Contributor Leaderboard

Definitely Bedlington east end, just a few doors along from Millne. Feasters were the first outlet for Westridge School uniforms. I'm afraid I can't confirm Bonzo's origins.

This may or may not be Bedlington but there is a suspicion that the dog may be the original "Bonzo"

Forgive me, I know not what I am doing. Think I’ve copied stuff to you, @Andy Millne. x I’ve emailed to ask if there’s anything planned, will let you know when I have a reply, response, Roseanne x

Hi Andy, I had information from @Rigger and @Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) about a Bedlington History Group, told they did meet last Monday of each month in the West Bedlington Community Centre, I’ve got the phone number and email address but if I drop out of this conversation now to locate it I’ll have to write this all again. I’ll get back to you with the details immediately. I’ve just heard an email chime and wondering whether Mr Edgar has stepped into the breach like the wizard he is? xx

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)Moscadinnis was a great pleasure palace in my young world - only capped by Mark Toni(y)’s on Percy St N’castle, the very rate Knickerbocker Glory days, birthdays most likely , Dad’s big treat 😋x

This is how I remember Front Street east, starting at the Northumberland Arms and moving east. As you see, I don't remember any newsagents only a small off-licence. This was early 60s. Of course the O-L may have sold other things than Lambrusco - the 'in' drink of the time - or maybe that's just a sign of my mis-spent youth. We've had Feasters up for discussion earlier (see Topic: 'Old Bedlington shops' in History Hollow. I felt sure that Foxy had posted a picture but I can't find it now. You may (or may not depending on how you rate my drawing skills) be able to see that Moldens and Feasters were situated on either side of a small 'arcade' with a mosaic floor. Before Millne opened they had the largest shop windows in town with one window acing the main street and the other, much larger, liningthe arcade.

No, Bacci's wa further west towards the neuk. When Jimmy Millne opened his store it included a 'coffe bar' just out of shot and to the right in this picture. It ran the length of the shop from front to back where a staircase accessed the car park ... AND you could get a cup of milky coffee, something unknown outside of Morpeth.There was also a connecting door directly into the store. Jimmy was often there - service epitomised. He would take your bag, escort you to a seat, exchange a few pleasantries and made you feel really welcome. You don't get service like that anywhere today. As @Jr6468 says, it was a bit ahead of it's time with everything under one roof.

There are no restrictions on downloading images from any album within this group🙂. Select the 'Image Tool' menu on each of the album photos to get the Download option.

I’ve never heard of Bedlington Amateur FC but it’s a great photo with amazing quality. The photo mentions Price’s field at Hollymount and having grown up around Hollymount I looked closely at the photo to see where it was taken and it definitely wasn’t Hollymount. Before Hollymount Square was built there was a field between the Bell’s Place gardens and Hollymount Avenue but not big enough for a football field. At the top right of the team photo you can see the two chimneys of the Doctor Pit so the buildings behind the team are those down Vulcan Place and looking closely through the trees on the extreme right of the photo is the Whitley Memorial School. The photo I have attached of the school with the newly built houses of Hollymount Square would have been taken in the early 50’s (presumably taken from the church tower) and shows prefab classrooms that were only built in the late 1940’s. I have marked in green the spot where I am pretty sure the team lined up for the photo. Presumably the photo was taken at the football field where they played so it looks like it was on the field next to the school, part of which by the 1950’s were allotments.

Was that Baccis' coffe shop/bar (a few doors to the left away from Millne's) you are talking about?

My comment should read .... the number(s) printed... Not .... the(s) printed...

Old postcard of Front Street east and I think I have the shops named in the order they would have been when Millen's was about but those names may not have been present when this photo was taken. I know there are some who can date postcards from the(s) printed on the postcard. This one has G 3211 but I can't date it☺️

Remember it well! Bedlington's first ever 'Coffee Bar' just to the right.

Formerly The Turk's Head public house now abandoned.

Then & Now (Google Street View 2020)

Just a stab in the dark here, but this looks very like Eileen Brown (nee Purvis) the vicar's daughter and Dr Brown's wife. I never dreamed she would might have been a cyclist - but maybe before the Buckfast Tonic Wine (as a medical requirement, of course).