Gladys,
You know I can't keep my big sneck out, whenever there is a mention of Cowpen.. or Blyth.
On their 1851 census appearance, found by Pam, they were living in Cowpen Square.
Although this community lay within the Township ( a sub-division of a parish ; Horton) of Cowpen, Cowpen Square was not Cowpen Village.
Cowpen Square lay as the most northerly part of the area that made up modern-ish Blyth.
Lay on the very edge of River Blyth, just north of where the ferry was (in my day), from The Golden Fleece pub, across the river to North Blyth.
Cowpen Square was notorious area for ill-health. Supposedly because the "ash-pits" (middens) for the four rows of the square, were plumb in the centre of the square. A sort of children's playground ! So no escape from poor hygiene etc.
Just a wee geographic note for Pam... the 51 census has Thomas born in " No" ( abbrev for North) "Sunderland" and "do" for ditto for Northumberland.
North Sunderland was a fishing community... neighbouring Seahouses , both lying within the parish territory of Bambrough.
Michael Dixon
whose mother used to shout..." Yes you can go out, but remember no playing up the pit heaps, (burnt)or on the pit pond (drown) or in the middens ( disease)
