Nostalgia

PREMIUM

Torvill and Dean plus Pudsey Bear on the Whitley Bay ice in 1997

Icy Smith - the man who took Durham to the rink
JOHN "Icy" Smith was the son of a blacksmith who thought that working at his father's fiery furnace would be like skating on thin ice and so made a name for himself at the opposite end of the temperature spectrum.

East Street, Darlington

Darlington couple met in the 60s at bowling alley now being demolished

A fabulous picture of Blackwell Hill, a mansion built to the south of Darlington with fabulous views over the River Tees. It was built in 1873 by local architect John Ross for Eliza Barclay, who was a member of the town's Quaker Backhouse family.

PREMIUM 10 mansions that once stood proud in County Durham - and now they're gone

Yorkshire Pudding with gravy - but what about syprup?

PREMIUM Wowee! Did the Durham miners have syrup on their Yorkshire Pudding?

Durham Big Meeting by Tom McGuinness, painted in 1968. It is one of the star exhibits in the colourful new exhibition of gala works of art in the Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland. Picture: Gemini Collection

PREMIUM Big Meeting big debate: "Gay-la" or "Gar-la" - our conclusion may surprise you

Lillie Galloway with the ball with her new signing Lydia Clements on the left. On the right is Doris Brown and Florrie Harbron is in the centre. In 1937

PREMIUM When the Darlington Quaker Ladies were the best team in the north

Odeon Darlington in 2002. Picture: STUART BOULTON

PICTURES: Odeon Darlington over the years as it shuts down for good tonight

Odeon Luxe Darlington will close its doors for the final time this evening (June 30). Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The last film being shown at Odeon Darlington as cinema permanently shuts today

Coins from a collection at The British Museum said to be similar to those recovered by police in May 2019
Picture: DURHAM CONSTABULARY

Trial of County Durham man and co-accused over Viking coin hoard moved back to next year

Staff and volunteers at Kiplin Hall and Gardens pictured at the end of the 2021 season de-brief

Stately home volunteers recognised for their dedicaton over the last 20-years

Louie Young is celebrating her 100th birthday at Appleton Lodge in Spennymoor Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Former Aycliffe Angel was not expected to survive birth - but she 'fooled them' and has turned 100

Remembering the “worst storm in living memory” when a month’s rain fell in just two-hours

Remembering the “worst storm in living memory” when a month’s rain fell in just two hours

Gurney Pease Academy’s STEM club enjoy a visit to Stainmore Railway Company in Kirkby Stephen

Darlington STEM club pupils shown the right track

Opening in 2023, The Grand cinema will be part of the 1950s Town, giving people a chance to experience a trip to the pictures during this “golden age” of cinema. Pictures: BEAMISH

Photos released of how new Beamish 1950s cinema will look - and here's when it could open

1921 census. Credit: PA/Findmypast

How to buy the 1921 census as 2021 census is released

1921 census. Credit: PA/Findmypast

How to buy the 1921 census as 2021 census is released

Milburngate House in the late 1960s

PREMIUM This building was termed as 'Durham's ugliest building' - what do you think?

North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced the return of its annual Light Spectacular event Picture: Charlotte Graham

Heritage railway announces the return of this popular event

Theatre writer Paul Allen at Redhills in Durham

Playwright researches County Durham mining heritage ahead of staging of film classic

Steve Griffin, a maintenance technician with a passion for classic cars, was part of a team of public transport enthusiasts who saved the vintage bus from the scrapyard in 2016. Picture: NEXUS

Open-topped bus used for Muhammad Ali 's visit to North East restored to former glory

Vintage fire engine and vehicle show cancelled in shock short notice announcement

Vintage fire engine and vehicle show cancelled in shock short notice announcement

The Years of Victory by John Bird. Picture: Durham Miners’ Association. Photography by The House of Hues

PREMIUM The Big Meet's big question: is it "gar-la" or "gay-la"?

The blue plaque on the wall of the exquisite Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle. Picture: DAVID SIMPSON

Plaque sheds light on illustrious history of building - and its members

ANIMAL MAGIC: Bring your pet to school: Barrington School, in about 1960

PREMIUM The days of school and mining – the wonderful workings at Woodhouse

Winter's Gibbet, by Jen Hopps

PREMIUM Macabre picture of the gruesome Winter's Gibbet

Chris Lloyd and his banner in Bishop Auckland Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

PREMIUM What's the story of the new banners in Bishop Auckland?

The Cricketers, bottom right, in 1950

PREMIUM Landmark Darlington pub set to come back to life - here's when

PREMIUM The link between North Yorkshire town's newest pub and its only Victoria Cross winner

The National Trust has announced that it will reopen Crook Hall Gardens in Durham on Wednesday 13 July at 1pm.
Picture:National Trust/Colin Davison

Reopening date for Durham's 'cherished' Crook Hall revealed by National Trust

A proposed view of the new collection building at Locomotion in Shildon. Picture: AOC Architecture with J&L Gibbons.

Locomotion extension gets green light as councillor declare it a 'no-brainer'

A Teesside University student has unearthed fascinating archive records to shed new light on the life of Middlesbrough and England football legend George Camsell

Fascinating research sheds new light on Boro legend George Camsell

The Swan Cup Final Trophy

Black Cats legend's treasures auctioned - but his first trophy wasn't for football

The Rifles during their Freedom of the Borough parade in 2010 Pictures: THE NORTHERN ECHO

Historic regiment set for Darlington freedom parade

Jeremy Corbyn on the County balcony in 2018

No politicians to speak at this year's miners' gala as key workers take centre stage

Ross Forbes, of the Durham Miners' Association, Durham Miners’ Gala exhibition at The Mining Art Gallery in bishop Auckland, pictured Ross Forbes from Durham Miners Association and Gala organiser with Gillian Wales and Dr Bob McManners OBE from

Pride and history of the miners' gala revealed in new exhibition

A piece of pottery in the collection

Exhibition of Roman artefacts on display at Durham Museum

Kieran, a Newcastle United fan, pictured with his mum Nicola, in 2011

Looking back: 'Amazing' Darlington teenager Kieran Maxwell who 'lit up the world'

Stuart Parsons, Steve Green and volunteer Peter Burrage studying the bobbin lathe

How this Dales mill is helping to preserve an 'endangered species' of trades

Colin Grainger, pictured in 2000 with the programme from his international debut in the 1950s

Sunderland mourn after death of the 'Singing Winger', Colin Grainger

The NYMR heritage railway is a popular tourist attraction

How the rail strikes will affect this hugely popular tourist attraction in the region

Darlington raise the flag ceremony signals the start of armed forces celebrations

Darlington raise the flag ceremony signals the start of armed forces celebrations

The annual memorial service in remembrance of the WWII Canadian airmen at the Mynarski statue, Teesside airport. Photograph: STUART BOULTON

North East remembers Canadian airmen who served in Darlington in Second World War

Winter's Gibbet, from which William Winter's body was hung following the murder of Margaret Crozier in 1791. Picture DAVID SIMPSON

Whose body once hung from this landmark, following an appalling crime?

Admiral's House, which is dated by some sources as 1762, with the duckpond on Norton green at the top left

PREMIUM Look inside this incredible North East home which is on the market for almost £3m

Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, from Paul Menzies' new book

PREMIUM 10 amazing coloured pictures of the North East from back in the day

First look inside Darlington Crown Street Library during its £3.2m restoration

First look inside Darlington Crown Street Library during its £3.2m restoration

15 old pictures from historic Darlington cinema which is set to close this month

15 old pictures from historic Darlington cinema which is set to close this month

The Cleveland Bay in Eaglescliffe - the world's first purpose-built railway pub. This picture was taken in 2013 before creeper covered the front of the pub

PREMIUM The world's first railway pub is in the North East - but where?

A miniature watercolour painting of trainer John Scott, which was bought by the Bowes Museum in 2007

PREMIUM After 160 years, the "wizard of the North" loses his racehorse record to Aidan O'Brien

KB-700, the Ruhr Express, was the first of 430 Lancaster Mk X bombers built in Canada and so it was intended to take it back as a monument. Picture courtesy of Geoff Hill

PREMIUM The historic wreckage that lies beneath the runways of this Darlington village

The ceremony at Durham Tees Valley Airport remembering the 75th anniversary of Andrew Mynarski winning the Victoria Cross in 2019

Poignant story helps remember the 1,266 young airmen who gave their lives flying from Teesside

The lamppost is between High Petergate and Minster Gates

Whopping £33k repair bill for Victorian lamppost knocked over by lorry

Local volunteers uncover the past at a DigVentures community excavation at Bishop Middleham, County Durham. Photo credit: DigVentures

Volunteers needed to help archaeologists uncover history of North-East villages

Cllrs Carl Marshall and Elizabeth Scott have clashed over proposals to spend City of Culture money on the DLI Museum and Art Gallery.

Row erupts over proposals to spend City of Culture funding on the revival of the DLI Museum