Raby Street, Byker

[Chess]

My Grandparents lived at No 1 Oban Rd, right next door to the Middle Club and we regularly visited them on the Number 19 bus (I think) from The Four Lane Ends in Benton. I can remember a few of the old shops on Raby Street and the ones' that were my favourites were...
The Fish & Chip shop on the other side of Raby Street from the club. Waiting in the freezing cold winter with a bag of chips to keep warm.
The Undertakers (Hindmarsh's I think?) shop opposite...It fascinated me because in the summer it had tomato plants in the window among the flower urns! They buried just about all of my deceased relations!
The Barbers shop more or less next door where I had my first real haircut.
Higher up was the Fruiterers where you could get a slice of melon for about 3 weeks in the summer when they were in season.
The Drapers shop (or was it the Pawnshop) at the top end that had the most amazing fireworks display in the side window every year...It was a custom job and Ive never seen one like it.
The Cooperative stores where there was a large mound of butter on a marble slab. I got knocked over by a bloke on a bike outside there when I was about 8 years old!
And of course the numerous sweet shops....
Can anyone else add to the list?

[annec]

Don't know when you knew Raby Street in Byker but we lived not far from where Commercial Road and Raby Street crossed each other that was during the late 1960s and early 70s. about the time that the famous 'Wall' was built. Our son Paul went to a nursery school once a week somewhere up Commercial Road. There was some kind of club on the left going down towards Walker Road, there was a sweet shop on the corner opposite which was always getting broken into. The owner had all sorts of gadgets, bolts and padlocks on the door trying to avoid being burgled. The door was often set on fire. Unfortunately some wise guy decided that the wall was the weakest point and got into the shop by knocking a hole in it, leaving the door and locks intact. We lived for a few years in the next shop down near the bus stop. My husband and I prepared our strings of French Onions in the shop, and we had to whitewash the window because the people waiting for the bus used to get a bit too curious and almost their bus watching us at work.

[Chess]

Well my Gran lived at No 1 Oban Rd until she moved...about 1973, so I was well acquainted with the area. I was actually born there in 1951 but lived higher up until we moved to "Benton" in 1954 (my mother wouldn't have us living in Longbenton!).
Oban Rd ran the one side of the "Raby"(cinema/bingo hall) with Commercial Rd the other side.
Hope that helps!

[rockape]

Hi,

I remember going along Raby Street in a No2 "Walker Circle" bus heading towards Byker High Street in the 50`s and I`m sure we used to go past a tea warehouse with the name of the establishment spelled out using chinese man figures.

I know Ringtons is in Byker, so maybe I`m just a bit confused, but I`m sure I`ve seen those "Chinamen" spelling out a tea merchants name somewhere in Byker all those years ago.

Can anyone help me please ?

Regards, Mick D.

aka rockape

[oswaldo]

hi rockape, I remember the chinamen letters I think it was ringtons tea though I could be wrong, . cheers, mick.

[Chess]

Well the "old" Ringtons place is still there,now occupied by Millers Auctioneers. Its on Algernon Rd, the last street on the left at the top of Shields Rd.. The facade is still original with Ringtons clearly visible but alas there are no Chinamen!

[coyote]

I know Ringtons is in Byker, so maybe I`m just a bit confused, but I`m sure I`ve seen those "Chinamen" spelling out a tea merchants name somewhere in Byker all those years ago.

The Chinese people were at Sandyford, up from the Council yard and Warwick Street, although cannot recall the name of the Tea Company. I think it was Tynon. I lived at Stratford Road Heaton, when I first got married. The 19 bus or Walker Circle never went anywhere near either Ringtons (Algernon Road) or Sandiford Road

[rockape]

Hi coyote,

"The Chinese people were at Sandyford, up from the Council yard and Warwick Street"

Ahhar, thanks.


Quote

"The 19 bus or Walker Circle"

Of course, it was the no 19.


So where did I get the No 2 from ?

I'm sure there was one, maybe to Walkerville ?


Many thanks for your help


Regards, Mick D.

aka rockape

[ALF2]

i remember the bingo hall on bottom of commercial road, nick named "the coffin" because of it's shape, i won a pound of sausage there one night on the "link up"

[alfstone]

The Chinamen belonged to Stewart's Tea:

http://www.picturesofgateshead.co.uk/ad ... rtstea.jpg

[Chess]

I remember going to The Raby Cinema as a young child before it closed and changed to a Bingo Hall. They also hosted the childrens Xmas party from the Middle Social Club which I went to a couple of times. At the back of the building there was a "hut" which I think was used by Frank Wappatt as a religious/spiritual venue.Im certain it was nicknamed "The Brotherhood" or something similar......We lived opposite at the top end of Oban Rd.

Ive found this info. about it....

RABY GRAND CINEMA Commercial Road/Oban Road, Byker Opened 17th January 1910. Architect: White & Stephenson, Newcastle. Capacity: 825 (195 stalls, 450 pit, 178 circle). 1922 – Prop., J. R. Marshall & J. Broughton. Res. Man., A. M. Moffatt. Two shows nightly. Two changes weekly. Prices, 6d. to 1s

[ALF2]

was it not the thirties club chess?

[Chess]

Hi Alf, maybe it was and Im sure somone will confirm it...

[coyote]

The Chinamen belonged to Stewart's Tea:

Of course it was, remiss of me not to have remembered.

So where did I get the No 2 from ?

Mick, the Number 2 bus went up Bentick Road, from Cochran Park and turned at the Tizer Factory, up past Debbon Gardens TA, or 15-19th Royal Hussars HQ, came out on Chillingham Road, then over by the school, up the avenues and out at Heaton Road, beside the then Midland Bank, crossed over beside the COOP (past where Chas Chnadler lived) and up to Heaton Park Road and then on to Warwick Street. I cannot recall which way it went from there

At the back of the building there was a "hut" which I think was used by Frank Wappatt as a religious/spiritual venue.Im certain it was nicknamed "The Brotherhood" or something similar

......Yes you have it right, that was Franks first church, he later branched out to buy a disused church at Hebburn, Pasteur Wappett broadcast his music for the thirties club from there on BBC Radio Newcastle

[rockape]

Hi coyote ,

Many thanks again.

It's been so long ago and when I was 18 years old went away from Newcastle for 31 years service in the RAF Regiment, so things are a bit "fuzzy" about my early years.

I did drop in to see my family on leave when I got the chance


I had some exciting times as well as boring.

Beware ! the first story is a bit gruesome !!!

See http://britains-smallwars.com/Aden/Domoney1.htm

And

http://britains-smallwars.com/Desert_song/Michael.htm

For some of my experiances.


Regards, Mick D.