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THE TEESDALE MERCURY. Wednesday, 16th November, 1983. Though 50 years have flown, I will never forget BOYHOOD MEMORIES NEW BRIDGE IS the west wind sweeping OF SOME HAPPY TIMES over Cockfield Fell, stir­ at a huge gloomy place where the on the fell’s face. I can’t imagine ESSENTIAL IN MERCURY ring its brown grass like the ON COCKFIELD FELL railway crossed the river by via­ why we played in that dreadful waves of an inland sea. duct—a span of brown steel sup­ spot, but we did. Farther on you NEAR FUTURE COMMENT ported by towering brick columns, crossed a deep man-made ravine, That fell seemed to stretch A ban on heavy lorries This account of the Fell many years along whose narrow girders my blasted out of the fell by men forever away past West End ago, and of a recent return visit, has crossing the County Bridge, and years of delay will only put mates inched for pigeons* eggs. toiling for stone to build houses Barnard Castle, has been up the price. where the Gaundess flowed from been sent by Mr James Griffiths, who I didn’t venture more than a and roads. requested for years, so it is It is a worthwhile scheme which a pleasant woodland, on through now lives at 11 Kenilworth Close, Sea- few yards from solid ground. My the valley pock-marked with the Two bridges spanned the quarry, bound to be welcomed by will create valuable employment bridge, Newcastle, Staffs. legs jellied at the sight of those One was comparatively modem many residents when it does come—and the need leavings of coal pits, and way over enterprising sports as they crawled to a broad horizon, beyond what pitch and toss which illegally sewed during long nights isolated and safe, if you didn’t dare to It will divert a lot of the goods for jobs in modem times has perilously high. I ran down the climb over the railings. The other traffic which uses the town as a never been greater than now. my grandfather used to call “up occupied men with a few coppers in her home, listening to the wild hill and up the other side to meet west.” to spare. It was said there had winds. was a rotting, black timbered short cut, thus doing away with The ban will cause inconvenience them. It was safer that way, but structure with gaping spaces where much of the noise and vibration for firms in Teesdale but there been cock fighting, and many a You passed Miss Moreton's not prestigious! The horizon, still panoramic, political meeting when pitmen house, and down the metalled road the planks had long been taken which causes irritation and will be little hope of letting them seems a little tighter as 1 visit We thrilled to the awesome rattle for firewood or fallen into the damage. use the bridge while halting all began to realise their equality with to the Gaunless which flows from of trains moving over the viaduct these days. When I was a boy I other men. West End. The endless movement depths. But the ban can be only a others. watched clouds scudding over the as they chugged on their way to short term measure rather than a The top quarry was disused of a river is a wonderful cradle for It was a blessing that, as far as It will be impossible to allow blue sky in spring. I heard pee­ Cockfield station, and on to Bar­ real solution. There can be just when I was a boy, a dangerous nostalgia. The man-built scenery I know, not one child fell into access to lorries which have busi­ nard Castle. That great bridge is one positive answer, and that is wits crying and when I looked playground which you passed on has fallen, but the waters lap that awful place. But I did hear ness in the area and block those demolished now, the old railway to build a new bridge. hard, a lark soaring. When spring your way to the Slack, following ceaselessly against flat rocks as of a poor man who ‘oyed hisel which are simply passing through, tom up, and those labouring That has been talked about for slipped into summer we dammed a rutted cart track along which they have done for thousands of ower.’ as some people have proposed. the Gaunless at West End with engines will never be heard again. at least 20 years, with various sites many a weary galloway must have years, and, I hope, for thousands It is likely that without a The ghosts are still there though. If you carried on across the fell, and routes suggested, but at the any available material, and toiled, pulling coal laden carts to more. normal through-road, trade in the Old Alf Wearmouth who ran much past the shambles of wooden huts last reckoning there seemed little bathed in its water, clean from the railway goods yard. The Slack must have been a town will suffer. And there is a of Teesdale’s Drift; Dick H unter! and cotes, and long haired sheep prospect of it being started this distinct possibility, as the experts’ the hills. I never knew why the place got place of wild beauty before it was from Mayfield Terrace, a keen Tees eking a living from the grass, you century. report makes clear, that the its peculiar name—perhaps from a hamlet; but its charm has gone. But in autumn when the chill angler; Mr Shaw, the benevolent came to the cemetery where my However, the revelation that the County Bridge will be closed com- the coal they delivered there, It has only redundancy and neg­ came we never ventured far. Those old gentleman who gave us pennies; father was buried in 1928 when I County Bridge is now just about pletely in a year or two. though I doubt it. It was famous lect, it is marred with the relics rolling clouds shed sudden Old Mrs Kirtley, who kept a shop was only two years old. past it and is no longer safe for Teesdale Council must have a locally for another reason: Miss of past industry, rotting steel left drenching rains, and the darkness in Model Terrace; young Bert Wal­ Mother couldn’t afford a head­ many modern vehicles means a very strong case^ for persuading Moreton lived nearby. over from the days men was scarey. As the year died and ton, killed at Gordon House stone for him, so she planted a new one must be thought about the government, through the hewed coal from the Gaunless another was born, swirling blizzards She was a woman of high Colliery by a roof fall. And my conifer on his grave. There is now again urgently. county, that a new bridge is banks. You can still see old drift covered the wide land. standing who made new clothes paternal grandfather, complete with a large fir tree near his resting The cost of the project, presum­ essential in the immediate future. for the village ladies when they mouths in the grassed-over dirt I think the year was 1934. When cap, clay pipe and stick. place. I’d like to think it was once ably tied up with a bypass or ring The surprising thing is that the could afford such luxuries. She mounds, which we dared each we dug ourselves out of the So I turned south from the via­ the little tree she planted, but I road, will be enormous. But it will old bridge, a relic from some 500 made wedding dresses for brides other to explore. house, the snow was towering duct to Fell Houses skirting an can’t be sure. have to be tackled some time, years ago, is still standing at all. and frocks for lucky little girls to If you followed the Gaunless amphitheatre of forgotten slag above both sides of a passage we People change too. I went into wear on anniversary Sundays. That east, leaping from rock to rock heaps, with a slurry pond in its cut through our backyard. Al­ the pub once known as Albert dear lady must have burned end­ as we did, pausing to look for centre. though I was only eight, it still Leonard’s, and not a soul recognis­ PEEPS INTO THE PAST less midnight oil as she stitched and trout we never found, you arrived It’s a terrible relic, an acne spot had to be a fairly heavy fall to ed me . . . do that. Sometimes the western 5 years ago difference between British and hills were still capped with snow American local government matter where you are. Brian May and Friends—Star A hurricane travelled through systems during a visit to the U.S.A. weeks after it melted on Cockfield Limahl—Only for Love (EMI). Fleet (EMI). The ever excellent Teesdale at 85 m.p.h. causing a Fell. She met the Mayor of Lexington, Synthesised and catchy, this is his Queen guitarists’ version of the widespread trail of destruction. Virginia. It was an intriguing land, up first solo hit since his split from children’s TV series theme. A Police dealt with large trees blown west—full of mystery, the location HITor Kajagoogoo. The words and music knockout piece of music helped down and drivers of tall vehicles 15 years ago of old tales my grandfather told are by himself, and it has all the along by some top class musicians were advised to stop for fear of Bowes F.C. at home to Spenny- about lead miners and lonely owd makings of a top ten record. It’s including Edward Van Halen. It’s overturning. moor: J. Cudmore, T. Joel, R. hill farmers. Middleton was some­ quite pleasing to listen to but I’m taken from the mini L.P. Star * * * Brown, K. Thompson, B. Robin­ where up there, and raging High KEVIN TUCK ASSESSES THE LATEST RECORDS not sure that it’s worth spending Fleet Project which at £2-99 makes Tom and Elsie Young, familiar son, A. Cudmore, R. Richardson, Force, and you could go on like your hard earned pocket money good value for money. The; guitar faces in Teesdale when they lived M. Close, B. Metham, R. Beadle, wagon trains in the old American There are some good knows why. on. solos on the single and the L.P. at the toll bridge at Eggleston J Brown and sub. F. Ashmore. West, and see nowt but sheep. numbers among the latest Madness—The Sun and the Rain ABC—That 'Was Then But This are amazing and this has to be Abbey, celebrated their golden • • • But all that was way beyond my record releases in Teesdale (Stiff Records). Madness are a fun is Now (Neutron). Taken from my pick of the week. It’s not just wedding. After moving to a bun­ Mr A. McLuckie was appoint­ adventure land, Cockfield Fell. It . . . and one or two that are group who have the ability to their forthcoming L.P. Beauty for kids, but I can’t help feeling galow in Startforth Tom became ed new manager of the Midland had slippery sided camp meeting pretty awful. keep coming up with likeable Stab. This is their first single in it won’t do as well as it should. caretaker at Startforth School. Bank, Barnard Castle in succes­ holes where non-conformist preach­ Here is my assessment of them. records. I think it’s quite catchy months, but time hasn’t changed All these records and others are sion to Mr D. T. Rumfitt. ers held their meetings, quoting and so do many others, as it has them as it’s in the same mould 10 years ago I wonder how many other young available at Woolworths in Bar­ 20 years ago iong, loud and mightily, while a already reached high places. as their previous releases. I think people in the area agree with me? nard Castle, which is now the only A proposal to close Bede Hos­ There was a tie between Bruce white haired old miner, recently Imagination—New Dimension (R the vocals are excellent and on If you have any strong feelings local shop selling them. pital, Barnard Castle, caused Coates and Keith Shields at Bar­ converted to the Lord, played the & B). Imagination are known as the whole it’s not bad. about these records or others, let I borrowed them from there to a storm of protest. It was claimed nard Castle Golf Club. Other good concertina. The faithful, and those one of the top disco groups and This Mortal Coil—Song to the me know. give my judgment, as I will be beds were needed more than ever scores were made by E. Swindells, interested in conversation, sat on this single enhances their reputa­ Siren (4AD). What a strange name The Police — Synchronicity II doing with other new releases in and an extension should be added. C. Raw, A. E. Alderson, G. S. the grassy slopes, and we children (A & M). Taken from their album tion. It came into the charts at for a group and what a strange future weeks. It was decided to protest to the Robinson, F. 'Webb, S. Mount- scurried amongst them like rabbits. record. It’s absolute junk, scraping Synchronicity. This strikes me as number 66 but once it gets the I’ll also publish comments from regional hospital board. ford. Those depressions, the result of yet another repetitive single off deserved airplay it should rise up into the charts last week at num­ readers about the music scene, so * • • 9! $ p collapsed mine workings, were ber 75. It sounds like a weird the Police conveyor belt. It’s most the charts. I think it will go down if you have anything to say write Mrs Virginia Trotter, of Tees­ A Poppy Day fair at Cother- used for more nefarious activities probably destined to be yet well at dances and is bound to (religious cult hymn with no per- to me, Kevin Tuck, at the Mer­ dale Council discussed the stone was a great success with than revival meetings. One was another big chart hit—but heaven have you bopping to the beat no . cussion. Not one for the collection. cury. dancing displays from pupils. Winners of competitions were John Bainbridge, Ian Hunter, Mrs W. PETER MOSS DENTAL REPAIRS ROOF REPAIRS and all Robinson, Mrs Buckle and Mrs types of RESLATING Langstaff. for and RENOVATIONS All General Building Work 25 years ago Land Drainage SERVICE undertaken Winners of prizes in a photo­ New work in brick and stone graphy competition at Barnard Trenchless Drainage 37 Blackwellgate Castle included Mrs M. Simm, Mr Plastic or Tiles For free estimate ring Gravel Backfill - Ditching Darlington G. D. Hunter, Mr R. Wright, Mr Plans and Surveys L. STALEY J. Robinson, Mr C. Lumley, Mr Tractors and Plant for hire TEL. DARLINGTON 58055 Teesdale 37035 H. Hodgson, Mr A. L. Simm. Jipaisg 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. * ♦ * Enquiries now taken Confirmed at Middleton were After hours and weekends Tel. Teesdale 27238 BEST PRICES PAID John Brown, Donald Kidd, Ruth Darlington 484083 Sayer, Margaret Fleming, Glennis for all types of Ross, Millicent Pinkney, Joyce before ' Watson, Ann Fox, Irene Birtle, e*erour -°ec' drtcj to Saf(W Scrap Metal Susan Coates, Irene Allinson, Last year over 3,200 »htch could Kathleen Kneller and Maureen house fires, were attributed T