You can view the archived comments from 2005 here.

You can view the archived comments from 2006 here.

You can view the comments from 2008 here.

The following comments were submitted in 2007.

 

Date: 01-Jan-2007
Time: 20:21:39

Comments

Happy New Year.  Site looks great.

 

Date: 03-Jan-2007
Time: 14:19:51

Comments

Hello, great site.
I am tracing my family tree and would welcome any information on the Taylor Family, in 1901 census shows Charles Taylor Head, Isabella Wife, Children -Annie, Henry, James, Harriet, Betsy Jane, Charles, William, John, Isabella, Andrew and Martha.

Kind regards
Tonya.

 

Date: 07-Jan-2007
Time: 20:50:06

Comments

Hi the map is brilliant some excellent photos and opens up the past and present to all
Well done keep up the good work

 

Date: 10 Jan 2007
Time: 04:10:47

Comments

Just browsing around tonight and found your site. My mother Margaret Wilson and grandma Annie Green Wilson were born in West Cornforth 1908 and 1880 respectively. My grandfather was William Green born 1861 in Oxhill and he was a Deputy in the mines, and I have since visited his grave in West Cornforth. I now live in the USA but as a young girl during WWII spent some time in West Cornforth during the VI and VII raids in the London area where I lived at that time. I stayed with my great aunt, Elizabeth Carr and her husband William who was retired but ran the cinema which I believed was "owned" by the Bowren (?) family.

My grandfather's dad and siblings emigrated to the USA in 1878 and since I moved here in 1955 I have met lots of the relatives.

Anyway, this is just a little history to write and to let you know West Cornforth has many many descendants in the USA. If anyone wants to drop me a line I will be glad to answer cougar@hickorytech.net

Marilyn Noren

Date: 12 Jan 2007
Time: 18:15:08

Comments

Sh*t hole

Date: 16 Jan 2007
Time: 12:58:43

Comments

fantastic....map with photos is superb...brings back so many memories. I left Cornforth in 1967 to go to college...but still regard it as "home" thanks to the compiler(s)
Albert Woods

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Thank you for your support.

Date: 17 Jan 2007
Time: 15:14:34

Comments

Regarding the query concerning the Taylor family...the Andrew mentioned was my grandfather...he married a lady named Sarah and had 3 daughters...the youngest of these was my mother.
Charles Taylor originated in Suffolk and Isabella was from Newcastle
Albert Woods

Date: 17 Jan 2007
Time: 23:16:47

Comments

What a pleasant surprise, I lived in West Cornforth until 1965, attended the Primary School, in the choir at the Anglican church and even remember the old school house on the green before some bright spark demolished it. I remember having to walk through the snow to get the bus to Spennymoor Grammar Tech, and the great days when it could not get through.

A nice web site, congratulations, for your information I moved on to Darlington, now Sydney Australia, much better weather!!

Date: 18 Jan 2007
Time: 09:53:32

Comments

I keep coming back to this site. I was born in nearby Metal Bridge but we moved to "Doggie" in 1955 and lived in Salisbury Crescent. West Cornforth was a great place to live ...or so it seemed....Doggie wood, the Donkey wood, the Hills and Holes...the disused quarry that we called the rockies, train spotting at the jubilee bridge, Bolton's cafe...these were so cool...well most of us thought so then. A big thanks to those who run this site and to those who supplied the photos. I live in Leicester now, having gone there to train as a teacher in 1967.Up until my father died in 1982 I got back to Cornforth regularly...since then I have not been back very often...this site has reminded me of some very happy times. Thanks
Albert Woods

Date: 18 Jan 2007
Time: 23:01:42

Comments

Can You not take the more recent photos of West Cornforth when it's more sunny or something? just the photos in the rain make it look even more worse than it is...

also i've noticed that you haven't taken any photos of the front street, is that because it looks a mess with all shutters and chavs hanging around outside cost cutters? it looked better back in the older days when it had a dirt track for a road!

seriously it's about time this village spent it's money on cleaning the place up instead of wasting money on drop in centres and Christmas lights that don't work...

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: The current 360 degrees photographs will be updated in the Summer.  If you have any photographs for this site you can email them to info@cornforth.org.uk

Your concerns about environmental matters should be sent to Sedgefield Borough Council.  Your concerns regarding Christmas lights should be sent to Cornforth Parish Council.

Date: 21 Jan 2007
Time: 22:34:48

Comments

To Mr Albert Woods,

Regarding the Taylor Family, the John Taylor I mentioned was my great grandfather and Charles Taylor who married Isabella they were my great great Grandparents.

I would love to hear from you again please contact me on tonya505smith@btinternet.com

many thanks.

Tonya.

Date: 26 Jan 2007
Time: 22:37:31

Comments

Great effort to all involved in this web site. Born and bred in Cornforth, left when I was 22yrs. Great changes can be seen. Mum and Dad Irene and Peter Johnson (Glebe Villas) moved back to Spennymoor. It would be interesting to see the photos annotated and dated if possible.( I realise how difficult this would be)
Good luck on the web site.
hottoddy@btinternet.com

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Thanks for your support.  We have renamed all of the image files to be more descriptive of their content and will eventually include more information on the gallery pages.  Hope this helps.

Date: 27 Jan 2007
Time: 10:12:31

Comments

i am currently researching my family tree and after visiting the west Cornforth website, I wonder if I may ask for your help. I am looking to see if i can obtain any details or records of two people. The first is Motherwell Duggan, the vicar in Cornforth, who lived at the Cornforth vicarage in the 1881 census. The second is Willie Oliver a physician and surgeon, who was practising in 1901 in Cornforth. would it be possible for me to research these people further and if so, how do i do that?

Many thanks for your time
yours sincerely
miss fell

fellvl01@hotmail.com

Date: 07 Feb 2007
Time: 17:40:33

Comments

I have not visited the site for about 12 months until today. Its really amazing! Even has photo of me 46 years ago!
Keith Wallace Ex Doggie

Date: 09 Feb 2007
Time: 19:24:53

Comments

this site is stupid it doesn't even have any good pics sort it out

Date: 22 Feb 2007
Time: 13:18:34

Comments

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER SIDNEY ,FLORENCE AND WILLIAM JACKSON OF CORONATION TERRACE - THEY ARE ALL DEAD NOW BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO KNEW THE JACKSON OR THE EMMERSONS OF WEST CORNFORTH.

DOT

Date: 24 Mar 2007
Time: 10:04:52

Comments

I have been researching my family history and have had some excellent help and support from members of this site, in particular one named Andy. This is by far the most helpful website I have come across for researching my family history.

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Thanks for your kind words and glad to hear that you got sorted.

Date: 07 Apr 2007
Time: 04:58:32

Comments

i think this an absolutely brilliant site. I'm was born and bred in this village and very proud of it. Love the picture gallary!!! Lisa Ferguson.

Date: 10 Apr 2007
Time: 11:56:22

Comments

The paintings that were on display at the village show were painted by my gran and if there are any there that you like she may still have them, she just may sell one to you!

From Laura O'Connor-Clark.

Date: 10 Apr 2007
Time: 13:52:18

Comments

who on earth put those stoopid lookin seats on the green?  is somebodys granny missn their hedstone or summat?  they look like nickd hedstones but i bet they wurnt cheep.  what a waste of money.

Date: 12 Apr 2007
Time: 17:45:48

Comments

my na,e is shane mickel stanley i use to live in west cornforth ,i am 11.i just wish west cornforth was a better plays!.

Date: 25 Apr 2007
Time: 19:39:51

Comments

Just a question from an outsider....

Why do some "commenters" call West Cornforth, "Doggie"


Would be interested to find out, thanks !

Date: 27 Apr 2007
Time: 11:44:41

Comments

Thanks Stephen for putting a link to my daughters shop at The Oval (Pink & Co) I think your site is great, and people should support where they come from, I notice one or two bad remarks,my father always said, "If you have now't good to say about anybody, don't say now't" in other words them that bad mouth your site are only jealous.
All the best...Eddie Worthington.

Date: 07 May 2007
Time: 20:36:25

Comments

Happened on your website. A very good effort. I remember taking the wedding of one of the people who put in a comment in 2005 when I was minister at the Methodist church.
John Young
John@jy4112.abelgratis.co.uk
 

Date: 11 May 2007
Time: 12:45:41

Comments

I'm wondering if anyone in the village has any information about the company Dent, Sons & Co Ltd.

The name and address come from the 1937 Harrogate newspaper obituary of Robert Henry Dent (my wife's grandfather). The 1917 obituary of his father, Robert Aungle Dent, says: " There is no doubt his life would have been prolonged had it not been for the extra strain which was placed upon him in his endeavour to do all that was in his power to increase the output of high explosives... and oil fuel for our Navy and transports".

I suspect that the oil fuel may have come from the tar works the family also owned in Selby, Yorks., and assume the high explosives were produced in West Cornforth. There is a family 'story' that the family had mining interests, which were destroyed by an explosion. However, it would seem more likely that there could have been an explosion at the HE factory, especially as I have not been able to find any actual evidence of mining interests.

Does anyone know anything about these matters? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Ian Valentine
ianrval@btinternet.com

Date: 15 Jun 2007
Time: 1:27:15

Comments

im sorry but i dont have any 1 else to turn to you did a history report about food parcels and im sadly to inform you i am in need of one from the salvation army in hartlepool but never to seem to be any left when i go to the church and i aint had any food all this week and wont be paid till next week due to problems with my job-seekers-allowance and i dont have any food in what so ever can you plz help me as i dont have a phone just my email, which is craig_close@hotmail.com
thanks for you time in reading this

Date: 21 Jun 2007
Time: 08:00:09

Comments

Love your website, the photos are great, the only thing missing is it would be really nice if names could be put to some of the pictures.

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Pleased you like the site.  We will work towards putting the titles back onto the photograph galleries.  Please bear with us as it's quite a long job.

Date: 30 Jun 2007
Time: 23:44:20

Comments

My name is Malcolm Peacock Born in Doggie 1955 . Family moved to Canada in the early 60's . Brothers name is Graham , Sister Wendy . Parents Maurice and Joy Peacock , Grandparents Norman and Lillian Peacock 21 Laburnum rd . Greatgrandfather James Holt, Other Greatgrandfather Thomas Owens. Best friend when I lived their was Kenny Simmons. If anyone remembers I'll be watching for your comments . .

Date: 06 Aug 2007
Time: 22:16:00

Comments

Hi

Does anyone remember Edward Hunt the general dealer and his van? He came to 6 Pine Road near Metal Bridge up till the 1960's when I stayed there as a young boy. His shop had biscuit boxes at the front of the counter and a bacon machine. He used to carry the groceries in from the van and place them in my grandma's pantry. expect that now!!!! Nothing was a trouble to him.

And what about the corner barber's shop? Hebdon's? FRED and his brother I think.

I hope this stimulates a bit of interest.

DAVID JACKSON (Late Metal Bridge. now Bishop Auckland)

Date: 12 Aug 2007
Time: 16:51:32

Comments

I have come across your website purely by accident having viewed a different area first, but I find it very absorbing. Your history section is excellent, and as a student at Ushaw College during 1940-1948 I visited West Cornforth and the other areas on a few occasions. I have enjoyed the link up to those years and find it all fascinating.

Date: 15 Aug 2007
Time: 19:27:28

Comments

I have some HOLT family ancestors who moved to West Cornforth abt 1905. James & Mary Holt nee Barrow had a number of children and so I'm hopeful of finding some descendants to share & compare family history.

James was originally from St Helens, Lancashire and Mary was born in the small village of Newburgh (near Ormskirk) Lanc's.

Please leave a message if you think there might be a 'HOLT' connection. regards Val.

PS Great site!!!

Date: 19 Aug 2007
Time: 17:51:18

Comments

I am trying to help a friend who is tracing her family roots back to West Cornforth. Is there anyone who can give me any info about the Scorer and the Auston families, especially a Elizabeth Scorer who was born 1905. Would be grateful for any help.
Regards

Date: 26 Aug 2007
Time: 01:43:35

Comments

HOLT FAMILY ANCESTORS .Ref: comment 15 Aug 2007. Hello Val, I would like to inform you that you have found some more relatives . James and Mary Holt were my Great Grandparents. Their Daughter Lillian was my Grandmother . It would be great to share information because we have no knowledge about the family back in Lancashire.

Here is my e-mail address.

skip01@telus.net

Hope to here from you soon. MALCOLM

Date: 30 Aug 2007
Time: 15:51:53

Comments

With regard to the person asking for any info on Scorer and the Auston families, please drop me a line at david@davidauston.net

Good site by the way. Need any help with anything let me know.

Date: 03 Sep 2007
Time: 16:59:24

Comments

This is a brilliant website. I'm especially thrilled by the galleries where I've been able to see pictures of family members. The whole site is well done in every way!.

Date: 11 Sep 2007
Time: 12:50:41

Comments

im 18years of age and lived in cornforth all my life and would like to find out more about the history of cornforth.  so it would be would be great to see more on the history page.
keep up the good work.

k.cummins

Date: 20 Sep 2007
Time: 01:20:21

Comments

The website is great but these midi tunes are a pain without an off button.

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Thanks, I suppose it is time I changed the tunes.  You can turn off the music within the settings of your internet browser and also the volume control of your monitor/speakers.

Date: 24 Sep 2007
Time: 14:58:55

Comments

An excellent site! I'm researching my wife's extended family history, and it has been a great asset.  I'd been quite confused about locations in Cornforth / Coxhoe until I found this site.
Brian Marcus TS20 1PH

Date: 24 Sep 2007
Time: 19:45:10

Comments

A few weeks ago I put in a request for any information about what I then thought might have been an explosives factory belonging to Dent Sons & Co. during WW1. In the last few days e-mails have been flying back and forth between Andrew Denholm and myself, and after a more careful reading of my wife's great grandfather's obituary of 1917 in a Harrogate newspaper, I now think that
the tar distillery that Andrew tells me used to be in West Cornforth probably belonged to Dent Sons & Co as they had another tar distillery in Selby, Yorks.

I haven't yet had a chance to look in any trade directories, but if anyone knows anything about the history of the former tar distillery, I' d be very interested to hear from you.

Ian Valentine
ianrval@btinternet.com

Date: 10 Oct 2007
Time: 15:03:07

Comments

I used to stay in Doggie a few years back and i've noticed a few negative comments on these pages,
I am curious to know what it's like to stay here nowadays? What the crime levels are? If it's a safe place to bring up a family and what the local amenties are?

Any help would be muchly appreciated.
oh and the sites looking great

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: You can get the local crime figures from the village beat officer (at Durham Contabulary).  I'm not sure how they compare to other areas but would imagine that they are pretty much on par with other villages in the area.  You can also check the UP MY STREET website or the NATIONAL STATISTICS website for additional information concerning the area.  Hope this helps.

Date: 23 Oct 2007
Time: 16:58:12

Comments

Thanks alot. I was passing through on saturday night and noticed the 2 indians and flintlocks were closed. do you know if they are re-opening any time soon?

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Not heard anything about the Take-Aways but if you are looking for a local Indian Take-Away, Bayleaves at Ferryhill have been highly recommended.

Date: 25 Oct 2007
Time: 04:02:58

Comments

This is a great site I was born in Cornforth 1928 reading the comments brings back many memories.
Ref. Aug 2007 James & Mary Holt were my Grandparents I now live in Canada but would like to hear from you Val.

mauricepeacock@simpatico.ca

Date: 10 Nov 2007
Time: 11:10:35

Comments

I was driving through Cornforth yesterday and noticed a new pit wheel memorial next to the main road.  It looks very impressive.  I came onto the internet today to see if I could find some more information about it.  Please could you add some more pictures to your website?  thanks John.

WEBMASTER COMMENTS: Thank you John for your comments.  Yes, the Memorial is very impressive and certainly deserves greater exposure on the website .  We get a lot of queries from people researching their family history through  public records and I was thinking about adding sections to the website for the Miners Memorial and also the War Memorial.

These can now be viewed here

http://www.cornforth.org.uk/minersmemorial.htm

http://www.cornforth.org.uk/warmemorial.htm

Date: 13 Nov 2007
Time: 14:01:53

Comments

An excellent website for a visitor.
My name is Cornforth and I am obviously wondering if any of my ancestors are around up there.

e mail - rexcornforth@aol.com

Date: 29 Nov 2007
Time: 07:44:05

Comments

I would just like to take this opportunity say thank you to you Stephen for adding my "War Memorial" research to your fantastic website and making it available for all to see. As well as the West Cornforth War Memorial Appeal too.  Great web site keep up the great work. Regards Andy Denholm
wewillrememberthem@hotmail.co.uk

Date: 18 Dec 2007
Time: 21:24:13

Comments

Does anyone have a good recipe for Stottie cakes? I remember my grandma making this years ago in South Shields and now I live in the USA. My email is cougar@hickorytech.net

Thank you - Marilyn

Date: 30 Dec 2007
Time: 07:38:35

Comments

Hi,
Was very impressed with your website. I like many others are following family history. Mine were in Cornforth in middle to late 1800's and then migrated to Australia. I too was impressed by the photos but would like to see a description/title so that we getter a better timeline as to when they were taken. Hope to visit in the next couple of years following the family history which I am excited about as I have never been to the UK.
Thanks again
Gael Clark
gclark00@tpg.com.au