Yours.Wendy CostelloNewbottlePAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:I am sure they were recorded around2001 and made available in apamphlet.NEWBOTTLE PICSDoes anyone have any pictures ofNewbottle before the new houseswere built? Or the old buildings wherethe farmer stored his corn and thecoal yard?Alison ElvesTHE THOMPSON FAMILYDear Paul, the book and muchappreciated 'extras' arrived safe andsound. I would like to make thispersonal thank you for your extremelyinteresting book and hope thisreaches you at this email address.My granddad, Charles HerbertThompson lived 100 years ago at 37Britannia Terrace, Fence Houses. Hisgrandfather was John Thompsonwho came over from Northern Irelandas part of the Lord Londonderrymove, with his wife JaneMcCullough(and all the various waysof spelling McCullough – McClough,McCullock, McCulloch, McMullock,McUllock) and two sons John &Richard. Having difficulty in goingback to the Irish records, I tried toMcCullock, McCulloch, McMullock,McUllock) and two sons John &Richard. Having difficulty in goingback to the Irish records, I tried todiscover more by searchingsideways, and the results have beenvery interesting - I now think by onebranch or another I must be relatedto everyone in the area! The Irishfamilies intermarried in Ireland andcontinued to do so once theyarrived in Co Durham so thefollowing names all appear in myfamily tree and I would beinterested to know if any of themring bells with you. THOMPSON,McCULLOUGH, MINNIS, ADAIR,BLACKWOOD, LYONS, DIXON,GIBBNEY, McCHESNEY plus quitea few more! My great grandparentswere John Thompson & Mary AnnCurry. Mary was born on 25th April1844 at the Nags Head, WestRainton, a place which I guess haslong since disappeared, but I gatherfrom Internet searches quite a fewbirths took place there. Have youany idea why? Mary's parents wereGeorge Curry & Elizabeth Purvis,and although I found their marriagein May 1836 by the time of the1841 census Elizabeth can befound on her own as George was'inside'. In 1840 he had been foundguilty, but recommended to mercy,of feloniously assaulting JosephBarwick and stealing fourpencehalfpenny.For that he received 12months hard labour in the house ofcorrection. Report from NewcastleCourant, Friday 23rd October1840. Thank you once again forthe interesting and informativebook about Houghton-le-Spring,and I look forward to Volume 2.Best Wishes.Patsy Beechnee ThompsonTHE WELLYDoes anyone know anything aboutWellington House (was in Dubmire,just behind where Lilley's newsagentis now?) I found out that R Fatherly(local grocer and draper) lived therein 1911 but would love to find outmore about it. From OS it looks asif it was around from late 1800s topossibly early 1960sDawn FinniganHoughton-le-SpringTHE JOLLY FARMERSDoes anyone know what ishappening to the former SpringInn pub in Houghton's MarketPlace? Workmen have been thereall this week.Sarah GardinerHoughton-le-SpringTHE WILKINSONSDear Paul, I rang your number onMonday in the evening and I'mnow following up my phone callwith a quick e-mail. My fatherJohn Thomas Wilkinson was bornin Houghton Le Spring in the1920s. His father, also JohnWilkinson, was a miner and livedat 13 or 18 High Hillside. Hismother's maiden name was AnnieHarkness. Apparently his parentsparted company in his early years,and he was sent to live in a home.Typically,when he was 14 he wasplaced in the Army - the 15/19Royal Hussars. He met mymother in the late 1930s. He wascaptured at Dunkirk and escapedfrom his POW camp four times.He was freed by the Russians in1945. When my parents married,they moved to Slough. I only metmy paternal grandfather twice andnever met my father's mother. In1964 my mother and fatheremigrated to Australia. My motherdied in 2005 and my father diedin 2009. I guess, like many peoplein the same situation, I am tryingto re-forge some connections.I'm trying to find out more aboutmy father's relations - andwondered if you might have comeacross any Wilkinsons who livedat High Hillside in Houghtonduring the 1920s. If you havecome across any suchinformation, in your research, Iwould be glad if you could let meknow.John WilkinsonAustraliaHOUGHTON SCHOOL PICSHas anyone got any photographsfrom Houghton School1981/1986 (Davenport) to share?Jan WilsonHoughton-le-SpringTITLE HEREDear Mr Lanagan, I belong to theDringhouses Local History Grouphere in York and I researched andwrote the chapter in our recentpublication about the Swanns andDixons of Ashfield. I have beenwondering for a long while how Iwrote the chapter in our recentpublication about the Swanns andDixons of Ashfield. I have beenwondering for a long while how Icould access extra informationabout VCSWC and the miningindustry on the Durham coalfield,and was delighted to see yourSociety mentioned in the mostrecent BALH publication! So: Iam wondering if you have anyinformation about this gentleman.He married Fanny AnnabellaSwann, born 1837, of Ashfield, in1869. I have a copy of theirmarriage certificate - his signatureis just amazing! He was a miningengineer from Wortley, nearSheffield, and they lived atHoughton-le-Spring, where hehad a very long and distinguishedcareer extending into the 1920s;there was an Annabella Pitnearby, and I don't think this wasa coincidence. Also, I would loveto learn more about what FannyAnnabella's life was like after hermarriage; it must have been quitea shock to her to find herselfremoved from the elegant circlesof York and the green spaces ofDringhouses. I do emails at mylocal library on a somewhatirregular basis, usually about oncea week. Very many thanks for anyhelp you or another member ofyour Society may be able to give.With best wishesElizabeth SmithTHANK YOUDear Houghton Heritage Society,thank you for my Houghton-le-Spring in Old Photographs bookwhich came today - I thought itwas a summons!Karen BiltonNewbottlePAUL LANAGAN REPLIED:You are welcome!Congratulations on winning oneof the summer’s many ‘where isthis?’ competitions!CAN YOU SMELL GAS?Question for those of a certainage: did there used to be gasstorage tanks behind HalliwellStreet and Cross Street, or is itmy imagination? Thank you.Michael Dean* * * * ** * * * * * * * * * *