Echo Memories

ECHO MEMORIES

The King Edward VII Bridge in Newcastle with the Durham and Northumberland signs which are no longer there. Picture: Ken Taylor Collection

Zero posts and border signs: relics from another age left beside our railways

Dick Turpin astride his horse Black Bess

Dick Turpin astride his horse Black Bess

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A journey on the A67: Dick Turpin, the Baydale Beck, a lost white cross and a gin-gan

Great Darlingtonians with fabulous facial hair

Great Darlingtonians with fabulous facial hair

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Darlington's fabulous facial hair over the decades charted in new exhibition

The six gallant boys of Brompton, from a local newspaper in December 1914

The six gallant boys of Brompton, from a local newspaper in December 1914

The six brave brothers caught up in the war's first gas attack

Bishop Auckland Market Place, by Gary Miller

Bishop Auckland Market Place, by Gary Miller

Painting the buzz of Bishop Auckland in the old days

The painted poppies on top of Pieter Vermote's headstone in Sedgefield

The painted poppies on top of Pieter Vermote's headstone in Sedgefield

Solved: the mystery of Sedgefield's poppy stones on WW1 soldier's headstone

Members of the Brancepeth Women's Institute in 1922, many of whom would have been involved in raising money, and perhaps paddling concrete, for the village hall

Members of the Brancepeth Women's Institute in 1922, many of whom would have been involved in raising money, and perhaps paddling concrete, for the village hall

Village hall, where the WI paddled the concrete, celebrates its 100th anniversary

Darlington gold medal

Darlington gold medal

How Darlington honoured its gallant WW1 heroes with a controversial medal

Above and left: Howden-le-Wear war memorial in the 1930s

Above and left: Howden-le-Wear war memorial in the 1930s

100-year-old memorial commemorates sailor who took part in extraordinary WW1 trial

Flt-Sgt Ron Chapman, a Darlington Grammar School old boy

Flt-Sgt Ron Chapman, a Darlington Grammar School old boy

Diary of a WW2 Darlington airman sheds light on mystery fatal crash

The grave of Pieter Vermote in the old Winterton graveyard, Sedgefield.

The grave of Pieter Vermote in the old Winterton graveyard, Sedgefield.

Corners of south Durham that, since the First World War, have been forever Belgium

Escomb War Memorial. Picture: Howard Chadwick

Escomb War Memorial. Picture: Howard Chadwick

Self-sacrificing bravery of the names carved in a village's stone memorial

In a day of great drama, how the operatic society saved Darlington Hippodrome

A century of song: how Darlington Operatic Society made the Hippodrome its home

These three ladies found a strange way to promote DOS's production of The Gondoliers in 1984. We only reproduce these pictures because the ladies are wearing legwarmers, the 1980s essential which featured in Memories a fortnight ago. Whether Irene

These three ladies found a strange way to promote DOS's production of The Gondoliers in 1984. We only reproduce these pictures because the ladies are wearing legwarmers, the 1980s essential which featured in Memories a fortnight ago. Whether Irene

From the archive: the cheeky ways Darlington Operatic Society has promoted its shows

Seamus O'Connell who appeared for Bishop Auckland in the Amateur Cup Final in 1955

Seamus O'Connell who appeared for Bishop Auckland in the Amateur Cup Final in 1955

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The greatest player from the south Durham golden age of amateur football

Faverdale 1925 inspection by the Duchess of York

Faverdale 1925 inspection by the Duchess of York

One family's story of scouts, samplers and guides

The Shildon marshalling yard on September 2, 1964, by Ray Goad

The Shildon marshalling yard on September 2, 1964, by Ray Goad

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Rail museum goes steam bananas as it celebrates its 20th anniversary

Dowager Duchess Eleanor of Stanwick Hall and the roadside memorial to her friend

Dowager Duchess Eleanor of Stanwick Hall and the roadside memorial to her friend

Hidden roadside memorial marks the final fall of a duchess's favourite

The Glittering North at Raby Castle Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Glittering North at Raby Castle Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Why are the Vikings returning to light up Raby Castle in The Glittering North?

Joan’s legwarmers were stylish in the 1980s

Joan’s legwarmers were stylish in the 1980s

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Ooooh! What a feeling! Do you remember legwarmers, a 1980s fashion essential?

Hall Garth in Coatham Mundeville in Henry Carrick's day. Pictures courtesy of Jonathan Peacock

Hall Garth in Coatham Mundeville in Henry Carrick's day. Pictures courtesy of Jonathan Peacock

The wealthy Victorian railwaymen who made their home in a haunted Darlington hall

Durham Market Place in 1830 where, in 1597, Anthony Arrowsmith had been pressed to death

Durham Market Place in 1830 where, in 1597, Anthony Arrowsmith had been pressed to death

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When a suspected murderer was pressed to death in Durham Market Place

St Andrew’s Church, Ingleby Greenhow: “The little ivy-covered church was too small to accommodate all those who attended” the funeral of murder victim railway worker Frank Ward 100 years ago this week

St Andrew’s Church, Ingleby Greenhow: “The little ivy-covered church was too small to accommodate all those who attended” the funeral of murder victim railway worker Frank Ward 100 years ago this week

Shocking murder on the railway line exactly 100 years ago this week

Jules Leonard Joseph Jean Libert, of Ostend, buried in Darlington West Cemetery

Jules Leonard Joseph Jean Libert, of Ostend, buried in Darlington West Cemetery

From Ostend to Darlo: a WW1 Belgian refugee and the VC-winning naval war hero

Yorkshire Shepherdess

Yorkshire Shepherdess

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How the Yorkshire Shepherdess goes in search of Anty John in her new series

David Shepherd with a photograph of No 390 in its working days. It went on show in Shildon in 2012. David passed away in 2017

David Shepherd with a photograph of No 390 in its working days. It went on show in Shildon in 2012. David passed away in 2017

When a president gave an artist a loco that worked the Victoria Falls Bridge

sampler dorothy walton, 1832

sampler dorothy walton, 1832

Do you have a sampler made by someone in your family tree?

Patrol leaders and corporals from the 1st Darlington Guides in 1910. Picture courtesy of the Darlington Centre for Local Studies

Patrol leaders and corporals from the 1st Darlington Guides in 1910. Picture courtesy of the Darlington Centre for Local Studies

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Darlington's girl guides in the spotlight of new exhibition

Staindrop on April 27, 1955, from The Northern Echo archive

Staindrop on April 27, 1955, from The Northern Echo archive

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Gaslighting Staindrop: when villagers opposed lighting up their streets

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Famous jockey killed in terrible accident at Scotch Corner 100 years ago

The Old Vicarage, High Etherley - S&P

The Old Vicarage, High Etherley - S&P

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Childhood dream home in County Durham pit village now up for sale for £1.495m

Blackwell Grange in the 1850s

Blackwell Grange in the 1850s

The good Miss Allan who employed a feline fisherman to keep the Blackwell moggies fed

Semerwater in the Yorkshire Dales, by Heather Middleton

Semerwater in the Yorkshire Dales, by Heather Middleton

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The Yorkshire lake that was formed by a curse - and drowned a town

Mary Eleanor Bowes

Mary Eleanor Bowes

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The castle and the countess: when a high society scandal shocked south Durham

Wildsmith, Darlington archive

Wildsmith, Darlington archive

Weeding out the truth about Darlington's first school where a cannabis farm was found

The Sandes Soldiers' Home, of 1928, in Catterick Garrison is now a Grade II* listed building. All pictures courtesy of Historic England

The Sandes Soldiers' Home, of 1928, in Catterick Garrison is now a Grade II* listed building. All pictures courtesy of Historic England

From bleak huts to Europe's largest base: the garrison's story told in six buildings

Raising a Barnard Castle School glass to Old Barnadian David Hartley, who fought at the bridge in Arnhem

Raising a Barnard Castle School glass to Old Barnadian David Hartley, who fought at the bridge in Arnhem

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Raising a glass to an Old Barnardian 80 years after he fought for the bridge too far

Greener's 1836 engine

Greener's 1836 engine

199 years ago, south Durham gave birth to the first of the modern railways...

Graeme Forster pictured at his Metaltech works at Delves Lane near Consett

Graeme Forster pictured at his Metaltech works at Delves Lane near Consett

SPORT NOSTALGIA

Why the metallurgist Doc was a hot property on the football field

Lucy Cross, formerly a pub at the junction where the turnpike road from Richmond, on the left, met the old Roman road of Dere Street running north to Piercebridge. Picture: Google StreetView

Lucy Cross, formerly a pub at the junction where the turnpike road from Richmond, on the left, met the old Roman road of Dere Street running north to Piercebridge. Picture: Google StreetView

When there was a walkover at Lucy Cross

The Red Well, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, is on the market with Savills

The Red Well, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, is on the market with Savills

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The Red Well is for sale - but where is the red well?

The lead bale seal and a field of flax

The lead bale seal and a field of flax

Detectorist's great find takes us back to when Darlington traded with St Petersburg

Jeremy Clarkson and the builders of the Victoria Falls Bridge

Jeremy Clarkson and the builders of the Victoria Falls Bridge

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Clarkson's head for heights on his Grand Tour over Darlington's Victoria Falls Bridge

Peter Hill and a re-enactment of the Arnhem landings

Peter Hill and a re-enactment of the Arnhem landings

A Darlington gliderman at Arnhem trying to capture the bridge too far 80 years ago

Robert Redford as Major Julian Aaron Cook.

Robert Redford as Major Julian Aaron Cook.

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From Coundon to Hollywood: how Robert Redford played a Durham lad in famous war film

The result of the 1926 trainwreck of the Flying Scotsman at Cramlington

The result of the 1926 trainwreck of the Flying Scotsman at Cramlington

Drama of the 1926 East Coast Main Line trainwreckers, and the highest point in Durham

The new Binns store on High Row is on the left

The new Binns store on High Row is on the left

100 years of bare bottoms in the window of a major Darlington town centre shop

Etherley VAD hospital

Etherley VAD hospital

Travel up the dale was the right prescription for hospitalised soldiers

ravensford farm

ravensford farm

After 40 years of dedication, the historic gardens of Ravensford say farewell

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"The maddening influence of drink": how Durham was awash with fights and booze

Joan Anderson ready for a wedding in one of her special hats in the 1950s

Joan Anderson ready for a wedding in one of her special hats in the 1950s

If you want to get ahead, get a salt pig... and 59 hats

Looking down on Bondgate from Lavericks' balcony in December 1961. There was once a village green in the middle of Bondgate where the buses are parked up

Looking down on Bondgate from Lavericks' balcony in December 1961. There was once a village green in the middle of Bondgate where the buses are parked up

Meet the mavericks of Lavericks: the story of one of Darlington's quirkiest buildings

How to catch a kingfisher.Main picture: Roger Simpson of The Northern Echo Camera Club

How to catch a kingfisher.Main picture: Roger Simpson of The Northern Echo Camera Club

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Chicken goggles, a kingfisher catcher and a weather predictor: history in 100 objects