Write up your Street
Members of the Write Up Your Street project, with the sell-out publication.
Did you know that there is no such place as Laygate Lane or that there once was a racecourse on Boldon Flats? These are just two of the fascinating snippets of information contained in this publication.
Write Up Your Street, was a short project sponsored by South Tyneside Community Chest and takes a look at the stories behind some of the Borough’s 2,000 plus street names with a collection of pieces
With so many streets to choose from, some had to be omitted. However, the books editor, Lance Liddle, hopes the project has covered the more interesting ones, although he did admit that, despite extensive research, the origin of Butchers Bridge Road remains a mystery.
There is a wide diversity of material amongst pieces. Ian Larmont recalls motor cycle speed trials on the soon to be opened, John Reid Road. He also looks at the life of James Mather; a lifeboat inventor who may, ultimately have saved more lives than Willie Wouldhave. Ann Alexander writes about St Hilda who inspired a lane, a street, a colliery, an industrial estate and a church. Stephen Rutherford takes us back to a bygone era with his memories of his grandmother and her memories of Winchester Street, whilst Barry Hall looks behind the name Nevinson Avenue in Whiteleas.
The editor reveals that many Hebburn Street names were inspired by priests, vicars, poets and naval heroes and that some of Jarrow’s oldest streets had a Yorkshire connection.
The Stadium Estate, by Kathryn Jeffels is a journey of discovery into the town’s sporting past, while Alan White covers a variety of streets from Jarrow to Whitburn.
The political giants whose names were given to the streets behind South Shields Town Hall are described by John Stewart, and Annie Frame writes an evocative piece about Charles Street in Boldon.
The infamous Mad Parson, who lived in the original Greens Place then moved to Arnold Street, Boldon after his release from Broadmoor is recalled by Lance Liddle and Jeanette Dunn gives a detailed account of the Ogle family whose name was given to Ogle Terrace.
Lance also takes us further afield in his piece, Wherever You Gan You’re Sure To Find A Geordie which provides the information that there is a South Shields Avenue in Chicago and Jarrow Avenues in Ontario, California and Natal.
This booklet is a companion volume to last year’s highly successful publication Observing Buildings
Funding: South Tyneside Community Chest
