"Cornwall" - A Durham Mining Village

[Mr J T Arthur]

I have a (privately published) book called 'The Story of Annfield Plain and District' by F.J. Wade - possibly one of the most comprehensive histories of Annfield Plain and its people in existence!

In this he says that 'Cornwall' was originally known as 'The Cement Rows' which were built in about 1870 by the owners of the South Derwent Coal Company.

Jennifer

Didn't realise Fred Wade's manuscripts had been published. How did you get hold of a copy? I believe Hanging Stone is mentioned too where I have an interest.

Tom, that is a gem, many thanks for sharing it.

J.T.A.

[JenB]

The copy I have belonged to my grandmother. It was originally produced by the author in 1966, and is hand-typed.

The edition I've got is a reprint made by Mr Wade's daughters in 1986, in which they say that there were only 'a handful' of copies made of the original edition. It doesn't say how many copies were made of the 2nd edition.

There is a very small section about Hanging Stone - I will PM you the details.

You can also learn about 'The Ghost of Kyo Bogs' and 'The Phantom Avenger' if you wish 

Jennifer

 

[stanmapstone]

You can get a copy from ANNFIELD PLAIN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The Story of Annfield Plain & District        £ 6.50
See http://www.annfieldplain-fhs.co.uk/other_books.htm

Stan

[mim]

Tom, Thank you for sharing the account of "Cornwall" - it's an absolute gem!

Thanks also to Jen for sharing her grandmother's memories of the area!

mim

[Linda from Murton]

This is a wonderful posting and has solved a mystery which has puzzled me for years.

One branch of our family came north from Cornwall in the 1860s and settled in Murton, Co. Durham.  The men had all been tin miners and came to work at the local colliery.  In fact an area of Murton was dubbed Cornwall.  Even now its nickname remains and all the streets are named after places in Cornwall.

They mystery which this posting has solved is that when Richard Raymond, the head of the family, died, his widow remarried - a chap called Stephens who had also been born in Cornwall.  They moved away from Murton and the 1881 census shows the family living  11 Kyo Lane, Kyo.  I believe Kyo Lane is only a stones throw from Annfield Place (Plain).  They must have heard about this "Cornwall" and moved to be near possible friends. 

Its amazing, you wait eight years and another mystery is solved.  Thank you so much and can I congratulate you on a lovely link.

Kind regards and happy hunting.  Linda from Murton.

[danuslave]

A tidy house is the sign of a broken computer

I love this.  I knew 'A tidy house is a sign of a wasted life', but this one is new to me   

Another Linda

[JohnGMilburn]

With reguard to the Fred Wade books these are also available in the Local Libraries in the Derwentside area.
John

[Tinner]

Hi,
having just read this post, I think it's great, my family came up from Cornwall but settled in Bishop Auckland area, then Consett area.
This is the first time that I've heard of this story. More history for the descendants of Cornish Families.

[andiu12]

Tom Swailes' fathers's memories are fantastic.  Really enjoyed reading it as my ancestors also came from Cornwall.  Initially they settled in the Sunniside, Crook area but by 1891 they were living in Craghead, Stanley.

Does anyone have any info on any Cornish families in the Craghead area?

Thanks,
Andrea