Location: Thornley Gate

Thornley Gate - 1955

‘Ashleigh’ was built as a private house by Mr Matthew Lee, who inherited wealth from family ownership in Ashington Colliery. Hence, ‘Ash-Lee’. It was turned into a hotel in the 1950s, and later a residential care home.

Thornley Gate - May 1988

Cleugh Head – then a derelict cottage on the Ninebanks road, half a mile from Thornley Gate. It stood empty for years until purchased by the McConnachies and restored into a 4-bedroomed house.

Thornley Gate - Circa 1971

Allen Mill Cottage, Thornley Gate. This was the smelt mill foreman’s house, and subsequently the manager’s house, when the smelt mill was operating

Thornley Gate - August 1929

The ‘Grand Fayre” at Ashleigh House. L to R Back – Albert Vickers, Arthur Charlton, Lance Dodd, …..? Hayes…..? Robinson……Robinson Middle – Helen Allison(Makepeace), Dora Stobart, Irene Peart(Bell), Mary Lynch,……? Evelyn Walton, Katie Elliot, Margaret Dodd (her father was the cobbler) Front – Ida Philipson, Peggy Frome, Mildred Palmer (father was a minister)

Thornley Gate - Circa 1930

The Rose Queen Pageant on the tennis court lawn at Ashleigh House – Winifred Philipson as the Rose Queen.

Thornley Gate - Circa 1910

Podsbank. Although a residence is recorded here from earlier times, the current building was constructed as the house for the Allen Mill Lead Smeltworks manager in the early 1800s.  Several generations of the Steel family lived there then. This included house, stable, byre and walled garden. The last lead mining manager tenants – the Treloars … read more

Thornley Gate - Circa 1920

Blacksmith, Thomas Walton (b.1856). Thomas and, previously, his father Alexander (b.1823) were blacksmiths in Thornley Gate at the end of the 19th century.

Thornley Gate - Circa 1950

William (Billy) Graham collecting milk from a farm in Allendale. In the days before milk tankers, farmers used to put their milk churns on concrete or stone platforms on the roadside for collection.   The haulage contractor company was  H. Dodd of Allendale. The corrugated iron building that was still standing in 2023 – the … read more

Thornley Gate - Circa 1905

The second ‘Brideshill’ School. Built by W.B. Beaumont in 1857 for the education of children of all religious denominations.

Thornley Gate - Circa 1904

Alexander Walton, son Thomas and grandchildren. Blacksmith’s, Thornley Gate. The road now goes left of the tree.

Thornley Gate - 5 August 1929

Participants who appeared in the Country Wedding Pageant at Ashleigh House. Front row; Ruth Godfrey, Barbara Edgar, Winifred Philipson and Denis Williamson. Second and third rows; Harold Stephenson, Jos Newman, Mrs Godfrey, Lily Williamson, Mr Smailes (headmaster), Willie Newman, Sidney Wallhead, Willie Simpson, Evelyn Wallhead, Laura Edgar, John Temperley, Mrs Henderson Philipson, Mrs Harold Stephenson, … read more

Thornley Gate - Circa 1895

Mr John Ralph Lowe, the joiner (1857-1920). His daughter Emily, married Henderson Philipson. A second, Florrie, married Matty Johnson and had two sons Percy and Jack, and two daughters Kathleen and Eva. A third, Amy, married Fred Stobart.