COPLEY  

 

Babes in the Wood Pantomime - 1983
December 1983 Copley Entertainment Committee's production of "Babes in the Wood". From the left : - Gladys Sparks; Alison Armstrong; Jean Linsley; Margaret Bramley and Janet Dowson:
The pantomime was held in Copley Village Hall on December 21st and 22nd 1983

Copley Home Guard
Copley Home Guard comprising men from the village and also from Woodland.  They are:  Back Row - left to right:      
 Joe Robinson; George Robinson; Lionel Bell; Cliff Gargett; Reg Danby; Percy Mott; George Teasdale; Clarence Wade; Joe Smith;  Roy Teasdale; Edward Hurst; Centre row - left to right:  Maurice Hurst;  Eddie Morton; Thomas Brunskill; Alan Stephenson; George Henry Thompson; Harry Robinson;  Wilf Rowlinson; Cyril Bainbridge;  Donald Tallentire;  George Dale; Donald Sparks;  Kit Morton; Front row seated - left to right: Leeman Walker; Ken Anderson; John Hepple; Newby Brunskill; Thomas Kellett; Joseph Stoddart; 30. Major Alexander Russell; Albert Foster;  Bertie Teasdale; Sid Elliott; Rex Sparks;  Fred Stephenson:  The photograph was taken in Copley Front Street, in c.1941, in front of Hazeldene, the home of Alexander Russell who was Headmaster at Woodland School at the time. Albert Foster was Headmaster of one of the Cockfield Schools and was second in command of the Home Guard. Messrs. Russell and Foster were also in charge of the Butterknowle and Evenwood Home Guards.

Harvest Time at Lynesack Farm
Cutting corn at Lynesack Farm with old converted horse drawn binder and Ferguson tractor - Jackie Forster driving - Vickers Foster on Binder.

Bridge over the River Gaunless
The photograph states that this is the River Gaunless but this is incorrect. This is the Hindon Beck, which originates on Woolley Hills. Having passed under the bridge over the Steel Road, in the background, it is seen here passing the houses that were part of the old Lead Mill complex very near to where the Hindon beck meets the Arnghyll Beck to form the River Gaunless (a matter of a few yards). The old wooden bridge by the garden wall has long since disappeared

Lynesack Church Choir c1950
From the left : - John Bland; Wilson Carr; Sydney Lowson; Morris Tallentire; Kenneth Simpson; Norman Lowson; Harry Gregory; John Beadle and an unknown person.

Institute Terrace, Copley - 1964

A 1964 aerial view of Institute Terrace in the foreground and the Sandbed area of Copley behind. The garage then belonged to Mr. Eddie Morton.  Sandbed Cottage, with its red tiled roof, can be seen in its original condition before being modernised and to the right of it can be seen Garden House where District Nurse Mary Slack and her husband, Lester, lived.  He was a coal merchant.            

Over 60's Party - 1980
An Over-60's party with contestants and others involved in a take-off of the 1970's and 80's T.V. show Mr. & Mrs held in Copley Village Hall on October 28th, 1980.  In it, competing couples were asked three multiple-choice questions about their spouses everyday habits and tastes while their partner sat in a sound-proof booth nearby wearing headphones with music piped in. Mr. & Mrs. was supposedly the ultimate exposé of married life and although the questions may have been simple it was like holding up a mirror to your relationship - you either knew each other or you didn't. The original T. V. show was hosted by Derek Batey who had the catchphrase "Be nice to each other." People in the photograph are :- Standing - Alison Heads - Personality Girl of the Year; Rex Sparks; Reuben Dent; Douglas Lowe; Dougie Fox and Vernon Lindsey. Seated :- Edna Young (Entertainer for the evening); Gladys Sparks; Elsie Dent; Mrs. Lowe; Margaret Bramley. Mr. & Mrs. Dent were the winners with Mr. & Mrs. Lowe and Mr. & Mrs. Sparks  as equal runners-up.

Copley W. I. Golden Jubilee - 1974
Mrs. Marr and Mrs. Sowerby cutting the cake at the Copley Womens Institute Golden Jubilee celebrations 1st April 1974.
 

The Lowther family in 1946 
 From the left:- Theresa; Joan, Harry; daughter Mary; Harry's wife Mary and Patti.  The little boy is Michael, son of daughter Mary.   Harry was always known as 'Harry Boy' and, unusually, he was given the name by his family and not by friends or acquaintances.  This was because there was already one Henry known as Harry and an aunt Harriet who also went by the name of Harry, so for convenience sake young Harry was called 'Harry boy' and the name stuck. During his tenure from 1941 and that of his successors, many, many nights of home-made entertainment and enjoyment were regular features of the pub and for lots of years it was extremely popular with the local  residents and lots of people from the surrounding area.

The Three Horse Shoes- Copley
This building, built as two houses, dates from 1793, the date carved into the stonework in what is now the front porch. Some of the landlords have been-1873 Thomas Weston; 1879 William Raine; 1894 John Weston; 1902 Jane A. Weston; 1910 Alfred Boyce; 1921 Joseph Thompson;  1925 R. W. (Bob) Weston; 1938 Ernest Moore; 1941 Harry Lowther who died in 1972 and the license passed to his daughter Patti Race who in turn died in 1991 and the license then passed to her daughter Julie Race. The pub closed down in 2005. When Bob Weston retired from the pub he bought the old snooker hall across the way and converted it into a private house known today as Moor View.  He also owned the Three Horse Shoes at one time but sold out to the West Auckland Brewery Co. It was then transferred to Cameron's Brewery at Hartlepool who in turn sold it on to Patti Race.