GENERATIONS of South Durham folk were first perambulated by their proud parents in a pram bought from Thornleys, in Darlington’s Northgate.

The Northern Echo: A Thornley's member of staff with some of the prams in January 1989

A Thornleys in Northgate, Darlington, in January 1989

“We put our deposit of 10 shillings down at Thornleys and my mother-in-law said you can’t be buying a pram in case something goes wrong, and so we had to wait,” says Margaret Fothergill, 84, of Carrville, near Durham, who is now a great-grandmother of one with another on the way.

It was in those days unlucky to bring a pram into a house before the baby was born – but the late 1950s were very different days.

“I’d worked for the co-op in Sherburn, there were 13 of us in the little drapery and the men’s made-to-measure suits – it is now the village community centre,” she says, “but when we got married, I had to leave because married women weren’t allowed to work at the co-op – it was either become an old spinster and keep your job or get married and lose it.”

Anyway, Gillian was born on September 18, 1957, and the Thornleys receipt shows the green Denette 425 pram was delivered two days later.

The Northern Echo: Margaret Fothergill

Margaret and her husband, Norman, had certainly splashed out: as well as the pram for £23 10s, there was a cot in cream with teddy bears at each end (£7 10s), a pram mattress, a cot mattress and pillow, and a bath with a soaprack at one end (£2 14s 11d). A grand total of £38 9s 5d – which, according to the Bank of England Inflation Calculator – is worth more than £960 today.

But over the years three babies did get to use the equipment and Thornleys softened the blow by throwing in a free pram cover as a gift.

The Northern Echo: "I bought this pram in 1960 at Thornleys for £19 19s and 11d," says Val Alderson. "We used it for our four children –  this is my son, Dave, in it with my cousin at Bainbridge – and then sold it."

"I bought this pram in 1960 at Thornleys for £19 19s and 11d," says Val Alderson. "We used it for our four children –  this is my son, Dave, in it with my cousin at Bainbridge – and then sold it."

The Northern Echo: "When my parents, Bob and Marjorie Fleetham, lived in Darlington in 1963, they ordered a Silver Cross pram from Thornley's," says Lynne Hamblett, who now lives in Chester-le-Street. "They paid 10 shillings deposit and when the baby

"When my parents, Bob and Marjorie Fleetham, lived in Darlington in 1963, they ordered a Silver Cross pram from Thornley's," says Lynne Hamblett, who now lives in Chester-le-Street. "They paid 10 shillings deposit and when the baby arrived, the pram was delivered – this is my sister, Christine, in it. It cost them the grand sum of £25 and they sold it a few years later for £5."

WE introduced our readers to Thornleys with a first article a few days ago. CLICK HERE for more

As that article told, Thornleys was started in 1896 by Edgar and Mary Ellen as a small concern selling everything from tobacco to newspapers. Edgar began to develop a sideline in motorcycles and early light cars, repairing them as well as selling them, while Mary diversified into toys and “baby carriages”.

When Edgar died in 1921, Mary concentrated on prams, with the mechanics department turning away from motor vehicles and now repairing the baby carriages.

The shop expanded to fill the premises between the Salvation Army citadel and St George’s Presbyterian church, but it closed at the start of the 21st Century when Mary’s grandson retired.

As well as having a fine selection of prams, Thornleys had a very large toy department.

“Your story reminded me of an old receipt from Thornleys’ toy club which belonged to my mam and has somehow ended up in my possession,” says Joanne Thomas.

“It's from 1977 and it lists the Christmas presents that my sister, Alison, and I got that year for a total sum of £51.”

The Northern Echo: Joanne Thomas' Thornley Toy Club book

The Bank of England Inflation Calculator says that £51 in 1977 is worth £324, so that was a generous haul of presents for the girls, aged 10 and 12.

The Northern Echo: Joanne Thomas' Thornley Toy Club book

Top of the list was a pair of rollerskates each for £17.40. "They had metal bottoms and red leather tops to slip your shoes into," says Joanne, who grew up in Shildon Street, off North Road. "I used to put mine on and get my dog to pull me down the street - it was not a good ending when we got to the back alley, though."

Next on the list is a Stylophone for £12.75. These irritating little instruments were invented in 1967 and became synonymous with Rolf Harris. Production ceased in 1975, but they have been revived in a more sophisticated style in the last decade or so.

Then the girls had a Sindy wardrobe, dressing table and an outfit. Sindy was introduced in 1963 as the British version of the American Barbie doll. Sindy was younger and not so brash as Barbie, and took the British market by storm. In 1985, 80 per cent of fashion dolls sold were Sindy, but Barbie’s popularity then began to grow.

Sindy became forgotten, although she, like the Stylophone, has enjoyed a nostalgia-fuelled renaissance in recent years as new parents buy the doll of their childhood for their children.

“£51 must have been a lot for my parents to pay,” says Joanne, “but we were the happiest girls on Christmas day!”