1924: July 5: The foundation stone was laid by Sir A.F. Pease Bart.  The architect was H.L. Baines.  Sir Arthur F. Pease was the chairman of the North Bitchburn Coal Co. Ltd.  and H.L. Baines was the “Engineer” at Randolph Colliery.

Below: The Foundation Stone

Other stones were laid by the following members of the local community and organisations:

B. Spoor, Lowson, Mechanics, Miner’s Engineers, Dr. Milne, Dr. Campbell, Reverend Richardson,

United Churches, J Gibb, Evenwood W.M.C.

The Teesdale Mercury reported the event, 9 July 1924, as follows:

“EVENWOOD MINERS’ HOMES

Foundation stones of eight dwellings to be used as homes for aged mine workers were laid at Evenwood on Saturday.  The cost will be about £3000.  The architect is Mr H.L. Baines of Randolph Colliery and the contractors are Messrs T. Manners and Sons, Bishop Auckland.  Among those who laid stones were Sir Arthur Francis Pease, Mr Hustler Hustler (Middlesbrough), Mr B.C. Spoor MP, Mr Hustler jnr., Dr R.A. Milne, Dr A. Campbell, Mr C.A. Pattison, the Rev W. Richardson (Vicar of Evenwood), the Rev A.G. Bowman, Cockfield (on behalf of the United Churches of Evenwood), Mr W.F. Hodgson, as representative of the Randolph Miners’ Lodge and Mr H. Bell (representative of the Evenwood Workmen’s Club and Institute).”

1925 January 24: R.J. Mounsey opened the aged miners’ homes on behalf of the Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (Randolph District).  R.J. Mounsey was a director of the NBCC Ltd. 

The Teesdale Mercury reported the event on the 28 January 1925, as follows

“EVENWOOD AGED MINEWORKERS’ HOMES

Eight aged mineworkers’ homes erected in connection with the Randolph Colliery (Evenwood) district scheme of the Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Association, were opened on Saturday afternoon.  The homes cost £3000.  Mr C.A. Pattison (late manager of Randolph Colliery), who presided, remarked that since the commencement of the scheme eleven years ago the Randolph Colliery workmen had subscribed £1,546 9s 8d.  Mr R.J. Mounsey, Darlington performed the opening ceremony and a gold key was presented to Mr Mounsey by the contractors, Messrs T. Manners and Son, Bishop Auckland.  On behalf of the committee Mr J. Adair presented a wallet containing Treasury notes to Mr H.L. Baines, of Evenwood, whose services as architect had been honorary and an overmantel to Mrs Baines.”

Below: Believed to be the commemorative photograph for the opening of the Randolph Aged Mineworkers’ Homes showing the committee and tenants.

Some names are listed below.

Back Row includes: Bob Watson, Mr. Gaffney, Mr Hodgson, George Stokeld Robinson, Mr R.W. Atkinson (far right)

Middle Row: Mr Heaviside, Mr Rutter, Mr Bowes, Mr Kirkup, Mr. Etherington, Mr Hymas, Mr Parkes or Mr Anderson, Mr C.A. Pattison (Colliery Manager), unknown.

Front Row: Mr and Mrs Lynch, Mrs Rutter, Mrs Bowes, Mrs. Kirkup, Mrs Etherington, Mrs Hymas, Mr Griffiths.

Note: The text of the 1924 press report is unclear. Was the cost £3000 or £8000? The 1925 report states £8000. Given that the men provided about £1546, it is assumed that this would equate to approximately half of the cost, the other half being provided by the Company. In which case £3000 was probably the figure relating to the cost.

The late Mrs. Gertie Walker (Alexandra Terrace) provided the above photograph and her father Robert William Atkinson is standing back row, far right. Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify all those photographed.

1 November 1979:   Having purchased the homes from the Durham Aged Miners’ Homes Association, Mr. J. Birch, Oaks Farm, Evenwood took possession of the dwellings and renamed them, Devonshire Place.

Below: 2007, Devonshire Place