Linton School Centenary

by

Linton School celebrates its centenary this year and we looked back over the school’s eventful first year which unfortunately coincided with the General Strike of 1926 “in defence of miners’ wages and hours”. The General Strike took place from 4 to 12 May 1926 but the miners maintained their resistance for several more months.

Selected entries from the school log book read as follows:

May 1st – The school was formally opened by Mr C. Williams, Director of Education for Northumberland, in the presence of a large and representative gathering.

May 3rd – The school was opened to the children. 159 being present.

May 7th – The piano arrived today.

May 14th – School closed for the weekend. The average attendance is currently 93%.

May 28th – Mr E. Chester, correspondent, visited the school this afternoon and paid the teachers at closing time.

June 2nd – Inquiries made, showed that the necessity of feeding some of the children was becoming urgent, About 40-50 children admitted not getting sufficient food.

June 3rd – The parents of 59 children applied to have their children fed under the 1921 Act. These claims were investigated thoroughly by the Managers at a meeting in the school hall from 2-4pm when all the parents concerned were interviewed.

June 8th – Commander F.B Kemp, Superintendent of the Welfare activities of Ashington Coal Co. visited the school and granted permission to use the playing fields for organised games.

June 22nd – 135 children were fed at school today.

June 24th – A large number of children asked permission to leave school early to attend motor racing on the sands at Druridge Bay, as this was Race Thursday.

June 25th – 150 children were fed at school today.

July 2nd – The average attendance this week is 95.7%.

July 9th – The Colliery Welfare Club held a sports day at the Recreation Ground for the school.

July 13th – The School Medical Officer visited and examined children for evidence of malnutrition through the strike. Only about a dozen showed evidence of flabbiness or underdevelopment.

Sept. 20th – The attendance was affected today (32 children absent) because of severe rain and thunder storms. Many of the children are very poorly shod and clothed because of the long, continued strike.

Sept. 27th 151 out of 164 children present. Whooping cough and ringworm are the main reasons for absence.

Oct. 4th – 8th – Half yearly examinations. [No results are given]

Nov. 3rd – There was no fuel and no fires on today.

Nov. 4th – Some coal has been obtained. Frequent exercises have to be indulged in to keep warm.

Nov. 12th – No coal and consequently no fires on at school today. It was not a cold day, so not unduly uncomfortable. The average attendance this week is to 83.7%.

Nov. 15th – Still no coal, school was very cold. Writing was almost impossible in the morning. Frequent breaks for exercise to get warmth was the order.

Nov. 16th – Still no fires.

Nov 17th – No fires again and cold in the morning.

Nov. 18th – Very cold today. The children were asked to be allowed to bring coal from home and about 30 children brought a pailful of coal each. The school was comfortable by midday.

Page relating to the last entries above

It seems incredible that in a pit village, there was no coal for the school, however it’s quite heartwarming to note that the parents of the children all chipped in with a donation of coal so that the kids could keep warm and continue their education.

As you can see, the footnote to the story is that a lorry load of coal was delivered to the school on November 23rd.

This particular log book continues with entries regarding noteworthy events up until 1953 and can be viewed in our search room [Ref. CES 176/1/2]

Linton School in 1962.  Photo Ref.  CES/176/5/17

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 4TH FEBRUARY 1926

by

HOWICK HALL GUTTED

Howick Hall, the Northumberland home of Earl and Countess Grey, was partly gutted by fire early on Tuesday morning.

Earl Grey discovered the outbreak about 3am in a room above his bedroom. He gave the alarm promptly and saw to the safety of Countess Grey and his daughter, the lady Elizabeth, the only daughter at home. Countess Grey has been confined to her room with cold for several days, and she was found accommodation in the servants’ quarters in the west wing which, with the east wing, was saved from the flames.

Howick Hall Ref: NRO 02709/57

Earl Grey, the lady Elizabeth, and the members of the household staff and estate worked heroically with the fire appliances available to save the Hall, but the flames spread too rapidly, and by the time the Fire and Rescue Brigade from Ashington arrived nothing much remained of the main hall but its stone walls.

FIRE FIGHTERS DELAYED

The Ashington Brigade under Chief Officer F. P. Mills had an unlucky experience. The fog was so thick they could only crawl along the roads, and the fire had been burning three hours at least when they arrived at the hall. Earl Grey believes that most of the valuable pictures and other works of art on the ground floor have been saved, but the drawing room, the breakfast room, the Chinese room, the Italian room, the library, the central and inner halls and eight bedrooms and dressing rooms have been destroyed. Classic volumes were saved from the library, and the Italian room, distinguished for its wood carving and panelling, was not involved in the conflagration before the major portion of its removable contents were placed in safety.

The utmost sympathy is felt for Earl and Countess Grey in the loss of their beautiful home. They had intended going to London on Monday, nut had cancelled their arrangements in view of the Countess’s indisposition.

It is singular that the Northumberland homes of families bearing the same distinguished names should both have been destroyed by fire. Fallodon, the seat of Viscount Grey Fallodon, it will be recalled, was burnt to the ground on May 2nd, 1917.

Falladon Hall Ref No: BRO 515/68

Beside a water heating apparatus on the top floor, it is believed, the flames originated, and they had obtained a very good hold before earl Grey was aroused by the noise of burning material.

The butler, Mr J. J. Garlick, who has been at Howick only six months, and a chauffeur named Lowery, who were among the first to respond to the clanging of the alarm bell, tell how Earl Grey organised the fire-fighting force of the hall which included a manual engine and superintended operations in the removal of the more valuable works of art and furniture.

“t was amazing how quickly it spread. By half-past three the flames were right through the rook,” said the butler. The water supply was good and the hoses were brought to bear on the flames at every available point, but the destruction went on space until in a short time the whole of the top floor made a beacon light in a mist-enshrouded countryside, so that volunteers came streaming in from all parts of the estate. As soon as it was realised that the fire could not be brought under control Earl Grey directed the removal of the furnishings and valuables from the ground floor, and this work was accomplished with great expedition by members of the household staff and volunteers from the estate, and the villages of Howick and Craster.

“We might not have been able to have saved the contents of the ground floor even, “ said Mr J. Wright, the head gardener, “ only the two huge cisterns containing thousands of gallons of water, at the top of the house, came right down, and subdued the flames for a quarter of an hour or so, just long enough to give us time to remove the valuables,” He regretted that two beautiful tapestries in the inner hall were amongst the works of art lost, and it was hoped at one time that the Italian room, which was distinguished by notable carvings, might be saved. It was burnt out to a shell, however.

In the inner hall, destroyed by fire were two large pictures by Northcote- “The Disobedient Prophet,” and “Daniel in the Lions’ Den.” In other rooms were also valuable paintings and portraits, including Sir A. Calcott’s “Rotterdam”; Martin’s “Nymph Bathing”; Thompson’s “Lady Mary Wood as a Child”; the late “Earl Grey,” by Lawrence; “The Emperor Napoleon,” painted during the Hundred Days. The bees on the frame were taken from the Emperor’s Throne. Northcote’s “The last Sleep of Argyle”; Lawrence’s “The late Countess Grey, with Lady Durham and Lady E. Bulteel as Children,” and others.

Not just Beef and Plum Pudding!

by

The traditional image of Christmas Day in the workhouse is of inmates sitting down to beef and plum pudding. Reports in local newspapers confirmed this but also highlighted that there were many more treats and gifts provided by local shop keepers and wealthy patrons.  

The Morpeth Herald reported that Christmas 1864 was a very happy one in Morpeth workhouse. A Christmas tree was exhibited for the entertainment of the children and was laden with oranges, apples and sweetmeats of various kinds. After they had feasted on the pretty vision of the tree, the fruits were distributed to the excited infants. Mr Robert Oliver, baker of the town, proudly presented each inmate with a piece of his ’monster loaf’.

The Hexham Courant reported on workhouses in Hexham, Rothbury and Haltwhistle. In 1877, the children of Hexham workhouse enjoyed a treat of tea and oranges provided by the Waddilove family of the parish. The festivities took place in the boys school room which was decorated in a neat and tasteful manner with holly, evergreens and Chinese lanterns. On Christmas Day, the Hexham inmates received an unexpected treat after lunch. The band of the Hexham Rifle Corps, on their way back from a performance, entered the workhouse yard. To the great delight of inmates, they played a selection of music ending with Auld Lang Syne. The following year, it was agreed by the Hexham Guardians to give the inmates a tea on New Years Day instead of beer with their Christmas Dinner. This was readily welcomed by all. 

The Morpeth Herald reported that Alnwick workhouse enjoyed a happy Christmas in 1888. There was the usual dinner of beef and plum pudding, but residents were also given sweets. Smokers were gifted tobacco and those who didn’t smoke received tea and sugar. All children received sweetmeats and oranges. In the evening, all inmates were treated to tea with fruit and cakes which was followed by musical entertainment. The children received toys, cakes and buns and all the older inmates were given a glass of punch at the close of the evening. 

In 1889, residents of Haltwhistle workhouse were reported to have received their usual Christmas breakfast treat of fruit loaf, cheese, tea and coffee. Dinner was the usual beef and plum pudding then after the meal, there was entertainment in the dining room which had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. Inmates were treated to a performance of Little Red Riding Hood by Miss Saint’s Sunday School class. After the show there was singing and dancing then a tea similar to breakfast finished off the lovely day. 

In December 1903, there was a lovely treat for the younger members of Alnwick workhouse. Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland gave an afternoon tea and gifted a Christmas tree to the children. The tea took place in St. Michael’s Guild Room in Alnwick and 25 children were present under the supervision of the Matron and the School Superintendent. They had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and received gifts of sweets and toys. Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Margaret and Lady Victoria were present during the festivities. 

In 1904, to go with the beef and plum pudding, Alnwick inmates also feasted on mutton, pork and mince pies. Half a barrel of ale was supplied by the Alnwick Brewery Company and Messrs T. Dixon & Son, Confectioners, supplied all the children with sweets. The Duke’s forester sent evergreens for the adornment of the dining hall. Mrs Bosanquet of Rock Hall sent a Christmas letter conveying seasonal greetings and words of encouragement and hope for the future. Lady Margaret and Lady Victoria Percy gave presents of cake, tobacco and flowers. 

+ More