The Milling Street Tales

The Milling Street Tales is a playful, nostalgic collection of poems set in the North East during the late 1960s, celebrating childhood adventures, family mishaps, and community spirit.

Author Stephen Watson evokes the warmth and wonder of a bygone era as his young parents “learn on the job” bringing up baby in their first home on Milling Street. Each poem brims with character, charm, and gentle humour — from flooded flats and mischievous mishaps to everyday scenes of working-class life that generations will instantly recognise.

Beautifully illustrated by Peter Redden, the collection combines rhythmic, read-aloud storytelling with vivid artwork, creating a window into the world of post-war terraces, corner shops, coal staiths, and close-knit neighbours.

The glossary of terms and local phrases — from “pinny” to “Hinnie” — makes The Milling Street Tales especially engaging for younger readers, inviting them to discover the meaning of Geordie words and forgotten customs, while grandparents will delight in revisiting a landscape that feels comfortingly familiar.

It’s a book made to be shared: the humour and heart of the poems bridge generations, sparking memories for older readers and curiosity for children discovering a different kind of childhood — one without mobile phones, but rich in imagination, family, and community.

Equal parts funny, wistful, and tender, The Milling Street Tales is both a love letter to growing up in the North East and a celebration of family storytelling — the kind of tales best read aloud, together, and passed down.

Book details:

• Title: The Milling Street Tales
• Format: Paperback, 24 pages, full-colour illustrations
• RRP: £9.99
• ISBN: 978-1-0369-3467-5