Red Row shops
 

Anyone remember the shops and shopkeepers of Red Row. The last one (north) was Allan`s, I remember he owned an E type Jag and had travelling shops

Was the first building a bank and the second one a clothes shop,a chemist shop was further up inbetween Allens shops,i think.The corner shop was a fruit and veg used to call in every morning before school for a cooking apple the bigger the better.

Also Nardinis chip shop across the road.

Re; Red Row shops
 

In early 50s Hetherington's greengrocer was on the corner (Just out of shot on right) The first on right was Martins Bank, later Midlands, then a gents hairdresser, John Chapman (outfitters)which later became 'The Corn Dolly', Johner Dixons Bicycle shop, Wakes Chemist, Harry Donkins, Allen's had a double fronted shop. On the other side of the road from Hetherington's was Primrose Hall ("Sweat Box)and next to it was the Co-op both food and millinery dept's. Further north was Nardini's then further again was another General Store but I can't remember who owned it.

Think the owner of the general store was Erskine,

Parsonx - I take it the Nardini chip shop is now the Ocean Star Chinese Take-Away? The two ladies (sisters) Nardini and Bruce used to own the cafe above Law's Stores in Morpeth (imaginatively called the Narbru!). I used to wile away many an hour after school with chips and gravy and a coke float there.
One of them, can't remember which, also owned the Harbour chippy in Amble.

I can see them all now. Who was the scrap man, he had a yard behind the co op, he helped me get my motorbike home when the chain snapped, good man. Pettica`s garage and they owned the Grey Arms Hotel which had a bookies down the side. The picture house. The only surviving business seems to be Stephen Lunn the blacksmith. Someone must have some photos

Jimmy Falkous had the scrap yard behind the co-op. Nardinis did the best fish and chips ever!

Falkous used to hide his lead under a pile of sand,many a few sheets went missing to be melted down for fishing weights.

Can`t remember where I found this

falkous
 

it was willie falkous the scrapman jimmy was his brother lived at the drift:D

Used to find the brass shell cases down the beach from the planes from RAF Acklington and take them to him for scrap

1940s ?
 

Allan`s staff

I was ploughing the beach field next to Hadston Scaurs not long after opencast reinstatement during the miners strike. I was followed all day by a group of lads picking up the brass cannon shells, presumably for scrap.
Tough times, the strike scarred many, only 30 years ago, yet its an unheard of episode to a lot of people living here now

Picture that would be Harry Coxons shop frontage Builder and Undertaker ???

[Re: the picture attached]

Interesting view. What was that weird looking building at the far end with what looks like a canopy over some castle battlements! [is that the one Leslie is asking about?]

Also I'm amazed that garage with the window over (between the corner shop and the club) has survived until today, it should be listed!

Re: Red Row picture of Drift road.
 

The building was Red Row County Primary school. They tried, and failed, to educate me there for four years. In 1955 they released me on the general public and I got a job at Broomhill Colliery. That wasn't a clever move either.

Re: Red Row picture. (Coquet)
 

The garage you noted was the garage and store room for Tommy Hetheringtons veg shop, on the corner. I suppose, like the shop, it is still empty.

I'm sure you were a sterling pupil! :)

What about the earlier history of the corner shop - you mention this was a greengrocers 1950s- any idea what it is in the contex of borderlad's 1920 photo? I can see text on the signage but cannot make anything out.

That corner shop (and garage attached!) has just sold recently. < 89k I think. Even I was tempted. [but my 'bitcoin' investment has a bit to go yet :D]

I couldn't remember if it was willie or jimmy and went for jimmy! Thanks for clearing that up :)

Historic garage
 

Someone broke a 90yr old window in the garage, the shop was still for sale when I took this last week, must have seen me taking an interest

Another garage
 

This was a garage, my father bought two cars from here in the 50s, can`t remember the owners name, should make them listed buildings

I was always intreagued by the greenhouse built on top of a garage on the left as you came up the bank into Red Row. Is it still there?

They should. There's virtually nothing left like that anywhere. A nice coat of paint and it would be quite eye-catching.

Some of the windows in the first floor over the shop were out a few years back but I see it's had whole new windows fitted.

Think it is but I see the Primrose Hall has gone

They released me in 1965 when i failed my 11+ Sent me to south broomhill sec,for the next 4 years.

Cinema
 

Another tin building but long gone. Where did this need to build in tin come from

Saw a fair few films in there early 60s,bought my first pint in the grey arms,well some one went to the bar for me as i still had a few years to go till i could buy my own.

When my dad and his brother were kids they were thrown out of the picture hall for loosening the screws in the backs of the seats. In revenge they went and got a load of veg which was stacked outside the greengrocer and rolled them down the roof so no-one could hear the picture :D
The policeman told their sister that the trouble with my dad was "he had the face of an angel"

Used to drink rum & blacks and listen to "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro on the jukebox, I got over it

Primrose Hall
 

Used to go to Friday night dance in Primrose Hall when stationed at RAF Acklington (1963 to 1965) Happy times!

Was Primrose hall the Buffs club?Down near falcouses yard,remember the brick club and the comrades club where my father used to frequent.are these places still alive and kicking?

I though the dance was at the Buffs but my brother put me right. Primrose Hall which is a house now was in front of the Buffs (recent photo) attached. Brick Club looks like it`s still open but Comrades shut, wonder if the Brick club has any old photos and photos of RAF Acklington seem rare

Acklington Spitfire
 

[QUOTE=borderlad;3092]Only one I have, used to cycle up there and watch the Jet Provosts take off right next to the road, remember there were a few crashes early 60s

I was at a wedding reception at the Brick Club, last year, so it is still going.

Grey Arms, was severely damaged by fire late 1993 and subsequently had to be demolished as it was beyond repair even though it was classified as a listed building.

The Willows
 

Least I think they were called the Willows, a row of houses on the right down the Drift road. May be one left standing. These seemed very old houses. Edna and Dan McKenzie lived in one before moving to Bondicar Rd. Hadston. I have put a photo of his brothers on the Broomhill Colliery thread. I think Dan was in the army WW2 at Dunkirk. Was there a pit at Red Row

Re Pit at Red Row
 

No pit at Red Row Borderlad, but there was a man drift entry just at the east end of The Willows. My memory is lacking any detail really but I did go down that one a couple of times. It was a second route into the Southside area of Broomhill Colliery. It linked with the areas men worked in who entered at The Drift. Some on this site have maps of various seams and workings and may be able to put some meat on my bones of a description. It wasn't worked in my time but may have been pre-war, and coals mined sent to the shaft bottom.
Late addition. Re the origins of Red Row, did the village not evolve from coal being mined at Maidens Hall, just a short walk from the village down the track that went between the Co-op and Primrose Hall and The Buffs? It wasn't a small operation as far as I can see, with aerial roadway etc. (As discussed by Coquet in an earlier thread