Do you remember? What do you remember about Hurworth in days gone bye?     

This is the place to put them. If you have something - and it only need be a sentence
or two - please share your memories by clicking on Contact button at the top of the page).

Do you remember when there was a blacksmith in Hurworth?___________________________________________________________________________________

Some reminiscences, by permission of Jean Kendall from her book 'The Two Hurworths' are below.

Emerson

Chatwin House in Hurworth once belonged to a branch of the Emerson family, who claimed kinship with Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher. His ancestors emigrated from Weardale to America some two hundred and fifty years ago.

Another famous Emerson was born in Hurworth in 1701. William, the son of the village schoolmaster grew up to be a complete eccentric, rough and uncouth in his manner. However, he was a genius at mathematics and in his adult years he was invited to be a member of the Royal Society. This honour was rudely rejected by him because he objected to paying for his membership!
____________________________________________________________________________

Senior Citizens

In 1908, Hurworth had quite a few citizens of a good age for that period. People of 90 were frequently met with, whilst 80 year olds seemed to be the rule rather than the exception. Persons of 70 and 60 years where expected to “mind their manners and look up to their elders”! The present generation of the citizens of Hurworth seem to find the area just as beneficial — we have at least three ladies aged 100 who currently live in the district and a fair ration of sprightly “Senior Citizens”.
______________________________________________________________________________

Old Dance Hall

The Christadelphian Church meets in a building with an interesting history. Originally there was a building on the corner of Railway Terrace called Holly House. This was demolished to make way for a village hall, built for the village of Hurworth Place, in 1907, by Mrs Elizabeth Barclay Backhouse. There was also a Quaker reading room and a caretaker’s cottage. In the war years, dances were held upstairs in the large room which were well supported by the Canadian airmen who were stationed at Croft airfield. As you can imagine, it was a mecca for the local girls. Return transport was provided from the airfield by Abbots, the local bus company. There was a snooker table and people could play darts. There were certain restrictions in the deeds. No strong drink was allowed on the premises and they could not be used for a hotel. The dances continued well into the Fifties but gradually, there was less need for the hall and it was sold to the church which currently occupies the premises. The little cottage is still there and is currently being refurbished to provide a house for someone.
___________________________________________________________________________________