Welcome to Brompton - with Maps of Village and surrounding area
Brompton Heritage Group (BHG)
A Brief History of Brompton's Linen Industry
2009 Brompton Heritage & Family History Day - Sat 14 March
*****LATEST NEWS & DETAILS OF NEW ITEMS ADDED *********
BROMPTON IN FLOOD - Pictures and stories
PEOPLE & PLACES IN DAYS GONE BY - Pictures & Stories
A WALK ROUND BROMPTON as it is now -- come & join us........
BROMPTON SCHOOLDAYS - Pictures & Stories
VERA BRITTAIN'S - My Brompton Days in pictures & words
DOREEN NEWCOMBE nee FORTH - My Brompton Days
John Wilford & Sons - Linen Manufacturers
Pattison-Yeoman, Linen Manufacturers-Old Pictures
FARMING around Brompton - People, Places & Stories
Northallerton & District Local History Society (N.D.L.H.S.)
WATER END UPSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM. By George Appleby
FOOTBALL IN BROMPTON - History and Pictures
ST THOMAS CHURCH APPEAL
"CLACKING SHUTTLES" & Florence Bone
LOOKING FOR ANCESTORS/FAMILY HISTORY/GENEALOGY
WHITSUNTIDE CARNIVAL & SPORTS- pictures
"My Family Life in Brompton" by Betty Dobson (Baines)
The Boon Family story - Fred and Desmond (Dizzy) Boon
The Chartists of Brompton - from a talk by Harry Fairburn
EVACUATION TO BROMPTON - WW2 - Stories & Pictures
Links for Brompton Matters
Guestbook
Event Calendar
Mail Form
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Brompton Heritage Group (B.H.G.)
 | (Picture kindly contributed by Harry Cooke)
Brompton Heritage Group (BHG) was formed in an attempt to save the Wilford mill chimney which was such a feature of Brompton. Regrettably, the chimney was taken down in November 2003, the image above shows the dismantling in progress.
Dark skies for a dark day in Brompton's History!!
See below to find out how you can obtain a living reminder of Brompton's Linen Industry.
A programme of future events is listed further down this page.
Below is an extract of the constitution of the group - anyone who would like to take an active part in the group is requested to get in touch.
Brompton Heritage Group
The objective of the Group shall be to research, promote and conserve historical sites, items and information relating to Brompton and its environs, and to support others in doing so.
Membership of the Group shall be open to anyone living in Brompton and its environs, or with an interest in the history of Brompton.
Note:- BHG will be sponsoring a number of personal reports and stories. Wholehearted Thanks to the various individuals who have provided their personal stories to the Heritage Group for the benefit of all readers.
Read on for further B.H.G. information or click for:- |
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Bricks from John Wilford & Sons Linen Mill Chimney
 | The Brompton Heritage Group secured a number of bricks from the Wilford Mill chimney when it was (regrettably) demolished in November 2003.
A limited number of the bricks have been cleaned up, sealed, a green baize non-scratch base affixed and a small plaque attached identifying the brick as a genuine Wilford Linen Mill brick (see picture above - where the sooty end (now sealed) can clearly be seen). There will also be a small certificate of authenticity with a Limited Edition number (e.g. probably 1 of ###.
The brick complete with plaque and certificate is now available (to order) for 5 pounds sterling.
There are also a number (about 300 I think?) which are on sale for just One pound - these are uncleaned and just as they were on the day of demolition and I am sure if anyone would like to take a job-lot to build something more substantial, the Heritage Group will be open to offers.
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Brompton Heritage Group Forthcoming Diary of Events
Brompton Heritage Group
Diary of Events 2008
“Between the Covers: 100 Years of Kiplin Family Scrapbook” - a talk by Ms.Dawn Webster (Curator – Kiplin Hall), Tuesday, 29th January, 2008 at 7.30pm*
* Please note that the Heritage Group’s Annual General Meeting will be held from 7.00pm prior to this event – everyone welcome.
“Family History” - an afternoon of “hands on” experience in searching for our ancestors, led by Mr.Colin Narramore,
Saturday, 15th March, 2008 from 1.00pm until 4.30pm
“The Village of Topcliffe” - a talk by Mr.John Graham,
Tuesday, 6th May, 2008 at 7.30pm. This will be followed by
a guided walk around Topcliffe on Tuesday, 20th May, 2008
Brompton War Memorial: The Men Behind the Names”
- a talk by Mr.Steve Metcalfe, Tuesday, 30th September, 2008 at 7.30pm
Next Event -““Evacuees in Brompton” - a talk by Mr.Harry Fairburn, Tuesday, 25th November, 2008 at 7.30pm
All talks are held in the Village Hall, Cockpit Hill, Brompton.
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Gladys Wetherill's story
Gladys Wetherill (nee………..)
(story as told to the Brompton Heritage Group)
When the War started, Gladys was 10 years old, living at Water End with her parents, 5 brothers and 1 sister, and attending Brompton school. Her Father did the driving for Mr Wilford, a mill owner who also lived at Water End, and who had 2 cars. A car was an unusual sight in the village. Her Mother took in other families’ washing, though she already had 9 of her own family to wash for. At the beginning of the War, she gave a home to 2 boy evacuees, so the children had to sleep 2 to a bed – “top and tail”. One of the evacuees turned out to be a “bad’un”, though he looked angelic. When he was caught stealing money from his hosts, the authorities were notified and he was removed, but the other lad became a long term friend of the family.
Though there was no money to spare for toys, the children made their own fun and had a good time. The Water End Green and beck played a big part in this, especially in the summer, when the children paddled and fished in the water, dug in the mud and walked across the beck balancing on some pipes, frequently falling in.
When double summer time was introduced during the War, to help the farmers maximise the hours of daylight, the children played out till late, having games of rounders etc, while the adults took kitchen chairs to their front doorsteps and sat outside chatting. The Green was important in other ways. Cows and geese were kept there, as it was common land for anyone to use, and one farmer exercised his horses on it before selling them on to the army.
The beginning of the War was marked by the news bulletins on the radio. Adults did not explain to children what was happening, so they gleamed what they could by eavesdropping. One morning, the once familiar Green became transformed into a transit camp for soldiers who had been rescued from Dunkirk. They were washing themselves and their clothes in the beck, and boiling up water on camp fires. This was the Border Regiment, who was billeted in the village and church halls and Sunday schools. The soldiers baked bread under canvas, did PE on the recreation ground on Northallerton Road, and did training on the Greens. Villagers were asked to give them hot meals at midday. The officers occupied 2 cottages on Cockpit Hill, and a sentry was stationed on Water End Bridge.
The Borderers were here for some time, and made a big contribution to village life. They gave impromptu concerts in the village hall, and some of them married local girls. When they left, the villagers turned out to see them off, many of them in tears and singing a song made up for the occasion – “Bring Back the Brompton Border Boys”. The tune and words can still be remembered by some. The Borderers were replaced by the East Lancashire Regiment and then the Northumberland Fusiliers, but these did not stay long enough to win the hearts of the villagers in the same way.
Other newcomers to the village, brought in by the circumstances of war, were some Polish men, who were billeted on Little Lane in Nissan Huts for a time. Some of these married local girls also. When they left, the same premises lodged Land Army girls, who worked on the surrounding farms, and also added to the social life of the village by giving parties, dances and fancy dress competitions. Then there were the evacuees, many of whom remained friends for life with the people who took them in. At the end of the War, these families each received a letter of thanks from the Queen, wife to King George VI.
Women’s lives changed at this time. Many women turned out to help on local farms at peak times, such as harvest and threshing. Some of them got work in Northallerton to replace the men who went off to fight.
Going out into the fields to pick rosehips in the autumn was part of the war effort for village children. A child received 2d for a pound of rosehips, which were then sent off to be made into rosehip syrup, a rich source of vitamin C, which was much needed when oranges and many other fruits could not be brought in from abroad. As another means of making a few pennies, children would offer to do the shopping for neighbours, visiting the many Brompton shops and having to remember all the prices and bring back the exact amount of change, which did wonders for their mental arithmetic.
There were some very cold winters during the war years, and when the beck froze over, the children walked on the ice to school. Sometimes the ice broke, and some of them got a soaking.
Bits of Perspex, used for the windows in aircraft, could be found, and the girls strung pieces together for “jewellery”. Mothers used parachute silk to make into underwear and even wedding dresses. Nothing was wasted.
Very few people had holidays even before the War. Soon after the War started, however, Gladys and her sister were sent off to Hartlepool to stay with relatives, but returned almost immediately, because the bombing raids began! A big excitement for the villagers was to go to local air fields for Open Days. Buses were provided, and nearly all the village went. As there was no petrol to spare, the buses ran on gas, which was held in containers on wheels and pulled along behind each bus. At the air fields, people could look inside the planes, some of which were riddled with bullet holes. It seemed amazing how many of them managed to fly, they were so flimsy looking. The Canadian Air force, stationed nearby, flew in the biggest treat – ice-cream, which couldn’t be obtained normally. These outings were holidays to the villagers.
An average Brompton home had no bathroom. The toilet was in a shed in the garden, which was horrid to use at night, with only a candle, which often blew out. This could be terrifying for children, as rats were likely to be in attendance. At the back of the house was the wash-house with the boiler, where the women did all that laundry. This was also where the family had baths, in a tin tub, starting with the youngest. If the weather was really bad, the tin tub was brought into the kitchen where it was warmer.
Villagers were allowed to keep a pig, hens and ducks in the garden, and they also grew a lot of vegetables. When the hens weren’t laying, frozen eggs were delivered in enormous tins, which were placed in front of the fire to thaw out.
When Gladys was 14 or 15, she left school to start work in Northallerton with the Ministry of Agriculture. She couldn’t afford the bus fair into work, and her great aim was to own a bike. Buying one outright was impossible, so, when funds allowed, she bought bits of bike piecemeal – a chain one week, a wheel another etc – and then her father put all of it together for her. She was very proud of the final article.
The traditional Whit sports and carnival managed to keep going right through the war years, and lasted 3 days, with long distance races, tugs of war, and even pillow fights across the beck.
It was unusual for the children of Water End to play with those from High End (Shop End). There was great rivalry, especially on Bonfire Night (not held during the War, of course) when each Green had its own bonfire. Everyone did come together, though, for major celebrations, such as those when the War ended in 1945, when there were tea parties and dances.
Though the War years were terrible in many ways, they did enrich the village with the widening of horizons through new experiences and meeting new people. Children were left very much to their own devices, and enjoyed the freedom to roam across the countryside, and to develop their own entertainment. Even the sounds of aircraft, seeing the search lights sweeping the sky, and having to hide under the table when there was an air raid warning, were somehow exciting.
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BERT LANGTHORNE'S MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD IN WW2
(story as told to the Brompton Heritage Group)
Bert was 6 years old at the beginning of the War and already attending Brompton Primary School. He lived on his parents’ farm on the edge of the village and walked to school along with other local children. One particular memory has stayed with Bert, though he didn’t realise its significance at the time. It must have been just before the war had started and as he walked along the lane he was eating a banana. It broke in half and the piece that fell to the ground was instantly covered in grit, so he kicked it away into the hedge side. Little did he know that it would be 6 years or more before he had the chance to eat another banana.
Bert has known the village to flood 6 times, the first occasion he can remember being in 1939. His grandfather lived in a house near where Orchard Grove is now and Bert vividly remembers how the water went into his granddad’s house through the front door and out through the back door. The house must have seemed like part of the beck.
When the War started, children who didn’t go home for lunch still took their own sandwiches, which they ate sitting on the heating pipes in school. Now though, along with their bit of food, they had something extra to carry each day – their gas masks. Before long, however, proper school lunches were provided for all the children, the food arriving in containers from kitchens in Northallerton. Parents paid 2 shillings a week or 5d a day (10p a week / 2p a day).
Bert remembers being able to look into the linen mill near the school when the mill doors were open. He could see the roaring furnaces which produced the steam power for the looms. Coal for the furnaces was brought into Brompton by train and the coal yards were adjacent to the railway line up Station Road. At midday, a very noisy hooter at the mill announced that it was time for the workers to knock off for lunch, and the children at school could see all the girls pouring out for their lunch-break.
On the farm there was no electricity or piped water until after the war. Lighting came from paraffin lamps, and the milking was done by hand. Milk was taken into Northallerton in churns in a trap pulled by a pony. As it went round the homes people came out with their jugs, and the milk was measured out with a metal measuring scoop attached to a long handle with a curved section on the end so that it could lodge safely on the edge of the churn. The health and hygiene people would never allow that today!
Living on a farm, the family was never short of food. They were allowed to kill 2 pigs a year, for which a licence was required, and there were always plenty of rabbits, pigeons and hares to put into a pie. Bert’s mother made butter and cheese, and there were plenty of eggs from the hens, the surplus of which could be sold locally. Bert’s mother used to take produce down to Northallerton on market days, and sell it on the same site where the Farmers’ Market is held today.
The need for the country to produce more food brought about changes in farming. Farmers were paid Ł3 for every acre of pasture which they ploughed up to use for growing wheat. The government dictated the amount. Livestock that went to the mart were graded, priced, then sold – there was no auction.
The most striking change, however, was in the introduction of tractors. Before this time, all the hauling was done by horses. Bert remembers his father getting a Fordson tractor, a basic machine which could only be used for pulling. Later the more sophisticated Ferguson was invented. This had hydraulics so that things could be lifted. Gradually horses were phased out, and fewer people were needed to work the farm. After the War, combine harvesters came in, along with other types of machinery, and a traditional way of life had been changed forever. Also, mains water was brought in to Brompton, and electricity arrived.
Though Brompton was in a very rural area and well away from the theatre of war and the bombing, there were many signs of military activity. The surrounding countryside was used for a number of air fields, not only Leeming, and consequently the drone of aircraft could frequently be heard – our own planes setting off and returning, and enemy aircraft heading for Teesside. There were 2 plane crashes near the village. One Sunday morning a Spitfire came down in flames just off the Stokesley Road, not far from Stone Cross, as villagers watched in horror. There is a stone monument to the pilot at the side of the road. Another of our planes, also on fire, came down at Lovesome Hill, just missing the chapel. Bert also remembers well the search light on one of his fields on the farm.
Another occasion sticks in his mind, when an army unit parked its lorries at the end of Scots Pit Lane and soldiers came to the farm to ask for food. There were about 15-20 men, so Bert’s mother set about frying eggs for them all, for which they paid with petrol, a precious commodity in those days as it was severely rationed.
When the bus loads of evacuees came into the village from Newcastle, Teesside, Hartlepool and Sunderland, Bert’s parents took in 2 girls, who were with them for a year to 18 months. Their mothers stayed with them until they were settled, then headed back home.
Bert’s father was an air raid warden, along with the other men who were in reserved occupations. Bert remembers 3 bombs coming down on Brompton Banks, landing in the fields, though one didn’t go off.
Bert’s most abiding memory is of one night in 1945 when the sky was filled with the throb of aircraft. For an hour, villagers stood and watched as plane upon plane passed overhead as far as the eye could see, each one pulling a glider. Then all was quiet. This sobering and impressive scene marked the beginning of the end of the War. D-Day was about to start.
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