| The Glebe School in 1908 (Washington, Tyne Wear) By Audrey Fletcher Copyright 2013 |
| The Glebe School, Washington Station was built in the aftermath of the Glebe Pit Disaster which occurred on Thursday 20th February 1908. Fourteen local miners lost their lives that day, having been crushed and burned to death after a fire damp explosion. Some of their graves can still be seen on the right-hand side at the entrance to the Washington Village Cemetery. |
| Glebe Pit Disaster 20th February 1908 Postcard courtesy of Edwin Fletcher |
| Spirits were at low ebb. In Middlefield Row alone four families were in mourning. Nine families in Brady Square and one family in Home View were also in mourning. With the building of a new school at Washington Station families were able to see evidence that there was at least some future for their children. The Glebe School was officially opened on 27th August 1908 by Councillor Thomas Richardson and had its first intake of students at the beginning of the new school year on 1st September the following week. |
| The Glebe School was opened 27th August 1908 Postcard. Photographer unknown |
| He was born 23rd August 1878 at Swaffham Bulbeck in Cambridgeshire. When he left school at age ten it was expected that he would follow in the family tradition and work on the land as a farm labourer. He did for a few years, but becoming dissatisfied with that way of life he joined a Circus and travelled the country. Gradually “Dick Hullyer” worked his way up from being a groom to becoming a tent master. He was a man of such great strength that he used to help raise the main pole, which supported the circus tent frame. His career with the circus ended when he came to Washington, County Durham in 1908 for it was then that he met and later married Mary Ellen Haylock. He was ready to settle down as he had developed a bad back from working in the Circus. |
| My grandfather, William Richard Hullyer, helped to build the Glebe School. |
| William Richard Hullyer and his wife Mary Ellen Haylock on their Wedding Day in 1909 Photo courtesy of Audrey Fletcher |
| Dick Hullyer considered himself fortunate in finding a job as a builder’s labourer. He was used to working in the fresh air and the Glebe School was only a minute’s walk from 6 Nelson Street where he was then boarding with the Haylock family. He loved his job and there was an air of optimism: a new school and perhaps a better future for the children of Washington Station. |
| The Girls’ section of the Glebe School was opened on the 20th September 1909 (This was Miss Swaddle’s classroom in the late 1950s ... we had the same desks!) Photographer unknown |
| My Grandad Hullyer was sad when the building of the Glebe School was finished, there had been great camaraderie among the workers and although the wages weren’t big he enjoyed the job. Fortunately there was a mini building boom, due to the influx of workers into the area, and the whole team of builders went on to build the terrace houses in Glebe Crescent. |
| By Audrey Fletcher 2013 Updated 2015 |
| Click here to visit The Glebe School in the 1940s |
| Click here to visit The Glebe School in 1950 |
| Click here to visit my other Washington Web Pages |
| Click here to visit The Glebe School in the 1930 |
| Councillor Thomas Richardson Photo courtesy of W. P. Richardson |
| Click here to visit a Biography of Councillor Thomas Richardson |