Girls from Gibside Street
Sisters Marjorie Dixon and Heather Woods (nee Mitton) who lived at No. 15 Gibside Street along with Nancy Robson (nee Morland) who lived at No 19 - friends to this day - share their memories of growing up in the Bottoms.
The War Years
Marjorie and Heather’s father, Leslie, had been in the Territorial Army prior to the outbreak of the war and was therefore immediately called up in 1939. Heather first remembers seeing her father when she was six and a half, she also remembers the two evacuee children from London who lived with her family for the entire duration of the war.
Marjorie and Heather’s father, Leslie, had been in the Territorial Army prior to the outbreak of the war and was therefore immediately called up in 1939. Heather first remembers seeing her father when she was six and a half, she also remembers the two evacuee children from London who lived with her family for the entire duration of the war.
This photo, thought to have been taken prior to 1939 shows Heather and Marjorie's father, Leslie Mitton, with their two brothers Colin and Bill. The rear of the Vale club is visible up on the top road. (Source: Heather (Mitton) Woods.)
The story behind the two boys who just suddenly appeared in their home, is explained by Marjorie: “Uncle Bill who was in the navy had a friend from London whose family had been bombed during the Blitz. In an unofficial arrangement, Uncle Bill had stepped in to get his friend’s three children to safety. Our mother took in the two boys Sid and Joe, their sister Rosie living between our grandmother’s and old Mrs. Fletcher’s house. It was a bit of a squash as we only two bedrooms. The boys would go to bed in their boots; they were absolutely terrified whenever the air raid siren went off and they were always first into the shelter”.
Heather recalls men in uniform, probably the Home Guard, camped up in a field at Gibside just the other side of the river and getting to ride on a tank along the river the day one rode through the Bottoms.
Sundays – Chapel and Church
Marjorie, who today can still recite the passages and hymns she learned as a child, explains what the chapel and gospel hall meant to her: “Me, my sister and others went to both the Chapel at Lilley Terrace and the Mission. Chapel was quite formal but we still enjoyed going, the mission was less so. We learned the same things and had the anniversary at both - we loved that! It must have meant a lot because I still remember those happy days with affection when there wasn't a lot also to do especially on Sundays.”
For many children from the Bottoms, it would seem that attending the various places of worship in the village, in addition to the main element of religion, was also akin to a leisure or past-time activity: “I went to all three: the chapel, the Mission and St Barnabas Church” remembers Nancy.
Marjorie, who today can still recite the passages and hymns she learned as a child, explains what the chapel and gospel hall meant to her: “Me, my sister and others went to both the Chapel at Lilley Terrace and the Mission. Chapel was quite formal but we still enjoyed going, the mission was less so. We learned the same things and had the anniversary at both - we loved that! It must have meant a lot because I still remember those happy days with affection when there wasn't a lot also to do especially on Sundays.”
For many children from the Bottoms, it would seem that attending the various places of worship in the village, in addition to the main element of religion, was also akin to a leisure or past-time activity: “I went to all three: the chapel, the Mission and St Barnabas Church” remembers Nancy.
The Derwent
For most residents of the Bottoms living by the river was generally considered a pleasant aspect of the area, excepting perhaps those living in Derwent View when on occasion– generally once or twice a year - during strong storms the river would swell and flow over into their gardens. Some people even recall seeing animal carcasses floating through the Bottoms at such times.
Heather remembers one very sad incident late fifties which had a tragic outcome when a little girl rode her tricycle down a steep path leading down to the river, fell into the water and became entangled in the reeds.
“All the local children knew the river well – all the boys would go swimming in the Derwent” recalls Nancy, “but the river could be dangerous for those who weren’t local. In the early fifties two kids drowned over by the ‘points’ – that’s where the river is really deep by the foundations of the bridge – they weren’t from the Bottoms, they must have been visiting”.
For most residents of the Bottoms living by the river was generally considered a pleasant aspect of the area, excepting perhaps those living in Derwent View when on occasion– generally once or twice a year - during strong storms the river would swell and flow over into their gardens. Some people even recall seeing animal carcasses floating through the Bottoms at such times.
Heather remembers one very sad incident late fifties which had a tragic outcome when a little girl rode her tricycle down a steep path leading down to the river, fell into the water and became entangled in the reeds.
“All the local children knew the river well – all the boys would go swimming in the Derwent” recalls Nancy, “but the river could be dangerous for those who weren’t local. In the early fifties two kids drowned over by the ‘points’ – that’s where the river is really deep by the foundations of the bridge – they weren’t from the Bottoms, they must have been visiting”.
Viaduct at the Derwent where children used to play. Photo: Trevor Coulson
The Queen’s Coronation
June 2nd 1953 was celebrated in due fashion in the Bottoms with parties in every street. Nancy recalls the day well: “A neighbour in Towneley Street had a twelve inch TV so we all crowded into her front room to watch the Coronation on the television. Don’t know how many of us were in there, but the room was crammed from front to back, some of us kids standing raised on forms to be able to see the screen”
June 2nd 1953 was celebrated in due fashion in the Bottoms with parties in every street. Nancy recalls the day well: “A neighbour in Towneley Street had a twelve inch TV so we all crowded into her front room to watch the Coronation on the television. Don’t know how many of us were in there, but the room was crammed from front to back, some of us kids standing raised on forms to be able to see the screen”
Boys with handerkerchiefs in their top pockets, girls in pretty dresses, neighbours from No. 4a Gibside Street, Ed, Shirley, Sandra and Harry Myers pose for the camera on Coronation day.
Births, deaths and 'hoy oots'
In the event of a birth or a death in the Bottoms, everyone knew who to ‘run for’-very few telephones in those days and mobiles light-years away! In the fifties, Mrs. Fletcher was the neighbour who laid people out; “I remember being told to run up to her’s for the laying-out boards when I was just eleven” recalls Marjorie.
Births usually took place in the home, and a neighbour would come in while someone would run for the nurse. In the fifties this would mean running for Nurse Patterson at Lintzford or Nurse Murton at Highfield!
A wedding - no matter whose - was cause for great excitement for the kids in the Bottoms who would gather eagerly outside the house from which the bride was to emerge. The 'hoy oot' was what it was all about; a scramble to grab a penny or 'hap'nney' from the handful of 'coppers' thrown into the air by the bride's father. Depending on what the bride's family could manage or how generous they felt, amongst the coins there might even be a 'thrup'ney' bit, a sixpence even! You might even get lucky twice the same day if the reception happend to be at one of the local clubs as the groom might do another 'hoy oot' when arriving there as well... great fun!
Births, deaths and 'hoy oots'
In the event of a birth or a death in the Bottoms, everyone knew who to ‘run for’-very few telephones in those days and mobiles light-years away! In the fifties, Mrs. Fletcher was the neighbour who laid people out; “I remember being told to run up to her’s for the laying-out boards when I was just eleven” recalls Marjorie.
Births usually took place in the home, and a neighbour would come in while someone would run for the nurse. In the fifties this would mean running for Nurse Patterson at Lintzford or Nurse Murton at Highfield!
A wedding - no matter whose - was cause for great excitement for the kids in the Bottoms who would gather eagerly outside the house from which the bride was to emerge. The 'hoy oot' was what it was all about; a scramble to grab a penny or 'hap'nney' from the handful of 'coppers' thrown into the air by the bride's father. Depending on what the bride's family could manage or how generous they felt, amongst the coins there might even be a 'thrup'ney' bit, a sixpence even! You might even get lucky twice the same day if the reception happend to be at one of the local clubs as the groom might do another 'hoy oot' when arriving there as well... great fun!