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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A little History lesson

Posted by Norman Dunn on 4/10/2026, 11:42 am

This 1889 built Memorial at the bottom of Ocean Rd will be remembered by everyone that ever went to South Shields beach, pier, fairground,parks.
Did you know that the sandstone for the memorial came from Hebburn Quarry?
I remember the quarry in the early 50s was situated between Leslies Sports Field & the Pumphouse Lake. We couldnt see it though because it looked like flat sandy coloured land because it was completely full of water with cork dust floating on the surface hiding the water. It was deep and deadly but our parents had warned us about it. Hard luck on anyone who's parents didnt know that.
When we threw a stone into it the dust dispersed to reveal the water for seconds & then it was hidden again.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Mac Hardy on 4/10/2026, 12:35 pm, in reply to "A little History lesson"

Love this site, learn something new every day !

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Joseph on 4/10/2026, 6:17 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Young lad called Murray lost his life in that quarry, back in either the thirtees or early fourtees.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Stan Wears on 4/10/2026, 10:11 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

I lived in Quarry Rd and know only too well of that quarry. As Norman said and it was spooky. That lad was called Murray as Joseph says and he was playing football and the ball went into the Quarry and he thought it was solid. I don't know how deep it was but it scared me as a little lad...

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Sheila on 5/10/2026, 11:45 am, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Joseph, I remember another lad who died in the Quarry. He was in my class at St Aloysius, I think his name was Brian Stewart, I think that was in the late 1940’s.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Maria on 5/10/2026, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Always remember a lad called Orton can't remember his first name from down the quay drowning in the Tyne at Hebburn .We had been talking to him in a group the day it happened it must be near 67 years ago so much tragedy with water .

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Joseph on 5/10/2026, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Ye that was Geordie Orton, he was only young at the time poor lad.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Maria on 5/10/2026, 9:45 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Thanks Joseph.So sad a memory that has stayed with me .

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Davy on 7/10/2026, 11:25 pm, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

They were taken two girls back to walker ferry la ding when the went to get out the rowing boat capsized and george drowned think john ogle was also in the boat my brother gordon refused to get in it.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Maria on 8/10/2026, 8:11 am, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

Thanks Davy. Remember a rowing boat being mentioned after the tragedy.Nice to see you back.

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Jackie W on 7/10/2026, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: A little History lesson"

There was a Vincent Murray aged seven who died April 1947. I found a short report in the Daily Mirror. I won’t post too sad

Re: A little History lesson

Posted by Jackie W on 7/10/2026, 10:16 am, in reply to "A little History lesson"

There was a 41 year old Air-Raid Warden called Samuel Gordon Rigg from Jarrow who also died there in 1941. Seems like quite a dangerous place

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

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.