Tyneside wrote; Dobson’s Filling Station, Wrekenton, Gateshead. Picture taken somewhere in the 1970’s. The Dobson’s were relatives of my family and like many other filling stations started as a Blacksmiths in the shed in the background.
Were these Dobson’s any relation to the Blacksmiths in Washington Village Tyneside. Its my family name too but my Father said the Blacksmith Dobson family were not related to us. My Grandfather Dobson had six Brothers and two Sisters but they mainly worked for Cooks Steel, the Pits or the Chemical in Washington. There were apparently three unrelated Dobson families in Washington when my Father was young, I can’t recall the garage in Wrekenton but I’m sure Dad would have mentioned it at some point. Great pics again cheers Franky.
Frankydobo:
Tyneside wrote; Dobson’s Filling Station, Wrekenton, Gateshead. Picture taken somewhere in the 1970’s. The Dobson’s were relatives of my family and like many other filling stations started as a Blacksmiths in the shed in the background.
Were these Dobson’s any relation to the Blacksmiths in Washington Village Tyneside. Its my family name too but my Father said the Blacksmith Dobson family were not related to us. My Grandfather Dobson had six Brothers and two Sisters but they mainly worked for Cooks Steel, the Pits or the Chemical in Washington. There were apparently three unrelated Dobson families in Washington when my Father was young, I can’t recall the garage in Wrekenton but I’m sure Dad would have mentioned it at some point. Great pics again cheers Franky.
Franky. I think the blacksmiths in Washington Village were called Dobson but as far as I know they were no relation to the Wrekenton family
Tyneside
Ah cheers Tyneside, just wondered with them both being Blacksmith families, their forge in Washington village has been a restaurant for many years now and locally still known as the Blacksmiths. Franky.
Frankydobo:
Ah cheers Tyneside, just wondered with them both being Blacksmith families, their forge in Washington village has been a restaurant for many years now and locally still known as the Blacksmiths. Franky.
Franky, have you see; the “raggyspelk” website? Some great old pictures of Washington and the local area.
Tyneside
Cheers Tyneside, yes I’ve seen the site some interesting photo’s and stories, I was hoping to find a pic of the Chemical Works Loco’s my Grandfather drove there but no luck. A couple of Jim Wilkinson’s Powells Albion, the pics taken in the Van Hee yard, the Foden behind used to be owned by EN Ritchie. It was our workshop motor for taking trailers to test at Sandy Lane, it could still hop on, handy when you were running a bit late! Franky.
Cheers Tyneside, yes I’ve seen the site some interesting photo’s and stories, I was hoping to find a pic of the Chemical Works Loco’s my Grandfather drove there but no luck. A couple of Jim Wilkinson’s Powells Albion, the pics taken in the Van Hee yard, the Foden behind used to be owned by EN Ritchie. It was our workshop motor for taking trailers to test at Sandy Lane, it could still hop on, handy when you were running a bit late! Franky.
Franky Sorry no photos of the Locos but apparently this car was owned by a Dr Robert Kerlogue who was works director at the Chemicals.
I think it was built in 1932 and based on a 1923 Hispano-Suiza with an 8 litre engine from a racing car
Hi Tyneside, The Walls van is an Austin I cant remember the model but they Alson refered to as the Austin three way loader as some of them had doors on each side of the body, Westerhope Garage is now an Asda Store, Andersons garage Named Kensington Garage was located at the other end of the village, Quite a large one too it housed most of the Tippers when parked up, Regards Larry.
Hiya,
I haven’t been along City Rd N/castle for many years but do remember
when dropping down to the Tyne bridge when coming from the South
seeing “McPhee’s” signwritten on their garage roof, no McPhee’s there
now but is their garage still there.
Ha that’s an interesting question Harry, the garage was still being used in the motor trade after McPhee’s left it, then one day it mysteriously burnt down, not the first time an old building around Newcastle’s riverside area has been burnt out or demolished from being unsafe after a fire. Of course there were rumours at the time hinting at an insurance scam about McPhee’s old place, someone might know the real answer to this. Franky.
The Austin van was indeed promoted as the ‘Three Way’, produced not long after WWII, it was actually the precursor to the delivery van many manufacturers would later turn out. The brochure pics below show the layout and how easy the engine and gearbox unit was removed from the front for servicing. The name as Larry said came from it having double doors at rear and both sides. There was also an Ambulance/Hospital Tender model named the ‘Welfarer’. Franky.
Hi Franky, I drove one of these three way loaders for Tudor Crisps when they had a factory on Sandyford Rd They were Ideal for multi drop deliveries because we had to pick up the MT tin boxes , They were flying machines & I used to get as far as Middlesbrough, Darlington, I was only twenty years old, I was quite impressed with The Newport Bridge, & The Transporter Bridge too, I then moved on to drive for Baxters Road Services on the Quayside when I reached twenty one, The good old days , Regards Larry.
Jimmy Shand “The Laird of Auchtermuckty” had a passenger version of the three way van which he used as a band bus in which they travelled almost all over Scotland and often far south into England named “Bonnie Dundee” They would travel down to Doncaster and other venues during the day play at a dance until early morning and then return home afterwards. “doon and back up in a one’r” was his motto without a smile.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Two wagons owned by the Storey family, farmers form Springwell Village. Pictured with the brand new cattle wagon are old Mr Storey and his two sons, Jim & Stewart.
