Darlington Town Clock

Darlington Town Clock

Yoga for Charity

In 2023, a group of yoga enthusiasts took over the grounds of Walworth Castle Hotel to raise money for Cancer Research. Karen Thursby, leader of Alola Yoga, raised £3,308.56 for the charity, and boosted the wellbeing of many people through outdoor yoga. I spoke to some of the participants who have developed a love for the activity and hold great pride in what they have achieved.

Nurse

So many people were born in Darlington hospital, both the old building and the (relatively) newer one. I heard tales of babies being born, at sunrise, sun set, the middle of the night. Every time of day there seemed to be another new life ready to join our community.

I also spoke to quite a few nurses, from those who worked in care facilities, to A&E practitioners. These people had saved lives, held hands at the end and brought new lives into this world.

Growing Limbs

The polio epidemic was a terrifying time. The smell of bleach on doorsteps was strong as people tried to keep the sickness away. But people still became ill, many of them children. And sometimes, they lost the use of a limb.

One woman told me about her experience going into the hospital and looking at a wall covered in prosthetic arms and legs. She saw these limbs growing from the bricks and thought the doctors were gardening them, planting prosthetics for patients.

Our Byways

What if walls could talk? The stories they would tell. I wrote a short story last year about ‘Stone-Tape-Theory’. The idea that place may have a sense of memory. From Romans marching, to drunken singing on a Saturday night, our side streets.

Clark’s Yard and Bucktons Yard have collected thousands of tales, and I was delighted to hear about the shops that used to be there and the places which are there now, still filled with people. These Byways will keep us, our secrets are safe with them.

Quakers

The impact of the Quakers can be seen in buildings, train tracks, statues and even wildlife of this town. Many people I spoke to mentioned the incredible actions of the Pease family.

After some long discussions about their care for the Working-class North, and support of our health and public transport, I visited the Quaker graveyard. It is a beautiful and calming place where every person is given the same level of respect, buried in the same way, with the same headstones.

Meet Me At The Fountain

Some locations will always remain iconic. There are plenty of things to do in Darlington, but I love it when someone chooses somewhere a little unusual to spend their time. I spoke to one couple who always met up on their lunch breaks by the fountain in town, taking five minutes to sit together in one of the quieter places in the middle of the town centre.

Museum

The Tubwell Row museum has had quite a life, filled to the brim with artefacts both local and distant. It even boasted its own polar bear! I was told about it by three different people who remembered the taxidermied animal visiting Crown Street library at one point. After a bit of digging, we’ve found out that this bear has found a new home in Middlesbrough.

New School, Old Park Bench

People love how green Darlington is. Getting fresh air is easy. In this town there are places which are perfect for just taking a moment for yourself.

One family I spoke to told me about their daughter's experience at her new sixth form college. She was nervous and, as a recently diagnosed autistic person, was scared about what other students might think of her. The grass and trees outside of the school was a safe haven. I was delighted to hear that she made friends and is enjoying sixth form.

Time for Tea

I spoke to a wonderful woman who had lived in Darlington her whole life. She had ran through every byway, climbed every tree and, as an adult, worked across the entire town.

She told me that often panics, runs from task to task, filling her days with chaos. When something went slightly wrong, she would talk to her sister, who would always be the one to slow her down. To help her pause, to take a breath. Her sister would put the kettle on and pour a brew.

“A cuppa tea, that’s what you need.”

Types of Talking (Moving Hands)

25% of the North East are classified as disabled. I talked to people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We communicated differently depending on our needs and access requirements.

It was incredible to learn about peoples lives in the way that they wanted to share them. Their words, in their tone, in their language. I saw two people talking with their hands and expressions. I learned about the friends who meet up to write in a different place across town every Thursday.

Mismatched Rooftops

“People never look up.” She said. So we decided to. We looked up and saw a collage of rooftops, mismatched in a patchwork which made up the Darlington skyline. Plants and wildlife made their home in the cracks and dents of our walls. The bones of this place, the bricks that built our shops and houses, are part of us. Home to people, nature and memories.

Darlington Hippodrome & Theatre Hullabaloo

Darlington Hippodrome & Theatre Hullabaloo

Squirrels Near the Church

So many of us had memories of the precocious creatures who’ve taken over every park in Darlington. Squirrels, with their ever growing confidence, have nabbed one or two lunches over the years from local residents. And everyone loved them.

One lad remembered feeding them peanuts with his Dad nearby the church, having the best day ever before heading to a big event in the town, full of lights, music and animals.

Old Phone Calls

We don’t have many phone boxes anymore. Sat outside the Friends Meeting House, I talked to an artist who told me how much she loves looking at them. The bright red is iconic and the memories of times gone by strikes with just as much power every time.

I talked to others who told me about their ‘parkour’ adventures, climbing everywhere that they shouldn’t (including on top of the phone box.) There was something wonderful about getting to view this town from every angle, especially up high.

Lunch Time at the Market

Darlington indoor market is alive and bustling with so many businesses and visitors. From the secondhand bookshop which had an endless range of every genre when I was a child, to the butchers which is still a must-visit for half of the town at Christmas time.

I spoke to several people who said that they often met friends to have a cuppa and a good view of the street. People watching and catching up on all of the jen, this is a place which holds an entire town full of memories and secrets.

The Bandstand

Over the years, hundreds of people have played music in Darlingtons bandstands, sharing songs with the town. South Park is alive with the sound of music, both planned and spontaneous. Some remembered last years ‘Hullabaloo in the Park’ which was filled with joy and singing.

Another young woman remembered sitting with her guitar after college and just playing to herself. Her music wasn’t meant for anyone else, but still people listened. Music, our universal language.

Darlington Crown Street Library

Darlington Crown Street Library

Ignatius’ Bridge

The oldest railway bridge still in use. Over the Skerne, with the nature park beneath it and industrial work to its side.

Many shared their memories as passengers, looking at the town in the distance and reeds growing below. One person told me about how they found out who built it. They saw ‘Bonomi Way’ on a street sign and wondered why it was there. Seeing it on the streets prompted investigation in real life.

He built connections and continues to link people together. Ignatius Bonomi.