Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Norman Dunn on 3/12/2024, 9:08 am

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Stan Wears on 3/12/2024, 9:36 am, in reply to "The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Another gem Norman! I wonder what happened to the water pant...

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Brian on 3/12/2024, 11:13 am, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

The Rutherford Memorial fountain was erected around 1892 at St Nicholas Sq. It was moved to the position shown in the photo to accommodate the statue of Queen Victoria who had recently died.
In 1996 it was refurbished by Northumbrian Water and moved higher up the Bigg Market although no longer a functional fountain it has Grade II status.

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Stan Wears on 3/12/2024, 12:44 pm, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Thanks Brian. This must have been around the time when Mawson's made the filters or even before? I'm thinking of Legionares Disease.

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Brian on 3/12/2024, 1:22 pm, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Around the time they first erected it the city erected quite a few drinking fountains around the city and suburbs as they were at the time.

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Liz Dance on 3/12/2024, 1:39 pm, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Another great photo Norman, can you just imagine the smells coming from that area during that era?

Bigg Market

Posted by George on 3/12/2024, 6:17 pm, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Tommy Walker, Newcastle United right winger and winner of two FA cup medals, used to preach in the Bigg Market Not a lot of people know that - and even fewer remember United ever winning anything.

Re: Bigg Market

Posted by Davy on 4/12/2024, 7:30 am, in reply to "Bigg Market"

Always be the town to me don't know where this toon comes from?

The name of Toon rather than Town

Posted by Allan Campbell on 4/12/2024, 8:19 am, in reply to "Re: Bigg Market"

Davy I think it comes from the Toon Army so football related. Maybe it was the newspapers that started using that term?

It was always called the Town by Mother and her sister and mother’s sisters daughters.

They tended to go together on a Saturday for many years, sometimes dragging me along if Dad going to Roker Park.

We alway said we’re going up to Newcastle, cannot recall calling it the Town.

Calling it the Toon to me is a derogatory term.

Allan C.

Re: The name of Toon rather than Town

Posted by Colliery Lad on 4/12/2024, 11:31 am, in reply to "The name of Toon rather than Town"

Toon Army was started by NUFC supporters in the Gallowgate end at St James Park a lot of years ago

Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat

Posted by George on 4/12/2024, 9:08 am, in reply to "Bigg Market"

Not having seen Newcastle United for some considerable time, I was suddenly presented with two free tickets for the away match against Sunderland at Roker Park. With my friend Ron (of similar distanced support) we took our standing places with other followers of Newcastle United. Part way through the game we were both confused by the moronic three syllable chanting coming from our fellow supporters. We listened carefully to the young chap nearest to us who seemed to be bellowing for the return presence of the long dead "JOE HAR VEE" After consideration, we settled upon an equally disturbing belief that these odd fellows were requesting to be fed with "TUNA MEAT". Finally, I asked the nearest endless chanter why he wanted a tin of tuna meat. He slowed his tempo down until my ears and brain accustomed themselves to his unmistakable chant of TOON AR MEEE. I see Ron occasionally these many years later and always with the same greeting of "Tuna Meat".

Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat

Posted by Stan Wears on 4/12/2024, 10:58 am, in reply to "Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat "

The toon is really a geordie way of saying town. And we still refer to Newcastle as the town!

Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat

Posted by Brian on 4/12/2024, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat "

According to DrAdam Means a historian at Newcastle University toon originates from Tun/Ton which was Old English and meant settlement amongst other words, it's believed it was pronounced toon.
Old English was in use between around 500 ad till the Norman's arrival. So in theory the pronunciation actually predates town, toon is used locally around parts of Scotland and the borders too.

Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat

Posted by Stan Wears on 4/12/2024, 6:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Bigg Market ,Roker Park and Tuna meat "

Thanks Brian!

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 5/12/2024, 1:50 am, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

What happened to the statue of Queen Victoria, is it still there ? There is one in South Shields. The statue was, at one time, located with her ladies in waiting at the new town hall. As a boy ganning to toon was coming terminology.

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Brian on 5/12/2024, 7:12 am, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

It is indeed still there, she sitting outside St Nicholas Cathedral, she is looking up towards the Bigg Market wondering whether to go for a pint.

Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 6/12/2024, 7:07 pm, in reply to "Re: The 'Bigg Market' in what they call 'The Toon' these days"

Nice to hear that Brian. The statue in SS was tucked away at the Chi, her
Ladies in Waiting have been moved around,some to the Marine Park, not sure but back to the New Townhall.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.