GOOD MOVE

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 10th Year

Issue

Issue No.

9

Date Released

May 1957

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1WASTE NOT
2. 2GOOD MOVE
3. 3ANY OLD IRON
4. 4SONGS OF THE COALFIELDS: "The Best Littledoorboy"

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: the rehousing of a mining community in Northumberland.
NCB Commentary - At West Wylan, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, stand these 100 year old back to back cottages. Now, their days are numbered.
There are only two rooms in each cottage, one up and one down; a stone sink with a coal water supply and across the road an ash privy is the only sanitation.
Here, generations of Northumberland men have lived with their families and served the neighbouring drift mines of West Wylam and Mickley.
For 18 years Johnny Futeress has lived with his wife Jenny at No. 26 Tyne Street. For Johnny and Jenny and 11 year old Carol the years of waiting for a decent home are nearly over. Their house, together with 250 like it, is going to be pulled down. Their plaves will be taken by this new estate of 750 houses, now being built by the Council to accomodate the local mining population.
Chairman of the Prudhoe Council, Councillor Garrett, and colleagues from the Housing Committee, have a regular Saturday morning appointment on the site to check on progress of this million pound scheme.
Tonight is the last night for the Futerss family at 26 Tyne Street. On the table are the keys which will end their long years of waiting.
With the disappearance of the old village another relic of the past will go too.. Visiting motorists are still subjected to a penny toll to enter the old part of West Wylam. 79 year old Tom Wandless, an ex-miner who collects the tolls, will be one of the last to move from the old village. He and his wife will miss their old duties on the corner, but a house like this will await them when they go.
On moving day, the first piece of furniture out of No. 26 is Johnny Futerss’ piano. Deputy Fred Wilson and Puller John Turner have come along to give him a hand.
For John Turner these are busy days. He owns the horse and cart and his services are in much demand.
As well as the piano, the first load contains a radiogram and a vacuum cleaner, bought against the day when the family would have electricity for the first time.
The move into the new house keeps everyone busy; even young Carol can lend a hand.
In the old place after every shift this was the drill for Johnny, with Jenny in attendance with buckets of water. But no longer at 15 Broom House Road.
The 750 miners and their families who will make up the new West Wylam Estate agree with Johnny Futerss and his family that this is a very good move.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 8th April 1957.

Keywords

Buildings and structures; Domestic life; Mining; Social welfare

Locations

England; Northumberland

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.12 No.137 March 1958, p118.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board