Loosing Hill

At the beginning of the 17th Century, there was a community established of about fifteen families at Loosing Hill, (then termed as Lousing or Lowsen Hill) and it remained so into the first half of the 18th century. However, by the beginning of the 19th century there had been a fall in population, due to the decline in coal mining and the numbers of wagons using the Tanfield wagonway. A lot of work at Loosing Hill, as well as at Streetgate (pictured above just past East Sunniside Farm), was connected with the wagonway. Keeping the wagons and the way in good repair, stabling and shoeing horses, and leading the wagons to the Staithes at Dunston. Although there was a resurgence in coal traffic in the late 1830's, it did not bring about the need for scores of wagon drivers as in former times. This was because of the re-laying of the Tanfield way with iron rails, and the use of stationary steam engines and self acting gravity inclines, making the horse largely redundant. The new railway also caused loss of work to many Keelmen at Dunston, due to the coal being sent to South Shields for direct shipment. Most of the work on the new railway was in maintenance by Platelayers and Labourers. After the enclosure of Blackburn Fell the Liddells of Ravensworth came to own all of Loosing Hill with the exception of Union Cottage.

On leaving Sunniside and going down the Gateshead road toward Streetgate, we go down a dip where a tributary of the Blackburn, which issues from a well (stained with iron oxide) in the Banky field, crosses beneath the road through a culvert, making its way to the Whinnies. Before the culvert was laid the water trickled into a small pond, beside the pond was a well in the bankside.

On the right hand side, and leaving the road, you follow a path up towards the old railway line. This length was once known as Simpsons Lane, and roughly where 22 Burdon Park is now, there was a stone cottage dating from at least 1805. Close by grew two yews and some fruit trees, here in the 1840's lived the Tempest family. John Tempest (died in 1865 aged 84yrs) had been a Keelman and then worked as a Colliery Labourer at Marley Hill, his son Thomas was a Wagon Rider on the railway. In about 1880 William Simpson (died 1890) a Coal Miner, came here from Medomsley and his son Thomas, also a Miner, followed in his place. Tom died fairly early in life, and his wife Elizabeth was left to raise a family of eight children on her own. She ran a market garden on a three acre plot where Burdon Park (built 1988) now stands. She kept a mule to pull the plough to prepare the land for planting, there was also a glasshouse for bringing on the seedlings.

Mrs Simpson retired to Elm Street in 1925, her son Thomas continued the garden as a side line to his main job as a Miner. Her other son Harry, also a Miner at Marley Hill pit, moved to Sandygate in 1930 where he started up a small allotment business, gradually extending the allotment to three acres, to become Simpson's Nurseries. The cottage was abandoned in about 1936, and by the late 1950's Nature had claimed it back to her bosom. During the 2nd World War, Simpson's plot was taken over by Mr Jobling of East Sunniside farm for food production, then the Douglas Brothers grew brassicas on it.

Continuing on the path we come to the old railway, and crossing over we can continue by a permissive path to "Carraigh Thurragh". There was once no footpath at all here, the official crossing being 100 yards up the line where a notice gave due warning to pedestrians, not to trespass on the railway. However, people still used the line as a short cut between Pennyfine Road and Sunniside so regularly, that the L.N.E.R. granted it a permissive route status. Just before coming to the rear of "Carraigh Thurragh", there is a shed on the left standing in the field where rhubarb used to be 'forced'. Here there was a stone cottage, single storey with three rooms, and a red pantile roof. Jack Richardson lived here from 1890 to 1914 and called it Garden Cottage. He had a market garden on the three acre plot surrounding the cottage, he was also Sexton at St Cuthberts Church Marley Hill up until 1905.

Stan Douglas, Market Gardener and cowkeeper lived here in the 1920's and 1930's. The cottage was condemned by Whickham Council in 1955, being at least 150 years old and lacking even basic sanitation, although with a bit of money it could probably have been modernised. The plot has raised cabbages and leeks for many years, and recently for Christmas trees. The Douglas family are pictured above c1905, left to right back row: William (father), Bill, Mary (mother), Cecilia. Front row: Elizabeth, Stanley, Alfred and Annie.

We then come to "Carraigh Thurragh", extended to twice its original size and known for many years as "Union Cottage", standing on a plot of two acres. The land was allotted to Robert Thirlaway on the enclosure of Blackburn Fell. His grandson Thomas Grey Thirlaway came here from Streetgate Farm in about 1855, he built Union Cottage, and he died there in 1907. He worked at Marley Hill pit as Foreman of the Cartmen His daughter continued living there along with Miss Telford, infants Teacher at Marley Hill Colliery School. After the second World War, George Tulip ran a Poultry Farm up until 1963 when he moved to Lintz Hall Farm to expand his egg and poultry business. Some remember seeing a whale jaw bone at the entrance to Union Cottage, forming an arch.

On going down Pennyfine Road we re-cross the old railway, and here were the gates and a gate cabin painted white. From 1725 until 1962 laden coal wagons had 'run' down Bakers Bank incline, probably named after Albany Baker, the Surveyor responsible for making the wagonway. Bakers quarry in Washing - well Wood may also have been named after him. He lived at Fugar House from 1714 until 1724 and in 1769 he lived at Trench Hall. Baker’s Bank gravity haulage incline is pictured above on the left. Baker’s Bank Control Box with workers C Henderson, N Christer, E Watson and N Callon is pictured to the right.

In 1732 the wooden chaldron wagons held 53cwt. of coal, and it was agreed by the Grand Alliance partners that the dimensions of the wagons going down the 'way' would be, length at top, 7 feet, length at bottom, 4 feet 4 inches, breadth at top, 4 feet 7 inches, breadth at bottom, 2 feet 2 inches, depth of wagon 3 feet 10 inches. This would ensure uniform volume of load per wagon. The wagons were later fitted with manually operated brakes, it was possible to dispatch them in two's and three's and hold them on the down-hill gradients, the horses following at the rear. With the laying of the new railway, a Brakesmans cabin was built at the top of the incline, around 100 yards above the gate crossing, and there were two large wheels recessed into the ground, set about five to ten degrees off the horizontal. The single coil of steel rope (one and a quarter inches diameter) passed around the binding wheel, and then crossed over to pass around the brake wheel drum, some sixteen feet in diameter.The brake wheel was controlled by the Brakesman so that the rope could be slowed and brought to a standstill. The short end of the rope nearest to the brake wheel was attached to the set of loaded wagons making the descent of the incline. Whilst the other end ran over the sheaves against the guiding rollers ( these made quite a noise when in use) down the length of the incline, (one mile and 1:11 gradient) and was attached to the ascending empty wagons. The men at the top and bottom of the incline were in touch with each other by block bell and telephone, the system was in operation not only during the day but also well into the night when the need arose. The optimum tonnage was 93 tons loaded going down, and 55 tons of 'empties' going up, the wagon sets consisted of three or four trucks according to their capacity, travelling at a speed of twelve to sixteen miles per hour.

At the top were two kips, one on each side of the central track, the loaded wagons were shunted down the central track, and the empty wagons were brought up and led alternatively via the left and right kips. The empty wagons then moved slowly by gravity to stop in the sidings. On the opposite side of the line to the Brakesman's cabin (made of dark red brick), was a brick made cabin for the Set Riders and it was also used as as a storehouse, it was built around 1910. Also on the southern side was a coal siding where wagons were shunted over a two bay drop, it was used mainly for coal to local houses, but also lime for Farmers.

On crossing the railway we see the workshop of Howorth and May Ltd. (Sermac) who repair and fit folding steel shutters and garage doors. From 1955 until 1985, Messrs. James and Partners, Steel Fabricators, were here making steel framework for garage roofs, steelgates and fences, also erecting agricultural buildings. The present structure was built in 1960, and up to eighteen people were employed during busy periods. Bob Prinn, Bus Proprietor, had the site for his garage in the late 1920's.

Between here and the 'Old Smithy' stood a Joiners workshop, a wood shed. Richard Clarke, Wheelwright and Joiner, came here in 1909. He travelled from Sunderland by train to Bensham, and cycled up to Streetgate over a period of four years. He then built " The Gables" at Streetgate, and came here to live with his wife. Dick worked in the Joiners Shop until 1947, by which time the place was on its 'last legs', he then made a workshop in the garage behind his house. By 1919 he had established an Undertakers business, in later years this was to become the major part of his activities, he kept working until his death in 1963. Mr Clarke always felt re- assured by a second opinion of his handicraft, especially in the appearance of his coffins and their interior dressing. For this, he usually asked Barbara Wallace the Farriers wife, to come round and give an opinion.

The last Blacksmith and Farrier at Loosing Hill was George Wallace (pictured above on the right with his father John and brother Bob) George retired in 1983. While the earliest on record was Luke Brown in 1797, who died in 1808 aged 81 years. In 1798 he aquired two fields called North Thorn near Sheel Raw from George Wray of Kiphill. Luke’s eldest son Martin, a Grocer, inherited this land. Edward Stoker took over as Blacksmith and his son Edward continued up until 1875, while grandson Martin went to work as a Smith at Byermoor pit. There was also William Young, Farrier, at Loosing Hill in 1841. In 1804 he was a Blacksmith and Farmer at Tinkler Row, in November of that year he was charged with a violent assault on James Storey of Whickham. Young absconded and a reward of two guineas was offered by Storey, to anyone apprehending and delivering Young to Martin Thompson the Police Constable of Whickham.

Young was described as 40 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches tall, of dark complexion, and speaking the Durham dialect. William Youngs son, William, was a Farrier at Streetgate.

Joseph Wallace (1844 to 1913) a Scotsman, took over the Smithy in 1875 and for a few years before this, he had found work as a Smith at Andrews House pit. On becoming the Smith at Loosing Hill he moved from Granby Terrace to Lottie's cottage, (the Smiths cottage). Then from there to the present brick cottage ( adjoining the Smithy ), when it was built in 1885, his family of eleven children being finally brought up there. The close behind the Smithy was rented from Lord Ravensworth, and here Joe's wife Isabella, kept a cow, pig and some hens, with byre and hay loft. Isabella ran the Smithy for a few years after Joe died, then her eldest son John took over. Born in 1876, he served his apprenticeship under his father, and then worked at Byermoor pit as Farrier and pick sharpener. He moved from Alexandra Terrace with his family of eight children in 1923, to Forge Cottage. John retired on his 80th birthday.

George Wallace became the third generation of the family to work at Loosing Hill when he began to learn the craft of General Agricultural Smith and Farrier work in 1933, at the age of fourteen years. The apprenticeship lasted nine years, George did not shoe his first heavy draught horse until he was nineteen, although his father had allowed him to shoe ponies before this. George and his father were members of the Master Farriers Association, whose sign was nailed over the Smithy entrance.The registered mark in the shape of an anvil, was stamped on each shoe they made. The Association set a minimum price on the charge of shoeing horses, amongst its members. Every Farrier in making a horseshoe, imparts on the shoe his own distinctive method of working. If shown a shoe made in the area, George could always tell which Farrier had made it.

During the 1930's up to 75% of the work was in shoeing horses mostly Clydesdales, with some cobs and hunters. Time spent in making a set of four shoes, seating and nailing them on, and smoothing off, could last from one and a half, to three hours. Much depended on the temperament of the horse with regards to shoeing time, some were nervous and had to be soothed or restrained. While others would not stand on three legs and had the lazy habit of leaning over the Farriers shoulder, making the job much more difficult. The Smith's apron was made of pigskin, the general Smithwork included repairing ploughs, harrows, hand tools such as scythes, the making of iron tyre rims for cartwheels, ironwork for the domestic fireside, fancy wrought iron gates, hinges and bar fasteners for cattle wagons, and scrufflers made for uprooting weeds. An iron tyring platform was set in the ground just outside the Forge, for fitting iron hoops onto cartwheels.

Watching the Smith at work was always fascinating to the local children, seeing the sparks fly, the rhythmic clang on the anvil, the warm red glow of the forge fire, the steam and hissing when cooling the metal in the water trough, and the burning smell when seating the hot shoe onto the hoof, and seeing the sureness of a master at work. The children were eager to help, and some were allowed to carefully pump the bellows or hold the horses head steady, and help to carry buckets for pouring water onto the hot tyres at fitting time. George and his father were extremely patient with children, indeed they appeared to enjoy their company, and were always willing to engage in conversation with them.

The period from the late 1950's to the 1970's was a particularly lean time for village Smithies, (it had always been difficult to get money out of Farmers) so George took on a milk round to ensure that a steady wage was brought in. He sometimes shod ponies at Whickham Riding School on the West Dunston Farm. In his later years he lectured on Farrier work at Durham Agricultural College, Houghall. In working with horses all of his life, he had a vast amount of experience and a great love for them. He was also President of Sunniside Riding Club, and sometimes helped Undertaker Dick Clarke out by being an Underbearer.

Three of John Wallace's children were gifted singers, they were members of Sunniside Chapel Choir in the 1920's and the 1930's, Bella was contralto, Maimi was soprano, and Bob a baritone. Maimi was only 10 years of age when she sang her first solo at the Chapel, she had her voice trained by Harvey Lambert of Newcastle. She was a member of the Dunston Operatic Society, and with Bob sang duets at choral events. Bob, (Chief Stoker at Dunston Power Station), was a member of the Burnopfield Male Voice Choir, and was for a time the Choir-master at Sunniside Chapel. On many an evening the Wallace family enjoyed a happy sing-song at their home next to the Forge. With Maimi at the piano and grandpa Robert Young from the Fell playing his fiddle, the sound of the hammer and anvil gave way to sweeter melodic notes. The cottage was eventually extended in 1992.

Before the enclosure of Blackburn Fell the present farm at Loosing Hill, along with several cottages nearby, covered 19 acres of old intack owned by the Liddells of Ravensworth, who as such had grazing rights on the Fell. After the enclosure, 41 acres of common land to the north of the farm was annexed to the farm. By 1841 Mary Richardson farmed 149 acres here, Amos Richardson was the Farmer from 1846 to 1862, and the farm had expanded to 175 acres, employing four men and one boy. On Monday, April 29th 1862, a sale of farm stock and implements of husbandry took place at the farm on behalf of the late Mrs Richardson.

Thereafter the farm has seen quite a number of tenants, Will Brabban in 1868, Cuthbert Carr in 1871, John Thompson in 1879 (formerly an Engineer for J.Bowes and Partners at Birkheads), Matthew Watson in 1890, John Rutherford 1894 to 1904, (the Rutherford family are pictured above left to right: Septimus, Tom, Bella, Lizzie, Anthony, Charlotte (Lottie married Billy Brabban) and Matthew). Michael Dobson ran the farm in 1910, Will Smith in 1914 and Robert Harcus in 1925. The only Farmer who stayed there for any length of time was John Jobling 1910 to 1945, and during this time the farm became known as Joblings Farm. It seems when Durham County Council bought the farm from the Ravensworth Estate, they divided it into two tenants, but by the late 1920's, the Joblings ran the whole farm themselves, as a mixed arable farm. In 1925 they had 22 cows, and Harry Wallace delivered the milk in the locality. Mrs Jobling made ice-cream, but to buy this you had to call in at the farm. Mr.Jobling leased part of a field behind the farmhouse to Sunniside Rangers A.F.C. The players changed in one of the back rooms at the 'Travellers Rest'.

The farm played host to Sunniside Carnival in the 1920's, to the mid 1930's. The procession from Sunniside to the farm was led by the 'King of the Carnival', Will Shorten, accompanied by a Jazz Band. Stalls were set up in the field. In 1928 Richard Clarke Jnr. won the magnificent sum of œ1 in a penny - farthing race. There was only one machine and the lads took it in turn to see who could pedal across the football field from one pair of goal posts to the other and back, in the fastest time. There were similar carnivals held at Burnopfield and Dunston, all in aid of charity. In 1934, the Sunniside and Marley Hill carnival committee allocated £18. 16s. to the Aged Peoples Outing, and 2 guineas each, to the Aged Miners Homes, Whickham Cottage Hospital and Sunniside and Marley Hill Nursing Association. The Sunday School children from Sunniside Chapel sometimes had their Summer tea outing at the farm. Mr.Jobling and his sons, Billy and Jack, moved to a farm in Yorkshire.

John T. Robson, came from Hart and took over from Mr.T.Crisp in 1965. He kept a dairy herd of 19 cows, mostly Freisians, a few Ayreshires, and he also sold some hay. He had 51 acres, while Mr.Kell next door had around 46 acres. Later, Mr.Robson kept about 13 suckler cows which ran with a Blonde D'Aquitaine bull. The farm has been unoccupied since 1990, in 1992 Durham County Council wished to refurbish the two Farm - houses and convert the Farm Byres into dwellings.

They also proposed building some houses to the east of the farm, there was a brick walled garden here. The farmhouse is curious in that the two dwellings appear identical, as if the farm was planned from the beginning to house two tenants. In February 1994, Durham County Council put up for sale 56 acres 45 acres of which were bought by the Woodland Trust, they were helped by the Countryside Commission as part of the Great North Forest project. The site now named Lottie’s Wood has been turned into a wild life haven, with trees being planted and access to the public. In 2007 following deep ploughing the site of a 17th century Bell Pit was discovered by Colin Douglas a member of Sunniside Local History Society. The full story is featured on our website.

On the opposite side of the road to the farm there stood a whitewashed cottage (marked on Fryers enclosure map of 1805 and pictured above on the left), this was the home of Lottie Brabban (nee Rutherford) and her husband Billy (pictured above on both photographs), who worked mainly at Marley Hill Coke Ovens up until his death in 1932. At times if Billy were unable to work, Lottie would go to work at the Coke Works in his place.

In her younger days, Lottie could work as hard as any man, even in her later years she remained strong both in mind and body. She worked in the fields for local Farmers and Growers, often seen wearing a cap, she could handle horses well and drive a carriage. When in her early 70's she sometimes wheeled a barrow load of coals along to her sister Bella at Grange House, Streetgate.

The Woodland Trust asked for suggestions to give a name to the meadow running from the rear of East Sunniside Farm, two members of Sunniside History Society, local ladies Sheila Gascoigne (nee Scorer) and Eleanor Baty (nee White) suggested that it should be named Lottie’s Wood.

1) The farm began to be called East Sunniside in 1920, about the time Durham County Council came to own it.

2) The cottages which made up the old hamlet of Loosing Hill have perished.

3) From the late 1830's to the 1870's Granby Terrace and the Sun Inn was included with Loosing Hill, but then it became part of "New Sunniside".

4) Loosing Hill is a name which for various reasons has been discontinued in modern day usage.