Eldon Lane, Bishop Auckland, County Durham

W.S.Cook

William Samuel Cook was born the son of William Samuel and Elizabeth Cook in Haddiscoe, Norfolk on 6 February 1878. He left Norfolk towards the end of the 19th Century, marrying Ann Wallis in 1898.

William and Ann moved to Bishop Auckland in County Durham where William was a miner before setting up Bridge Farm in Eldon Lane.

The farm was predominantly engaged in the management of a dairy herd, raising pigs and supplying the local area with milk which was bottled at the farm (before the advent of the Milk Marketing Board) and delivered to customers' doors.

W.S.Cook & Sons

William and Ann had seven children, three daughters (Winifred, Agnes and Elsie) and four sons (Ernest, George, Arthur and William).

The youngest two sons, Arthur and William (Bob) worked with William Samuel on the farm, subsequently managing the farm following William Samuel's death in 1948.

Arthur and Bob continued to operate the farm until the local council made a compulsory purchase of the farmland in 1978 and the farm was forced to close with the animals and machinery auctioned off.

Arthur Cook working the farm on a 1926 Citroen tractor attached to grass cutter

W.S. Cook & Sons Milk Float

This page last updated 14 April 2005