Being brought up in Felling, we were blessed. We were God's chosen few. We didn't have any Corporation buses on our manor. Well, the 16 and 17 went along the by-pass but that was either Stoneygate or the Old Fold which wasn't proper Felling anyway. The 8, 9 & 10 went on to Springwell Estate up Old Durham Road, but that was top Low Fell on the right as you went up and Carr Hill on the left, which wasn't proper Felling either. We were Northern Buses only! The 60, later the 58, to the Leam up Split Crow Road, Windy Nook Bank and along through Whitehills. The 59 which went through the Square, down Watermill Lane to the High Lanes, bottom of the Leam and then on to Wardley. The 530 to Shields that tuned left at the Cricket club and went through Bill Quay, Pelaw, Hebburn, Jarrow, Tyne Dock and down through Laygate, Chi, Westoe and stopped at the Town Hall. There were loads went down the bottom, all from Worswick Street.
I loved Worswick Street, all the happy memories of battling with Jazz Funkers from Deckham on the last 60 every Friday, or saying "two bob keep the ticket" to the driver or even the clippy way back then. Worswick Street served the Eastern side of Gateshead, South Tyneside and central Durham from the Birtley side across. Worswick Street had the Western Saloon barbers at the top, a Crawfords bakery, a little newsagent and even a Church, Catholic obviously, opposite. Northern Buses were always there to serve you.
Marlborough Crescent was an amazing place. Buses went to semi-mythical locations such as Quaking Houses, New Kyo and Dumpling Hall. Far flung civilisations in Stanley, Consett and Leadgate were served by this magnificent place. If you were so inclined, you could get to Felling on the 13, later to become the 93, which went across the old Redheugh, through the teams, across to Bensham, through the Team Valley, up Chowdene Bank, through Low Fell, up to the QE then down Windy Nook Bank. Or there was the 529, now the 527 and formerly the 82, that did a magnificent sociological trip along Coatsy Road, through Bensham, up by Prince consort Road, through Deckham, up Hendon Road, Sherrif Hill, Carr Hill, Pottersway and along Windy Nook Road to the Black House then down to the square and off to Shields the long way.
The Haymarket; proud and resolute. The gateway to England's border county, my uncle who has just died, his wife and family took a bus to Seahouses from there one year for a summer holiday. Do people do that now?
I pitied those who took yellow buses that seemed to start and end at random places. Where was Whickham View? Surely Two Ball Lonnen was a cowboy not a place? What on earth could you find at Lemington Road Ends? Oblivion? I still pitied them when the rancid pile that was the subterranean gloom of Eldon Square was opened. An evil, fetid transportational Hades, cursed by Stygian gloom.
I loved Worswick Street, all the happy memories of battling with Jazz Funkers from Deckham on the last 60 every Friday, or saying "two bob keep the ticket" to the driver or even the clippy way back then. Worswick Street served the Eastern side of Gateshead, South Tyneside and central Durham from the Birtley side across. Worswick Street had the Western Saloon barbers at the top, a Crawfords bakery, a little newsagent and even a Church, Catholic obviously, opposite. Northern Buses were always there to serve you.
Marlborough Crescent was an amazing place. Buses went to semi-mythical locations such as Quaking Houses, New Kyo and Dumpling Hall. Far flung civilisations in Stanley, Consett and Leadgate were served by this magnificent place. If you were so inclined, you could get to Felling on the 13, later to become the 93, which went across the old Redheugh, through the teams, across to Bensham, through the Team Valley, up Chowdene Bank, through Low Fell, up to the QE then down Windy Nook Bank. Or there was the 529, now the 527 and formerly the 82, that did a magnificent sociological trip along Coatsy Road, through Bensham, up by Prince consort Road, through Deckham, up Hendon Road, Sherrif Hill, Carr Hill, Pottersway and along Windy Nook Road to the Black House then down to the square and off to Shields the long way.
The Haymarket; proud and resolute. The gateway to England's border county, my uncle who has just died, his wife and family took a bus to Seahouses from there one year for a summer holiday. Do people do that now?
I pitied those who took yellow buses that seemed to start and end at random places. Where was Whickham View? Surely Two Ball Lonnen was a cowboy not a place? What on earth could you find at Lemington Road Ends? Oblivion? I still pitied them when the rancid pile that was the subterranean gloom of Eldon Square was opened. An evil, fetid transportational Hades, cursed by Stygian gloom.
I pitied even more those from Low Fell. Not only could they take buses from Worswick Street, they could also adjoin Corporation buses such as the 27 to Allerdene. Were they not torn? How could they fail to be confused, befuddled and stumped by such a superabundance of buses? Although everyone in Low Fell was a Millionaire back then; Valley Drive was Beverley Hills.
And then, the 649 was born. From Winlaton down the bank through Axwell View, Swallwell, up to Dunston, through the Teams, Bensham, Gateshead, Deckham, Hendon Road, Carr Hill, Windy Nook Bank, the Square, High Heworth, Colgate and on to Fewster Square. It started and ended at a random place. It was the beginning of the end. There was no turning back
Now Marlborough Crescent is home to Newcastle's Gay night life district, Worswick Street is a deserted fly-blown husk, Eldon Square remains a place for human debris to be assailed by carbon monoxide and I take a bus that starts at Whickham View and ends at the Freeman. Tempus fugit. At least The Haymarket remains.
And then, the 649 was born. From Winlaton down the bank through Axwell View, Swallwell, up to Dunston, through the Teams, Bensham, Gateshead, Deckham, Hendon Road, Carr Hill, Windy Nook Bank, the Square, High Heworth, Colgate and on to Fewster Square. It started and ended at a random place. It was the beginning of the end. There was no turning back
Now Marlborough Crescent is home to Newcastle's Gay night life district, Worswick Street is a deserted fly-blown husk, Eldon Square remains a place for human debris to be assailed by carbon monoxide and I take a bus that starts at Whickham View and ends at the Freeman. Tempus fugit. At least The Haymarket remains.
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