Over the 2014-2018 commemoration period of The Great War, Wheatley Hill History Club was awarded two significant grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund – one to look at the life of local VC hero Thomas Kenny and the second to collect the responses of modern-day residents of the village to the … Continue Reading about Wheatley Hill and the Great War
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St Bartholomews Church Windows
These four windows were installed in St Bartholomew’s Church, Thornley in 1866 and 1868 respectively in memory of local landowners H J Spearman and George Wilkinson. When Thornley church was demolished several years ago, they came under the ownership of the demolition contractor responsible for pulling the church down. A member of Wheatley Hill Heritage Society felt strongly that the windows should be kept in this area, and with financial assistance provided by Thornley Parish Council, was able … Continue Reading about St Bartholomews Church Windows
Closure of Wheatley Hill Pit 1968
CLOSURE BEWILDERS THE PITMEN OF WHEATLEY HILL One of the many puzzled men at Wheatley Hill Colliery which closes down tonight, is Mr William Gibson of Burns Street, a chargehand fitter at the colliery and secretary of the Wheatley Hill Lodge of the Mechanics’ Association. He said, “Look around the pit. You will not see one bit of coal stockpiled. However much coal comes up there is a demand for it, so it is difficult to understand why the pit should have to close. “I know that our output per … Continue Reading about Closure of Wheatley Hill Pit 1968
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Wolmerhausen Street, Wheatley Hill
When Wheatley Hill pit was sunk in 1867 it was the third colliery in the small empire of the Thornley Coal Company who were also responsible for the collieries at Thornley and Ludworth.It is not clear who the sinkers of Wheatley Hill colliery were but Thornley was sunk by the eminent engineer from Durham City, William Coulson, and it may be that the same team carried out the sinking at the new Wheatley Hill Colliery. We do know however that the first sods of earth to mark the new colliery, were … Continue Reading about WHAT’S IN A NAME? Wolmerhausen Street, Wheatley Hill
The Martyrdom of the Mine – Part One
Edward (Neddy) Rymer was a coal miner who worked at pits in Durham, Yorkshire, North Wales, Nottingham and Lancashire. He was a union activist and blacklisted from many coal mines and coalfields as a result of this. The following extract is from the above publication and it should be remembered that it is the account of someone who was there at the time these things were happening. It is not a story, not made up, but an eye-witness account of life in the1860’s in Thornley: “The clouds of the … Continue Reading about The Martyrdom of the Mine – Part One
The Martyrdom of the Mine – Part Two
Edward (Neddy) Rymer was a coal miner who worked at pits in Durham, Yorkshire, North Wales, Nottingham and Lancashire. He was a union activist and blacklisted from many coal mines and coalfields as a result of this. The following extract is from the above publication and it should be remembered that it is the account of someone who was there at the time these things were happening. It is not a story, not made up, but an eye-witness account of life in the 1860’sWilliam Crawford called a … Continue Reading about The Martyrdom of the Mine – Part Two
THE MEMOIRS OF Thomas Russell 1847-1928 (during the short time he lived in Wheatley Hill)
10 May 1879 Wheatley Hill Colliery Cheap emigration to Australia and America Fair from Durham to Pennsylvania £ 6. 6s.6d Fair from Durham to Ohio £ 7.12s.0d Fair from Durham to Illinois £ 8.11s.6d Fair from Durham to Texas £11. 8s.6d Assisted passage to Canada £ 4.15s.0d Stem Ship Lorents to Australia £15. 5s.0d Apply to Wm Gray, 5 North Road, Durham for the Albon and Orient Mail Steamers 14 May 1879 Wheatley Hill Colliery Bof Saterday taking splent up 15 May 1879 Wheatley Hill Colliery … Continue Reading about THE MEMOIRS OF Thomas Russell 1847-1928 (during the short time he lived in Wheatley Hill)