Northumberland Archives

Twixt Thistle and Rose Project

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Cover of a guide to Berwick upon Tweed featuring an embossed rose and thistle and the text Twixt Rose and Thistle

RE-CATALOGUING THE BERWICK-UPON-TWEED BOROUGH ARCHIVES

Twixt Thistle and Rose is an Archives Revealed funded Project to re-catalogue the Borough Archives with additional deposited material. The National Archives in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust has started a programme of awarding cataloguing grants through the Archives Revealed scheme and this project was one of only 9 chosen from over 80 applications. This is a new initiative so Berwick is one of the first beneficiaries.

The project relates to the records of the administrative or governing bodies of the town that are held at the Berwick Record Office –  part of Northumberland Archives. With the exception of the Charters, these date from the early sixteenth century up to 1974 when local government re-organisation led to the creation of a larger District Council.

Extract from Charter of Mary I, 25 April 1554 (Ref: BA/A6)

In the late 1970’s the District Council, with assistance from the Northumberland Record Office, organised and listed the borough records and created the Handlist of the Archives of the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed that is still used today to access the collection. It has been much amended, re-organised and expanded over the last forty years.

Title page of the 1978 catalogue of Berwick Archives

PROJECT AIMS

Berwick’s records have been very well used over the years but until now the handlist and supplementary lists have not been available online.  The main aim of the project is to provide an electronic catalogue that will bring all the finding aids together and encourage as diverse as possible use of the records in future.  The new catalogue will include all previous catalogue and location references so past researchers can be assured they will be able to match any references they have to the new ones. The Berwick Record Office has benefited from a very dedicated group of volunteers who transcribe and index the records under guidance of the Berwick Archivist. They research and link this information to other source material where possible. So, the task of creating purposeful content for the electronic catalogue is already well established.

Berwick is a Border town and was at times during the mediaeval period a Royal Burgh of Scotland – one of the Court of Four Burghs along with Edinburgh, Roxburgh and Stirling. Ownership of Berwick passed back and forth until it was finally ceded to England in 1482 where it has remained ever since. As part of the project we will be looking, in the sixteenth century records in particular, for any vestiges of that Scottish heritage in the style of record keeping.

Extract from rules for the Garrison and Town of Berwick 1560-1577 (Ref: BA/B7/8)

WHO IS INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT?

The Berwick Archivist is managing the project and has appointed a Cataloguing Archivist to work exclusively on the project for one year from 7th January 2019. A key task will be to look for opportunities for existing and new volunteers to become involved in the re-cataloguing project. There will be more about this aspect of the project in later posts. Volunteers will receive training and the Berwick-upon-Tweed Guild of Freeman and Friends of Berwick & District Museum and Archives have kindly agreed to provide funding for volunteer and outreach activities.

The project has a Steering Group that includes representatives from The Berwick-upon-Tweed Guild of Freemen, The Friends of Berwick & District Museum and Archives, Northumberland Archives and Northumberland County Council. The Chair is a representative of the Berwick Civic Society. The group meets bi-monthly to receive reports from the project archivist, agree key steps and monitor progress.

GETTING STARTED

The first task is to agree the classes of information that will form the structure of the catalogue. It must meet cataloguing standards and make searching meaningful and easy for anyone who is interested in the fascinating history of Berwick.

The Handlist with it’s many sections is the starting point …

When the classification is agreed by the Steering Group in February it will be all hands to the deck cataloguing, conserving and, with any luck, uncovering the occasional hidden gem!

This is our first post and we hope that it explains what we aim to achieve. Look out for further posts on our project and the hidden gems we uncover.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 10 JANUARY 1919

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BERWICK ADVERTISER 10 JANUARY 1919

NORHAM

The dance on Old Year’s Night in the Public Hall to provide funds for the Welcome to Local Soldiers and Sailors was a great success, and was carried on till 3.30 in the morning. Seaman Joe Bell acted as M.C., and Miss Jean Smith was the accompanist, and the hall was beautifully decorated.


Norham Public Hall © Copyright: Maigheach-gheal.  Creative Commons Licence, Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic.  

During the evening Mr John Scott’s gramophone added to the enjoyment of the large assembly, and there was a raffle for a cockerel, which was won by Private Murray Gregor, who has had a spell in Germany where few cockerels came his way. It is proposed to have a whist drive and dances at an early date to provide still more funds for the welcome.

SCREMERSTON

Miners are being demobilised from the Army with all speed to work in the mine, and the following have arrived home: – Private Robert Blake and George Y. Richardson, Old Hill, both of the Coldstream Guards. They joined up together in April, 1918, putting in their training at Caterham and Windsor Great Park. They arrived in France in October, 1918, and were in the last of the engagements, after which they marched with our victorious army to Cologne, from where they were sent home.

LOCAL NEWS

We are pleased to see another honour has fallen to Quarter Master and Major William M. Allan son of Mr David Allan, of Chatton. For his valuable services in Salonika he has been given the O.B.E (Military Division). Major Allan joined the army 37 years ago as a private, and has had many honours and distinctions conferred on him in his long army career. At the outbreak of war he was with his battalion in India, and shortly afterwards went to France where he is still serving. He has been three times mentioned in despatches, twice from France and once from Salonika. Major Allan began work as a lad in the “Advertiser,” Office and has still friends in the town. He is expected home during the month, and will be sure of a warm welcome.

Lieut-Colonel Stuart McAllum R. A. M. C who was awarded the D. S. O in the New Year’s Honours List was for several years prior to the war Medical Officer in Berwick.


The former Royal High School, Edinburgh, where Lieut-Colonel Stuart McAllum, DSO, R.A.M.C., was educated.  © Copyright: Richard Webb.  Creative Commons Licence, Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic.  

He went to France in 1914 and has been on active service ever since. He was educated at the Royal High School Edinburgh. During his stay in Berwick he was keenly interested in sport and was an active member of The Berwick-on-Tweed Golf Club, and also of the Tennis and Badminton Clubs.

Lance-Corpl. Robin Ironside, 11th Argyll and Sutherlands, son of Mr and Mrs Ironside, Hope Nurseries, Berwick, has returned home from Germany, where he has been a prisoner of war. He was wounded and taken prisoner on August 22nd, 1917, and after spending some time in a hospital in Belgium was sent to Quedlinburgh Camp, where he has been ever since. Corporal Ironside is reluctant to speak of his experiences but his lot in common with others in Germany has certainly not been an easy one. After the signing of the Armistice the British prisoners who had until then always been addressed as “swine,” were called “gentlemen,” a somewhat sudden change of opinion. Corporal Ironside is very grateful for the parcels sent out to him, and says none of the men would have been alive today without them.

The Comrades of the Great War are arranging a great Victory Ball to be held in the Corn Exchange at a date yet to be fixed.

Image from the Berwick Advertiser 4 December 1858, opening of the newly erected Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Fancy dresses and masks will be worn. The fete is under the distinguished patronage of among others, Col Sir Francis Blake, Bart., C. B., M.P., D.L., the Commanding Officer and Officers of the K.O.S.B. Depot, and Colonel McLaren, K.O.S.B.

Sergeant Edwin Wallace, M.M., 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who has been spending a few days leave in Berwick, returns to Summer Camp, Eastbourne, tomorrow (Friday). His many friends in Berwick and elsewhere will wish him every success

On Wednesday night, Mrs Short, wife of Lance-Corpl. Short, Northumberland Fusiliers, had the pleasure of welcoming him back to Berwick, after his being a year and a half a prisoner in Germany.

Private B. A. Mole, K.O.S.B., Woolmarket, Berwick who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since April, 1916, passed through Berwick Station on Tuesday night en route from Leith to Ripon.

MILITARY UNREST SPREADS TO BERWICK

On Tuesday morning when the men at the Malaria Huts fell in on parade as usual they were ordered by a N.C.O. to stand to attention. A detachment ignored the command, whereupon the sergeant ordered them to fall out for fatigue duties. Again the men took no notice. On an explanation being demanded they stated that they wished to be demobilised as quickly as possible and that they refused to go to Ireland as ordered. They repeated their demands to the officer in charge, who was, of course, unable to move in the matter. A meeting of sympathisers was held on Wednesday, but no formal resolution was put. Most of the men belong to London, and have employers, who are anxious to take them back into their pre-war jobs, but they fear that demobilisation is still a long way off.

This Week in World War One, 27 December 1918

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 27 DECEMBER 1918

CHRISTMAS

One feature of the Christmas season in Berwick was the extraordinary number of service men on leave, several not having spent Christmas at home for the past few years. The shops on Christmas Eve were very busy, and the great shortage of fruit, especially apples, as well as the exorbitant prices asked were the subject of much comment. Children lamented the scarcity of sweets, as “two ounces” only was the general rule in most shops.

(c) BRO 2103-4-458 Santa at Berwick

The weather on Christmas Day was stormy and disagreeable during the forenoon, but cleared away fine later in the day. Things were very quiet on the whole in the town. At night some children dressed up as “Mummers” went from house to house singing. This is a custom that is not often observed in Berwick. Services were held in some of the churches.

THE WORKHOUSE

The inmates of the Workhouse were treated to a good dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding on Christmas Day. As is customary tobacco was given to the smokers and sweets to the non-smokers. Mr Stirling, Tweedmouth, kindly supplied beer, and aerated waters were also sent in.

(c) BRO 1541-01 Entrance to the Workhouse

There are only 33 inmates at present a marked contrast to the years before the war when there were generally well over one hundred.

THE INFIRMARY

The patients at the Infirmary were entertained to dinner and tea on Christmas Day by Dr. C. G. Maclagan, chairman of the House Committee. During the afternoon gifts were distributed from a prettily decorated Christmas tree in one of the wards. Some members of Committee and a few friends’ including the Mayor and Mayoress, Lady Wilkie-Dalyell, Miss Wilkie-Dalyell, and Miss Maclagan, were present. The tree and evergreens which added so greatly to the festive appearance of the wards were kindly given by Lady Wilkie-Dalyell. There were not quite so many children amongst the patients as on former occasions.

AT THE BARRACKS

A splendid dinner of the usual Christmas fare was served at mid-day to the men at the Barracks on Christmas Day. A great many men are off home on their twelve days leave. During the course of the dinner Major McAlester, the Officer Commanding, visited the Dining Hall, which was most tastefully decorated, and wishing them all the compliments of the season gave the men some words of good advice.

MALARIA CAMP

The majority of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men are away on Christmas leave, large batches leaving daily. A most excellent dinner was served on Christmas Day, with the usual fare, and greatly enjoyed by all present.

POST OFFICE

The work at the Berwick Post Office this year has been greatly in excess of last year, but not up to the standard of the pre-war period. Saturday was a busy day, but the posting on Monday were very heavy. The 24th and 25th Dec. were as usual very busy days. A special feature was the heavy postings of letter packets due no doubt to the increased parcel rates which make it cheaper to send a smaller parcel at letter rates. The Christmas Cards also came more into favour this year. The temporary assistants employed this year were women and they did their work well; as did the whole of the regular staff.

BERWICK’S FIRST V.C.

On Monday morning Mr and Mrs Huffam, of 119 High Street, received word that their youngest son, Second Lieut. James Palmer Huffam, 5th Duke of Wellington’s, attached 2nd battalion had been awarded the Victoria Cross. The news was received in a wire from their son’s Commanding Officer congratulating them upon the award, and Mr Huffam has since received the following letter from Lieut. Col. Pawlett.

2nd Batt, Duke of Wellington’s Regt.

19 December, 1918

Dear Mr Huffam, – I hardly know whether to congratulate you or thank you on the occasion of the honour bestowed on your son – congratulations are on the occasion of the honour- to you as the father of such a boy, and thanks for the award coming to the Regiment. We have been anxious for some time whether this well merited reward was coming through for one who so richly and deservedly earned it, but now we are happy to think it has and your boy is alive and well at the last of the fighting. I cannot express a small part of the pride we all feel in having so noble a hero as your son as a member of our Battalion which bears such a noble name and record. May you and your gallant son live long to enjoy the fame which he has earned so nobly. This is the brightest Christmas greeting I can send from my Battalion and may you enjoy many more. Yours sincerely J. PAWLETT, Lt,. Col., Commanding 2nd, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

The non-commissioned officers and men of “C” Coy., have also telegraphed to Mr Huffam, their congratulations on the Second Lieut’s winning the V.C.

NORHAM

ANOTHER NORHAM LAD’S RETURN FROM GERMANY

Private Murray Gregor, N.F., returned to his home on Saturday night from Germany. He was taken prisoner when the Huns began their great offensive on March 21st last, and was sent into Eastern Prussia, where he worked at first down a mine, but was afterwards put to do farm work, for which he received a mark a day. The Huns, he says, were cruel taskmasters, and especially did he find them so while working down the mine. He speaks very highly of the parcels sent out by the Northumberland Prisoners’ of War Fund Committee, which he declares kept, him alive for he could get very little to eat otherwise. Private Murray Gregor previous to being taken prisoner had seen much fighting, often being employed in the dangerous work of sniping. His two months’ leave will, we trust, bring about a great improvement in his state of health. Before joining up he was a forester on the Ladykirk estate. There are now four lads in our village who have been prisoners of war in Germany, viz., Sergt. Marshall, Corpl. H. Moody, Private T. Tait and Private Murray Gregor.

There are many young lads going about our village in khaki or blue, home for their twelve days leave. The boys in blue are Petty Officer J. White, Stoker J. Cowe, Seaman J. Bell, and Seaman Jas. Wilkinson; whilst in khaki we notice Private G. Strother, N.F.; Private R. Swan, N.F.; Private Drummond, R.G.A., and the returned prisoners of war. A dance has been arranged by some of the young ladies of the village for New Year’s Eve, at which is expected a fair gathering of the boys. The proceeds of this dance are to go towards the Welcome Home Fund

RATIONS TO CONTINUE

ANOTHER BOOK LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT, ISSUE

The coupons book will continue in use for some months, and a fresh edition will probably follow the current issue after March.

The forecast for rations may be assumed up as follows:-

MEAT – Home produce short until the spring, in view of which imports are economised so as to build up reserves.

BUTTER – Increase not likely until cattle are put to grass, when more milk, now very short, will admit of increased dairy output.

MARGARINE – An ounce may be added to the weekly ration early in the New Year.

SUGAR – Ration to be increased to 3/4lb weekly from the end of January.

JAM – Revision expected second week in January; may lead to coupons being dispensed with.

Generally, if jam is the first article to go off the ration list, margarine will be the second, and sugar and butter will follow as conditions improve.

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