Where are we all

Yes, I'm sure that's the one; the Hartley mining disaster, 1862. I was told about it by a man who showed me round the Hall, so the S.O. and I then drove to the memorial to pay our respects. I think it changed the way mines were made in that they then had to have two shafts. At the time they had only one because it was cheaper. I found it very moving to be there; all those names and some just children.

My husband was born in Ashibgton. His claim to fame was that he had tea with Jacky Charlton. He was in the same class as the younger Charlton, Tommy.
Our younger son was born at home in Cramlington, but we had to go to a nursing home in Seaton Sluice to be checked out as he was born in 20 minutes flat. Ken delivered him. The ambulance man in the corner said he did not know what to do as it was only his first case.
We once went to a medieval banquet at Seaton Delaval Hall. Would find it hard to go to one now, having been vegetarian for over 35 years!
I haven't read all of this thread as I've only just found it, but has Cragside been mentioned? It's a fantastic place, near Rothbury.
One of Ken's grandfathers was a miner involved in an accident. He had a pit prop fall on his back, and it broke his spine. He gave up mining then and became a spiritualist preacher. His other grandfather worked down the mine at Ashington. His dad was a foreman for the NCB and was responsible for the upkeep of all the pit houses in the area. You would hardly know that there had been mines in Northumberland now. It's all gently undulating fields full of sheep.
Not forgetting, of course, the fantastic beaches up there with all the castles, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne and Bamburgh, our family favourite.
I sound like a tourist information Centre.

I must admit that until we had a holiday in Northumberland in 1987, I`d always thought of the area as dark, miserable and industrial. Oh how wrong I was! It`s beautiful up there, and we`ve been back a couple of times since.

Cycled up the Northumberland coast with a friend a few years ago. Glorious. Especially the kippers in Craster.

The whole ride I can strongly recommend. No big hills and very friendly bed & breakfasts. Just follow Sustrans Route One north from Newcastle and whatever you do don't even think of cycling on the A1. Even crossing it was traumatic!

www.coast-and-castles.co.uk

Scroll down to see a lovely interactive map that'll get you thinking happy thoughts!

Jendurham just noticed yr screen name. Can all pls just celebrate what a beautiful place Durham is. If you've never been, go now! The Cathedral must be the most stunning in Britain, and superbly positioned next to the castle on a great rocky spur.

Thrilling place, well worth a day of gentle exploring.

Now I sound like the N-E Tourist Board!

I echo how wonderful Durham Cathedral is - beautiful and also spiritual and peaceful. Brian Ferry was there when we last visited but I don't imagine that they arrange that for everyone!!

kitty will just have to go and add Bryan Ferry to isthis 's other thread of desirable over 50's !

Jendurham I've so many happy memories of Northumberland.
My DD1 was born in Mona Taylor hospital,Bedlington. We lived in Morpeth for 3 years(our first house).I worked at St Georges hospital and various pharmacies.My DH taught at Ashington Tech.One of his students was Sheila Armstrong who went on to become an international operatic soprano.
Cragside,Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle -and the wonderful beaches.Pity its so cold up there and a long way fromSomerset where I live now.
I must make the effort to get up there next year.

It's never been cold when I've been there [although I avoid the winter months]. The S.O.has a flat in Bamburgh which I totally take for granted. I'm very torn sometimes because my youth was spent in Cornwall [the misspent part of it] so my heart is very much in the south west. When I'm gone I don't think my spirit will know which end of the country to inhabit .

maniac even in the cold winter its beautiful and worth another visit, Cragside, Gibside and Wallington are some of my favourite places to visit.

Isthisallthereis, we used to have a guest house in York. We had lots of Australian and American guests with railcards who used to ask where to go.
I always told them to go to Durham, which is like York but with hills. Not quite the same, but you'll know what I mean. They always appreciated Durham.
The good thing is that the cathedral still does not charge. We went there last year on our 45th wedding anniversary, and even our grandchildren like the climb up the hill to see the cathedral and castle, and to look over the wall at the river.
Maniac, when people tell me they are going for their Summer holidays, I always joke that I hope they've chosen the right week. Fantastic beaches with nobody on them because of the wind.
Ken's mother lives in Broomhill, so we often go to Embleton and Druridge Bay. Ken was born at Stannington Hospital near Morpeth, but one of his brothers was born in Mona Taylor.
Ken and his older brother both went to King Edward Grammar School in Morpeth, but his younger brother went to Ashington Tech. Ken went to Charles Trevelyan College which is now Northumbria University. So we often go to Wallington.

Kitty, once when we went to Durham Cathedral, I went down in the crypt and left Ken sitting on a seat in the nave. While I was down there I heard this wonderful music echoing. Then it stopped.
When I went to join Ken I found I had missed a sound check for Sting, doing his If on a Winter's Night tour. Sounded really good down in the crypt, though.

am ashamed to say i have never been in durham cathedral and i belong 6 miles from it but love 2 go up craster way and them areas .and yes we do a think have the best coast line xx

london sorry but must disagree on the most beautiful coastline. Morecambe Bay takes it - well, maybe not coastline but the view across the Bay is one of the most stunning in the country. Can't say the same for Morecambe!

sel yes the view across the bay is nice but a ment the beaches .

london hmmm, ok then. You have it. It was just a vain attempt to move the thread West

I love the dolls houses at Wallington. They're doing a lot of work at Gibside in the near future, I believe. I was hoping to see the Red Kites when we were there in the summer, but they were hiding from me. Paxton House is one of my favourites; an artist called Judith Currie has an exhibition of her work there each summer, along with varying other artists. I've never really explored Berwick properly; did walk down to the harbour this year... very run down but still had a quaintness about it. Then there's Manderston [where they filmed that series about Edwardian Houses] and Floors Castle. I've never been to Durham .

sel thanks am new at chat

london and you're doing fine (hope that doesn't sound patronising!) Nice to know someone knows Morecambe Bay

Sel We were coming home up the M6 a few months ago and just fancied proper fish and chips, and on a whim left the motorway and visited Morecambe for the first time.
The fish and chips were lovely and Morecambe was rather nice. A stay at the Midland Hotel is now on my list of things to do.
I agree the view over the bay to the Furness peninsula is stunning.

crimson where I am living I can guarantee on see at least 2 red kites a day.

sel yes we stayed bb many times a long time ago will have 2 do that again some time

I haven`t been to Morecambe for many years now, well over 30, it was a popular daytrip when we lived in Lancashire, and I really quite liked the place, especially when the illuminations were on in the park.

jane, london and numberplease oh, I feel quite chuffed. Having grown up in Morecambe when, in the 60s it was a really lovely place, I feel quite protective about it. Sadly like most of those old seaside resorts it's declined out of all recognition but the view, at least, remains. I don't get back very often now as most of my family is gone. I live in Surrey so it's quite a haul.

It's funny how often you speak to people who have never visited parts of this country, so many who have no clue where the Lake District, Yorks Dales, Trough of Bowland etc are.

Crimson, when I drive from Lanchester to Morpeth, I always go to Annfield Plain, then past Gibside to the A1, so we often see the red kites. In fact the bus is called the Red Kite bus. I prefer it when my son is driving as the Fellside road is quite bendy, and it's difficult to spot the kites unless they are flying over the road in front of the car.
We call Gibside the family pile. My mother was descended from a John Milner, who was the brother of Mary Milner who married the 10th Earl of Strathmore. She is the mother of John Bowes, of the Bowes Museum, another amazing place to visit near Barnard Castle.
Mary Milner is buried in the mausoleum at Gibside. They told me if I took proof, they'd let me go down into the crypt. Haven't yet. I don't think I actually want to. They say they only open it up to the Bowes-Lyon family.