Memories 304 in The Northern Echo featured the North of England School Furnishing Company – or “school furney” – that had a factory on Darlington’s East Mount Road and a wonderful shop, that has now been converted into a bar, on Coniscliffe Road.
“Good day, my name is Tony, I live in Australia,” begins an email.
“I have just bought an old school desk which has the brass label on.” Yes, it’s a school furney desk down under. “It is in quite good shape and I believe it would be quite rare. I would really like to know how old it is.”
The school furney plaque on the Australian desk. Have you any furney items?
With the help of Katherine Williamson in the Darlington Centre for Local Studies, the closest we can come is to 1909 when a very similar design appeared in the furney’s catalogue.
Did you know, asks Robin Hind in Sadberge, that “the school furney trailer was taken to the stock car stadium at Aycliffe. Two ramps were put at either side and a stock car was driven through it sideways!” No we didn’t, but it sounds fun.
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