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. Part three of the blog focuses upon the months July to September.
July 1900
The village’s 4th annual Church Cycle Parade was held at Brainshaugh Old Chapel on Sunday 29th July, and reported in the Newcastle Journal. A thunderstorm prevented some local clubs from attending, but Alnwick Cycling Club was there, and they assisted the Acklington Church Choir in leading the singing at the service afterwards.
The headmaster of the School noted that, ‘The hay harvest and the County Show (held in Alnwick) have caused a poor attendance.’ They broke up on the afternoon of 25th for the Midsummer Holidays, which were to last until 26th August (four weeks).14
Three marriages took place in the Church this month:15
· George Fortune, aged 38, a Shepherd of Acklington, married Jemima Geggie, aged 32, of Acklington
· Matthew Purvis, aged 26, an Insurance Agent of Acklington, married Eleanor March, aged 26
· Robert Geggie, aged 28, a Labourer of Acklington, married Mary Jane Purvis, aged 24
One burial took place in the Churchyard this month:16
· Ralph Potts, aged 86 years, of Acklington
August 1900
The village’s new Stationmaster was announced in the Northern Echo as being Mr. Joseph Speed, appointed by the directors of N.E.R.
Acklington’s vicar, Rev. W. Rudge, travelled to Ashington on 5th August to conduct a service at the 2nd annual church parade of the Ashington and District Cycling Club.
George Rutherford, labourer, of Broomhill, appeared at Alnwick Petty Sessions on Saturday 18th August. The report in the Morpeth Herald notes that he had been summoned for being drunk and disorderly and refusing to leave the licensed premises of The Railway Hotel in Acklington. He was fined 20s (approximately £83 today), including costs.
School resumed this month, and attendance was moderate as the harvest was still taking place.17 Two children were admitted at the start of the new school year: 18
· Mary Chrisp of Chieveley [Cheveley] – daughter of Robert and Elizabeth; Robert was a Gamekeeper
· Nancy Johnson of Cavil Head – sister of John and Andrew who were admitted to the school in May
September 1900
Admitted to School this month were: 19
· Albert Summers of Acklington – son of William and Jane of Acklington Village; William was a coal hewer
· Amy and Elizabeth Ella Speed of Acklington Station, who had previously attended Bear Park School in Durham – they were the daughters of Joseph and Jane; Joseph was the new Railway Station Master
Wednesday 19th saw a presentation in the Railway Hotel. The late Acklington Stationmaster, Mr. G. Watson, now of Haltwhistle, was given ‘farewell testimonials’ from his friends, which included Mr. George Moffitt of Field House, Acklington, who had known Mr. Watson for over 12 years.20
School attendance was still noted as being low as the weather was still favourable for ‘harvest operations’. The Log Book notes that on 21st September, two new scholars boosted the attendance21, which is presumably the Speed sisters, as mentioned above (from the Admission Register).
Two baptisms took place at the Church this month:22
· Richard, son of Andrew (Miner) and Alice Logan, of Cavil Head
· Adam, son of William (Gamekeeper) and Elizabeth Fenwick, of Morwick
14 Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1
15 Marriage Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/26
16 Burial Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/19
17 Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1
18 Acklington C of E Admission Register, ref. CES 1/4/2
19 Acklington C of E Admission Register, ref. CES 1/4/2
20 Morpeth Herald, Saturday 22 September 1900
21 Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1
22 Baptism Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/1