Northumberland Archives will close at 3PM on the following dates to allow for essential building work.
Wed 29th April
Thu 30th April
Fri 1st May
Wed 6th May
Thu 7th May
Fri 8th May
Belief in and accusations of witchcraft were commonplace in England, and indeed Europe, during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Many of the denunciations and evidence given nowadays appear somewhat nonsensical and in many cases can be explained away by advancement in modern medicine or science. However, in a society so grounded in religious belief, where the greatest fear was the Devil himself, it is a little easier to understand why allegations could have arisen out of situations that just could not be explained in any other way at the time.
Numerous individuals in Northumberland were accused of being witches, the evidence which seems flimsy by today’s standards, included night time visions or the use of threatening words. The majority, but not all, of those who fell under suspicion were female. In “County Folklore Vol IV Northumberland” by M.C. Balfour the tale of Peter Banks is told. Although sadly we do not know exactly where Banks or his accusers were from, his story was heard by Robert Roddam, Mayor of Newcastle in 1673/4.
Peter Banks was described as “a most strange seducer and inticer of the king’s subjects and people, and deludes them in a wonderfull manner, perswadeing and makeing them beleive that he cann tell leases [charms] to people” (p.34); he was said to have confessed to the use of enchantments, magic arts and conjuring evil spirits.
Jane Crossby bought a charm for ten shillings and two new shirts compelling her husband to be pleasant to her for a year. During this time the husband was said to be ‘loveing and kind’, however when she did not renew the charm at the end of the year her husband’s behaviour became ‘ill and untoward againe’.
Ellinor Pattison was terrified by night visions and apparitions after a disagreement with Banks. He knew that she was bewitched and offered to cure her. She permitted him to cut out a small piece of her hair which was wrapped in paper and burned. After this she ‘grew better’.
Sadly Balfour does not tell us the outcome for Peter Banks, this may be lost to history, but it offers a fantastic insight into the accusations made against this particular male witch.
From yesterday (Thursday) the County Council assumed control of Berwick’s police, and on Tuesday we understand Capt. Fullarton James, Chief Constable for the County, came to Berwick to consider the draft agreement for the transfer. A new Inspector or Chief Constable for the Borough will have to be appointed some day, and there is the question of the Police buildings. We understand that the Borough is bound by law to provide certain cell accommodation, and that if the buildings are taken over the County they will have to guarantee to discharge this liability for the town. Again, the Borough gets an annual contribution of £30 for the use of the Court by the Norham and Islandshire justices. Is the Borough Rate still to get the benefit of that payment? These are only crumbs of information which have fallen from the great men’s table. We are satisfied that the County Council authorities are above trying to steal a march on the Borough, but again, we ask the members of the Council to disclose the agreement to their principals, the ratepayers, in time to give them an opportunity to discuss it before it is sealed.
BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS
Catherine Curry, the two month old daughter of George Curry, hawker, 25 Walkergate, was found dead in bed at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and as the result an inquest was held on Saturday evening by Mr P. M. Henderson, acting coroner. Catherine Curry, the mother, said she and her husband slept in the same bed as the child, the husband being at the back of the bed and child at the front. The child cried at about 4 a.m., and after she had fed it it went off to sleep again. Witness also went to sleep and at 6.30 was awakened by her husband, who noticed the child was very still, but its body was quite warm. She was very anxious, and went immediately for a doctor. Witness was a total abstainer. George Curry, the husband, corroborated his wife’s evidence. Dr P. W. Maclagan said he was called to the house shortly after 6.30, and found the child dead. There were no suspicious circumstances, and no external marks of violence. On a later examination he came to the conclusion that death resulted from asphyxia. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.
BORDER O.B.E’s
COMMANDERS (CIVIL DIVISION)
Lieut. Col. C. W. Brims, M.C., T.D., was the Director of Extensions Department of Controller General of Merchant Ship-building. He is the son of the late Mr B. M. Brims, contractor, who was formerly at Berrington House, Beal. Lieut. Col. Brims was awarded the M.C. in October, 1918.
Mr T. W. H. Inskip, K.C., M.P., who has been head of the Naval Law Branch of the Secretary’s Department at the Admiralty, contested Berwick-on-Tweed Division in the Unionist interest.
The Duchess of Northumberland was the Commandant and Donor of Syon House Hospital, Brentford, Middlesex.
Capt. Alistair Houston Boswell Preston, who is Assistant Director of Road Transport, Ministry of Food, is the son of Col. T. H. Boswell Preston, Tweedhill, Berwick.
OFFICERS (Civil Division)
Mr J. Gilroy was Potato Distribution Adviser in the Northern Division. He is the son of the late Ald. Jas. Gilroy, Berwick, and was for some years resident in Ravensdowne before taking up business in Newcastle.
Mr W. T. Rainbow who was Fish Distribution Officer and Assistant Commissioner for Demobilisation, is well-known in Berwick as the handicapper of the Athletic Society’s Sports.
Miss E. M. H. Storey, who was Recruiting Commandant of the Northumberland and Durham Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, is a grand-daughter of Mr Samuel Storey, of Sunderland.
Miss Annie Louise Simpson, who was made an Officer of the Civil Division, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in June, 1918. She is the daughter of Mr Chas. Simpson, London, and grand-daughter of Mr Alex. Simpson, Coldstream. Miss Simpson is personal shorthand writer to the Prime Minister, and is raised to this high class of the Order for services rendered in connection with the Peace Conference.
MEMBERS (Civil Division)
Dr Alex. Dey, M.B.C.M., who acted as Medical Officer, 12 Northumberland V.A.D., at Fowberry and Heton Hospital, and the 13th Northumberland V.A.D. Hospital at Etal Manor, is the Medical Officer of Glendale, and a well known and popular figure in Wooler, where he has been practising for a long time.
Robert Yelloly, awarded the Order for services as Supt. of Newcastle Police Force, has been associated with criminal investigation work for many years. He is the son of the late Mr Robert Yelloly, High Court Bailiff, Berwick, and is married to a Berwick lady.
THE EDITOR OF “COUNTRY LIFE”
Mr P. Anderson Graham, writing in “The Times” against the proposed removal of the Scotsgate, says :- “The excuse put forward is that this well-known gate was reconstructed in 1858, and the claim is made that it is not an integral part of the wall. The truth about the matter is that in 1850 the Ordinance Department proposed to pull down the ramparts from the Scots Gate to the Flagstaff.
The Scotsgate Arch. @ Copyright: Michael Dibb, Creative Commons License (cc-by-sa/2.0).
The negotiations were divulged at a meeting of the council held in July of 1850, but public opinion took fire at once, and in deference to the remonstrance made the scheme was abandoned and the walls handed over to the local Board of Health on condition that they should be maintained as a walk for the public convenience. If the proposal had been to rebuild or widen the gate no fault would have been found with it. But it is an unhappy proposal to destroy this feature in Berwick for the purpose of putting up a war memorial on the stumps of the mutilated wall.”
LOCAL NEWS
The Compton Comedy Company from all we can hear reached high water mark last week in “The School for Scandal.” We cannot recall a performance which gave more pleasure, and the writer has seen Forbes Roberston, Mrs Patrick Campbell, Mr Charles Terry, Lewis Waller, Walter Farren, and Cyril Maude, all appearing together one evening at the Lyceum in this immortal comedy. We were particularly pleased with Rowley, and Joseph Surface was also very well done.
Generally Joseph is made so oily that any one can see through him, but on Thursday he was bluff enough to deceive a saint. Sir Benjamin Backbite was a real maccaroni, and the behaviour of Sir Peter Teazle, with all his temper and in all his mistakes could not fail to command the sympathy of the audience. Here was an English gentleman. We also much enjoyed Sir Oliver Surface, – we should imagine a fairly easy part to play. The costumes of Sir Peter and Sir Oliver were also most artistic. Both of them looked like old masters when the curtain drew up. In our opinion the gentlemen were superior to the ladies, but that was all. It was an excellent company, and we hope Mrs Mather will be able to arrange for their return. We feel sure that, even if it were necessary to raise the price of the seats, Berwick people would support companies of a similar standard.
Since the lockdown things have changed for us at Northumberland Archives. My usual routine was jump out of bed after a bit too long of a lay-in; a rushed breakfast and then a 30 minute car journey; shouting at drivers for doing silly things; getting wet when we clock-in; then opening and closing the gates behind us. A full day’s work in an office looking at white walls, no windows, then home in the dark, getting wet opening and shutting the gates behind us, then clocking out!
Before the enforced lockdown lots of work was done behind the scenes to make sure we all had enough work to keep us going whilst home working.
Now my day consists of rolling out of bed, a leisurely breakfast and a nano second journey from lounge to dining room. Logged in and ready to go at the same time it would be, had I driven to work. Reduced carbon footprint.
The peace is interrupted as my new colleagues appear one by one. The dining room has become a new office space with both my wife and eldest daughter; all working from our little hub. The youngest daughter appears around midday having finished school abruptly. What no GCSE’s this year? She informs us that she is still alive and hungry.
My work day now allows me to see out a picture window. The green grass of home and bright blue skies. I have been working through my emails as I have amassed 26,000. I’m sure I don’t need all these so the delete button has been pushed over 2500 times so far.
We have lists that have never gone onto our electronic catalogue to input; reports for research to write up; social media posts to research and pass on; emails to reply to; work to secure for when we return to normal; and, of course, keep in communication with the rest of the team. I am also using the opportunity to catch up on all the work my volunteers have transcribed since ‘Northumberland at War’. They are like prisoners of war that never went home as they love the place too much. And every now and again a video conference to see how things are going with the Head of Archives which reminds me of the Eurovision Song Contest – Gosforth is calling to give the vote of the Gosforth jury.
Life hasn’t changed too much, just the environment and work colleagues; although adjusting to working on a small chrome book has had its challenges. Work continues we just had to adjust to the type of it; no old books or lost treasures to look at.
Stay safe out there and let’s hope we can get back to normal sooner rather than later.
