Northumberland Archives

October 1900

The Morpeth Herald reported on the Harvest Festival in the village on Saturday 13th October, noting that the celebrations had begun last Thursday with evensong, and that the anthem, ‘Sing a Song of Praise’, was sung at all services, and the Church tastefully decorated.

The children were given a holiday on 5th on account of the election of an M.P. for Wansbeck Division, and the school was closed on 26th because of a special sale at the mart.

Mr. John Spence, a Miner from Pegswood, was fined for using a gaff [a large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to catch large fish] to catch and kill salmon in the River Coquet at Acklington. _²³

One burial took place in the Churchyard this month: _²⁴

· Isabella Smith, aged 19 years, of Whitefield in Chevington

November 1900

Admitted to School this month were: _²⁵

· Nellie and Evelyn Foster of Acklington Park, who previously attended Heaton School

Reported in the Morpeth Herald on Saturday 3rd November was the flooding caused by a bad storm the previous evening. The River Coquet rose to ‘a great height’ at Felton, making the riverside footpath to Acklington Station impassable to foot passengers into the morning.

Three baptisms took place in the Church this month: _²⁶

· Alexander, son of Alexander (Policeman) and Eleana Woodcock, of Morwick

· George Edward, son of George (Miner) and Elizabeth Summers, of Maidens Hall [?], Chevington

· John Crisp, son of William (Miner) and Jane Summers, of Acklington

One burial took place in the Churchyard this month: ²⁷

· Alexander Henderson, aged 68 years, of High Angerton

December 1900

The Annual Acklington School Feast was held at the school and reported in the Morpeth Herald on Saturday 29th December. Tea was served at 3-3.30pm, and while the children played in the playground, the parents and friends had their tea. Mrs Rudge, the Vicar’s wife, gave out prizes at 5.30pm, mainly books and games. The room was then cleared for a concert (the money raised helped to pay for the Feast), followed by a dance.

The Log Book reports that the School received an Aid Grant of £25 (approx. £1,999 today) on 2nd, which went towards:

· Improvement of Staff – £10 (approx. £786 today)

· Replacing broken windows in Schoolhouse – £10 (approx. £786 today)

· Two new desks, board and easel – £5 (approx. £395 today)

A half-holiday was held on 13th as the Christmas Fat Stock Show was held [presumably at the Mart], and the School broke up on 20th for two weeks holiday. ²⁸

On 22nd December, the Morpeth Herald reported that a special prize for best shorthorn bull had been won at the late Amble Show by Mr. D. Brewis of Acklington High Park with “King Edgar”. The prize was awarded at the Felton and Warkworth Agricultural Society by its patron, J.G. Riddell of Felton Park.

Two baptisms took place in the Church this month: _²⁹

· Emma, daughter of John (Miller) and Elizabeth, of Guyzance Mill

· John Murray, son of John Murray (Farmer) and Margaret Ann Thompson, of Barnhill, Acklington parish

One marriage took place in the Church this month: ³⁰

· John George Heckels, aged 41, a Surveyor of Broomhill, married Jane March, aged 25, of Bank House

Being able to use both primary and secondary sources made for a fascinating journey through the history of the village. This type of research project could be carried out for any town or village, but perhaps would be more successful for a smaller area, such as has been done here, as there is not too much detail to wade through, and the research can be more focussed.

A picture will emerge of a place in the past, and its people, that are really not too distant from us at all. ³¹

References

23. Newcastle Courant, Saturday 27 October 1900

24. Burial Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/19

25. Acklington C of E Admission Register, ref. CES 1/4/2

26. Baptism Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/1

27. Burial Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/19

28. Acklington C of E Log Book, ref. CES 1/3/1

29. Baptism Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/1

30. Marriage Register of Acklington St. John the Divine, ref. EP 161/26

31. Additional details on school children and families alongside the Admission Register information, has been taken from the 1901 Census, available on www.ancestry.com

One of the aims of the Northumberland Archives Charitable Trust is to improve and promote access to documents held within Northumberland Archives.  Projects have been funded to list collections as well as adding descriptive content to existing collections.  This additional information is added to our catalogue making the content available and searchable via the Online Catalogue on the Northumberland Archives website either at home or in the search rooms.  The current cataloguing project focuses on a collection of deeds relating to lands owned by members of the Clayton family in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. 

What do the various deeds reveal about the Roman Wall at the time that members of the Clayton family were purchasing land around it?

The earliest reference (found to date) of the Roman Wall within the ZCY collection refers to an indenture of 1654, mentioned in an 1834 deed relating to the conveyance of land in the Manor of Henshaw, parish of Haltwhistle. Like many of the deeds, the document itself begins by detailing preceding transactions.  A lease was entered into on 20 January 1654 between Francis Nevill and William Ridley for a place called “Steale on the North Side of the Wall called the Roman Wall…”, the land was occupied by Eleanor Glendinning, widow.  A later lease of 26 November 1698 between Sir Edward Blackett and William Lowes refers to “a parcel of moor land known as Steele alias Steelrig lying on the North side of the Roman or Picts Wall…”.  The two leases are detailed in documents ZCY/4/6 and ZCY/4/12; there are variations of spelling between the two documents. 

As seen in the leases mentioned above, the Roman Wall is most frequently referred to in terms of boundaries.  Plots of land were often described in terms of size (acres, roods and perches), what the boundary was on each side could include the neighbouring landowners, previous owner, sometimes the tenant as well as features of the landscape such as fences or roads.  As not all plots of lands had a specific name, it makes sense that the Roman Wall is used for this purpose. 

Many of the deeds give a list of geographical features, both physical and non-physical, that are included in or with a plot of land, for example ‘singular houses, outhouses, buildings, barns, stables, orchards, gardens, ways, paths, passages, easements’ etc.  Sadly, these ‘catch-all’ descriptions do not refer to the Roman Wall itself.   

Some of the deeds include a plan, the image below captures the remains of Vindolanda (note the spelling, Vindolana). 

Conveyances which include a plan allows you to compare the changes in the landscape. The plan below relates to an 1867 conveyance of land in Thorngrafton which included Barcombe Colliery, by comparing it to a later Ordnance Survey map the proximity to known Roman remains becomes clearer. 

Finally, a conveyance in this collection highlights John Clayton’s interest in nature, with this clause recorded in a deed relating to a grass field near Walwick; reserved to John Clayton and heirs “…three trees standing on the said piece or parcel of ground hereby granted in the Foss or ditch of the Roman Wall with right for the same to stand and grow up without any power to cut down the same it being intended by the said parties hereto that the said trees shall remain standing until they shall naturally decay.”   We believe that the grass field in question is approximately 10 miles from Sycamore Gap. (Ref.No. ZCY/6/7).