Wheatley Hill History Club

Durham

General

Moses and the Children of Israel By a Geordie Lay Preacher

Noo aa’ve just cum ower the neet from Kingdom Haal I Gatesheed t tell ye aal aboot Moses an the Children ov Israel. Noo ye all knaa hoo Moses wus fund I’ the bullrushes be Phareh’s dowter (leastways that wus er story). Weel yors later Moses an ees lads wor workin I the clarts b the Nile makin bricks f Phareh. Noo one of the gards cums up an sez “Howay Moses Phareh wants t see … [Read more...] about Moses and the Children of Israel By a Geordie Lay Preacher

Coal Mining In East Durham – Part 2

(from Geordies, Yankees & Canucks by William Wonders)At Thornley, as at other new mines in East Durham, the landowner, Henry John Spearman was not directly involved in developing or operating the colliery. Instead, he leased the mining rights to the partners of the Thornley Coal Company. As Lords of the Manor of the Thornley Estate, the family had abandoned Thornley Hall in … [Read more...] about Coal Mining In East Durham – Part 2

Coal Mining In East Durham – Part 1

(from Geordies, Yankees & Canucks by William Wonders)The second half of the 17th Century saw rising land values as a result of which yeomen farmers increasingly prospered in the East Durham area. By the 18th Century wealthy businessmen and professionals from the cities began to purchase land for investment purposes, though the agricultural quality of plateau land (land on … [Read more...] about Coal Mining In East Durham – Part 1

A trip to the Durham Records Office

During a recent trip to the Durham County Records Office, looking for plans of the 1950’s council housing built in Wheatley Hill, I came across some interesting information concerning our village: 1910’s Several planning applications the from Mr Welford who was building lots of houses/shops in the Granville Terrace/Ashmore Terrace areas1922 An application for a fish and … [Read more...] about A trip to the Durham Records Office