1900 - (P.P.P.) The welfare of the village depended on the whim of the colliery viewer, and that official's chief concern in life was to boost production and keep down the costs. Costs included houses and streets. Thus in 1901, Wheatley Hill found itself the most unfortunate of colliery villages. Jack Lawson, the Chester-le-Street M.P., described its streets at this period as a joke. From his book is the following quote:-
"The streets of Wheatley Hill were a joke. There is a legend in the village that a lorry loaded with furniture sank up to the axle in the mud what was supposed to be the street. Willing helpers unloaded the furniture in order to free the lorry. Willing hands, and strong backs almost lifted it clean out of the slough. When that was done they turned to load the lorry again but the furniture had disappeared and has never been seen since."
Jack Lawson pointed out that even if the story was apocryphal it still pointed to a very clear moral. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man.
A Mr. Christopher who was at that time chairman of Sherburn Hill Co-op. Society, moved to Wheatley Hill on January 3rd, 1900. Being very interested in the Co-op. movement, and still wishing to remain a member an arrangement was made for his groceries to be left at Mr. William Kirk's shop in Thornley. It was later decided that if Mr. Christopher could get 10 members, the Co-op. would deliver the goods to their homes, and this was done. The Co-op. Society then got an old four-roomed house in Shotton Colliery, later they moved to an old school, which is still the present site of the Co-op Stores at Shotton. The people of Wheatley Hill had to walk to Shotton for groceries and provisions so as membership increased a branch of the store was formed in Wheatley Hill, which was opened in 1911.
As with other mining villages, Wheatley Hill has a Brass Band, which was formed as far back as the year 1900. An amusing incident concerning the band is the tale of its drum being in prison. It was in the early 1900's. The band was playing away somewhere, some of the bandsmen had too much to drink and the drummer and drum got separated. How the drum was lost I do not know, but it landed at Thornley Police Station for the night. Another amusing incident was an occasion when the band went to the Durham Miner' Gala and the drummer lost his drumsticks. As the band could not begin its march home without a drummer, someone suggested using a beer bottle, so thanks to a beer bottle the band played its way out of Durham City and back home.
In the early 1900's the villagers had to make their own entertainment. The game of Fives was played at a Ball Alley, which was built outside the Railway Tavern in Lynn Terrace. Quoits were also played quite a lot, and there were football teams, and a cricket team. Now we have a recreation ground covering 5 acres of ground in which there are 5 tennis courts, 2 bowling greens and children's playground. There is also a Welfare Hall with a billiards room, reading room, and facilities for other games and a dance hall.
1902 – Peter Lee came to village as checkweigh man at the colliery
1902 - DURHAM DIRECTORY - Wheatley Hill, a colliery village, forms part of the parish of Thornley, from which village it is 1 mile west and 8 east from Durham. A mission room in connection with the parish church was erected in 1873-74. The Primitive Methodist chapel here, erected in 1873, is a structure of red and white brick, and has 200 sittings. There is also a Wesleyan chapel, with 150 sittings.
Post & M.O.O., S.B. & Annuity & Insurance Office, Wheatley Hill - George Lawson, sub postmaster. Letters via Thornley R.S.O. arrive at 7-40a.m.; dispatched at 12-10 & 8-10p.m. Thornley is the nearest telegraph office, 2 miles distant.
Police Station, Matthew Cox, sergeant in charge, & 2 constables.
Schools: - Wheatley Hill (mixed), built in 1877 & enlarged in 1880, for 600 children; average attendance, 510; Charles Lamb Bowhill, master.
Catholic (mixed), for 220 children; average attendance 112; John T. Hassen, master.
Vallance John McDonald M.B.
Commercial Residents
Cooke William, grocer
Dickinson Peter, leather seller
Dunn Ralph, farmer
Doxford William, farmer, High Crowhouse farm
Gibson Elizabeth (Mrs.), butcher
Goynes Stephen, greengrocer
Graham George, Nimmo hotel
Kell Jacob, hairdresser
Lindsay James, farmer, Low Crows house
Lynn Elizabeth (Mrs.), Moon's hotel
Smith Robert, farm bailiff to R.Thorman esq.
Terry Ralph, draper
Vallance John McDonald M.B. & C.M. Glas. Physician & surgeon
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. Lim. (John Wales Laverick, viewer)
1902 23rd October - Cage accident at Wheatley Hill Colliery resulting in the injury of 24 miners. In the case of eight of the men the injuries were somewhat serious. (Durham Directory 1903)
The Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1903. Prior to the Chapel being built, the Wesleyans held their services in two houses in Ford Street.
1903 - 28th October - The foundation stone of the new Wesleyan Chapel laid this afternoon at 3 o'clock. R. Forster - Headmaster.
1903 - 22nd April
DEATH
OF A WHEATLEY HILL LOCOMOTIVE DRIVER
SEQUAL TO ACCIDENT TWELVE YEARS AGO
Mr Coroner C. E. Cadle held an inquest on Saturday at the Reading Room, Wheatley Hill, respecting the death of James Prentice, a locomotive fireman, aged 37.
Evidence of identification was given by the wife of deceased, who said her husband was formerly employed at Wheatley Hill Colliery. He sustained an accident whilst employed there on April 22nd 1903 and as the result his left leg had to be amputated. His spine was also fractured. Deceased had suffered from the accident ever since and had practically never worked since. He had been paid compensation up to his death by the Colliery Company. He had been confined top his bed or the house for the last 2 years, and had been attended by Dr Russell for seven years. He died on March 12th at 9 a.m.
William Potts, of 2 Wolmerhausen Street, Wheatley Hill, a winding engineman, said on April 22nd 1903 he was in charge of the locomotive at Wheatley Hill Colliery, and deceased was acting as his fireman. They were taking the engine along the Colliery line to the stone tip, when he drew the engine up to allow the deceased to go to the points. Deceased got off the engine at about 14 yards distant from the points, and had to cross in front of the engine in order to get to the points. As deceased was crossing in front of the engine he told witness afterwards that he slipped his foot and as he was falling the drawbar of the engine caught him in the back, and the engine wheels went over his left leg. Witness felt a jerk and stopped the engine at once. He then got down and found the deceased lying at the rear of the engine in the four-foot way. It was a damp morning. No one was to blame for the accident. The engine was going very slowly at the time. Witness got assistance and had deceased conveyed home immediately. Deceased had been acting as fireman for about 18 months.
Dr Russell said he was first called into see deceased in April 1908. He had had his left leg amputated and was suffering from a fractured spine. As a result of this he was also suffering from inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, which was the cause of death.
The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
1904 - WORKMEN'S CLUB OPENED
1907 - ROAD TO THORNLEY
1910 - DURHAM DIRECTORY - Wheatley Hill, a colliery village, forms part of the parish of Thornley, from which village it is 1 mile west and 8 east from Durham. A Mission church of brick, in connection with the parish church, was erected in 1873-74. The Primitive Methodist chapel here, erected in 1873, is a structure of red and white brick, and has 200 sittings. There is also a Wesleyan chapel, with 150 sittings.
Post & M.O. Office. Wheatley Hill. Earnest Knight, sub postmaster. Letters via Thornley, co Durham, arrive at 7-40a.m.; dispatched at 12-40 5-35 & 9-50p.m. weekdays only. Thornley is the nearest telegraph office, 2 miles distant.
Police Station, Thomas Busby, sergeant in charge, & 1 constable.
Schools: - Wheatley Hill (mixed), built in 1877 & enlarged in 1880, for 600 children; average attendance, 590; Charles Lamb Bowhill, master.
Catholic (mixed), for 330 children; average attendance 108; John Bonar, master.
Casey Rev. Philip Thomas (curate in charge of Mission church)
Ryan Emmanuel James, The Knoll
Commercial Residents
Clough Robert, clothier
Cook John Oughton, butcher
Dickinson Peter, leather seller
Dunn Ralph, farmer
Foster John, cycle dealer
Haswell Co-operative Provision Society Limited
Henderson George, Moon's hotel
Kilbourn Alfred, shopkeeper
Knight Ernest, grocer & post office
Laws Matthew, newsagent
Leggett Edgar, shopkeeper
Lindsay Robert, farmer, High Crow house farm
Nixon Brothers, grocers
Robinson Robert, draper
Ryan Emanuel James, M.D.McGill, L.R.C.P. & S.Edin. Surgeon, & medical officer for Thornley district, Easington union, The Knoll
Smith John C, druggist
Storey James, farmer, Low Crow house
Summers James William, painter
Sweetman Arthur, hairdresser
Terry William, grocer
Thackrey Walter, hairdresser
Thompson Anthony & Robert, greengrocers
Thompson Henry James, boot & shoe dealer
Vincent Robert, cycle dealer
Voucht William, Nimmo hotel
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. Lim.
Willson Walter Limited, grocers
1910 - MINER'S HALL IN PATTON ST
1910 24th September - Opening of new miners' hall at Wheatley Hill, by Mr. Michael Lamb, president of the Wheatley Hill Lodge of the Durham Miners' Association. The building, which cost 1,700 pounds, provided a large hall suitable for meetings and social gatherings, with committee rooms and a kitchen. Mr. Evan Hayward M.P. and Mr. T.H. Cann were presented and delivered addresses. (Durham Directory 1911)
1911 - Opposition to cinemas came from the clergy who focused primarily on cinemas’ opening on Sundays and was heralded by a denunciation from Reverend P. T. Casey, curate at Wheatley Hill parish church, who, in 1911 urged his congregation to keep away from picture houses on Sundays as ‘God is not in the pictures’. Others, however, saw practical benefits from Sunday cinema-going: miners who formerly spend their Sunday evenings in the public house, were more likely to attend work on Mondays if they went instead to the pictures.
1911 4th February - Wheatley Hill cemetery consecrated.
1911 18th November - Presentation at the Literary Institute, Thornley, to Mr. John Hogg on his retirement from the position of chief engineer at Thornley and Wheatley Hill Collieries. He received a purse of gold and a silver-mounted walking stick, with silver rose bowl for Mrs. Hogg from the officials and workmen of the Colliery. (Durham Directory 1912)
At one time the only thing in the way of a cinema was a show of lanternslides in the Temperance Hall, given by a Mr. William Grant, at which a charge of one penny was made. Now there are two very good cinemas.
1912 - BRANCH OF SHERBURN CO-OP
1912 - CHURCH ST. METHODIST CHAPEL
1912 - WEEKLY PAYS BEGAN
1912 4th January - The following were elected members of the Durham Miners' Executive for 1912: P. Lee, Wheatley Hill, 322 votes. (Durham Directory 1913)
1912 28th February (Wednesday) Article from The Times newspaper -
ENGINEERING SUPPLEMENT
THE NORTH-EAST COAST
ELECTRIC POWER IN COLLIERIES
Considerable enterprise has been manifested by several important colliery companies in the county of Durham in availing themselves of the latest practice as regards the diminution of operating costs at their mines, and more especially in regard to savings which can be effected by well-considered schemes of electrification, having as their basis the utilization of assets which have hitherto gone to waste, in the shape of exhaust steam recoverable from the main colliery engines upon the surface. Developments in this direction have been recently carried out by the Weardale Steel, Coal, and Coke Company (Limited), the Wingate Coal Company (Limited), and the Easington Coal Company (Limited), under the supervision of Messrs. D. Selby Bigge and Company as consulting engineers.
A start was made at the Weardale Company's Thornley Colliery about two years ago by the intallation of a 500 kw mixed pressure turbo-alternator unit. The power is derived from exhaust steam which is collected from two main winding engines and delivered into a regenerative heat accumulator, from which it is taken to the low pressure inlet of the mixed pressure turbine at a pressure of 16lb absolute. When the winding engiines are stopped and exhaust steam is not available, or when the load is such that the exhaust steam supply is insufficient, live steam is admitted to the turbine at boiler pressure to supplement or take over the full load, as the case may be. In connexion with the turbine equipment a low level jet condensing plant, capable of maintaining a vacuum of within 3in of the barometer when dealing with 25 per cent overloads, has been installed, working in conjunction with an open type cooling tower capable of dealing with the maximum quantity of circulating water from the condensing plant. The electric power is utilized at this colliery for the operation of main and auxiliary haulages and pumping plant underground main ventilating fan, electric lighting plant and other auxiliaries upon the surface.
In consequence of the results obtained in working at this colliery, it was decided to lay down another plant, but of larger capacity, 750kw at the Wingate Grange Colliery, situated about three miles distant from Thornley Colliery. The power in this instance is derived from exhaust steam which is collected from three winding engines, one fan engine, screening plant engine, and electric lighting engines. The whole of this steam is delivered into a regenerative heat accumulator, from which it is taken to the low pressure inlet of the mixed pressure turbine. The condensing plant in this instance is of the multi-jet ejector type operating in conjunction with a spray nozzle cooling plant capable of dealing with the maximum quantity of circulating water from the condenser. The condenser is capable of maintaining a vacuum of 27 ½ in when dealing with a 25 per cent overload. The electric power at this colliery is chiefly devoted to the operation of heavy main and tail haulages and underground pumping plant.
Since this unit was put into commission it has been decided to lay down two mixed pressure turbo-alternator units of 750kw each at the Weardale Company's Wheatley Hill Collliery situated about midway between Thornley and Wingate Grange Collieries. Here again the power is derived from exhaust steam which will be collected from two winding engines, one fan engine and one air-compressing engine. The electric power thus developed will be utilized chiefly for operating main and tail and endless rope haulages and pumping underground; also the electrification of screening plant, shop lighting, and auxiliaries upon the surface will be carried out.
The Weardale Company and the Wingate Company through a working agreement have connected up Thornley and Wingate Grange Collieries by means of a 1,000-hp overhead aluminium line, and as the cables pass through Wheatley Hill, this colliery has also been linked up and will feed into the common network of mains. It is contemplated that when the scheme is completed and the three collieries are connected up in parallel, one of the 750 kw mixed pressure units at Wheatley Hill Colliery shall act as a complete standby to the other three units upon the system.
At Easington Colliery, belonging to Easington Coal Company, and some five to six miles distant, another mixed pressure generating station, complete with surface condensing plant and open type cooling tower, is being laid down. As this is a new colliery, one unit of 350 kw capacity has been installed at present, but as the colliery develops two more units of similar or larger capacity will be installed, depending upon the rate of progress made with the colliery.
In all the stations described above the electrical system adopted is 3,000 volts high-tension alternating current at 40 periods. This pressure is adopted for all motors underground, and on the surface for those from 50 b.h.p. upwards ; for all motors under 50 b.h.p. the current is transformed down to 440 volts.
The utilization of exhaust steam for power production at collieries constitutes a great advance towards the reduction of power costs. Under normal working conditions at collieries the cost upon this system has been brought as low as 0.18d per unit inclusive of 12 ½ per cent interest and depreciation upon the capital outlay, and in few cases has the cost exceeded 0.2d per unit. It is not surprising therefore, that colliery owners are paying increased attention to this method of producing cheap power for driving the haulage, pumping, ventilation, screening, and other auxiliary engines pertaining to the machinery equipment of their mines.
1912 24th June - On behalf of the Thornley Primitive Methodist circuit members and of other subscribers, Mr. Frederick Wilson, of Shotton Colliery at the Wheatley Hill P.M. Church presented to the Rev. William Gelley, the retired superintendent minister of the circuit, a handsome inlaid Sheraton bookcase, chest of draws, and secretaire combined, and a purse of gold, in recognition of the 41 years of active and strenuous ministry in the Church. (Durham Directory 1913)
1912 11th September - New Council Infant School opened at Wheatley Hill by Mr.Peter Lee, the local representative on the Durham County Council. The schools provided accommodation for 442 scholars. The total outlay was 4,992 pounds, which represented a cost of 11 pounds 5 shillings and 10 1/2 pence per head of the accommodation. (Durham Directory 1913)
1913 - NO 1 PIT IDLE 2 MONTHS
1913 - PALACE CINEMA OPENED
1913 New road to Thornley. (M.M.)
1913 10th October - Death of Mr. Thomas Lee Elwen, manager of Brandon Collieries, at his residence, Holly Garth, Brandon, at the age of 53 years. He died suddenly from cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Elwen was born in the Houghton district, and commenced his career as a mining engineer at Wheatley Hill Colliery, under his father, who was manager. From there he went to Peases West to finish his articles and was then appointed under-manager at Littleburn Colliery. There he served for 13 years, and was, 15 years ago, appointed manager of Brandon Colliery. His business capacity and foresight were such that the greatest measure of success attended all his undertakings. He was highly esteemed throughout the Northern coalfield and by none more so than by the officials and miners under his charge, to whom he always showed marked consideration and kindness. For 15 years Mr. Elwen was a member of the Durham Board of Guardians. He was a member of the Durham District Education Committee, and was elected a member of the Brandon Urban Council, as representative of the Central Ward, in 1898. He was Chairman of the Council in 1901 and 1902. (Durham Directory 1914)
1913 13th November (Thursday) Article from The Times newspaper -
COMPANY RESULTS
DIVIDENDS AND REPORTS
The profits of the WEARDALE STEEL, COAL, AND COKE COMPANY for the year ended September 30 amounted to ₤121,821. This, with ₤32,247 brought forward, makes a total of ₤154,068. The directors recommend, in addition to the dividend of 6 per cent on the Preferred and Deferred Ordinary shares, a further distribution in accordance with the articles of association of ₤10,000 on the Preferred Ordinary shares, being 2 per cent thereon and the same sum on the Deferred Ordinary shares being 4.44 per cent thereon. They also propose to reserve for depreciation ₤40,000 and to carry forward ₤34,568. The output of coal during the year was adversely affected by a serious shaft accident at Wheatley Hill Colliery in February, which resulted in No. 1 Pit being idle for four days, and No. 2 Pit for two months. The reduction of quantity resulting from this stoppage, and from strikes – one on the part of the railway company's employees, which caused Thornley and Wheatley Hill Collieries to lose four days in December; and one on the part of the workmen at Wheatley Hill, who absented themselves from work for five days in January – together with an abnormal loss of time by the workmen individually since the adoption of weekly pays, the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act, and the existence of the high rates of wages prevailing, has resulted in a large diminution of output. This reduction of output, and higher wages, more costly materials, and the extra expenditure due to recent legislation, have all contributed to increase the working cost. Prices of coal and coke have been well maintained during the year, and it is to this fact, in face of the serious increase in cost already referred to, that the profit shown is attributable.
1913 25th November - Death of Mr.John Blakemore, of Low Pittington, in his 78th year. For many years he laboured in the mines and at Wheatley Hill worked "marrow" with Dr. John Wilson. Afterwards he commenced the business of a general dealer at Pittington, which he continued up to his death. He was a prominent Primitive Methodist and was an acceptable local preacher in that body for nearly half a century. (Durham Directory 1914)
1914 - ATHLETICS WON TRIMDON & DIST F.A. LEAGUE
1914 20th January - The names of the following gentlemen were added to the Commission of Peace for Durham County: - Mr. M. Barras, Wheatley Hill....
1914 - Patton Street Primitive Methodist Sunday School - names of John Partridge and William Kirk carved in stone at entrance.
1914 Tuesday 18th August - THE LONDON GAZETTE
At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of August, 1914
PRESENT
The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
Whereas the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England have, in pursuance of the Act of the 3rd and 4th years of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, chapter 113, of the Act of the 6th and 7th years of Her said late Majesty, chapter 37, and of the Act of the 19th and 20th years of Her said late Majesty, chapter 104, duly prepared, and laid before His Majesty in Council, a Scheme, bearing date the 16th day of July, in the year 1914, in the words and figures following, thatis to say: -
"We, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, in pursuance of the Act of the 3rd and 4th years of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, chapter 113, of the Act of the 6th and 7th years of Her said Majesty, chapter 37, and of the Act of the 19th and 20th years of Her said late Majesty, chapter 104, have prepared, and now humbly lay before Your Majesty in Council, the following Scheme for constituting a Separate District for spiritual purposes, to be taken partly out of the New Parish (sometime District Chapelry) of Thornley, within the original limits of the New Parish(sometime District Chapelry) of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, all in the County of Durham and in the Diocese of Durham.
"Whereas we are satisfied that the said New Parish of Thornley, and the said New Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, are Cures wherein or in parts whereof the provision for public worship and for pastoral superintendence is insufficient for the spiritual wants of the Inhabitants thereof, and it has been made to appear to us that it would promote the interests of religion that the particular portions of the said New Parish of Thornley and of the said New Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, which are hereinafter mentioned and described, should be constituted a Separate District, in the manner which is hereinafter set forth.
"And whereas there is not at present within the limits of the said proposed Separate District any Consecrated Church or Chapel in use for the purpose of Divine Worship.
"And whereas certain hereditaments and premises, situated within the original limits of the said Parish of Kelloe, have become vested in us under the provisions of and for the purposes of the herein-mentioned Acts, or of some or one of them, and we have, in respect of such hereditaments and premises, agreed to make and pay out of the Common Fund created by the firstly herein-mentioned Act a grant of £150 per annum to the Minister of the said proposed Separate District so soon as a Minister shall have been duly licensed in accordance with provisions of the secondly herein-mentioned Act and to his successors.
"And whereas the said grant of the said yearly sum of £150 will, after the publication in the London Gazette of an Order of Your Majesty in Council ratifying this Scheme, be made and secured by an Instrument to be executed by us, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, under our Common Seal, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of the 29th and 30th years of Her said late Majesty, chapter 111.
"And whereas a piece of land situated within the said proposed Separate District has been, or is about to be, conveyed to us, the said Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as the site for a permanent church for such District, and such permanent Church has been erected upon the said piece of land.
"And whereas Henry Frederick Wilkinson, of Number 91a, Waterloo Road, London, S.E., a Major retired in Your Majesty's Army and Henry Benfield Des Voeux Wilkinson, of Number 3, Eaton Terrace, London, S.W., a Major in Your Majesty's Army, acting on behalf of the Members of their Family, who are the Principal Contributors towards the cost of providing the said permanent Church, have nominated as the persons to whom they desire that the patronage of the said proposed District or New Parish should be assigned the Vicar of the said Parish of Thornley for the first turn of presentation, and the Bishop of the said Diocese of Durham for the second and every succeeding turn of presentation.
"Now, therefore, with the consent of the Right Reverend Handley Carr Glyn, Bishop of Durham, (in testimony whereof he has signed and sealed this Scheme) We, the said Ecclesiastical Commissioners, humbly recommend and propose that all those portions of said New Parish of Thornley, and of the said New Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, which are described in the Schedule hereunderwritten, all which portions together with the boundaries thereof are delineated and set forth on the Map or Plan hereunto annexed, shall, upon and from the day of the date of the publication in the London Gazette of any Order of Your Majesty in Council ratifying this Scheme as aforesaid, become and be constituted a Separate District for spiritual purposes, and that the same shall be named 'The District of Wheatley Hill.'
"And we further recommend and propose that the whole right of patronage of the said District so recommended to be constituted, and, when such District shall have become a New Parish as aforesaid, then of the said New Parish, and the nomination of the Minister or Incumbent thereof, shall, without any assurance in the law other than this Scheme and any duly gazetted Order of Your Majesty in Council ratifying the same, and upon and from the day of the date of publication of such Order in the London Gazette as aforesaid, be assigned to, and be absolutely vested in, and shall and may be exercised by, the Vicar or Incumbent of the Vicarage of the said Parish of Thornley for the first turn of presentation, and the said Handley Carr Glyn, Bishop of the said Dioceses of Durham, and his successors, for the second and every succeeding turn of presentation.
"And we further recommend and propose that nothing herein contained shall prevent us from recommending and proposing any other measures relating to the matters aforesaid, or any of them, in accordance with the provisions of the said Acts, or of any of them, or of any other Act of Parliament.
"The SCHEDULE to which the foregoing Scheme has reference.
"The District of Wheatley Hill, comprising: -
"I. All that portion of the New Parish (sometime District Chapelry) of Thornley, in the County of Durham, and in the Diocese of Durham, which is included within the Civil Parish of Wingate.
"II. And also all that contiguous portion of the New Parish (sometime District Chapelry) of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, in the said County and Diocese, which is bounded upon the south by the above-mentioned portion of said New Parish of Thornley, upon the north-east by the new Parish of Shotton with Haswell, in the said County and Diocese, and upon the remaining sides, that is to say, upon the north-west and upon the west, by an imaginary line commencing at the point where the boundary which divides the said New Parish of Shotton with Haswell from the said New Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, crosses the middle of the footpath leading from Salter's Lane and the house called Flemingfield across Crowshouse Moor to Thornley, and extending thence south-westward along the middle of the said footpath, (thereby crossing Crowshouse Moor), for a distance of forty-seven chains or thereabouts, to the point where it crosses the middle of the Ludworth Branch Line of the North Eastern Railway, and extending thence in a straight line due south for a distance of twenty-two chains or thereabouts to the boundary which divides the said New Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Shadforth, from the said New Parish of Thornley."
And whereas drafts of the said Scheme have, in accordance with the provisions of the secondly hereinbefore-mentioned Act, been transmitted to the Patrons and to the Incumbents of the Cures out of which it is intended that the District recommended in such Scheme to be constituted shall be taken, and such Patrons and Incumbents have respectively signified their assent to such Scheme.
And whereas the said Scheme has been approved by His Majesty in Council.
Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of His said Council, is pleased hereby to ratify the said Scheme, and to order and direct that the same and every part thereof shall effectual in law immediately from and after the time when this Order shall have been duly published in the London Gazette pursuant to the said Acts. And His Majesty, by and with the like advice, is pleased hereby to direct that this Order be forthwith registered by the Registrar of the said Diocese of Durham.
Almeric FitzRoy
1914 Friday 27th November - THE LONDON GAZETTE
WE, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, acting in pursuance of the Act of the twenty-ninth and thirtieth years of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, chapter one hundred and eleven, section five, do hereby, subject as hereinafter mentioned, grant to the Incumbent of the vicarage of Wheatley Hill, in the county of Durham and in the diocese of Durham, and to his successors Incumbents of the same vicarage, one yearly sum or stipend of one hundred and fifty pounds, such yearly sum or stipend to be payable out of the common fund under our control, and to be calculated as from the thirteenth day of October, in the year one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and to be receivable in equal quarterly portions on the first day of February, the first day of May, the first day of August, and the first day of November in each and every year: Provided always, that the yearly sum or stipend of one hundred and fifty pounds hereby granted shall be and be taken to be in lieu of, and in full substitution for, the yearly sum or stipend of like amount heretofore payable by us to the Incumbent of the benefice of Thornley (sometime part of the parish of Kelloe, in the same county and diocese), subject to certain conditions under the authority of another instrument sealed by us on the sixteenth day of July, in the year one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and published in the London Gazette on the twenty-fourth day of July in the same year: And provided also, that if at any time lands, tithes, or other hereditaments sufficient in our opinion to produce the said yearly sum or stipend of one hundred and fifty pounds hereby granted, or any part thereof, shall be annexed by us to the said vicarage of Wheatley Hill in substitution for such yearly sum or stipend, or for such part thereof, our liability for the payment of such yearly sum or stipend, or of such part thereof, as the case may be, shall thereupon and thereafter cease and determine.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our common seal, this nineteenth day of November, in the year one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
1914 - DURHAM DIRECTORY - Wheatley Hill, a colliery village, forms part of the parish of Thornley, from which village it is 1 mile west and 8 east from Durham. The mission church of All Saints is a building of brick, in connection with the parish church, and was erected in 1873-74. The Primitive Methodist chapel here, erected in 1873, is a structure of red and white brick, and has 200 sittings. There is also a Wesleyan chapel, with 150 sittings.
Public Elementary Schools
Wheatley Hill (mixed), built in 1877 & enlarged in 1880, 1904, & 1912 for 606 seniors; average attendance 534; Charles Lamb Bowhill, master; junior mixed, 306; average attendance, 273; John Wooley, master; infants, 442; average attendance 340; Miss J E Cockburn, mistress.
Catholic (mixed), for 300 children; average attendance 225; John Bonar, master.
Post, M.O. & Public Telephone Call Office, Wheatley Hill-Ernest Knight, sub-postmaster. Letters via Thornley, co Durham, arrive at 7-35 a.m. & 4-30 p.m.; dispatched at 12-10 & 7 p.m. weekdays only
Police Station, Alfred Bushby, sergeant in charge, & 5 constables.
Private Residents
Casey Rev. Philip Thomas (curate in charge of Mission church)
Ryan Emanuel James, The Knoll
Commercial Residents
Anderson John (Mrs.), butcher
Armstrong Francis, undertaker
Armstrong William Horace, M.P.S. chemist
Ashford Thomas Henry, butcher
Atkinson Margaret (Mrs.), draper
Atkinson Wm. J. brick & tile maker
Baldasara Angelo, confectioner
Barclay & Company Limited (sub-branch), open Tuesdays from 10 to 10-30 a.m.; draw head office, 54 Lombard street, London E C
Cairns Joseph, boot repairer
Cash Trading Stores, grocer
Colliery Institute (Geo. Scrafton, sec)
Dunn George, fancy draper
Dunn Ralph, farmer
Etherington John Ralph, newsagent
Foster Brothers, drapers
Foster John, cycle agent
Gregory Robert, cartage contractor
Harrison Harry, cycle agent
Haswell Co-operative Provision Society Limited
Haswell Mary (Mrs.), stationer
Hopper Robert, boot repairer
Humphreys Walter S., watch repairer
Huntridge John Hardcastle, butcher
Johnson Henry, boot repairer
Jones George, hairdresser
Kaers John, fried fish dealer
Kilbourn Alfred, shopkeeper
Knight Earnest, grocer & post office
Laws Matthew, newsagent
Leggett Edgar, shopkeeper
Lindsay Robert, farmer, High Crowhouse farm
Meadow Dairy Co Ltd, butter merchants
Miners' Hall (Frank Quinn, sec)
Moodie George, greengrocer
Moore Hetty & Minnie (Misses), confectioners
Nixon William & Sons, grocers
Oswald John, boot maker
Parker James William, blacksmith
Prior William, insurance agent
Punshon Robert Graham, watch repairer
Robinson Robert, draper
Ryan Emanuel James, M.D.McGill, L.R.C.P. & S.Edin. Surgeon, & medical officer for Thornley district, Easington union, The Knoll
Scott James Tait, clothier
Searle Geo. Thos. Artificial teeth manufacturer
Sherburn Hill Co-operative Society Limited, provision merchants
Somerville-Woodwis William L.D.S., dentist (attends Mondays)
Storey James, farmer, Low Crow house
Summers James William, painter
Sweetman Arthur, hairdresser
Terry George Edward, fruiterer
Terry William, grocer
Thackrey Walter, hairdresser
Thompson Hy. Jas., boot & shoe dealer
Thompson Robert, greengrocer
Turnbull Stephen, insurance agent
Usher Matthew, insurance agent
Vincent Robert & Son, cycle dealer
Voocht William, Nimmo hotel
Ward John Thomas, Colliery hotel (Moon's hotel)
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co Ltd
Wheatley Hill Constitutional Club (William Elliot, sec)
Wheatley Palace Theatre (James Burley, manager)
Willson Walter Limited, grocers
Workmen's Social Club & Institute Limited (Alfred Kilbourne, sec)
Young L., confectioner
1915 27th February - New Church consecrated.
1915 - SGT. THOMAS KENNY WON V.C.
1915 24th March - Death of Ald. John Wilson, M.P., D.C.L. ..................(Durham Directory 1916)
Two men who lived in Wheatley Hill will always remain in the minds of old residents. They are Mr. John Wilson a miner who became an Agent of the Durham Miners' Union, and later a Member of Parliament. Next comes "Peter Lee," a man who I think will never be forgotten. The near-by town of Peterlee was named after him. He was known to be a stern and powerful man, and yet he could be as gentle as a child. It was Peter Lee who was mainly responsible for getting water pipes put into the houses of the village. As in the early days drinking water had to be carried from taps in the street, and he was also one of the people who were responsible for roads through the village. Peter Lee still has a son living in the village, Mr. Harold Lee, who was a Lt. Commander in the Navy during the 1914-1918 War. Young Mr. Lee was in the Battle of Jutland, was later decorated, and also received a medal from the French Government. It was he whom Rudyard Kipling referred to in one of his books as "One of the three wise men who saved the ship 'Spitfire'."
1916 - BRANCH OF HASWELL CO-OP
1916 15th June (Thursday) Article from The Times newspaper -
TWO SCHOOLBOYS DROWNED
Two schoolboys, of Wheatley Hill, Durham, while playing on the sands at Blackhall Rocks, were carried out to sea by a wave. Yesterday the body of one of them, John Jacomb, aged seven, was found at West Hartlepool. At the inquest it was stated that a miner named Handley made three attempts at rescue and nearly lost his own life. He was complimented by the Coroner, and a verdict of “Accidentally drowned “ was returned.
1917 23rd January (Tuesday) Article from The Times newspaper -
ROLL OF HONOUR
LOSSES IN THE RANKS
LISTS OF 1,130 NAMES
All are privates, except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier's name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation “Enlt.,” when it is his place of enlistment.
DIED OF WOUNDS
Yorks R – Bean, 16357 W. (Wheatley Hill)
1917 10th March (Saturday) Article from The Times newspaper -
LOSSES IN THE RANKS
LISTS OF 900 NAMES
All are privates, except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier's name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation “Enlt.,” when it is his place of enlistment.
KILLED
North'd Fus – Lamb, 822 D.W. (Wheatley Hill); Owens, 824 E. (Wheatley Hill)
1917 14th March (Wednesday) Article from The Times newspaper -
ROLL OF HONOUR
LOSSES IN THE RANKS
LISTS OF 1,020 NAMES
All are privates, except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier's name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation “Enlt.,” when it is his place of enlistment.
KILLED
Yorks R – Carr, 11137 Cpl. R. (Wheatley Hill); Pyle, 14222 L. Sgt. T.H. (Wheatley Hill)
1917 19th March (Monday) Article from The Times newspaper -
LOSSES IN THE RANKS
LISTS OF 2,100 NAMES
All are privates, except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier's name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation “Enlt.,” when it is his place of enlistment.
WOUNDED
Northumb'd Fus – Morgan, 45 Act: Sgt-Maj. W.G. (Wheatley Hill)
1919 - 1st WHEATLEY HILL SCOUT TROOP FORMED
1919 10th May (Monday) Article from The Times newspaper -
BRAVERY IN THE RANKS
MILITARY MEDAL AWARDS
War Office, May 14
The King has been pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the following warrant offices, non-commissioned offices, and men :-
South Staffordshire Regiment - 42588 Pte. Charlton, G. J., 5th Bn. (Wheatley Hill)
Yorkshire Light Infantry – 36194 Pte. Lawler, T., 4th Bn. (Wheatley Hill)
1920 16th February (Monday) Article from The Times newspaper -
DR. JOWETT'S SERMON AT DURHAM
PROTESTING VICAR EJECTED
SCENES IN CATHEDRAL
Dr. Jowett, the Nonconformist minister of Westminster Chapel, occupied the pulpit and preached the sermon at evensong at Durham Cathedral yesterday to a congregation of about 7,000 persons, which was probably one of the largest in the history of the Cathedral. The occasion was marred by one unpleasant incident. After Dr. Jowett had mounted the steps of the pulpit, and in the silence which followed his pronouncement of a short prayer preceding the sermon, the voice of a man seated in the body of the Cathedral broke out loudly with the words, “I, vicar of Wheatley Hill - “then followed some phrases of protest wildly shouted but inaudible in the loud murmur of resentment which filled the Cathedral.
There were shouts of “Order ! Order !” and urgent requests that the disturber should be ejected. Once or twice the interrupter's shout arouse audible above the clamour, calling upon “all loyal Churchmen,” but the loud impatience of the congregation speedily drowned his words. Then by a happy inspiration a man's voice began singing a hymn. The music was spontaneously taken up all over the Cathedral, and completely overwhelmed any further sounds of disturbance. The interrupter, who was asked to leave by the head verger, refused to do so. He was then taken in hand by the Chief Constable of Durham and three or four policemen and ejected. As he left there was an outburst of clapping outside the Cathedral, where a crowd of people assumed rather a hostile attitude towards him.
The interrupter was the Rev. P.T. Casey, vicar of Wheatley Hill, near Durham. Letters signed by him have been received recently by both the Dean of Durham and Dr. Jowett. He is understood to be an ex-Baptist minister.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the enormous public interest exhibited in Dr. Jowett's visit or the wide public approval of the invitation which the Dean of Durham (Bishop Welldon) gave to him to preach in the Cathedral. An hour before the time of service every available seat was taken. Round the base of each pillar people were seated, and every aisle was crowded with those unable to find a seat. Many hundreds were unable to enter. The Mayor and Corporation of Durham attended the service in State. A procession representing the municipality, the magistrates, the various local services, and containing representative Nonconformist ministers assembled at the Town Hall and marched through the crowded streets to seats reserved for them in the Cathedral.
The service was the usual evensong. The choir entered the Cathedral in procession. At the end walked the Dean of Durham, with Dr. Jowett beside him. Dr. Jowett wore the Geneva gown with Edinburgh hood, the gown which he usually wears when preaching at his own chapel at Westminster. He sat next to the Dean in the stall allotted to the Lord Lieutenant. The service was attended by all the residentiary canons, with th exception of the Arch deacon, and the lessons were read by the Bishop of Jarrow and the Dean.
THE SERMON
Dr. Jowett's sermon was heard with great interest. Its restrained eloquence and the fervour with which he pleaded for a Church “willing to bleed for her Lord,” visibly moved his congregation. He made no allusion to the significance or the controversial possibilities of the occasion, though once or twice he expressed his sense of the privilege of standing in the pulpit of the Cathedral. He spoke of the varying moral effects of the war. We have surely discovered, he said , that war is not necessarily an ennobling experience, even though it be fought in a sacred cause. Some men found in the trenches only profanity, obscenity. Others walked the muddy roads as though they paced Cathedral aisles. So it has been with our people. War has not necessarily crowned our people with a diadem of spiritual grace and moral nobility. Mighty changes are taking place before our eyes, but amid and in spite of them there may be among the great masses of the people a deadlier moral apathy and a consequent lessening of our communion with God. In days like the present , when they had supped full of horror, and when European and Asiatic news was still daily unveiling the agonies of the peoples, there was imminent peril that the realm of insensitiveness would continually enlarge itself. If moral and spiritual intuitions became dull the great lamp of the world would go out. The world was aching for a gospel, and it must be the labour of the Church to present a gospel which could reach the worlds' most awful need.
In an interview with a Press representative, Bishop Welldon said of the service, “It is the greatest thing I have ever seen. It is a most remarkable reply to the people who have been opposed to this particular act of intercommunion. I think it shows that the opponents of such a friendly action between the Churches are not a very large body.”
The History and Antiquities of the County of Palatine of Durham - Robert Surtees
History of Durham - 1894 - Francis Whellan & Co
Kelly's Directory of Durham 1914
Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland 1925
Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland 1929
Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland 1890
Kelly's Directory of Durham 1902
Kelly's Directory of Durham 1921
Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland 1934
Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland 1938
Durham Directory 1911
Durham Directory 1912
Durham Directory 1913
Durham Directory 1914
Durham Directory 1916
School Books at County Records Office
The London Gazette, Tuesday 18th August 1914
The London Gazette, Friday 27th November 1914
British Records Association Deposit 984(Durham University Library - A&SC)
Mawson's deposits (Durham University Library - A&SC)
Greenslade deeds (Durham University Library - A&SC)
A History of The Durham Miners' Association 1870-1904 by Alderman John Wilson, J.P.
East Durham Heritage Trails and Walkways – East Durham Community Arts and Easington District Council
People Past and Present(P.P.P.) - Easington District Council