THE OAKS

Before the council houses were built at Newholme Crescent, Wellgarth and Shirley Close in the 1950’s many from Evenwood lived at the Oaks. Many called the place, “The Yaks”.

The Oaks was situated on the grassed area on the inside of the bend of Oaks Bank, opposite the cemetery and Ramshaw School – see the aerial photo and the map below.

Below: 2000: An aerial photo to show the land which once housed THE OAKS (Photo courtesy of Liam Dobinson).

There were 56 houses in 4 terraced streets – Front Row, Back Row and 2 in Cross Rows and another 6 dwellings at Stable Row, converted properties with basic facilities. The houses were owned by a private landlord. In 1957, the owners were the Executors of the late Margaret Ann Emmerson who were Mr. Wade Emmerson, Mrs J.E. Rycroft and Mr. Dennis Rycroft. The local authority considered that these houses were unfit for habitation and under the terms of the Housing Act 1936, a Clearance Order was issued which became operative 19 June 1957. The houses were demolished and the tenants rehoused in the council houses. The lists below record the occupants of each house at the Oaks.

About 250 new council houses were built at Newholme Crescent, Wellgarth and Shirley Close, which provided a mix of 2 and 3 bedroomed houses, bungalows and flats. They were fitted with coal fired “Rayburn” ovens for cooking and heating. They had internal bathrooms and toilets. These houses were far superior to the damp terraced houses of the Oaks which had outside “netties” and the tin bath. The new houses were welcomed by all of the new tenants.

Some Historical Notes

The Oaks was built to provide houses for coal miners and their families. In the 1830’s, the new collieries which were established in the Evenwood and Ramshaw area needed a workforce. The workforce needed places to live.

In 1830, the Haggerleases railway was opened. It ran alongside the River Gaunless from West Auckland to Haggerleases Lane. This meant that coal from the existing small coal mines at Norwood and Butterknowle could use the railway and join the Etherley to Brusselton tramway serving the Witton Park Colliery at West Auckland. This tramway/incline was part of the famous 1825 Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened in 1825. Coal could now get to Darlington, the port at Stockton-on-Tees and beyond, at reasonable cost.

The established Norwood Colliery and a number of smaller pits were situated on the northern hillside above the river and the railway track. A tramway was constructed, the Isabella Railway, to connect the pit to the main railway. A new colliery, also called Norwood Colliery was established alongside the railway. Coke ovens were built to use the coal to produce coke for iron manufacture. By 1836, a new coal mine was won at Gordon. Others followed at Evenwood (Thrushwood), Norwood and Evenwood New Winning (actually called Evenwood Colliery and sited in Craggwood). There was another pit near to Low Lands called Craggwood Colliery located alongside the railway. This concern was later named Storey Lodge Colliery and worked by the Northern Coal Mining Company. All this development required workers. Workers required homes.

The coal companies provided a neighbourhood of terraced houses called the Oaks, south of the River Gaunless. A terrace called Gordon New Row was built along Gordon Lane, north of the river. About the same time, Oaks House was built. This substantial house was usually occupied by one of colliery owners or an official such as the colliery manager. This research has not found the exact date when the Oaks and Oaks House was built. The Oaks was definitely built before 1841 since the census returns of that year record the Oaks and the occupants.

1847 October 2: THE NEWCASTLE GUARDIAN AND TYNE MERCURY

A TRANSCRIPT

TO BE SOLD, BY PRIVATE CONTRACT

All that valuable PROPERTY at the Oaks in the Parish of Evenwood, comprising a Good STONE HOUSE, containing Four Sitting Rooms and Two Kitchens and Scullery on the ground floor with Lodging Rooms above. Also, TWO COTTAGES with Gardens and Two excellent SIX STALLED STABLES, Gig-house and Granaries and Fifty-six HOUSES fit for the occupation of the Pitmen working at the adjoining Collieries; together with 14 Acres 1 Rood 21 Perches of excellent GRASS LAND. The whole is Copyhold of Inheritance and will form a good Investment for any Capitalist.

Evenwood is situated One Mile from West Auckland, Five from Bishop Auckland, Four from Staindrop and Ten Miles from Barnard Castle.

For further particulars, apply Mr. BROGDEN, Stockton-on-Tees

1851: Hagar & Co., County Durham Directory provides some details about Norwood Colliery, the colliery proprietor and Oaks House.

“Booth Lancelot Parker esq. Oaks House. Messrs. L.P. Booth and Co. are the proprietors of the Norwood Colliery in this village. The seam of coal lies at a depth of 30 fathoms. It is extensively used in Yorkshire, being rarely equalled and never surpassed in quality as a house coal. While the neighbouring collieries have great difficulty in disposing of their produce, this colliery is scarcely able to meet the demands for the excellent coal it produces. It has a drift 450 yards long, through which horses are led to and from the workings. Being situated near the Darlington railway, excellent facilities are afforded for its conveyance to distant parts.”

1859: Map to show the Evenwood and Norwood Collieries in relation to Oaks House and the Oaks, Evenwood. This is a copy of the first Ordnance Survey Surveyed 1856/57 published 1859

Below is a detail of the above map to show the Oaks and Oaks House

SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF RESIDENTS AND THE OAKS

Below: Mrs Cree with her hands on her hips outside her house, believed to be Front Row. She was Arnold Smith and Ena Bogle’s grandmother.

Below, about 1910, the Oaks viewed from somewhere near Station Row, Ramshaw. Delaware Avenue has not been built and it looks as tough the houses on Oaks Bank, below the farm, are under construction.

Below: 2009, A similar view

Below: 1924 Oaks Victory Homing Club

Above: Back Row left to right: Sid Hutchinson, John Dixon, Hiram Teasdale, A, Proud, Jack Wren, G. Brownless, the young lad is Bob Ellerker, J.J. Welsh, W, Heaviside, Gib Welsh, M. Hutchinson, D. Dobson, R. Heaviside and another R. Heaviside.

Front Row: G. Green, Wanless Cox, Wilf Wren and Matt Roberts

Below: 1926 Oaks Ladies Cricket Club

Back Row: Meadames Woof, Wren, Ellerker, Nicholson, Taylor, Carabine, Hymas, Eddie Carabine (Umpire)

Front Row: Mesdames Rivers, Wren, Creaser, Proud, Carabine and Miss Parkin.

Below: 1946: Stable Row, Dorothy Cramman (nee Gardiner) and Anthony (Tony Cramman)

Below: The Carabine family

Below: John Cree, pigeon fancier.

Below: Doris Milburn, Front Row

Below: Jessie Robinson (nee Milburn) with her son Colin posing in front of the toilet block.

Outside toilets in those days!

Below: Gladys Newton, Ramshaw School in the background.

Below: Carnival Day, Jessie Robinson (nee Milburn) admiring the view. Believed to be Brenda, June and Colin Robinson.

Below: 1957/58: These next 2 photos are courtesy of Leo McKenna – Brian Prudhoe with an unknown little girl

Below:1957/58: HOUSES AT THE OAKS BEING DEMOLISHED

Elsie Prudhoe behind the wall

Back: Alan Jones, Margaret Prudhoe, Leo McKenna

Front: Brian Prudhoe and Dennis Patton

Below: Olive Wilson (nee Gardiner)

Below: c.1930 Jack & Martha Wren with Norman & Lily.

They also lived at Copeland Row so this photo may have been taken there.

SOME PHOTOS OF OAKS HOUSE

Below: Evenwood Band in front of Oaks House.

Below: June 2021, Not quite the same view

Below: 1910, The Hutchinson family Albert & Mary with Sydney, Frank, Maurice & Ethel outside Oaks House

OAKS HOUSE: Summary of occupants 1843 – 1911

The Booth family lived at Oaks House between 1843 and 1850. During this time, Lancelot Parker Booth was the viewer [colliery manager] for the Durham County Coal Company and Messrs. L.P. Booth & Co., proprietors of the Norwood Colliery.

1847 September/October: Oaks House for sale. In 1848, Evenwood Colliery was bought by Messrs. Chas. Armstrong & Co. This company appears to have bought Oaks House since Robert Robinson and Robert Armstrong both employees, lived there.

In the 1861 census, Robert Robinson held the position of the viewer for Messrs. Armstrong & Co. He seems to have been resident of Oaks House from at least 1856 to about 1865, at which point, Robert Armstrong lived there.

The 1871 census records a new occupier. It was Edward Charlton, viewer to Thomas Charlton & Co. Edward Charlton was associated with a number companies that worked Evenwood and Norwood Collieries such as Messrs. Charlton & Co.; Evenwood Stone and Ironstone Company; Evenwood and Norwood Coal Co., and possibly Tees Hetton Coal Company.

The 1881 census records that 2 families lived at Oaks House. Edward Charlton shared the house with another occupier, Dr Morrow.

The 1891 census

The 1901 census records that 3 families lived at Oaks House – Dr Patrick Sheedy and 2 other families [both named Cree].

The 1911 census records that 4 families resided there – Walling, Emmerson, Hutchinson and Walling.

The England & Wales Register, 1939 is not clear – 3 possibly 4 families may have live at Oaks House – definitely, the Emmerson, Wilson and Priestley families and possibly the Patton family.

Below: PARKIN’S SHOP, Oaks Bank: Annie, Robert, Annie & Isaac Parkin