Blue House Lane

THEN
Havannah Terrace: left horizon.   Blue House: up the bank, on the right.   T. H. Cann Memorial Aged Miners' Homes: right.
Cyclists approaching footpath (left through fields, just beyond Well Bank Rd) to Village Lane & Raft Yard.

 

NOW
Note how the approach road to the 'new' roundabout leaves the original line of Blue House Lane.
Havannah Terrace has gone and the 'new' Havannah Road travels left from the roundabout.
[ Photo: J.G. 19th Jan 2017 ]

 

The entrance to Blue House is just down the bank, on the left.   The Miners' Cottages are further down, also on the left.

 

Washington 'F' Colliery

THEN - 1968
One month after closure - Washington 'F' Pit seen from Blue House Lane.  Viewed over the future Albany Village.
Please Note:  The future 'F' Pit Museum is the Winder House behind the Chimney.
[ Photo: Courtesy of Photographer Stafford Linsley, July 1968 ]

 

THEN - 1961
Tom Corrigan & Grandkids in the garden of his house on Blue House Lane.
[ 1961 Photo: Thanks to Maureen James ]

 

THEN
Group of miners at Washington 'F' Pit - before compulsory white safety helmets were introduced in the mid-60s.
The Pit Road can be seen centre-right.  Blue House Lane lies just beyond the coal wagons.

 

THEN - 1971
Washington 'F' Pit Winder House & Headgear, now a Museum, looking towards Blue House Lane.   Still no Albany Village!
The junction of the 'Pit Road' and Blue House Lane (just off-picture, right) was known locally as 'The Pit Road Ends'.
[ Photo: Courtesy of Photographer Stafford Linsley, November 1971 ]

 

NOW - 2018
Washington 'F' Pit Museum, Albany Village, and the Old Pit Road meeting Blue House Lane at 'The Pit Road Ends'.
[ Photo: Courtesy of Google Earth ]

 

Susan Peareth's School (Founded 1814) - Top of Well Bank

THEN
Founded & funded by widow Mrs Susan Peareth, Lady of Peareth Hall, to teach
reading, writing & numeracy to local children of poor families.
[ Photo by John Routledge of the Blue Bell Inn ]

 

THEN
Blue Bell Inn   -   Susan Peareth's School   -   Top of Well Bank Road   -   Penshaw Monument (lost in a bright sky)   -   'F' Pit Heap

 

NOW
Blue Bell Inn   -   Grass Plot where Susan Peareth's School once stood  -   Top of Well Bank Road   -   Penshaw Monument
[ Photo: J.G. 1st Dec 2016 ]

 

Mrs Peareth lived a short walk away.  Click Me to find out where.

 

The Blue Bell Inn
( Coach Road, High Usworth )

THEN
The School House standing close to the Coach Road, which once led from Great Usworth to Little Usworth.
Blue Bell Inn is on the right.  Susan Peareth's School was immediately off-picture, right.

 

NOW
Blue Bell Inn, looking towards the Entrance of the School House - seen behind lamp post.
[ Photo: J.G. 5th June 2018 ]

 

THEN
Main Entrance to Blue Bell Inn, viewed from the backstreet connecting Well Bank (left) to Coach Road (right).

 

NOW
Main Entrance to The Blue Bell, viewed from Coach Road.
[ Photo: J.G. 5th June 2018 ]

 

The School House
( The Former Great & Little Usworth Board School )

NOW
This was the Headmaster's House.  The former Caretaker's House stands off-picture, left.
That's Coach Road Estate in the background.
[ Photo: Tom Copeman, 1st Jan 2005 ]

 

THEN
Extract from O.S. 25 Inch Map, 1892-1914.
Note the Headmaster's House, the Caretaker's House (alongside the road) and the large School Building.

 

NOW
The Headmaster's House from inside the grounds.
[ Photo: J.G. 2nd July 2018.   Many thanks to the Lady of the House for her kind permission to post these photographs. ]

 

NOW
Note the date in the apex:  1878
[ Photo: J.G. 2nd July 2018 ]

 

THEN
Upper and Lower Inscriptions on the Headmaster's House
( Some time ago - check the shovel blade below. )

 

NOW
SEAL OF THE GREAT & LITTLE   -   USWORTH SCHOOL BOARD
LABORARE EST ORARE
'To Work Is To Pray'
[ Photo: J.G. 2nd July 2018 ]

 

NOW
The Caretaker's House from inside the grounds.
[ Photo: J.G. 2nd July 2018. ]

•   •   ◊   •   •

Unfortunately, I don't have any photographs of the School Buildings in their original state.
If you have any you'd like to share, I'll be delighted to post them here.
I'll also make sure that the residents get copies.

 

Municipal Terrace / Spout Lane

THEN
Municipal Terrace ( 5 chimney pots per house! )     Spout Lane     Straight ahead to New Inn Corner.

 

NOW
Spout Lane: just up the bank from the A1231 (Sunderland Highway) which now blocks this road.   [ June 2014 ]

•   •   ◊   •   •

BETWEEN THEN & NOW

Construction of the A1231 Sunderland Highway Pedestrian Underpass.
[ Note the temporary by-pass road. ]

Above The Pedestrian Underpass
[ Note Washington Grammar School playing fields.  Photo: Thanks to Adrian Lupton. ]