Starting School
School Day
Useful Info
Community
Friends of Burnhope Primary School
Burnhope Heritage
The following recordings are residents’ conversations about memories of living in Burnhope from the 1930’s to 1960’s.
The accompanying intro-music is from ‘The Ash Grove’ played by Dodworth Colliery Brass Band.
Thank you to the Colliery Band for their music during the introduction and interlude.
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00:23 - Resident speaks about the Burnhope Brass Band.
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03:38 - We learn about the different halls in Burnhope and the activities they provided-This includes the Miners Hall.
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09:18 - A resident talks about what they did when they were children-cricket, dances, sports day and football.
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10:40 - Residents talk about going to the cinema and the films they watched, when they were children. They also speak about the Community Centre, Methodist Chapel and youth club.
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14:39 - Discussion around other groups in the community-scouts and cubs.
00:24 - Visiting the ‘Hoppings’ (fair)
02:12 - Rock and roll fashion
03:33 - Ivy Leaf Club trip to the seaside
06:37 - Summer trips organised by the Ivy Leaf Club, Colliery and Working Men’s Club
08:08 - Entertainment for teenagers
00:10 - Housing - describing a 3 bed house and conditions in the Colliery cottages
04:05 - Sharing everything, hand-me-downs, knowing no different
08:05 - Everybody had the same
09:53 - Describing a 1 bed colliery cottage and Parkside ‘modern’ houses
14:41 - Houshold appliances
00:22 - Burnhope was isolated
01:07 - Locations and owners of shops
03:11 - Shop interiors and mobile shops (pro-vans)
06:22 - General dealers 1960’s and ‘the store’
11:28 - Colliery school became Conway Tyres
00:10 - Social night’s out
03:21 - Socialising as a teenager
07:32 - Working in clubs playing the drums
10:47 - Hobbies, clubs, teams and changes in the village
12:40 - Playing out in the village
00:22 - Good times but hard times
03:00 - Description of 4 bed house and childhood in Burnhope
07:20 - Toilets and ‘the midden man’
09:09 - The terraced council houses
11:16 - All same standard of living and their pride
00:22 - Becoming a miner and having ‘marras’
02:12 - Comradeship
03:10 - Training to be a miner
05:51 - Different work on different shifts
09:08 - An accident down the mine
13:21 - Down the mine
Credits
With our thanks to:
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Alex Henry at Curiosity Creative for recording and editing these conversations
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Mid Durham AAP and the Heritage Lottery fund for funding the project
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Age UK for their co-operation
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The participants for their time and commitment to the project: Derek Coates, Ossie Johnson, Harry Barron,Gordon Smith, Billy Johnson, Alan Gibson, Barry Henderson, Jim Bradley, Joan Bradley.