South Shields Sanddancers Forum

My father lived in Harton Village as a boy from c 1910 in the Victorian cottages ( built c1830 at the top of Clifton Avenue ) and his father worked as a joiner, carpenter and cabinet maker for the agent of the Harton Coal Company, at what eventually became the Cleadon Park Sanatorium, and my maternal great grand mother Margaret Stephenson had the old Vigilant Inn 1880 - 1900, which was rebuilt in 1925, from what had been a one room stone white washed country hostelry, and the beer brewed in situ. Early photographs of the village are very much welcomed for family history interest and or suggested possible sources etc and any kind help would be greatly appreciated, to add to what have been forthcoming from the library archives. There is a book currently being written by a lady known to me about the history of the village, which I am sure will create much local interest.

Many thanks again, there's a couple there new to me, good man.

Its great when you can see where it was by the Ship Inn, I was born a few hundred yards away, not that I can remember it looking like that

Very interesting photos thanks, My parents ( Jim and Alvie Young ) had the Vigilant from the mid to late fifties when I was in my last years at Mortimer Road school.

Mr Smith wrote:

I like the fact that the rock at the bottom front corner of the Ship Inn is still there today.
Thanks for posting the pics Mr Smith

StottieCake wrote:

Mr Smith wrote:

I like the fact that the rock at the bottom front corner of the Ship Inn is still there today.
Thanks for posting the pics Mr Smith

I was just about to mention that Rock , you beat me too it, i was having a Hovis Moment . .

The stone is allegedly a "mounting stone" to assist riders in mounting their horses.

Mr Smith wrote:The stone is allegedly a "mounting stone" to assist riders in mounting their horses.

Starting to think i might just borrow it for the wife these days ! . .

Noggin wrote:

Mr Smith wrote:The stone is allegedly a "mounting stone" to assist riders in mounting their horses.

Starting to think i might just borrow it for the wife these days ! . .

Does she do much mounting?

Mr Smith wrote:

Noggin wrote:

Mr Smith wrote:The stone is allegedly a "mounting stone" to assist riders in mounting their horses.

Starting to think i might just borrow it for the wife these days ! . .

Does she do much mounting?

I was thinking of borrowing it for myself , she's had one too many Donuts over the years . . . I did try Mounting her once some time ago , but she kept falling off the wall due to her weight . .

Hi, I can't access the photos, have they been removed?
If you 'Google' {South Tyneside Historic Images Online} there are some good photos of Harton and the pub, if you're prepared to trawl through them.
I live close to it now and I'm greatly interested in the area, as my Paternal Grandfather ran the 'Old Ship' for some years around that time and the family lived above the pub. Grandad died in 1919. Dad was 12yrs old then, but he was born in Newcastle not in the 'Old Ship'. I've not been able to establish exact dates for when they lived there yet but must be 1908/9? - 1919.
I have some pics of Harton and the pub but haven't been able to work out how to upload them!

Hi pass the ball, I have been looking for info on my family history, ( this is how I found this site) my mother was born in South Shields and her maiden name was Stephenson.
She used to live in Hope Street, her father George worked at Harton Colliery, she lived there I think from around 1925 to 1946 when she married and moved away.
Saw the name Stephenson in the original post so I thought I would check for a connection.