“Weariness of the world, and a longing desire to merit transference to a better, through a persistent course of austerity and sacrifice, have disposed many pious individuals, in all ages and countries, and of every rank in life, to retire from the neighbourhood of their fellow-men, and take up their solitary abode in desert places” **
Whilst self-isolation may be a new phenomena to many, people have chosen to take themselves off to remote corners of Northumberland and live as hermits or recluses for centuries. Some of these stories have been captured in ‘The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and Legends’.
Cuthbert, monk and later saint, was a seventh-century hermit, who built himself a walled ‘cell’ on the Farne Islands so that all he could see was heaven.
The Hermitage in the parish of St John Lee near Hexham was a retreat for John of Beverley, one time bishop of Hexham and then York, when he retired from ‘his apostolic labours of evangelising the Anglican pagans’.
It was believed that following the Reformation there were no hermits living in Northumberland, although there were instances of recluses:
William Pettigrew was employed at Walbottle Colliery in the mid-eighteenth century. He built a hut using brushwood in Walbottle Dene near the turnpike road running from Newcastle to Carlisle. He lived there with his family, and was nicknamed ‘Willie of the Wood’. Curiosity led to many people visiting and he welcomed them, especially on Sundays and holidays. He sold bread, cheese and refreshments; the income allowed him and his family to live more comfortably. As a result, his sons were able to maintain a better position in society; one joined the army and reached the rank of lieutenant, the other became a Methodist preacher.
Macfarlane, a Scottish besom-maker, made brooms which he sold to the local gentry for their stables. He sought permission from Mr Bryan Burrell of Broom Park for some land near Lemmington Burn in Rimside Moor to build a shed where he could make his brooms. This was agreed, he slept there overnight and built a small garden with flowers and vegetables. Passing gentry would listen to his tales and he was always happy to help passer-bys with directions. After a while he asked for more land to build a lumber yard which he fenced off; with the addition of some pigs he became self-sufficient. He lived like this for twenty-one years ‘squatting’. When a contested election occurred, he travelled down to Alnwick to vote. No objections to his vote were received “and so, from that day till his death, the besom-maker of Rimside Moor was virtually a freeholder of Northumberland”.
SANT/PHO/SLI/13/39
** quote taken from The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and Legend Vol 5, 1891, p.302
One of the tasks we are able to complete from home during lockdown is the typing up of old lists. Many of our collections are catalogued, but were done so so long ago that the catalogues only exist in a paper format. This means that if people are able to visit our search room they can search the collection and identify useful material within it, but it’s more difficult for our remote users and people unable to visit, which is currently everyone, of course. So, by typing up the lists we can upload them into our electronic system. They can then be searched online, although, of course, the material itself remains only in its original format in the strongrooms.
One such list I have recently been typing up is the Orde family of Nunnykirk papers. The Ordes were a relatively well-to-do eighteenth-century family from the Morpeth area. One prominent member of the family was Admiral Sir John Orde. He had a successful Navy career and was governor of Dominica, in the Carribean, between 1783 and 1793. But, he is perhaps best remembered today for his quarrel with Horatio Nelson. In actual fact, Orde doesn’t appear to have had any issue with Nelson, more so with his superiors who appointed Nelson over him, Orde felt unfairly. So much so, that Orde actually challenged his commanding officer, John Jervis, to a duel. The offer was never accepted and was ultimately withdrawn. Frustratingly, the collection only has a few items relating to Sir John Orde’s naval career.
However, a large section of the papers relate to a great interest of the Orde family, horse breeding. Sir John Orde’s half brother, William Orde, owned an estate at Nunnykirk and his son, also William Orde, greatly renovated it and rebuilt Nunnykrik Hall. The Orde’s employed John Dobson to design the new building. William also established a stud farm and he and his nephew enjoyed huge success breeding racehorses.
One of their most successful horses, mentioned in the collection several times, was called Beeswing. Her success brought with it huge popularity. She competed in fifty-seven races and was placed lower than second only once. She even won the Ascot Gold Cup of 1842. She won the Newcastle Cup a total of six times and was put out to pasture after winning the Doncaster Cup for the fourth time. Beeswing was so famous that a small village in Dumfries and Galloway actually changed its name from Lochend to Beeswing in her honour.
Hopefully making the catalogue of this collection available online will allow people to explore the papers with greater ease and uncover more about these, and other stories of the Orde family of Nunnykirk.
The details of an unfufilled promise of marriage were related before the Under-Sheriff of Northumberland (Mr John E. Gibson), and a jury, who sat at the Moot Hall, Newcastle, on Tuesday, to assess damages in a case which had been remitted from the King’s Bench. The plaintiff was Mary Ternent, of Tuddle Farm, Chathill. The defendant, Robert Carr, was described as a boiler man, of Budle New Farm, Bamburgh. After hearing the evidence damages amounting to £100 were awarded.
Mr Hugh Percy, of Alnwick, who represented the plaintiff, said the parties in the case were in humble circumstances. The girl was 25 years of age, and she met the defendant, as unhappy fate would have it, about November, 1917, their acquaintance ripening into courtship. Carr proposed to her in January, 1919, which could be proved by a letter written by defendant to plaintiff, posted on January 21st, in which the following passage occurred: “Have you made up your mind yet about getting married? I do not like to say anything to your mamma, as you know I am shy, but I think she would let me have you darling.” That occurred in the middle of a voluminous correspondence, and it was important in fixing the date because of a particularly sad feature of the case. The girl gave all to this man, with the result that a child was born on March 17th last. He appeared to be acting honourably towards her, and in May, 1919, he had bought her an engagement ring. Later, however, he deserted her, and did not reply to her letters. After the proposal, added Mr Percy, Miss Ternent had spent £10 on household linen, and during her illness lost about £45 in wages.
Plaintiff bore out Mr Percy’s statement, and Carr, asked as to his financial position, said that his wages amounted to £2 10s per week, of which he paid 30s for board.
BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS
FRIDAY
Before A. T. Robertson and Thos. Purves, Esqs.
Neil McGee, labourer, Ireland, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Chapel Street, Berwick, at 9.30 p.m., on Thursday, 8th April. April. He pleaded guilty.
P.C. Cruickshank proved the case, and said he found accused using foul language in a passage, and later, after being warned, he found him committing a nuisance.
One previous conviction was recorded, and accused was fined 5s or 7 days.
MONDAY
Before Alex. Darling and Jas. McNab, Esqs.
PUNCHED THE POLICE
Jane Wood, married woman, Berwick, was charged with having assaulted P.C. Latto and P.C. Robson, while in the execution of their duty in her own house in Chapel Street, on Saturday evening. She pleaded guilty.
P.C. Latto said he heard the accused cursing and swearing in Chapel Street, and abusing P.C. Robson. Witness advised her to go home, but she continued the disturbance. Her husband attempted to drag her into the house, but she bit, scratched, and tried to punch him on the face. She was mad drunk, and witness and P.C. Robson went into the house to try and pacify her. She continued to kick and strike out, and hit P.C. Robson on the lip, causing it to swell.
P.C. Robson said when he had occasion to check the child of accused, Wood, who was mad drunk, started to abuse him and use vile language. When trying to pacify her in her house, she behaved violently and struck him on the mouth, also kicking him in several places. She resisted all the way to the Police Station, kicking and scratching all the road.
This being accused’s third appearance; she was fined £2, with the alternative of one month. A fortnight was given in which to pay.
LOCAL NEWS
A long delayed letter and a postcard were received by Mrs Anderson, 66 Hunter’s Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 27th March. The missives were posted in Moscow, Russia, on July 29th, 1914, by her son, Mr W. D. Anderson, a Freeman of Berwick, who was going to China, and they described the mobilisation of Russian troops for the great war, then just about to begin.
Mr Anderson, shortly after posting his letter to home, crossed Siberia to China, and was there 12 months when he came home to join up and become gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the D.L.I. He then went over to France, and was badly smashed up at the Somme, and returned to Newcastle, where he remained with his wife until demobilisation. He has been back in China for nearly a year. His brother, Mr Jas. Anderson, who is also a Freeman of the Borough and a regular visitor to the old town at holiday times, was in Berlin on holiday a few days before war was declared, and just got away at the last moment.
While excavations in connection with the laying of underground telegraph and phone cables were in progress at the Berwick end of the Old Bridge on Friday, workmen laid bare a piece of very old masonry, and a very much encrusted water main of lead was also unearthed. It is believed that the masonry is part of the foundations of the old English Gate or Key Gate, which are shown on a sketch of the Bridge dated 1745, and which were demolished nearly two centuries ago. The old foundations appeared to be composed of sandstone and limestone, run together with hot lime. The foundations cannot have belonged to the old Toll House, as it was situated in the recess at the Bridge End, close to Mr Vance’s shop.
About 1.40 a.m. on Saturday while two soldiers of the K.O.S.B.’s were returning after attending a dance, they observed fire to have broken out in an old house used as a workshop, at the rear of Mr Thos. Buglass’ property at 79 Low Greens. They immediately in formed the police, who communicated with the Borough Surveyor with a view to getting the fire engine out. Meanwhile a number of railway cleaners, and others who had hurried to the scene got at work on the burning building with water buckets. Their efforts were rewarded by keeping the fire from Lowrie’s stable which is adjacent, but the entire workshop was gutted. The fire brigade call was cancelled immediately the fire was got under control. It is believed that the conflagration was started by an old incubator which is kept in the workshop, becoming overheated. Damage to the extent of £100 was done, and the property, we understand, is not insured.
The children attending Kiln Hill Sunday School were entertained to a social on Thursday evening last in the Mitchel Memorial Hall. The first gathering of its kind for the past few years, owing to war conditions, the youngsters naturally looked forward with added keenness to a night’s enjoyment. The teachers and those responsible for the arrangements saw that they got it. Over 100 children were present at tea, and the good things were thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards a concert of recitations, etc., provided by the children, was gone through, many parents and friends being present. Another treat was the exhibition of lantern slides by Mr G. Short, Berwick. The Rev. W. Jardine, who was accompanied by Miss Jardine, was present, and spoke a few words to the children. Mr Grainger, Superintendent of the Sunday School, and Mrs Grainger were also there.
