Your chance to contribute to a historical account of Fulwell
Do you have special memories of old Fulwell? If you do, you are invited to share them at Fulwell Library, this Friday, between 1pm and 4pm. Local historians Norman Kirtlan and Sharon Vincent are busy researching the people, places and events that went to make up the story of this remarkable little village. The information that they are uncovering will soon be published in a new book on the History of Fulwell Village Norman said: “From the days when it was known as the Debtor’s Retreat because of its isolated location, through the war years and into recent times when some of the best housing and shopping could be found, the story of Fulwell is afascinating one”. Many characters have graced the streets over the years, including people like Jack Lunn. Jack was one of the many farmworkers who served the community when it was a rural village. This charming image of him was found in an old album which is kept at the Sunderland Antiquarian Society. It shows William (Jack) Lunn hard at work back in the mid1890s. Yorkshire-born Jack came to Fulwell as a young man, along with his wife who was also from Yorkshire and who was called Isabella. Although only in his mid 60s when this photograph was taken, he seems to be a man much older in years. Norman said it was “no doubt due to the hard and constant work that he and folks like him had to endure in those days. Norman added: “Other folks like Ow’d Matty, the village constable, are long gone, but their stories will be recreated in our book.” Ow’d Matty’s life as the village police officer was an interesting tale in its own right and Norman explained more. He was only paid five shillings a year and could never be found when he was needed. He also held a record in that he never arrested a single person in the village, complaining that it was “too far to walk to Southwick to put them in a cell.” As well as times long gone, the book will focus on more modern days. It asks questions such as what was it like during the war years? What was it like growing up and going to school in Fulwell? Norman added: “One area that I am particularly interested in, is the experience of shopping and working in