Photographs relating to this article, including those in this extract, may be found in Galleries 1.3, 1.4 and 5.4.1
Many remember the old colliery houses of Prudhoe with great affection. There was a strong sense of community and hardships and joy were shared. In many ways it was the hard nature of pit work and the difficult living conditions which contributed to the sense of neighbourliness and inter-dependence.
Sketch Map of West Wylam c. 1941
Houses at West Wylam and Low Prudhoe grew up around the mine. Looking at the area today it is difficult to imagine the mining activity which took place. West Wylam was described by a journalist in the late 19th century as “looking like a flock of sheep lying in a field. . .the whitewashed walls of the cottages stood out when viewed from the north side of the river. . . .It had at one time been ‘New Wylam Pit’.” Several of the streets at West Wylam were named after members of the family of the coal owners e.g. Clive Street, Ada Street and Wilfred Street.
The houses were sixteen feet by sixteen and in 1865 a report describes them as “all one room, except that a four poster bed served as bed and bedroom too, and there was a window in the roof loft which was made into a sort of children’s bedroom. The houses were sometimes back to back, and sometimes ‘single’, but all one size.” If, however, there were seven or more in the family a ‘double’ house could be applied for. The lodge secretary would post a notice of the claim giving the name of the next person to qualify for the extra accommodation and a regular census was taken.
The houses were sixteen feet by sixteen and in 1865 a report describes them as “all one room, except that a four poster bed served as bed and bedroom too, and there was a window in the roof loft which was made into a sort of children’s bedroom. The houses were sometimes back to back, and sometimes ‘single’, but all one size.” If, however, there were seven or more in the family a ‘double’ house could be applied for. The lodge secretary would post a notice of the claim giving the name of the next person to qualify for the extra accommodation and a regular census was taken.
View of West Wylam c. 1930
The street in the foreground is Clara street; the back to backs are Clive St (in front) and Tyne St to the rear; the near foreground is what was called the garden walkway; on the other side of this walkway was Cross St.
The street in the foreground is Clara street; the back to backs are Clive St (in front) and Tyne St to the rear; the near foreground is what was called the garden walkway; on the other side of this walkway was Cross St.
For their time these houses were considered to be ‘modern’. The upper rows, however, flooded regularly in wet weather. Each house had its own garden (22 feet square) and free manure was available from the forty plus pit ponies which operated in the mine. At one time West Wylam had its own policeman when the main body of Prudhoe did not have one. A police house stood between the Ebenezer Chapel and the main road. This was occupied for many years by PC Ned Young.
Dr Hunter, however, in his inquiry into the state of the Dwellings of Rural Labourers, Durham and Northumberland; the 7th Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council of 1865, was not so easily pleased with the housing conditions of the Prudhoe miners. In his report he states, “Prudhoe affords a remarkable example of the pressure of the mining population where work is plentiful At Low Prudhoe, a coal owner had more than a hundred cots, all to be served with water by one small dribbling stream, little thicker than a pencil when I saw it. Twenty one buckets were then formed en queue waiting for water, and a mob of women and children wrangling and lamenting over it. Some of the women professed to be terrified at the thought of the men coming home from the pit and being unable to wash or have tea. . . .Great numbers of dogs were kept in Prudhoe. Much of the furniture was even luxurious. The whole people were irritated about the want of water, but only one man had a word to say about the cesspools in front of his house door, or want of privies.”
The men folk apparently fought against the provision of privies, or “netties” as they are called locally, since they valued the dung from the chamber pots as manure for their gardens. Hence, opposite the houses, bays were sunk at that time which, alternately, were cesspools and coal stores. The interiors of the houses, however, were, as a rule, a matter of great pride to the housewives as is evidenced by the medical officer’s remark above on the quality of the furniture.
Little seems to have changed during the subsequent forty years or so, though netties had been erected. In the minutes of the Property and Sanitation Report on Prudhoe of 1902 we read, “Low Prudhoe and West Wylam consist of colliery rows, some of the houses being built back to back, others, though single houses, have no door or window at the back. Along the front or back of each row is the familiar sight of uncovered, uncemented privy ash pits, the roof water from the privies being, in some cases, directed into the ash pits, thereby favouring decomposition of its contents and pollution of the ground underneath and around. Drainage is provided for by fireclay or brick surface channels which, in most instances, are entirely unjointed and uneven, in which accumulations of soapy and greasy water, and vegetable and other house refuse are seen every few yards. I noticed an especially offensive collection at the east end of Castle Row (above where Glendinning’s garage now stands) where a grating guards the entrance to a covered stone drain, and close to which a fatal case of diphtheria has recently occurred. Also at the back of School Row, close to the foundation of the houses, one of these surface channels is provided; the pantry wall in some of the houses appear to be soaked with the sewage flowing down this channel, and, in one case, the water rises at times through the pantry floor. When this channel is cleaned out its contents must be thrown to the ground adjoining.”
During the years preceding World War I much of the Prudhoe Urban District Council’s time was spent in discussing scavenging, that is the clearing of the ash closets and the disposal of their contents.
In May 1910, a tender by Mr J Hetherington of Birches Nook, Stocksfield, was accepted for a period of twelve months for the above work. He was to be paid the sum of £281-10s-0d. However, an extra sixpence each week would be paid in respect of any new houses erected and occupied during the period of the contract. Mr Hetherington had to find a surety of £50 for the proper performance of his duties. Mr Hetherington was obviously not too well conversant with the location of the houses in Prudhoe and therefore the best routes to use, since in July several residents complained to the Council that their ash pits were too full and had not been cleared out. Mr Hetherington, in defence, stated that he had not yet been able to arrange his work so that every part of the district could receive attention at the proper time, but he would be able to do so when he knew the district better.
Dr Hunter, however, in his inquiry into the state of the Dwellings of Rural Labourers, Durham and Northumberland; the 7th Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council of 1865, was not so easily pleased with the housing conditions of the Prudhoe miners. In his report he states, “Prudhoe affords a remarkable example of the pressure of the mining population where work is plentiful At Low Prudhoe, a coal owner had more than a hundred cots, all to be served with water by one small dribbling stream, little thicker than a pencil when I saw it. Twenty one buckets were then formed en queue waiting for water, and a mob of women and children wrangling and lamenting over it. Some of the women professed to be terrified at the thought of the men coming home from the pit and being unable to wash or have tea. . . .Great numbers of dogs were kept in Prudhoe. Much of the furniture was even luxurious. The whole people were irritated about the want of water, but only one man had a word to say about the cesspools in front of his house door, or want of privies.”
The men folk apparently fought against the provision of privies, or “netties” as they are called locally, since they valued the dung from the chamber pots as manure for their gardens. Hence, opposite the houses, bays were sunk at that time which, alternately, were cesspools and coal stores. The interiors of the houses, however, were, as a rule, a matter of great pride to the housewives as is evidenced by the medical officer’s remark above on the quality of the furniture.
Little seems to have changed during the subsequent forty years or so, though netties had been erected. In the minutes of the Property and Sanitation Report on Prudhoe of 1902 we read, “Low Prudhoe and West Wylam consist of colliery rows, some of the houses being built back to back, others, though single houses, have no door or window at the back. Along the front or back of each row is the familiar sight of uncovered, uncemented privy ash pits, the roof water from the privies being, in some cases, directed into the ash pits, thereby favouring decomposition of its contents and pollution of the ground underneath and around. Drainage is provided for by fireclay or brick surface channels which, in most instances, are entirely unjointed and uneven, in which accumulations of soapy and greasy water, and vegetable and other house refuse are seen every few yards. I noticed an especially offensive collection at the east end of Castle Row (above where Glendinning’s garage now stands) where a grating guards the entrance to a covered stone drain, and close to which a fatal case of diphtheria has recently occurred. Also at the back of School Row, close to the foundation of the houses, one of these surface channels is provided; the pantry wall in some of the houses appear to be soaked with the sewage flowing down this channel, and, in one case, the water rises at times through the pantry floor. When this channel is cleaned out its contents must be thrown to the ground adjoining.”
During the years preceding World War I much of the Prudhoe Urban District Council’s time was spent in discussing scavenging, that is the clearing of the ash closets and the disposal of their contents.
In May 1910, a tender by Mr J Hetherington of Birches Nook, Stocksfield, was accepted for a period of twelve months for the above work. He was to be paid the sum of £281-10s-0d. However, an extra sixpence each week would be paid in respect of any new houses erected and occupied during the period of the contract. Mr Hetherington had to find a surety of £50 for the proper performance of his duties. Mr Hetherington was obviously not too well conversant with the location of the houses in Prudhoe and therefore the best routes to use, since in July several residents complained to the Council that their ash pits were too full and had not been cleared out. Mr Hetherington, in defence, stated that he had not yet been able to arrange his work so that every part of the district could receive attention at the proper time, but he would be able to do so when he knew the district better.
Low Prudhoe from Ovingham Bridge c. 1900
On the right, behind the signal box is the Adam & Eve Public House, behind which are the whitewashed miners' houses of School Row and Castle Row West. On the left stands the station master's house.
On the right, behind the signal box is the Adam & Eve Public House, behind which are the whitewashed miners' houses of School Row and Castle Row West. On the left stands the station master's house.
In July of that year the Council recommended that posters be printed and distributed requesting householders not to put paper, cardboard boxes, oil cloth, garden refuse or water and slops into the ash pits. By this time, Mr Hetherington had come to the decision that he could not carry out the contract at the price for which he had tendered and asked the Council to grant him an increased payment. This was refused and he was informed that he must comply with the terms of the contract. In September though he was granted permission to purchase “such disinfectants as he considered necessary for cleaning out the ash pits and privies”. It was reported that he was now carrying out his work satisfactorily.
Mr Hetherington employed three horses and carts constantly during the week in order to carry out the work. His area did not cover the whole of the township, since the local colliery owners employed their own scavengers to service the colliery houses.
The refuse from West Wylam was taken to the tip on the east side of West Wylam Colliery and that from Prudhoe to an old quarry on the south side of the West Road. These, it was declared, were far enough removed from any houses to prevent any nuisance arising.
The scavenging at Low Prudhoe was done by the Mickley Coal Company who were the owners of the properties. This refuse was deposited on the east side of Ovingham Bridge. As for Hagg Cottages, owned by the West Mickley Coal Company, the Medical Officer of Health was critical of the situation whereby the refuse tip was too near the houses.
The Medical Officer at this time also highlighted numerous cases (too many to quote) in Prudhoe where sanitary conditions gave grave cause for concern. For example, at Douthwaite’s Buildings the ash pit was open and the yard on the south side had an open ash pit and manure heap. At Ridley’s Yard the whole of the premises behind the shoemaker’s shop were in a very bad condition. One of the buildings formed a combined byre and pigsty with an entrance from the yard. The door and wall of the latter building were only eleven feet from the front of the adjoining dwelling house. Between the rows of houses and the byre there was, at the top of the yard, a privy and a manure heap. The latter was only three feet in front of the dwelling houses.
The Locomotive Inn, known locally as “Up the Steps”, also came in for criticism. The urinal attached to the inn was against the gable end of the house and was said to be in a conspicuous position and ineffectually screened from public view. At the top of the yard, behind the inn, there were two manure heaps and behind the inn were three cottages with only one shared privy. Two of the three cottages had doors set too low below the pathway, thus allowing surface water to enter.
Mr Hetherington employed three horses and carts constantly during the week in order to carry out the work. His area did not cover the whole of the township, since the local colliery owners employed their own scavengers to service the colliery houses.
The refuse from West Wylam was taken to the tip on the east side of West Wylam Colliery and that from Prudhoe to an old quarry on the south side of the West Road. These, it was declared, were far enough removed from any houses to prevent any nuisance arising.
The scavenging at Low Prudhoe was done by the Mickley Coal Company who were the owners of the properties. This refuse was deposited on the east side of Ovingham Bridge. As for Hagg Cottages, owned by the West Mickley Coal Company, the Medical Officer of Health was critical of the situation whereby the refuse tip was too near the houses.
The Medical Officer at this time also highlighted numerous cases (too many to quote) in Prudhoe where sanitary conditions gave grave cause for concern. For example, at Douthwaite’s Buildings the ash pit was open and the yard on the south side had an open ash pit and manure heap. At Ridley’s Yard the whole of the premises behind the shoemaker’s shop were in a very bad condition. One of the buildings formed a combined byre and pigsty with an entrance from the yard. The door and wall of the latter building were only eleven feet from the front of the adjoining dwelling house. Between the rows of houses and the byre there was, at the top of the yard, a privy and a manure heap. The latter was only three feet in front of the dwelling houses.
The Locomotive Inn, known locally as “Up the Steps”, also came in for criticism. The urinal attached to the inn was against the gable end of the house and was said to be in a conspicuous position and ineffectually screened from public view. At the top of the yard, behind the inn, there were two manure heaps and behind the inn were three cottages with only one shared privy. Two of the three cottages had doors set too low below the pathway, thus allowing surface water to enter.
Postcard entitled ‘Prudhoe Village’ c. 1890In front of the Locomotive Inn carts are standing ready for repair at Robinson's smithy. The houses on the left at the bottom of South Road were demolished in 1899. This was for many years the Prudhoe Community Partnership Office. The two storied house beyond is now the 'Big Club'.
On the West Road, three lots of properties had to have the contents of their privies emptied onto the footpath. The Medical Officer declared that it seemed “unreasonable that pedestrians using this footpath should have either to walk over the contents of these privies, or get off the footpath every time the ash pits were being cleared out.”
Mr Hetherington’s scavenging contract lasted only a year. During the last few weeks of his contract, he was criticised for employing only two horses and carts instead of three. The new contract was awarded to Joseph Little of High Mickley for the sum of £400 per annum. Complaints regarding the work of the scavenger had not ended though. In March 1914, the Council brought to the attention of the scavenger that covers should be placed on his carts when travelling through the town.
The Council’s Works Committee, anxious to improve the town’s sanitary conditions stated in February 1912 that in its opinion “new houses should, as far as possible, be provided with WCs. Generally, though, over the next twenty years sanitary conditions improved very little. In 1933, for example, typhoid broke out in West Wylam. An open midden was reported as being situated between each pair of “netties”. In one week alone both father and son in the Oswald family died. The Council brought in chemical toilets and disinfectants to Wilfred Street. When someone died at West Wylam it was the practice for the coffin to be brought out into the street and placed on trestles so that neighbours could ‘pay their respects’ before the funeral service.
Perhaps as a result of this epidemic, Wilfred Street and Norman Street were demolished in the 1930’s. Both of these streets, together with Tyne Street and Clive Street, were of the ‘back to back’ type. All of the other streets in West Wylam had both a back and a front to them.
High Prudhoe was more of an agricultural community than a mining one. The 1902 Sanitation Report describes it as “partaking much more of the character of a small country town than any of the aforementioned places in the report; (i.e. West Wylam, Low Prudhoe and Mickley) . . . . the houses for the most part being modern. The drainage for the easterly two thirds of High Prudhoe is into a cesspool, the overflow of which is piped into a burn which enters the river near the Hagg”.
Mr Hetherington’s scavenging contract lasted only a year. During the last few weeks of his contract, he was criticised for employing only two horses and carts instead of three. The new contract was awarded to Joseph Little of High Mickley for the sum of £400 per annum. Complaints regarding the work of the scavenger had not ended though. In March 1914, the Council brought to the attention of the scavenger that covers should be placed on his carts when travelling through the town.
The Council’s Works Committee, anxious to improve the town’s sanitary conditions stated in February 1912 that in its opinion “new houses should, as far as possible, be provided with WCs. Generally, though, over the next twenty years sanitary conditions improved very little. In 1933, for example, typhoid broke out in West Wylam. An open midden was reported as being situated between each pair of “netties”. In one week alone both father and son in the Oswald family died. The Council brought in chemical toilets and disinfectants to Wilfred Street. When someone died at West Wylam it was the practice for the coffin to be brought out into the street and placed on trestles so that neighbours could ‘pay their respects’ before the funeral service.
Perhaps as a result of this epidemic, Wilfred Street and Norman Street were demolished in the 1930’s. Both of these streets, together with Tyne Street and Clive Street, were of the ‘back to back’ type. All of the other streets in West Wylam had both a back and a front to them.
High Prudhoe was more of an agricultural community than a mining one. The 1902 Sanitation Report describes it as “partaking much more of the character of a small country town than any of the aforementioned places in the report; (i.e. West Wylam, Low Prudhoe and Mickley) . . . . the houses for the most part being modern. The drainage for the easterly two thirds of High Prudhoe is into a cesspool, the overflow of which is piped into a burn which enters the river near the Hagg”.