Archive
Memories of Ushaw Moor: Family Life
From original Archive at blogSPOT
My family was one of the first sixteen families to move onto the new council housing in Ushaw Moor in January 1947. To move from 29 Harvey Street in New Brancepeth into 38 Victoria Court, Ushaw Moor, was a cultural shock even at eight years old. An indoor flush toilet, hot and cold running water and a bath was truly out of this world. It was like winning the Lottery.
The first sixteen families were housed in the last four and the first eight numbered houses in Whitehouse Court. We were housed in the last numbered four houses in Victoria Court. I could write a book about those early years in Ushaw Moor but people would not be interested. I find it odd that people do not write their memories for future generations. The first winter there was horrific. I remember waking up to find the snow drifted up to the bedroom windows. The country was at a halt for a number of weeks but the enjoyment from the snow was great for an eight year old. I watched fields being eaten up by housing as the whole of the estate was built up over the next ten years, Oakridge Road up to Ash Avenue, was the second phase, people were housed in decent housing from the colliery rows.
Progress was made in strides then, everything was new and exciting after the austerity of the war years. The end of rationing, St. Josephs school and Church, the Store on Durham Road, the freedom to roam down the beck, and the companionship of boyhood friends made life happy. My Dad died in September, 1947, in the County Hospital at the top of North Road in Durham. This was a huge blow but my Mam, God Bless her, took over the responsibility of raising her five children and made a fantastic job of it. Many happy memories. I hope someone reads this and adds their own memories.
BRIAN MC LOUGHLIN
Salvation Army 1960
This photograph was taken from my grandmothers house in Whitehouse court in the late 1960′s. It shows the Salvation Army band playing next to the green which is a memory I will always have of that time. Another sign of the times was kids palying in the street and hardly a car in sight.
thanks Michael Dickinson
From Original Ushaw Moor Memories BLOG
From The Original Archives – An Alf Rothwell Production
Following on from the popularity of Brian’s Victoria Court epic I have fished out Alf’s Whitehouse Court post from Wednesday October 31st 2007.
### Re-edited with TXT version of list,, so now searchable within BLOG## Paul
Whitehosue Court 1947 -- by Alf Rothwell No Adults Children 1 Mr & Mrs Harrison Billy and Betty 2 Mr & Mrs Ware Ernie 3 Mr & Mrs Bowery John, Jimmy, Doris & Ronnie 4 Mr & Mrs Payne Jack & Billy 5 Applebys 6 Emery or Harrison 7 Mr & Mrs O'Connor Jack & Kathleen 8 ? ? 9 Mr & Mrs Hume 10 ? ? 11 Grandma Lillingworth 12 Mr & Mrs Dickinson Dennis, Tom & older brother 14 Mr & Mrs Comerford 15 Mr & Mrs Howard Peter 16 Mr & Mrs Wilson Alan 17 Winter John Kidd 18 ? 19 Mr & Mrs Stafford Kathleen & Joyce 20 Mr & Mrs P Rothwell Sarah & Alan 21 Mr & Mrs Oyston 22 Mr & Mrs Lumley Chris 23 Mr & Mrs Welsh 24 Mr & Mrs Gibb Tom & Barry 25 Mr & Mrs J Rothwell Alfie 26 Mrs Wren Arthur 27 Bevington ? 28 Mr & Mrs Thompson 29 Mr & Mrs Marriott Margaret & Billy 30 Mr & Mrs Myers 31 Mr & Mrs Rhodes 32 Mr & Mrs Robinson Albert & Dorothy 33 Mr & Mrs Flatley Barnie 34 Mr & Mrs Gargett (Later) 35 Mrs Mills 36 Blackett ? 37 Mr & Mrs Hudson 38 Mr & Mrs Coulhard Derek 39 Kirtley ? 40 Mr & Mrs Lumb Brian 41 Pinkney ? 42 ? 43 Pinkney ? 44 Mr & Mrs Clark Gloria & Frank 45 Mr & Mrs Nattrass Sylvia 46 Mr & Mrs Henderson Harry the postman 47 Mr & Mrs McQuillan Tom, John & Loretta 48 Later Jack & Sheila Pickard 49 ? 50 Hird ? 51 Gray ? 52 53 Gillon ? 54 55 Quigley ? 56 Mr & Mrs Strong 57 Mr & Mrs Hope 58 Mr & Mrs Greenwell Joan & Billy 59 Mrs & Mrs Clark