How different was life in Northumberland over 100 years ago?
Picking a village in mid-Northumberland – Acklington – I decided to investigate the history of the village to see how different it was in 1900. To do this, I carried out research on the British Newspaper Archive, before heading back into the actual Archives to cast more light on the happenings in the village at this time.
April 1900
Admitted to the School this month were:6
· Lily Davidson of Acklington Station
· Frank [Francis] Birkett of Acklington Station – the son of John and Zenobia; John was the Railway Signalman at the Station
· Dorothy Potts of Acklington – the daughter of Robert and Annie; Robert was the Village Blacksmith
Four baptisms took place at the Church this month:7
· Robert Thomas, son of Adam (Labourer) and Elizabeth Mather, of East House
· Caroline, daughter of James (Shepherd) and Henrietta Jeffery, of East House
· Gladys, daughter of Mary Ann Isabella Parker, single woman, of East House
· John William, son of John (Miner) and Isabella [Clapperton], of Acklington Park
One burial took place in the Churchyard this month:8
· William Clapperton, aged 1 day, of Acklington Park
Another death occurred in the parish on Thursday 26 April. Mr. John F. Brewis of Morpeth was found dead on the path that led from Acklington Station to the River Coquet. He was a keen angler and had gone on Wednesday morning to fish at Felton. More details would be revealed at his inquest in May…
May 1900
The inquest was held at the Railway Hotel in Acklington, and was reported in the Morpeth Herald. Mr. Brewis was 65 years of age, and had left Felton at 7.45pm to catch the last train from Acklington to Morpeth at 8.45pm. His body was found 300 yards from the Station, having died from heart failure, presumably from rushing for the train. Brewis was noted as a talented organist, having been made the organist of Morpeth St. James when he was only 13 years old. He was buried in Morpeth churchyard.
Admissions to the School this month were: 9
· George, Bella and Alexander Davison of Chester House, who had previously attended Felton School
· Edith Hammond of Cavil Head, who had previously attended Ulgham School (cousin of William Smart)
· William E. Smart of Cavil Head, who had also previously attended Ulgham School (cousin of Edith Hammond)
· John and Andrew Johnson of Cavil Head – sons of Samuel and Isabel; Samuel was employed as a Hind at Cavil Head Farm
· William and Thomas Wilson of Morwick, who had previously attended Newham School
Attendance at School is noted as being low, and a special sale was held at the Mart on the 10th which caused several absences.
When the Relief of Mafeking was announced on 16th, the news arrived in Acklington just after 10pm, announced by the ringing of the Church and school bells. The Morpeth Herald reported that the village street became lively, and that on Saturday (the day after news broke), the village was decorated with flags. On the Sunday, a large congregation assembled in the Church, representing nearly all the families in the district. In the School Log Book, it is noted that there was a half holiday on 21st May in honour of the Relief.10
Two baptisms took place at the Church this month:11
· Robert Thomas, son of Elizabeth Robson, single woman, of Acklington
· Francis Susannah, daughter of Margaret Briggs, single woman, of Cavil Head
June 1900
A gathering of cyclists took place in Felton for a Church Parade, in aid of the Felton St. Michael and All Angels restoration fund. 200 cycling clubs were represented, including Acklington’s, and there was a crowd of over 300 cyclists.
School attendance varied this month, and on Friday 8th June, children were given a day’s holiday to celebrate the occupation of Pretoria.12
The London Evening Standard reported the death of Mary Jane Tate, aged 69, second daughter of the late Thomas Tate of Bank House, Acklington. The event had occurred in Durham on the 10th June.
One marriage took place in the Church this month:13
· Marshall Summers, aged 20 years, a Miner of Sunderland, married Helen Summers, aged 17, of Acklington, the daughter of John Summers (Miner)
6 Acklington C of E Admission Register, ref. CES 1/4/2
7 Baptism Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/1
8 Burial Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/19
9 Acklington C of E Admission Register, ref. CES 1/4/2
10 Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1
11 Baptism Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/1
12 Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1
13 Marriage Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/26