TRIMDON may have more packets per head of population in The Northern Echo photo-archive than any other community in the Durham coalfield.

There are packets entitled Trimdon Village, Trimdon Station, Trimdon Grange and Trimdon Grange Colliery, plus a packet marked Trimdon Dads Army which contains a couple of pictures of old men standing in the snow and shouting at each other. Most peculiar.

Let’s delve into these packets from a look back at a typical Durham coalfield community which, 50 years ago was beginning the transition to a new life without coal – but still with the largest pit heap in the county dominating the horizon...

The Northern Echo:

This was taken in August 1969 in Trimdon Grange. We think it is North Plantation Row – now demolished – with Cooks Terrace on the right, and, obviously, is the pitheap looming like a Lake District hill behind the houses. It's a fabulous photo: the washing flying in the wind, children playing in the back street and a woman walking determinedly towards the cameraman...

The Northern Echo: The last day at Trimdon Grange Colliery, on February 17, 1968. The colliery was sunk in 1845 and was it its largest in the 1920s when it employed more than 1,400 men. Even when it closed, it was employing more than 600 men

The last day at Trimdon Grange Colliery, on February 17, 1968. The colliery was sunk in 1845 and was it its largest in the 1920s when it employed more than 1,400 men. Even when it closed, it was employing more than 600 men

The Northern Echo: Looking north up Salters Lane with the landmark Dovecote Hotel at the top of the street on November 30, 1970. It looks as the level crossing gates just in front of the Dovecote still exists. This was the Ferryhill & Hartlepool branch which ran into

Looking north up Salters Lane with the landmark Dovecote Hotel at the top of the street on November 30, 1970. It looks as the level crossing gates just in front of the Dovecote still exists. This was the Ferryhill & Hartlepool branch which ran into Trimdon Grange Colliery which was on the left out of the picture. The tall buiilding on the left was the signalbox which controlled the level crossing. All the buildings on the right - Cooks Terrace - have been cleared and replaced by a wide grass verge

The Northern Echo: Taken from the level crossing signalbox beside the Dovecote Inn looking south down Salters Lane in August 1969. Cooks Terrace on the left has yet to be cleared but the grassy area in front of the cameraman was the site of Lane Row, a terrace of

Taken from the level crossing signalbox beside the Dovecote Inn looking south down Salters Lane in August 1969. Cooks Terrace on the left has yet to be cleared but the grassy area in front of the cameraman was the site of Lane Row, a terrace of miners' cottages with Duff Heap Row on the right of them. The bus stop is about where the colliery urinal was

The Northern Echo: A fabulous image of Trimdon Grange in January 1964, of a working man walking home. This must have been the inspiration for a Norman Cornish painting

A fabulous image of Trimdon Grange in January 1964, of a working man walking home. This must have been the inspiration for a Norman Cornish painting

The Northern Echo: Danny Fidiam outside his shop in Rodwell Street, Trimdon Colliery, in the 1950s

Danny Fidiam outside his shop in Rodwell Street, Trimdon Colliery, in the 1950s

The Northern Echo: Trimdon Village in November 1964, with the venerable St Mary Magdalene church on the right and the Black Bull on the left, serving Nimmo's ales. Next to it is E Ryder's newsagent, proudly advertising The Northern Echo. It is now a

Trimdon Village in November 1964, with the venerable St Mary Magdalene church on the right and the Black Bull on the left, serving Nimmo's ales. Next to it is E Ryder's newsagent, proudly advertising The Northern Echo. It is now a hairdresser's salon

The Northern Echo: A cow lying outside St Mary Magdalene Church, Trimdon Village, in June 1974.

A cow lying outside St Mary Magdalene Church, Trimdon Village, in June 1974

The Northern Echo: A little piece of Labour history: the Labour Club on Trimdon village green was the scene for many of Tomt Blair's setpiece speeches and victory parties. It started as a working men's club in 1919, apparently serving beer to miners in the corner

A little piece of Labour history: the Labour Club on Trimdon village green was the scene for many of Tomt Blair's setpiece speeches and victory parties. It started as a working men's club in 1919, apparently serving beer to miners in the corner of a farmer's cottage. The club fell on hard times in the 1980s, but was revived by the local Labour Party in the 1980s, and here it is being readied for reopening in 1993 by Labour leader Neil Kinnock. George W Bush and his First Lady, Laura, even visited the club, but it closed in 2010

The Northern Echo: A little piece of socialist history: Tony Blair, the Labour Sedgefield MP, shaking hands with Dave Hopper, the general secretary of the Northern Area of the NUM on February 16, 1989. Mr Hopper has just given Mr Blair £500 towards the MP's

A little piece of socialist history: Tony Blair, the Labour Sedgefield MP, shaking hands with Dave Hopper, the general secretary of the Northern Area of the NUM on February 16, 1989. Mr Hopper has just given Mr Blair £500 towards the MP's appeal to erect the pitwheel as a monument to the 74 men and boys who died in the Trimdon Grange mining disaster on February 16, 1882

The Northern Echo: A picture from the Trimdon Dads Army packet from February 1978. It shows the Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill Working Men's Club charity concert party with chairman Luke Cowie on the right

A picture from the Trimdon Dads Army packet from February 1978. It shows the Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill Working Men's Club charity concert party with chairman Luke Cowie on the right

The Northern Echo: This old gentleman looks as if he cannot believe his luck as two young ladies lead him away from the Wingate Arms, Trimdon Grange, in August 1970. The Echo's photographer has parked his van to provide a backdrop to the picture. The Wingate Arms was

This old gentleman looks as if he cannot believe his luck as two young ladies lead him away from the Wingate Arms, Trimdon Grange, in August 1970. The Echo's photographer has parked his van to provide a backdrop to the picture. The Wingate Arms was at a lonely T-junction to the north of the Trimdons, near Old Wingate. It is now a private house

If you have anything to add to any of today’s topics, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk