Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

Photos + info of the Top End and the Station(Sleekburn)

It was founded in 1926 as Bedlington Secondary School for the areas of Bedlingtonshire, Ashington and Newbiggin, being built next to Bedlington railway station. Subsequently it became Bedlington Grammar School, before turning comprehensive in 1974. It gained Maths and Computing College status in 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ex pupils you should know :-   Sir Bobby Charlton CBE &   Sir John Hall, who built the MetroCentre                                       

Often referred to as the 'Council School'. Entry in  https://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/005616.htm  has the date c1916

Info on the Durham Mining Museum site is :-
                  First shaft was sunk 14th July 1854
                  Colliery opened in 1855
                  Colliery closed 2nd March 1968  

Local teams other than Bedlington Mechanics teams. The history of Bedlington Mechanics is current being researched by @Ovalteeny  and his info is posted in the topic BEDLINGTON MECHANICS FC   under - Hobbies & Interests >  > The Sports Club>

Pupils that attended the junior schools in Cambois & Bedlington progressed to the West Sleekburn Middle school , in the 1980's & 90's before moving on to the 'High' schools.

Celebrated it's 100th year on June 30th 2012. The school has a web site with a collection of photos over the years and the web site address is   http://www.bedlingtonstationfirstschool.com/bsfs100/100_years_of_Photographs/100_years_of_Photographs.html

The original school building was destroyed by fire in 1970. The old school building was replaced with garages and houses and the new school is still within the old school grounds.

Historically, Humford, a tiny hamlet, consisted of only two houses on two separate sites – the Waterworks that were later converted into 'Humford Open Air Swimming Baths' and now the area is part of the Bedlington Country Park Local Nature Reserve.

Don't know the exact year the school was built. I would assume there would be some colliery rows built when the colliery was due to start production. The Durham Mining Museum does not have a year against when the colliery was opened but it does have 1982 as the first year coal was output. The First Edition of the OS map of the Cambois area held on the National Library of Scotland is 1859 (published 1865) and there is no colliery or houses. The Second Edition - 1896 (published 1898) shows the colliery, many pit rows and the school etc.