Northumberland Archives

BERWICK JOURNAL 30TH JULY, 1925

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Mrs Philipson’s Great Welcome at Unionist Picnic at Haggerston

Amidst delightful surroundings – Haggerston Castle – the annual picnic of the Berwick-on-Tweed Conservative and Unionist Polling District was held on Thursday. Once more through the kindness of Capt. And Mrs C. D. Leyland, these grounds were placed at the disposal of the organisers, along with a field for the tea amusements, sports, etc., and proved just as popular as ever. The weather although not of the best for picnicking – a haze hovering overhead almost all the time – kept up and was just nice and cool for walking. As usual, many of the company, which included from Coldstream, Norham, Bamburgh, Seahouses, Berwick, etc., visited the flower garden, and some of the beautiful walks. Numbers also visited the Tower, which proved most interesting and instructive.

AMUSEMENTS

There was a nice collection of amusements to suit all, both old and young, and keen interest was evinced at various stalls. The treasure hunt, which proved a huge success, had no less than 400 competitions in 2 hours, and those in charge had as exceedingly busy time, for, mark you, there was a real treasure for the winners, the 1st receiving a £1 note as 1st prize; 2nd, 10/-; 3rd. 6/-; 4th, 4/-. Another well patronised stall was the fishing pond, and here you were allowed 1 minute to procure your catch, and this in practically most cases was too short for the keen competitors. The target golf received many patrons, and here to gain the prize was more difficult than at first anticipated. The ever-popular hoopla received its full quota, and the coconut shies were not forgotten.

Haggerston Castle, 1930’s. Ref No: ZNG XIX

SPORTS

These were conducted on excellent lines and good entries were received for all. Strange to say the lady who won the first prize in the ladies’ race has done so far 3 years in succession, namely since the picnic was held. In the 100 yards race, some of the entrants had passed their youth, but nevertheless they put up a good show, and added enjoyment to the on-lookers. The ladies’ tug-of-war brought out 6 teams, and keen tussles were seen in all, the final having to be pulled twice. The boys’ race was well contested and brought out some good runners.

CONCERT

One of the tit-bits of this function is the concert, and this year this item was just as popular as ever. The programme was submitted by the Plus Fours Concert party from Coldstream. This was their first appearance outside of Coldstream since they had been formed, and we are quite sure that it is only a beginning of a company which will be more heard about. The artistes all belong to Coldstream and are purely amateur, but this latter fact does not underrate them at all. They are all artistes of no mean repute, and with more public appearances will do exceptionally well. Their programme was of a most entertaining character, and the large crowd which had assembled thoroughly enjoyed every item. The concert could not have been held in more delightful surroundings, in front of the Castle, where the roses bloomed in great profusion Seats were placed on the lawn, and in excellent position for the audience to hear. At the close of the concert, Mrs Scott Briggs proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the artistes, and this was heartily responded to.

MRS PHILIPSON’S ADDRESS

As Mrs Phillipson rose, she was greeted with cheers. Her address, which was splendidly and distinctly delivered was listened to with rapt attention, punctuated with rounds of applause. Dealing with political matters Mrs Philipson mentioned the Widows’ Pensions Bill which had been read for the third time on Wednesday, with full agreement of the whole House.  The passing of the Bill meant that widows with a family could keep their children at school until 16 and receive an allowance, whereas before as soon as the children reached the age of 14 years the allowance was withdrawn. Ex-service men’s dependants were also safeguarded with this bill.

Mrs Mabel Philipson, Ref No: NRO 2161

The Government, remarked Mrs Philipson had had a very busy session and had gone through an enormous amount of work. “Our Government and Party” are keeping their promises. They were still faced wit the great problem of unemployment, and it was unfair to say they were doing nothing to alleviate it. The number of men who had obtained employment under relief schemes directly assisted by the Government in Feb, last was 117,963. The ship building industry which was very hard pressed, had been again guarantees of security, and certain work had also been undertaken by the Railway Coys., whereby 34 million pounds would be involved. The Home Secretary, too, was taking up the undesirable Alien question, and this would help unemployment and housing questions. It was all nonsense to say that the Government was doing nothing to help unemployment. Mrs Philipson also spoke on the health question, embracing education, schools, etc., and said that a survey was being carried out in the urban areas, and there would soon be a similar survey in rural areas, when any improvements or alternations necessary, would be put right. Then there was the food question, which was no easy one, and was a serious industrial problem.

She was very proud to be their member, and she was one of those who supported the Government. Capt. Leyland had said she was an optimist. Perhaps she was. Well, she knew the men connected with the coal industry did not want a strike, because they realised it would take 10 years to recover from its effects. Mr Baldwin, by not interfering between the workmen and the masters, and allowing them to settle their own quarrels, was doing the right thing, as by co-operation, and goodwill the best results would be obtained. (Applause). She believed in the character and uprightness of the British workmen and knew it would help us through the present crisis. Continuing Mrs Philipson said she was a very small member of that Government, and Mr Baldwin was a very busy man, but sometimes she had an opportunity of speaking to hi, and once she had told him that there was one place in the north which had faith in him. They, too, would remember when Mr Baldwin passed through Berwick Station. One day the Premier had asked “How are they all at Berwick?” Well, when she got back to London she would tell him, “they are all very well.”

She was glad to have been present and to have seen them all. It gave her wonderful encouragement to have their affect on as well as being their member. (Applause).

One of the most interesting events in the afternoon’s programme was the presentation to Mr W. J. Dixon, who had acted as Agent for 14 years, and this was made by Ald. D. H. W. Askew. Mr Askew said it was a very great pleasure to make the presentation to Mr Dixon for the valuable and good work he had done for 14 years in this constituency as their Agent. He had done admirable work as an agent and had also been a long and active and willing worker for the whole constituency. He regretted very much that the Chairman, Col. Scott, was unable to be present; he had had much intercourse with Mr Dixon and he knew the really good and useful work he had done. Col. Scott very much regretted that the work of a long-standing engagement forbade him to be present. Continuing, Mr Askew said it was safe before 1800 to consider North Northumberland a Conservative stronghold. Suddenly a Liberal candidate was brought into the field in the person of Lord Grey, who won the seat from the then Duke of Northumberland, one of the very best men; and the seat [assed away to Liberalism. It was in 1910 that Mr Dixon was appointed as principal agent and since then a great change had come over the constituency.

Mr Dixon got into touch with a large constituency, but no election had been held to test the strength of the party, and to show the valuable work done by Mr Dixon until Lord Grey gave up the seat, and Sir Francis Blake was elected. The next candidate was Capt. Philipson who stood as a Coalition candidate, and was backed up by the Conservative Party, and who unfortunately lost his seat. Hi wife came gallantly along to the aid of the Conservative Party, and she was returned as the Conservative member. Mr Dixon had had the honour of having 3 splendid victories on 3 occasions and anyone could be proud of such. Continuing, he said Mr Dixon was held in great esteem and regard throughout the large constituency. He had taken a leading part in local affairs, having been a member of Berwick Town Council, Chairman of Board of Education, and was Chairman when it was merged into County. He took a leading part in all organisations and had something to do with almost everything in War work. He had played a public part and it was only to show such recognition that the many subscribers wish Mr Dixon to accept this silver cup and to show the great regard in which he was held. He had now come to an end of his active work as political agent, but he would be able to help us yet. Mr Askew then said he had great pleasure on behalf of the many subscribers to present Mr Dixon with a silver flower bowl and wallet of Treasury notes. (Applause).

Mr Dixon on rising received a great ovation. He thanked Mr Askew very much for the kind words he had said about him and his friends for subscribing towards the handsome presents; he would prize them most heartily. His aim had always been to win the seat for Conservatisers and he had succeeded in doing so. He was now back, he said, to the position he began in – a member of the Executive Finance Committee-and he thanked the Association for putting him in that position. Once again Mr Dixon thanked them for the handsome presents they had given him. (Applause).

Capt. Leyland who said that he did not wish to keep them longer, as Mrs Philipson wished to get down amongst them, said he had to thank the 2 Committees – ladies and gentlemen-for the splendid organisation. It was, he said, entirely due to them that the outing had been such a huge success; and it was through them that Mrs Philipson had come to address them. You will agree with me, he said, that it has been a huge success, and we have had even better weather than usual, and it has not actually rained. I will ask you to give 3 hearty cheers for the workers. ( Cheers).

Mrs Philipson then called for 3 hearty cheers for Capt. Leyland, and these were heartily given.

During the afternoon selections were rendered by Berwick Pipe Band and were much enjoyed. The arrangements for the picnic were excellently carried out, and the tea was up to the standard of past years.

There were between 1500 and 2000 present.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 2ND JULY 1925

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NORHAM BOAT RACES

Norham Boat Races were held on the Tweed on Saturday, fine weather favouring this popular annual event in the district. The cold wind was not felt on the riverside, where it was nice and mild, and though the sun only shone in blinks, it was very pleasant throughout the day, and the beautiful woods on the Ladykirk side of the river made a fine background for the racing events. There were, however, fewer people at the races than last year, and the gate unfortunately was down by some £5. This was no doubt owing to the many other events on in the district- Coldstream Sports and the Workers’ Gala at Wooler, etc. Sport was better than last year, and there were some very keen races. The river was divided into the two courses- English and Scotch, by means of floating buoys, and this plan worked well, there being practically no fouling owing to one competitor getting out of his course into his opponent’s. There was the old keen rivalry between Norham men and their neighbours from “Hurklie” and great was the rejoicing in Norham when it was a Norham man who carried off the Championship stakes, wresting the honour from its Horncliffe holder, the stalwart Tom Robertson.

Norham Castle on the River Tweed. Ref: BRO 515-178

Berwick Pipe Band, looking very smart in their fine uniforms, played selections down by the river side during the afternoon, to the great enjoyment of spectators of the races. One of the most interesting features of the races was the great keenness of the small boys who had come to watch. The youngsters not only helped by selling programmes, but took keen interest in the races, swarming round the good-humoured judge to ask time and again in anxious tones “Have they rowed for the cup yet?” The older ones kept their programmes marked up to date, and in between races discussed among themselves who was going to win the next event as well as debating whether to spend their last coppers on another bottle of lemonade or a pie. The tiny tots wee perhaps more interested in the gaily coloured balloons being sold on the river side, or the coloured canaries which fluttered in the breeze, worrying their mothers till they bought them either a balloon or canary to amuse them.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

THURSDAY

Before A. J. Dodds, C. Forsyth, D. H. W. Askew, G. N. Broadbent, Esqs., Miss Henderson, and major A. Tower Robertson.

RIDING ON THE FOOTPATH

John Fleming, Norham, was charged with unlawfully riding a bicycle on a footpath set aside for pedestrians, on the Ord Road at 5.30 pm on 24th June.

P.C. Lindsay proved the case. Defendant said the road was rough. Witness thought the road in fair condition.

Defendant said his chain was liable to come off and the road was rough. He did not intend to do any harm.

The Bench reprimanded defendant but dismissed the case.

A DANGEROUS PARACTICE

Mr. Dodds said, before the press retired, he wished to remark on the dangerous practice of riding cycles at extreme speed when going round corners, particularly Bridge Street, and into Sandgate and round by the Garage.

Bridge Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed, dated 1959. Ref No: BRO 1250-147

Perhaps the Police would keep an eye on anything of the kind for at any moment a child crossing the road might be run over and killed.

1st K.O.S.B. BAND VISITS BERWICK

The Band of the 1st K.O.S. Borderers visited Berwick on Thursday, and by permission of Col. P. A. V. Stewart, C.B.E., D.S.O., and Officers of the Regiment, gave two performances in Berwick Corn Exchange. In the afternoon the attendance was very poor, owing no doubt to the many other attractions on in the town. In the evening there were a few more present, but the building was more than half empty. Among those present were Major C. F. Kennedy, Commanding Officer at the Depot, Berwick, and Mrs. Kennedy, Capt. B. C. Lake, Lieut. Watt, Lieut. J. B. Vans Agnew, Lieut. D. V. Kennedy. The band is well worth going to hear, and Berwick people missed a treat by not turning out in larger numbers. The items at the evening performance were greatly enjoyed and several were encored with great enthusiasm.

Corn exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ref No: BRO 1636/4/11

The conductor is Band master M. T. Kingston Jarvis. The selections from Tannhauser were very fine and also the selections from Greig. Very amusing was the wedding ceremony introduced into the descriptive piece by Lotter, the parson being represented by the bassoon, while the responses of the bride and bridegroom were taken by the flute and trombone. The Musical Jig-Saw cleverly worked in some 52 melodies ending with that fine Selenelle “1812” Overture by Tchaikovsky. The evening programme was: Grand selection from “Tannhauser,” Wagner: xylophone solo, “Orchid Blossoms.” Underhill, soloist, Musician barber (encored0; first selection of gems from Gilbert and Sullivan Operas, arrd. Godfrey; descriptive, “A Southern Wedding,” Lotter (encored); excerpts from “Greig’s Works” selection, “A Musical Jig-Saw,” arrd. Aston; a Military Tattoo by Col. Mackenzie Rogan, late Director of Music, Coldstream Guards; regimental march, “Blue Bonnets o’er the Border.”

TWEEDMOUTH NOTES

The annual picnic of the Tweedmouth Scotch Church Sunday School took place to Hawick on Tuesday (Mid-summer Day), by char-a-bancs. Never before has a Sunday school trip made this journey by buses, so one can imagine how pleased the youngsters greeted the idea and how they looked for the day to come. At about 8.30 in the morning the children began to gather at the church, and at nine o’clock about a hundred were marched down to the “Alley” in the West End, where eight buses were lined up. Never before has any party had a better send off than the 200 adults and children who made the journey. The West End was like a Feast Monday.

The journey was made via Coldstream, Kelso, Denholm and the outskirts of Jedburgh. At halt was made just a mile out of Hawick for dinner, but owing to a misunderstanding other arrangement had to be made and dinner was served in St. John’s Church Hall, in Hawick about one o’clock. After this the company adjourned to the Public Park, where races were held for the children and adults. The tug-of-war caused much excitement, especially among the older members. During the afternoon many took advantage of other amusements in the Park, such as bowling and putting. After the races many took the opportunity of visiting the War memorial and the Wilton Museum. About 5pm all sat down to tea in St John’s Hall.

Shortly after six a start was made for home after everybody had spent a most enjoyable day. A short halt was made in Kelso, and home was reached shortly after nine.

Manorial Documents Register Project

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Blog 3: Final Findings-Phipps Collection

I have now completed cataloguing the Phipps collection, which if you have been following my earlier blogs has produced some rather interesting finds. I recently presented a talk on the findings of the cataloguing project, which gave me a real opportunity to reflect on what I’d been able to find out about Samuel Phipps from the documents in his collection, and this blog will detail those findings.

One of the most important aspects of cataloguing an estate collection is a good understanding of the family involved. Ideally the estate owners’ birth and death dates, when they owned their property, how they acquired it, who were their ancestors, and did they have any heirs? Interestingly, with this collection, some parts of that information remained hidden, indeed, it wasn’t until my talk, when I met a gentleman who had also researched Phipps that I was able to establish a date of birth for Samuel Phipps – in my research, he remained elusive. Samuel Phipps was born in 1733 and died in 1781 making his age at death 48. A search through some local history books gave us the descent of one of Phipps’ properties, Barmoor Estate. In the 1912-1915 Berwick Naturalist’s Society Book, it states rather mysteriously that Barmoor was ‘acquired directly or indirectly’ from the representatives of the Bladens, by Samuel Phipps. This implies they were unsure of how Phipps came to own the property. The answer to this question came about in an unexpected place – I was reading a set of sales particulars for Barmoor estate, when I spotted a handwritten note on the second page (see below).

This inconspicuous looking bit of text tells us that Barmoor Estate was purchased by William Sitwell (Phipps’ great uncle), from Fenwick Stowe, for £30,500. Today that would be about £2,626,187.25. The note mentions that the transaction was witnessed by Samuel Phipps. In Phipps’ will, he notes that he inherited Barmoor from William Sitwell, though it should be noted that Sitwell’s will only states that he bequeathed the sum of £10,000 to Phipps, he does not mention the estate. We can at least infer from this that Phipps inherited the estate from Sitwell, though the wills perhaps explain the woolly explanation given in our history book.

Phipps died without issue and Barmoor was inherited by his second cousin, Francis Hurt, who later took on his maternal family name of Sitwell. We also know from some family history research, that in addition to the Sitwells, Phipps was also related to the Reresby family of Ecclesfield, through his maternal line.

Phipps held extensive property, this much is clear from his records and from his will. Much of the land was in Northumberland, including Barmoor, Yeavering and Coupland, but there was also Ferney Hall in Shropshire, and estates in Yorkshire and Derbyshire amongst others. His main base appears to have been at Lincoln’s Inn, Middlesex, where he practiced his business as a barrister, though we have plenty of receipts for travel, showing that he visited his other properties. Examples include these rather lovely hotel receipts (below), for example, which tell us that ale would have cost Phipps 6 pence in North Allerton, but surprisingly only be 3 pence in Harrogate!

When I first opened the boxes in this collection, nothing was in any kind of order, so all of this information was very useful to help me to identify how the material should be arranged. I could separate out the material into the various estates, and I could understand why letters from the Sitwells and Reresbys were found in the collection. I could also start to separate out records which related solely to Phipps work as a barrister, and not to his own land holdings.

One of my favourite aspects of this collection was the sheer number of purchase receipts, and the detail they provided about Samuel Phipps as a person. We do tend to focus on the running of estates when looking in these sorts of collections, and it can be easy to forget that we’re looking into the history of a real person. These receipts bring Phipps to life and can also tell us about the life of a wealthy gentleman in the late 1700s.

There are documents like this perfumier receipt for 1790-1791 (below left). Phipps died in 1791, so these we his final months, but even at that time he’s buying a ‘swan down puff’, ‘powder’ and multiple pots of ‘pomatum’ (used to slick down hair) – fashionable to the end! We also have a wine list, which includes Madeira, a popular wine at the time, but also a 1726 stock vintage wine for £3 and 15 shillings, or £241.80 in today’s money, he seems to be a man of expensive tastes.

One account which divulged a surprising amount about Phipps, was his funerary expenses. The list is very detailed and not only tells us a lot about what might be included in a gentleman’s funeral at the time but also gives us some idea about Phipps’ physical appearance. Unfortunately, our collection does not include a painting or likeness for Phipps, so this is the closest that I came to having an idea of what he looked like, albeit in quite a morbid fashion! If you look at the image below, which is a snippet of funerary expenses from the appropriately named ‘John Heaven’, the first entry is for a ‘very long Elm Body Coffin lined with superfine Crape and dup ruffled’. The latter terms are archaic spellings of ‘crepe’ and ‘dup’ fabrics, both popular with funerals at the time. Note that they are ‘superfine’ implying a higher-grade fabric. We can also see from the term ‘very long’ that Samuel Phipps was a tall gentleman, at least for the time. Later in the same document, there is an expense of a ‘very large fine quilted mattress for the body to lay on’ – again ‘very large’ implies quite an imposing gentleman.

NRO 2372-G-1-2-1-1-004 – Phipps’ funerary expenses

All of the fabrics noted in the expenses, seem to be of the highest quality, and this even extends to those working at the funeral. One entry is for ‘6 rich Black Silk Scarfs for Ministers, Clerk, Steward, Apothecary, and Undertaker’, these set the executors back £15, which in modern currency would be £861.46 – more than the cost for his coffin!’ Not to mention what would be an additional £60 in modern money just on ostrich feathers to decorate the procession.

We can also use these expenses to gain a bit of an understanding of funerary arrangements in general. In this same document, towards the bottom of the list, we find ‘The usual allowances for Beers for all the Inn porters and under officers’, this implies it was an expectation at the time to provide that. We also find a payment for two ladies to sit ‘up with the corps: 5 nights & 5 days’ – that’s quite a wake! Perhaps this was as much to protect the fine garments and funerary items as the body. The final fee for the funeral was £127 10s 7d (£10,980.84 in modern currency) with an additional £10 (£861) for the gravestone.

From these expenses, Phipps appears to have been affluent and fashionable, and this may inspire an almost Dickensian image of a rich gentleman, though Samuel Phipps appears to have been a very charitable man. The collection includes letters and accounts which can tell us a bit about Phipps’ personality. In one such account, Thomas Johnson owed Samuel Phipps a debt for £473 3s (£40,826.45 in modern currency). Despite this sizeable debt, a note added to the account shows that Phipps ‘advanced for the support of Thomas Johnson, his wife and children £9 19s 6d’ that would be nearly £860 today, so it’s a significant additional sum given by Phipps to ensure Johnson is still able to provide for his family. There are sales particulars included with this account which show that Johnson, a coach-master, did eventually have to auction off his household furniture to pay for the debt. From a historical perspective, this is interesting in itself, though for a property in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. Included in the inventory are ‘crimson check furniture’, ‘A set of 3 beautiful, rare old Gold Japan image bowls’ and ‘a large hair trunk’ – I’ll admit the latter concerned me on a first read but I’ve since learned that this is a leather trunk where the hair hide remains!

We do have a copy of Phipps’ will, though is very fragile and hard to read. Fortunately, there is a scan of the original available online. This tells us that in addition to his charitable nature in life, he bequeathed annuities (annual payments) to many of his servants in sums of up to £30, ensuring their care after his death.

In the Phipps collection there are many estate records and surveys, so anyone from the Barmoor, Yeavering or Coupland areas at least should be able to find out some information about their local area in the collection. As this is a cataloguing project, I was not able to spend too long researching the records I found, but I will mention here that we had some finds like the sketch below.

Sketch and plan of an un-named property in Yeavering (undated).

While I don’t know much about this property, indeed the sketch is even undated and I can’t say for sure if the property still stands, but this remains a fascinating find. It’s not the only sketch or plan found in the collection which may hold answers to one of your questions.

I hope this blog has given you an idea of some of the information you could find if you researched this collection. You may have an interest in the local area, in everyday life in the 1700s, or specifically an interest in Phipps and his family, all of these topics can be researched in this collection. The Phipps collection has been catalogued and this catalogue will be going online in the next two months, so do look out for that.

The project was completed with funding from the NACT and the Community Foundation Windfarm, with support from Northumberland Archives, so I will end with a final note of thanks – without that funding this collection would remain uncatalogued and these findings would still be a mystery.

Beth Elliott, Project Archivist

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