Guestbook : Wheatley Hill History Club Durham

While you are here, why not sign our guestbook ?

126 entries.

Harry Copnall wrote on May 26, 2010:

Nostalgic old 'B' - At 71yrs old I can still get a lump in the throat as I found out on reading your wonderful site. I left Wheatley Hill in 1955 and joined 'The Guards' as a percussionist, my stepfather was Tommy Holmes the 'Tankey' driver along with Len ???. My mam was Ella Holmes and ran the sweet shop next to the Royalty cinema. Nice to see Frankie Horner in photo's, when I was on leave one Xmas, my mam set fire to the oven and Frankie and 'the lads' were called out at 2.00pm on Xmas Day to put the fire out.

History Club wrote on May 19, 2010:

HOLLAND FAMILY - Steve, will you please e-mail. We can't get the link to work!! Sorry.

Susan Ward wrote on May 7, 2010:

Smiles family - My great grandmother is Sally Smiles who appears in your archive photographs on the steps of her 'caravan shop' which, I have been told was located near the entrance to the pit. Her son , Peter Smiles ( my grandad ) married Barbara Hall and together they had five daughters - Betty , Gladys, Sally (my mum ) , Isobel & Florence. The Smiles family lived on Wheatley Terrace ( 31 or 35 ? ). It is comforting looking at the old photos which remind me of my childhood. I will sift through my phot album and let you have copies of family photos including my parents weding. The site is fascinating & I must say a visit to the Heritage Centre five years ago brought my mum much happiness and she often talked of it before she died in 2007. Susan Ward

steven wadmore wrote on May 4, 2010:

the holland family - thank you for the very useful information you have already sent me about my mothers family,the hollands i understand you may have some more, if you could e mail me this i would be very grateful.

HISTORY CLUB wrote on May 2, 2010:

STEVE WADSMORE - Please contact the History Club Steve, we have some information about your mother's family - the Hollands.

Cherry wrote on April 29, 2010:

Family Tree - My family are from Thornley and Wheatley Hill.|Many happy times as a child visiting in the holidays.|My grandfather was John Thomas Burrell and my great grandfather was Garrett Burrell. My grandmother was Emily Grainger and I have worked out because my mother kept everything that Garrett was married twice, firstly to Elizabeth Ann Ingolby and then to Sarah Walton. Some may remember my mother and her siblings. Kate Burrell was my mother and then John Burrell then Violet Cotton and finally Norman Burrell. I really like this site because it has put me back in touch with my younger years.All sorts of interesting things have come to light because of it. Thank you.

kevin hicks wrote on March 6, 2010:

Left Wheatley Hill 1968 Now 56Years Old - Did not realise Wheatley Hil had a history club,I have visited it a few times and taken photos(1977)and(2008) Dont think this is old(What is history)Dad moved south when pit closed(Nottinghamshire)Have a few tails to tell will be in contact.Good to read other people's stories,brought it home a bit(home is where the heart is).Good Site.May Become a member.

mary walker wrote on February 20, 2010:

contact Mick Davies - hi i'm pleased to see all visits to guestbook read some of them and recognised some of the entrants.|i've lived in Wheatley hill all my life,I am a member of the History Club so a lot of photos and information is known to me but still great to see the photos of people i recognise love the one of me dad Tommy Davies (Tot) (having his last tab (cigaret) before going down pit)|Mick Davies who put in an entry is my nephew|so guest book is well woth a visit.

wendy lee wrote on February 16, 2010:

looking for... - looking for avril dobbin and leslie carr.went to school with leslie and lived near avril in the early 70s.

Rose Milburn wrote on February 11, 2010:

John Errington - Hi my grandmother's father was John Errington, described as a Grocer (Master). The address on the marriage certificate is 5 Hirst Street - would be interested to find out more. Only found out her maiden name was... Read more

IAn Dunn , Teesside wrote on February 11, 2010:

Dunn Family - Im researching my family history, which shows my grandad Thomas Paisley Dunn was born in wingate lane in 1903, He went on to be a blacksmith in the area trimdon and kelloe, his famliy also lived in Trimdon at some stage. Thomas moved to Teesside around 1949 to become a succesfull business man. I would like to hear from anybody with information or photos about this family. regards Ian Dunn. PS brilliant site

Judith Harmer (Nee Local) wrote on January 11, 2010:

Thankyou - Hi, A big thankyou to everyone who has put all of this information together.|I am 44years old and now live , Blackhall. My Mam and dad were Billy and Frances local .Uncle and Grandad Bob and Jack Cowie .|It was such an emotional experience to see my dad and Uncle Bob in the Photographs on your site. Thanks again Judith

Alan Hughes wrote on October 24, 2009:

Researching Family and Friends - My mother Mercy Hughes nee Champley was born Wheatley Hill in 1902.Her father Ralph lived in 6th. Street her brother Ralph died about 1990 and lived in the village all of his life. my cousin Jennifer Champley still lives there.My uncle Bob Hutchinson was manager at Newmans store for years.I spent alot of time in the village in the 50's and 60's.Especially at the Embassy dance hall.Thanks for the memories.

Andrena Flynn wrote on October 12, 2009:

Photos - I have been to Wheatley hill this weekend and been to the Heritage Centre inside the cemetary, i was realy amased at what there was there. The people there were very helpfull and i bought a few post cards of Wheatly Hill coliery and only one they had of the coliery in Wingate although i would have liked more on Wingate, as my Mother was born there, doing the family tree i find it is more interesting to go to the places where ancestors were from. The Thompson's were from Alnwick and my GGrandfather moved to Thornley in about the early 1860s.with 2 of his sons and a daughter he worked in the Pit there. There must have been some relative of mothers in Wheatley hill in the early 1900s as i remember her saying she went there visiting a lot. If you could help me as i am wanting old photos of Wingate 1800s and early 1900s, I have just found this site and it is just what i was looking for.

Mick Davies wrote on September 24, 2009:

Thanks for the memories! - I loved looking through the pictures, it brought back memories. I was born in wheatley Hill and moved away around 1968. I have family there and have visited my whole life. My father was Tommy (Tucker) Davies and my Aunt Mary still lives on Wordsworth Avenue. I am living in Texas USA now, but I always think of the wonderful people of Wheatley Hill..