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Thornley

Thornley photos (1 available)

Old photo of Thornley

Thornley maps (2 available)

Old map of Thornley

Thornley books (1 available)

Thornley memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in County Durham below.

County Durham memories

Wheatley Hill

Hi, my name is Shirley Cross, my name was Shirley Stokoe and I lived in Thornley. My dad's nme was Robert Stokoe, he has now passed away. My memories of Wheatley Hill are nice. I remember spending a lot of time there growing up. I used to go to Wheatley Hill School up on the hill, you could see it from Thornley, and I used to love the school, and the school in the front street of Wheatley Hill. I remember we had to have different lessons each day so we used to have to leave one school and walk to the other school, it was fun. Also I remember the pyjama factory that I used to work at just over ...read more here
A memory of Wheatley Hill contributed by First name Last name

Little school and the little shop on the corner and the little chapple on the corner

Hi, my name is Shirley Stoke. I have lots of lovely little memories of living in Haswell, I have a really good memory. I used to live in Church Street. I loved the school across the road from my house and when I used to go to chapel on the corner. I can also remember I used to play with a little girl that used to live up on the hill among the trees in that big house right at the top, and she had lots of little chocolate eggs that she used to put along the window sill and they used to melt when the sun come out. I can also remember lying in bed on a night and listening ...read more here
A memory of Haswell Plough contributed by First name Last name

Greys Drapers

Grandfather William Grey owned a number of shops in Wingate, Co. Durham one was at 47 North Road West, Wingate, it was a drapers shop. Grandfather died in 1962, his last remaining shop was closed by my mother Winnie England and made into a house. My family were once very prominant in Wingate, they consisted of the Greys, the Races and the Tarrens. In the 1800s Robert Tarren owned the Plough Inn in Hutton Henry. I would be very interested in any information about current family members.
A memory of Wingate contributed by Naomi Donbavand

Fir Tree Inn

I remember the Fir Tree Inn in its hey day. My Aunty Peggy was the landlady; she was a wonderful person; she always wore spectacular dresses when behind the bar.
The Inn was at the top of the village just where Wellfield Road began.
Sadly Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dick are with us no more but memory is a marvellous thing, a part of me will always remember the atmosphere behind the bar even though I  was(technically) too young to work there.

                                                                Anne Wagstaff
A memory of Wingate contributed by Anne McDonald

Extracts From Thornley & County Durham books

Thornley, the Colliery 1951

When the mining industry was nationalised in 1947, there were 127 active pits in County Durham employing 108,000 mineworkers. Output of the combined Durham and Northumberland coalfield in 1951 was 39 million tonnes, with a productivity level of 259 tonnes per man per year.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Stockton-On-Tees, High Street 1951

Stockton was granted its market charter by Bishop Bek in 1310, but until the 1840s it consisted of little more than the High Street, a few side streets, and a quayside railhead for Stockton & Darlington Railway. On the right can be seen the parish church, which dates from 1712. Other 18th-century buildings were the Town House (1735) and the Customs House (1730).
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Billingham, Shopping Centre c1967

Billingham owes its development to the Great War, when a small chemical works opened nearby for the production of synthetic ammonia for use in explosives. Between the wars the population of Billingham rocketed as the works was expanded for the production of methanol, chemical fertilisers, and petrochemicals. The town centre was redeveloped from the late 1950s by Elder Lester & Partners; the Forum opened in 1967.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Greatham, High Street c1955

In the 1950s Greatham consisted of little more than the High Street. In 1272 the Prior of Finchale founded a charity and a hospital here for ‘decayed priests’; the local vicar was usually appointed Master. Today the aged and needy do not necessarily have to have been clerics or their widows in order to benefit.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Seaton Carew, the Green 1914

The Green was, and still is, one of the more picturesque parts of Seaton Carew; the houses were mostly built in the early 19th century. In the corner, with the steep bargeboarded gables, stands Sylvern House, dating from 1864.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".