I couldn't agree more on the subject of the Town Centre Recreation Ground. It is nothing but a let-down to the children of the area. Over the years you would think that WVDC could've made more of an effort for local children.
No doubt it'll be because there's not enough money in the kitty.
I took mine to the playground opposite Kwiksave for a while but had to stop when they started to get bullied.

Alison, While I appreciate your concerns, this is the worng forum for them. My site is only for memories. Wear Valley Council's website has a Forums section where opinions on current matters can be expressed. Try www.wearvalley.gov.uk

You're right, as I was typing I realised that I was mentioning the present rather than memories of the past, however I do think that some recollections are inextricably linked with comparisons to the present day.

I have very happy memories of Bishop rec as a child (not park as I have heard some newer residents call it) which I can't help wishing could be shared by my own children. We loved the annual Carnival and would all troop up the rec afterwards - there seemed to be loads of stalls and entertainment etc.. That must have been the seventies - I can't remember when the last one was.

Does anyone remember the Braithwaite Street Silver Jubilee street party? I would have been 10 at the time; we still have the photos somewhere. We all got a mug with the Queen's head on it. There was a great atmosphere. There must have been plenty of other street parties in Bishop too I suppose. I wonder if there were any street parties here for the Golden Jubilee? - there weren't in our area.

The last Bishop Auckland carnival was held in either 1983 or 1984 to raise money for the new Christmas lights. People were standing up to 6 deep along Newgate Street to watch the procession including rally cars, floats,jazz bands and individul entries.
It was very much appreciated. For the following year, to allay police fears about having to stop traffic in Newgate Street, the headmaster of King James School was approached for permission to hold the event on then school field. He said no. 150 local organisations were approached for their support. The number of replies was er ..... nil. Flogging a dead horse came to mind and so the event was laid to rest.
As for the Christmas lights, that is a whole new story, one I still have nightmares about!

The headmaster will have been one Mr. Howells. Typical of him, never was much fun!

Can anyone remember a shed that faced down high durham street where you could get an ice-cream, there is an empty space now where it used to be?

Yes.....it was green wasn't it. Coming back from Etherley Lane school as a child I remember calling in there for ice lollies as it was a little warehouse for one of the ice-cream families (Gabrielles I think) .It then closed and stood empty for a long time. It was only knocked down a short while ago - it was up for sale and I'm pretty sure that the land has been sold for house building purposes.

Three or four years ago local residents successfully objected to plans to build a halfway house for young homeless people on the site.

The proposals went ahead as planned though in Princes Street and the corner house opposite the Church is now owned by Three Rivers Housing Association for this purpose.

yes I remember the green shed the people who owned it lived opposite it and we would knock on ther door and ask for any broken lolleys for sale we would often go there in summer and they would always have something for us.

I lived in 38 gibbon street and actually lived in a house owned by the di'palma's ice creme people I left there in 1977.



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 04/17/08 03:48PM by hodder.

I had lots of happy hours playing in the rec in the '50's, can anyone remember the large metal bell that was fastened near to the tap near the bowling green where we were able to get a drink, there was also a shop that sold pop etc in the summer.

We used to watch the milk bottles going round in the dairy, there was a window just inside the rec gates.

We also used to go paddling in the pool, when it was empty you could skate, there were wooden seats around the outside so that our parents could keep an eye on us.

Yes there was a shop called Blacketts, my auntie used to work there making the cakes.