Reflections of a Visit to Leadgate

Supplied by Ruth Stevens after a recent visit to Leadgate

With thanks to Richard Judd, Andy Plant and Janet Lavery:

In October 2022 I visited Leadgate for the first time in my 68 years.
My late mother was born Irene Tait, on 9 July 1916; she wrote that she was probably born at her
grandmother’ house, 1 Foster Street, Consett. I can’t find a Foster St on a map. Perhaps she meant
Forster, or perhaps it is no longer there.

My maternal grandmother was Margaret Tait, born Margaret Borthwick in 1893 at 415 Tin St, Leadgate.
Her parents were Elizabeth (nee Sheldon) and Francis Borthwick; Francis was a miner. I now know that
Tin St was renamed Tindale St, possibly when in the 1920s the houses in that area known as The
Squares were rebuilt and renumbered.

Margaret married Robert Walton Smith TAIT (born 1888) and they lived at 416 Tin St.. Robert’s parents
were Robert Thompson Tait (a joiner) and Harriet Tait of 429 South Cross St.. Robert and Harriet also
had two daughters, Hilda and Lily, and another son, William. My aunt Mary was born in 1914.

My grandfather Robert Tait (also a joiner) joined the 1 st /8 th Btn. Durham Light Infantry, and was killed at
Passchendaele in November 1917, aged 29yrs. During my visit, I was moved to see my grandfather’s
name on the war memorial in Durham Rd..

My grandmother and her two daughters later lived at 385 South Cross St and then (1926) 19 South
Cross St, but I am wondering whether these last 2 addresses were the same house, renumbered. It
doesn’t really matter.

When I visited Leadgate, I parked in South Cross St and walked around these
cottages, and spoke to a couple of residents who were pottering outside. They told me how the houses
had been smaller than they are now, a 1-up 1-down with ladder arrangement and a single-storey back
kitchen; I understand that such a cottage has been created at the Beamish Museum, but I didn’t have
time to go there – next time! It was just great to be wandering the streets where my mother,
grandparents and great-grandparents had lived over so many years.

I would need an expert with me next time to point out which walls are original and which are later materials; Andy Plant tells me some of
the original 1850s-built (by Derwent Iron Company) stone frontages are found in the middle of South
Cross St, with brick-built newer houses at the end of each terrace

I was also keen to find the Primitive Methodist Church in Watling St which my mother records she had
attended. I knew it had been built in 1874. I chatted with a lady in the Co-op who remembered the
closure of the church the Co-op is now in, and this confused me a bit. I have since found a photo of the
Primitive Methodist Church in Watling St, on the Francis Frith Collection website, taken in the early

1950s, and realise that it must have been demolished at some point? Mum wrote about Sunday School
outings to a field about a mile outside Leadgate, and I would love to know exactly where that is, but
that’s probably a long shot! I have watched a couple of charming YouTube videos about Leadgate –
which I wish I had looked for and watched years ago – and in one of those a merger of the Primitive
and Wesleyan Methodist churches is mentioned.

This is a YouTube video I particularly enjoyed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhcYbjiBEk
My mother attended Leadgate Council School, which I believe is still the local school, in the same
buildings. I know that my maternal grandmother was one of many children, the youngest of which was
Stanley Borthwick. I learnt just before my trip that Stan’s son Anthony Borthwick (so my first cousin
once removed) had died as recently as 2012. However, I did meet someone who had been at school
with him! After the hours spent wandering around Leadgate, I pulled into the House of Botanics (great
hot chocolate!) car park because I wanted to take a photo of the Leadgate village sign. Seeing two
‘young’ men (Frank and Billy) sitting on the bench there with their dogs, I thought I’d ask whether either
had known Anthony Borthwick, or any other Borthwicks or Taits (my grandfather had a brother,
William); to my surprise, Billy said he had been at school with Anthony! We had a great chat, and they
told me a bit about the colliery, which I hadn’t realised had been so close to the village. Frank referred
to some small, regular publication about Leadgate which he had kept copies of over the years; I don’t
know what he meant but I’d be interested to see such.

I wish I had done more research prior to my visit. Since my visit, I have obtained old Ordnance Survey
Maps of Leadgate, dated 1895, 1916 and 1939, which are so interesting and informative! Through the
two Facebook groups, Memories of Leadgate –County Durham, and LeadgateVillagGroup I have found out so much more, including
about the work of Andy Plant in researching, documenting and honouring the Fallen, including by
putting up simple notices in the windows of the men’s houses.

I also discovered the exquisite and devoted work of Janet Lavery in her embroideries in commemoration of the Fallen of Leadgate.

This was a wonderful and emotional visit, and I shall definitely return. There is much more to find out.