Bedlington - Woods Pop Factory

[MaryThorn]

Hi everyone.  New to the site so apologies in advance for any inadvertent faux paus.  I'm trying to find a little bit more about the Woods pop factory business that was situated at Furnace Bank in Bedlington in the late 1800's.  I'm related to the family via my great grandmother who was daughter of Joseph Wood who set up the business.  I think that Joseph Wood came to the area from the Manchester area (from census details), no idea why, and eventually set up the business.  A lot of that family history has been lost now and wondered if anyone on here knows anything more about the family and the business.

Thanks in advance.

[pityackafromblyth]

Welcome to RootsChat, Mary, and you have come to the correct page - Northumberland.  Also in the Northumberland section there is " History of Blyth" or " Blyth History".  There is mention of Woods 'pop' factory in the Blyth section, as up until the 1960's or thereabouts, Woods pop factory, presumably the same family firm was located at Bebside, over the road from the Bebside Inn. Two brothers, Lance and Harry Wood.  I believe that Lance also had something to do with ownership of the Bebside Inn.  Both brothers are now deceased.
Hope this helps in your research.
Seeing as you have just joined - after posting 5 threads or so, you can then send Private Messages to other members.

[stanmapstone]

From the Morpeth Herald - Friday 10 November 1939
By Order of the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division)
Re Wood's, Bedlington Furnace, Bedlington.
Tuesday, November 21st. 1939
Important Sale of Mineral Water Factory Equipment and Stock, 4 Motor Lorries, &c.
Messrs. Thomas Waters & Son will sell by public auction......The Whole of the Equipment and Stock..........

Stan

[MaryThorn]

Thanks for the info Stan and Pityackafromblyth.  Thanks for the extra info Pityakafromblyth. Interestingly my mum, Irene Daley (sadly died in 1988) must have gone to school with her half cousins.  She was also at Blyth Grammar in the 50's, she was born in 42.  She never, ever mentioned them.  I do know from newspaper cuttings that some family members had taken the brothers to court in 1939 in relation to the business, I presume for what they thought was mismanagement.  I wonder if this caused a rift in the family.

[Michael Dixon]

Some Wood entries in Trade and Telephone Directories of the era....

Kelly's 1938.
Lance Wood. Dene House, Bedlington Station.

Wood, Son & Co (Edward Robinson Wood, manager.)
Mineral Water Manufacturers, Bedlington Furnace. TN 3234

B.Muter. Min Wat Man. Bedlington Station.

Waters & Robson. Min Wat Man, Abbey Wells, Morpeth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GPO Telephone Directory 1951.
Wood L, junr, Min Wat Man, 2 Percy St, Blyth.
       -------------
GPO TD 1952
Wood L junr MWM, 2 Percy St, Blyth
   ---------------

GPO TD 1959.
Wood, L, junior, MWM, Bridge St, Blyth.
   --------------

GPO TD 1964
L Wood, Haulage Contractor, Northumberland St, Blyth
L Wood MWM, Northumberland St, Blyth
      ------------

GPO TD 1966
Wood's Sand and Gravel, Hortpn Grange*, Bebside, Blyth.
Number Bedlington 3009, 3513.


Wood's MWM, Front St, Bebside, 3513
      -----------------------
GPO TD 1967
Wood MWM Front St Bebside, 3513
 Wood's, Horton Grange*, Bebside, Blyth 3009
      ---------------------

GPO TD 1968.. ditto to 1967
         ------------------

 * Lance had premises in the old pityard of Bebside Pit ( termed Horton Grange)

 Michael, ex of Bebside

[TriciaK]

I have vague memories of the "Pop Man" coming round the streets of Blyth, early 50s.  Not sure if he had a horse and cart, or an old-fashioned van. You could give him your empties and he would give you a penny. That would tie in with Michael's L. Wood Jnr of Percy St.
Or am I imagining it?

[Eggy1948]

Joe Rooney, a member of the bedlington.co.uk site, used to live at the top of the Furnace Bank in Bedlington. Joe emigrated to Australia in 1956 and sadly he is no longer with us. Joe Joined the bedlington.co.uk group in 2005 and often added comments about the area he lived. On one occasion he posted some photos he had been given to be shared with everyone. There was no dates for when the photos were taken.

[Eggy1948]

This old postcard (no date given) of the Furnace Bridge area shows where the Wood's factory was situated.

[Anton1]

Hi - I live in Mansel terrace Bebside, which is opposite the Bebside Inn pub. I have found out that this was once called "Office Row", and the row of 5 terraces houses were at one time the pit managers / duputy's houses for Bebside pit, which was sited immediately behind the houses. Does anyone have any information about this area / Mansel Terrace / Bebside pit?