Eliza and Thomas Dent's Children - Luke

Eliza and Thomas' second born was Luke (my grandpa) who was born in 1891 at Brandon, County Durham.  In order to stay in work Luke's father worked in many pits in the area,  eventually leaving Woodland near Bishop Auckland, moving to Newcastle upon Tyne to another mining area, Scotswood, where Luke eventually became a miner (like his dad)

By 1915, at the age of 24, my handsome grandpa, Luke, was employed by Vickers Armstrong's and as you can see he worked there for forty years until he retired on the 25th April 1958.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/vickers-armstrong-old-photos-show-9985844

Also in 1915 Luke married Janet Clark aged 23.  Her wedding dress was beautiful. 

  

WW1 had been raging over a year when Luke and Janet's wedding took place. I assume because he was working in a munitions factory, Luke was exempt, but he did join up. Here we see 28 year old Luke, looking very proud in his uniform and carrying a Swagger Stick. 

Luke Dent aged about 27 in uniform ready for war 

Luke and Janet had two children Janet (Jenny) b 1917 - 1987 and William (Billy) b 1934 - 2002

Baby Jenny Circa 1917 

Billy circa 1935

Older Jenny in Newcastle City Centre aged about 18 circa 1935

Older Billy ready to join Merchant Navy circa 1955

I think Luke and Janet were very brave, as in the 1920s, when work was difficult to find, Janet's half sister Hilda persuaded Luke and Janet to move to Peru.  Hilda had met and married a Peruvian Carlos de Terry, who had been studying mining at Armstrong College Newcastle upon Tyne.  Hilda told them there was plenty of work in Lima, where she lived.  So, Janet, Luke and Jenny 'upped-sticks', booked tickets on a boat and sailed off to Peru. Jenny would be around 4 years old at the time.  Methinks Hilda had been economical with the truth, but I believe they were also very homesick, so they returned home quite quickly. 

Older photograph of Luke circa 1956

Older picture of Janet Dent in Garden of 13 Gregson Street Scotswood
This was Luke and Janet's Last home together

Luke died in 1958 in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle at the age of 68, of a Cerebral Haemorrhage.  This was the same year as he retired from Vickers Armstrong. Grandma said he lied about his age so he worked two years longer than the statutory retirement age of 65.

After Luke died, Grandma and Grandpa's house, 13 Gregson Street Scotswood, was burgled. Janet was too nervous to remain living there, so she applied for a pensioners cottage at Bells Close which was very close to her half sister Ellen.

Apart from all the things stolen, a casualty of the burglary was Grandma's writing slope.

Janet Dent's Writing Slope showing a crack right across the top, no doubt done whilst trying the 'prise' it open

L-R Janet Dent, Ellen Pattison, Billy Dent - Bells Close
 

Janet died at the age of 89 in 1978, just before my one and only child was born, our daughter Elise, but at least she knew she was going to be a Great Grandma.  She died in her home at Bells Close cared for by her daughter Jenny with the help of her sister Ellen.  She had stomach cancer.

My mam, sister and I missed Grandpa Luke very much, he wasn't very tall, all our family was small.  

He was gentle and quiet, but with a great sense of humour. I remember when my sister and I were little girls we were bought toy cameras that would squirt water at the person you were pretending to photograph, Grandpa was so good at pretending he didn't know it's is just a small thing but at 74 (in 2020) I remember it so well! 

After Grandpa died, almost every Sunday afternoon I used to pick up my mam and sister in the car to visit Grandma, we did this for years until she died, we also saw Auntie Ellen, as she was always around at Janet's.  They both were always so pleased to see the three of us.

So lucky to have such kind, loving and gentle Grandpa and Grandma, and Auntie Ellen.

Eliza & Thomas Dent - where they first lived

In 1891 The Census records that Thomas aged 29, Eliza aged 24, and their children Jane Ann Dent (Jinny) aged 2, Luke Dent aged 6 months, Luke Timmins (Eliza's father) aged 45 and his daughter, (Eliza's sister) Mary Jane (Martha) Timmins aged 15 were all living at 38 Park Street Brandon Colliery, note Luke Timmins daughter Amelia is not mentioned in the Census. 

Miners and their families led hard peripatetic lives, you had to go where the work was, and by this time Thomas had already worked at Crook and Spennymoor Colliery.

This is probably the Pit in 1891 that Thomas Dent and Luke Timmins worked

Brandon Colliery

This later Newspaper Photograph of a family moving out of the old pit houses in Brandon Colliery gives an indication of the type of housing the Dent's and Timmins' lived in

Walter Wilson's Store Brandon Colliery

By 1901 Thomas and Eliza had moved on, Luke and Martha  are no longer recorded as living with Eliza and Thomas.  However, by this time all seven of Eliza and Thomas' children had been born.  They were living in the West Auckland area of County Durham, at 78 Grieveson Place, in a village called Woodland. 

Woodland Today 2018 - So pretty, you wouldn't think mining had ever touched it

Woodlands consisted of a scattering of isolated houses and coal mines.  It was the presence of coal that laid the foundation for a population explosion.  The 19th Century saw an incredible period of growth, due to widespread mining of coal, which was needed to fuel the developing heavy industry on Teesside as well as being transported to Lancashire.  The population rocketed from a small scattering of families to its peak of about 700 in the middle of the 19th century. 

In 1887 Woodlands Coal Company, comprising of (Messrs Whitwell, Fryer, Grieveson and Dale) had sunk Woodlands Colliery.  

Clearly this tiny agricultural village, must have been overwhelmed, by the influx of Miners and Coke Workers, clearly more housing was needed as quickly as possible, so  the  likes of Grieveson Place (commonly known as the Flats) and other dwellings were built. Such accommodation was set apart from the main village - Grieveson Place consisted of 22 dwellings with three or four rooms arranged in streets.  

After 1900 the pits began to decline, and the workers dispersed, some went to Newcastle, which is where Thomas and Eliza ended up.

Places like Grieveson place were abandoned and eventually were demolished. There is no sign in Woodland today that any of these dwellings ever existed.

Woodland Village circa 1900

This photograph shows the old tub track leading to Woodland Colliery.  Tubs were small rail running vehicles that were used to transport coal short distances.  Coal was transported from a colliery slightly south of the village, up the hill and through a tunnel underneath the village, to Woodland Colliery where Woodland Branch Railway line was located.  The tunnel entrance can be seen to the left of the picture. This field is opposite the Edge Hotel Public House.

Edge Hotel Woodlands 2018

Eliza & Thomas' Children - Jane Ann Dent (Jinny)

Jane Ann Dent

(Auntie Jinny) was Thomas and Eliza's first child, born in 1888-1956. In 1919 she married Thomas Clarke (b 20th August 1889). They had no children.  

Tommy's job was a Bus Cleaner/Labourer. 

My Grandfather Luke Dent, was Jinny's brother.

Auntie Jinny and Uncle Tommy lived at 31 Brampton Gardens Throckley near Newcastle upon Tyne, The photograph below shows their house behind Jinny.  

Jinny standing in front of 31 Brampton Gardens Throckley circa 1950s

31 Brampton Gardens in 2018

Jinny Tommy and perhaps her sisters

Restored

Circa 1920s - which sister is which unfortunately is a sheer guess but perhaps:-
Next to Thomas is the youngest Edna Dent b 1904-1984
Bottom L-R  Jinny b 1883-1958, Sarah b 1893-1956, Amelia b 1896-1984

A very young Jinny (front left) with husband Tommy at the back with probably her sister Amelia next to him who the little boy is, is unknown could be a nephew
Jinny looks very proud of her crisp white linen, her best cutlery and beautiful flowers on the table 

This is another photograph taken in the same house.  Their  house, inside and out, was always immaculate.  

Jinny Crocheting with a fine aspidistra in the background note how well dressed Tommy is.

Tommy & Jinny 

Tommy and Jinny with perhaps sister Amelia who the young man and older lady is unknown

The back of this photograph says Jinny in garden

Restored

The picture below shows Jinny and Tommy in later years.  As you can see Tommy is standing rather awkwardly, the reason for this is when Tommy was working as a cleaner/labourer for the United Bus Company, he fell from a ladder and never worked again. Tommy had a number of operations and spent many, many months in Hexham Hospital.  The operations were on the hip resulting in a permanently ulcerated leg - one being shorter than the other. Family members remember that he had to wear a huge built up boot. 

No Health and Safety or compensation in those days so life must have been very hard.  Auntie Jinny took in lodgers and cleaned for a number of people; what a hard life she had, and a terrible life for Tommy, as he must have been a fine figure of a man.

 His leg never recovered, and when my sister and I stayed with them I remember Jinny had to dress Tommy's ulcerated leg every day.

Jinny and Tommy outside 31 Brampton Gardens - they are very smartly dressed and perhaps have been to a wedding as Tommy is wearing a 'buttonhole'

One of their lodgers was Fred Pattinson who was the son of Jinny's sister Sarah Pattinson (nee Dent) b 2nd September 1917

It was clear after his accident, that Tommy would no longer be able to work, so whilst in hospital Tommy was shown how to embroider and make soft toys. This was a form of therapy.  Tommy became quite an expert.  I still have a table-cloth that I inherited from their niece Jenny Stafford (nee Dent, my mother) which shows how good he became.  

I haven't used this lovely table cloth very much as it is quite old now, but it looks beautiful on my dining table.

I think this table cloth was a joint effort between Tommy and Jinny as if you look at Jinny's crocheting in the previous photograph it is very similar to that on this table cloth.  It should be noted that the back of the table cloth is as neat as the front.  If only they knew that even to this day 2019 it is cherished.

Tommy & Jinny's Tablecloth in 2018 which is well over 60 years old

I also inherited their copper kettle that sat on Jinny & Tommy's fireplace, and then my mother's fireplace and finally mine, this photograph was taken in 2019.  I wonder if this belonged to Tommy's mother, which makes it very very old?  I smiled to myself as I uploaded this picture as I think Auntie Jinny would have definitely cleaned it a lot more often than I do.  Sorry Auntie Jinny.

St George's Hospital Morpeth

In 1958, when I was about 12 years old, I was off school, because I hadn't felt too well; I pulled myself together because my mam and dad said they were going to Morpeth to visit Auntie Jinny in hospital.  

The follies of youth.   

This visit tainted the rest of my life, and also came back to haunt me, as my dad was taken (without my knowledge) some few years later to exactly the same terrifying 'mental institution when suffering with Dementia.

In those days anyone who was suffering with 'mental problems' was not something that was broadcast.  Auntie Jinny was 'housed' for a better word, in St George's Hospital Morpeth, not surprisingly it became notorious.  

My abiding memory of this visit was driving up a beautiful sweeping drive to a rather palatial building with beautifully kept clipped lawns and gardens.  However, you soon realised that you should "never judge and book by its cover" what lay behind this rather beautiful facade was so deceptive, that when you were presented with its terrifying interior, it became the stuff of your worst nightmares.

We were taken through many huge locked doors each loudly slammed behind us with the smell of urine and noise of the patients becoming louder and stronger. The curtains were hanging off the windows, and the word bedlam would be rather descriptive. We were eventually taken to Auntie Jinny, where we found a tiny figure on her knees scrubbing the floors.  Mam and dad spoke to her (I was too terrified) but she didn't recognise them.  

Like me, my parents were too upset (the word traumatised would be used these days) to ever go back.  That is the last time we saw tiny gentle Auntie Jinny. Heartbreaking that someone who had worked so hard all her life should end up in a place like that. 

It is with much regret and sorrow that peace never came to Auntie Jinny while she was alive. I hope that since 1958 she has been cared for in a place of constant peace and love.

Sadly although my parents visited Tommy regularly, after Jinny died, there was a falling out.  I never found out why or for that matter I can't remember if my parents went to his funeral.  Tommy died in 1965.



  

Eliza and Thomas Dent's Family

Eliza and Thomas married in 1883 and had 7 children. According to the dates (from Ancestry) Eliza was 15 when she married 25 year old Thomas, which would explain why she and Thomas, and Luke, her father, Mary Jane,  were all still living together (Amelia is not noted on the census entry).

For this studio photograph Eliza and Thomas have dressed in their 'Sunday Best'.  That is 'some hat', and her dress has a beautiful lace insert, and a long necklace, (many of her photographs show her wearing a long necklace.  Thomas is very 'dapper' in a smart 3 piece suit, with waistcoat and a bow tie.

Thomas was small, thin, and looks rather gaunt, not surprising in the job he did, lying or hunkered in wet, tiny claustrophobic spaces as a coal hewer.

Studio Photograph Eliza and Thomas circa 1896

Restoration

Their Children:-
1.   Jane Ann Dent (known as Jinny)  b 1883-1958
      Married Thomas Clarke b 1889 - (no children)

2.   Luke Dent (my Grandpa)              b 1891-1958
      Married Janet Clark (2 children Janet (Jenny) 
      & William (Billy) 

3.  Sarah Dent (known as Sally)          b 1893 - 1956
     Married Ernest Pattinson  (3 children, Elsie, Frederick
     and Norman

4.  Amelia Dent (known as Meelie)     b 1896 - 1984
     Married Thomas Davison (4 children Edna Millicent,
     Freda, Elsie, Thomas)

5.  Frederick Thomas Dent                 b 1899-1925 
     died in the Montague Pit Disaster, Scotswood

6.  John Robert Dent                          b 1903-1981
     Married Eleanor Avery (2 children Frederick, Claudia)

7.  Edna Dent                                     b 1904 - 1984
     Married William Noon (1 child, Norma) 



The following are family photographs that I am not sure who some of them are:-

Jinny Clark nee Dent with young schoolboy

Thomas and Eliza with family group

Liza and Thomas with two of their children?

Eliza Dent (nee Timmins)

ELIZA DENT (NEE TIMMINS)

Here is a torn photograph of my very young paternal, Great Grandmother Eliza Dent (nee Timmins) who was born in 1868 at Queen's Cross Dudley Staffordshire. 

Eliza Timmins maybe around 16 years of age

Restoration of Eliza Dent (nee Timmins) b circa 1868

Eliza Timmins was born at Queens Cross Dudley in Staffordshire, 

The Area of Queens Cross Dudley 2018

The 1871 Census shows that Jane Timmons (Eliza's mother) was 'Head of the Family' aged 20.  At this time Eliza was 3 years old and there was also one month old Amelia.  

Luke was a miner and could have been on shift, or even working away.

Ten years later the 1881 Census shows that Eliza was living at 1 South Street Hemlington Row County Durham.  No doubt the family had moved north for work, as it states Luke was a Coal Hewer.  

Part of Helmington Row 2018

At this time Luke Timmins was aged 36.  The Census also showed he was a widower.  I discovered that his wife Jane Timmins (nee Lee was born 1849-1880).  So, tragically, Jane had died at the age of 30 the previous year. 

Luke was left with three young children to take care of, Amelia aged 2, Mary (Martha?) aged 5 and Eliza (the eldest) aged 11.  

Undoubtedly at the age of 11 Eliza would have had to take care of the children and the house. 

Like Thomas Dent, it would appear that Eliza Timmins, as a child, also had a very hard life.

THOMAS DENT

My paternal Great Great Grandparents, Henry Dent b 1835 at Bolam near Darlington County Durham and Sarah Dent b 1836 at Woolwich London (nee Million) were the parents of my great grandfather Thomas Dent, known as Tot, b 1858 at Staindrop County Durham. 

the tiny hamlet of Bolam near Darlington County Durham 2018
Still very agricultural when Henry was a child

Staindrop circa 1867 would look similar to this when Thomas was a child

Staindrop 2018

The 1861 Census shows Thomas' father Henry, and mother Sarah, were living at 230 West Auckland.  

After the opening of the Stockton Darlington Railway in 1825 the search for coal escalated.  Drilling started in 1826 in West Auckland and in 1828 in St. Helen Auckland, so with better prospect of jobs, the population rose from 978 in 1801 to 3,651 by 1891.  Henry would have been a miner in either West Auckland Colliery, that employed 620 men and more probably at St Helen's Colliery, that employed 352 men.

Sadly by the time of the 1871 Census at the age of 34 Thomas' father Henry was dead - it states Sarah was a widow and head of the household, living at 36 Albert Street Willington County Durham with her son William aged 14 a miner, Thomas aged 12 a miner, and Sarah's two brothers George Million aged 30 and John Million aged 23 

It is difficult to contemplate that Thomas, at the age of 10, became, like his father, a miner, what a terrible hard life for a child. 

Restoration of Thomas Dent probably in his 40s perhaps taken in Yard of 
22 Montague Street Scotswood Newcastle upon Tyne 

Thomas Dent in approx 1926

Restoration Thomas Dent Front Door of 252 Whitfield Road Scotswood
 Newcastle upon Tyne

What is notable about these photographs of my Great Grandpa is how smart he is, he may have been a miner, but, obviously it was important to him to be dressed smartly.  This was something he passed on to his son Luke Dent my Grandfather.

THE DENTS - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following photographs and information are the history of my paternal great grandparents Thomas and Eliza Dent. 

A great deal of this information was given to me in 2005 and 2006 by distant Dent relatives.

Fred Owens and Lillian Pickard (nee Owens)

I am very grateful to Fred and Lillian, (brother and sister). 

Lillian informed me in 2005 that ...

"Fred had a heart attack about ten years  ago, (1995) and whilst recovering he started the family history, he is the 'brains' and travels to Durham and spends hours on Parish Records.  All the history is backed up by birth, marriage and death certificates and census information. We came to a dead end with 3 x Great Grandfather Thomas Dent born about 1795, and his wife Ann Hutchinson, 3 x Great Grandmother b 1796."  

Fred and Lillian's information is amazing, and I am so grateful to them for kindly sharing some of their family history with me. 

This Dent relationship is a bit complicated as my Grandfather, Luke Dent, (Eliza Dent, nee Timmins was his mother) are related through Lillian and Fred's father's mother's cousin - I really need to sit down and work this out!

John Burton

I also have to thank my cousin (3 x removed) John Burton who also very kindly gave me invaluable family information.  He even put me in touch with his mam, Norma Noon, who was Luke's, (my Grandpa Dent) niece. Through John, Norma and I corresponded (see the emails later). 

This was the reply from John when I contacted him- I have to agree with his sentiments!

"Thanks very much for responding.  It's all very interesting if not a bit spooky chatting about your own family with someone you don't know!"