BERWICK ADVERTISER, 22ND DECEMBER 1922

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BELFORD HALL ESTATE SOLD

It is stated the Belford estate has just been sold by Messrs Anderson and Garland, in conjunction with Messrs John Baty and Son, of Newcastle, to Mr Blasé, near Northallerton. A syndicate is mentioned which is already prepared to part with some of the property and it is stated that some farmers have already been asked if they want to buy.

The estate, belonging to the Atkinson Clark family, embraces the larger portion of Belford village which has a long history of exceptional interest. In olden times the houses were covered with heather and sods, and the place, Tomlinson tells us, being liable to be burned by the Scots, was very poor.

BRO 426-944 Market Place, Belford

It was sacked by these northern raiders in the reign of Henry II., and in the reign of Charles I. (1639) was in a state of declension. The “Castrum de Beleford,” which existed as early as 1416, is now West Hall Farm-houses. The old moat may still be traced. Belford Hall, also included in the sale, has been for many years the seat of the Atkinson-Clark family. The large stone mansion was designed by Payne, and altered and enlarged by Dobson. The greater part of the furnishings were disposed of at a sale at the hall last year after the death of the late Mr G. D. Atkinson-Clark. The present Squire, Mr H. G. Atkinson-Clark, has not resided at the Hall save for an occasional visit.

LOCAL NEWS

The happiest day of the school year for teachers and scholars of Berwick C.E. School was on Wednesday, when a dancing display was given by the girls in the Parochial Hall before a large number of parents. As Miss Richardson, the headmistress, said at the close, the girls work all the better when they know their work is to be appreciated and that they are going to give pleasure to others. The hour was all too short, all enjoying watching the girls dance. Very pretty was the Morris Dance, in which the girls wore lavender or green pinafores and sun-bonnets, and “Briar Rose” – a singing game in which the tots took part. In the centre of a ring sat a tiny maiden on a rose-decked chair spinning her wheel. Round her danced the maidens, till by came a fairy and, touching all with her wand, sent them to sleep for 100 years. In due course also by came the fairy prince and, cutting through the thorns of the briar rose, rescued the maiden.

The shops throughout the town are making a fine display with Christmas ware, and with lighting effects now brought to a high state of perfection the window displays are very pleasing. The toy shops are cram full of every mechanical and other device calculated to catch the children’s fancy, while the clothiers, tobacconists, fancy goods merchants, boot makers and bakers and confectioners vie with each other as to who will make their premises the most attractive. Such is the show that it is difficult to pass any of the shops without making a “saxpense gae bang.” The only fly in the ointment at the present time is the tightness of money. Shopkeepers freely tell us that there is not much of this passing at present, but perhaps by Friday the purse strings of economical and thrifty residents will be opened as a result of that Christmassy feeling which makes the whole world kin.

BRO 1944-1-4939-44. Santa delivering parcels on Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The magazine night of the Berwick Debating Society is always looked forward to with anticipation by members as one of the treats of the syllabus, and particularly so when the Christmas magazine comes round. The Editor, Mr L. F. Gleig, on Wednesday night read the papers with a true interpretation of their meaning which could hardly have been improved upon. The first paper entitled “The angelic choir boy” was well thought out, and the anti-climax brought considerable hilarity. There was also a poem on Armistice Day, and a humorous skit entitled “7a Church Street, “ which produced a great deal of merriment. “Easter Island” was another good paper which we publish in full in another good paper which we publish in full in another column. The second part of the programme was a lengthy and extremely well written paper entitled the “Veneer of Civilisation.” The writer reviewed the various civilisations which had come and gone in the past centuries and said there was only a slim covering between the civilised people and the barbarians. A lively discussion ensued on every paper.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

A WALKERGATE BATTLE

Mary Ann Campbell, 57 Church Street, Berwick, was charged with assaulting Ellen Pearson on 14th December. Mrs Campbell cross summoned Ellen Pearson, 55 Walkergate, for assault.

Mrs Pearson said there was a dispute about a brush when Mrs Campbell jumped at her, pulled her hair and knocked her down behind the door. She remembered no more.

James Lyons corroborated and said Mrs Campbell thumped Mrs Pearson with a key.

This was denied by Mrs Campbell, who said she only struck in self defence as Mrs Pearson threw a jug at her.

The cross summons was then taken, when Mrs Campbell said a little boy was accused of stealing a brush, and she said they should look for it instead of blaming anyone. The elderly Pearson kept shouting at her and as she went down the passage threw an enamel jug at her Mrs Pearson then pulled her hair and to make her leave go witness hit her on the nose.

This was corroborated by Mrs Smith, aunt of the accused.

The Bench bound both parties over for six months and ordered them to pay their own expenses.

NO DEMAND ON PROPERTIES

FOUR LOTS SOLD OUT OF SIXTEEN OFFERED

In the Long Room of the Corn Exchange on Tuesday night Mr H M. Young, of Messrs Millers, F.A.I., offered for sale sixteen lots of property in Tweedmouth, Spittal, and Berwick. There was a large attendance at the sale, but actual business was practically nil, though the auctioneer, in his opening remarks, made it clear that the reserve prices fixed were very moderate.

Mr Young, at the outset, intimated that the parcel of copyhold land known as the “Quarry” on Tweedmouth Cemetery road had been sold privately before the auction. In his opening remarks, he covered most of the ground as he had done in the afternoon, and pointed out that it was very probable after June next year that the Rents Restriction Act would be considerably modified. He urged the necessity of tenants becoming owners of their own houses wherever possible.

Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed. NT9990052696 from NT9990452736

The conditions of sale for the various lots were read by Mr Parker, Mr P. M. Henderson, Mr J. E. T. Smith, and Mr Jas. Gray, but biding all through was of a most depressing character. The only lots to find a market were the freehold tenements 19, 14 and 16 Well Square, the dwelling house at 11 Kiln Hill, the self-contained house and garden at 50 West Street, Spittal, and the property at 13, 15, 17 and 19 Walkergate. In every other case the lots were withdrawn as the reserve price had not been reached.

The property at 9, 14 and 16 Well Square is now in the occupation of Messrs Veitch, Taylor and others at the gross annual rental of £17 16s. For this lot bidding started at £70 and rose by £10 bids to £100, when Mr R. Sidey, plasterer, became the owner.

The dwelling house at 11 Kiln Hill is now let in tenements at the gross annual rental of £24 per annum. Bidding for it started at £100 and rose slowly to £150, when Mrs Skelly, Tweedmouth, was declared the purchaser.

No.50 West Street, Spittal, with 60 square yards of garden ground, is now in the occupation of Mrs Laidlaw at the rental of £13 per annum. It started at £20 and went slowly up by small amounts until £39 was reached, when Mr Spowart got the fall of the hammer.

The shop and dwelling house of three apartments, yard, etc, known as 13 and 15 Walkergate, in the occupation of Mr Cook, and the dwelling house Nos 17 and 19 Walkergate, in the occupation of Messrs Windram and Davidson at the gross rental of £44 was the only other lot to sell. There is a right of way from the Scotch Church in Greenside Avenue to Walkergate through the yard of this property. Bidding for it started at £200, and with several bidders out for it the most spirited moment of the evening was seen. At £400 it became the property of Mrs Forsyth.

LOTS WITHDRAWN

The following lots were withdrawn:- 3 Brewery Bank, withdrawn at £110; Elm House, Kiln Hill, tenements and garden, withdrawn at £150; Nos 1 and 3 Well Road, withdrawn at £150; Nos 5 and 7 Well Road, withdrawn at £120; freehold property 11 and 13 Coxon’s Lane, withdrawn at 3120; block of property, Nos 14,16,16a and 18 Kiln Hill, 17 Yard Heads, two self-contained dwelling-houses, warehouses and yards occupying an area of 690 square yards and occupied by the executors of the late A. D. Watt, withdrawn at £400; tenement property in Blakewell Lane withdrawn at £70; tenement dwelling-houses, 71,73 and 75 West End, no offers; dwelling-house 15 Church Road withdrawn, £110; block of property, 26 to 32 Middle Street and 23 to 25 West Street, Spittal, withdrawn at £60; tenement property, 29 and 31 East Street, withdrawn at £345, and tenement property, 46 to 48 West End, Tweedmouth, withdrawn at £110.

PROFESSIONALISM IN FOOTBALL

LORD JOICEY ALARMED

The menace which professionalism constitutes to football as a sport was commented on by Lord Joicey at the Station Hotel, Newcastle, on Tuesday afternoon, when he presented a beautiful silver shield, mounted on oak, to last season’s winners of the North-Eastern Railway Cottage Homes football competition, the Newcastle Accountants’ department team, who are the first holders.

In the course of his remarks Lord Joicey said that he was an old football player himself, and when at school he was captain of the football team and knew the value of games. Games were really an education in themselves, and football developed determination, character, and a high honour, and the amateur teams had a very good influence. “I confess I took with some degree of alarm,” he went on, “at the way that football has been given over to professionals. Professionals are all very well and good of the sport is where every footballer player for the benefit of the game itself. I regret that very large sums are paid to gentlemen who are engaged as professional football players. Three, four, and even five thousand pounds is sometimes paid to get a good player. That all leads to betting, and I am afraid that ultimately it will have a very bad effect upon the game itself. I hope your club will continue as an amateur club, because it will be beneficial to everybody connected with the railway company and to yourselves.

Ahoy! Me Hearties! 

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One of the great things about visiting an archive is you never know just what will turn up. We have more than 6 linear miles of material here at Woodhorn and getting to know the collection is a lifetimes work, perhaps even two! 

One of the more interesting things I came across the other day was the Agreements and Accounts of Crew of Foreign-Going Ships 1863-1905.

NRO 00633/1 Watercolour of a Barque entitled “Barque John George from Newcastel coming into Malta 1838

The documents give details of ships registered locally and the crew aboard them, the documents themselves are often ornately stamped and sealed with the details of the ports they called at. The first one I saw detailed the travels of a Barque ship registered at Blyth in 1874 called the “Lucy” owned by Robert Gray and captained by Carnaby Gray it was sailing from Ipswich in Suffolk to Riga, then part of the Russian Empire, now the capital of The Republic of Latvia. 

It goes on to say that “thence to any port or ports in the Baltic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal or the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Sea of Azof [Azov] or continent of Europe and back to a final port of discharge in the United Kingdom. Probable length of voyage about twelve months. Ship fully manned with eight hands all told.” 

They set sail on the 31st of July 1874 and reached Riga, which, in fact, was their only port of call, on the 22nd of August 1874. On board with the captain were actually nine crew, rather than the “eight hands all told” as previously stated. The nine consisted of the captain, a ship’s mate, cook and steward, four able bodied seamen and two ordinary seamen. There is also someone with their job recorded as “BS” so this might have been boatswain, i.e., second mate. 

We also get to find out a little of what their life on board was like because listed upon the crew list is their rations for the week, which were:

 Bread lb Beef lb Pork lb Flour lb Peas Pint Rice lb Tea oz Coffee oz Sugar oz Water qts 
Sunday 1 1 ½ – ½ – – ½  ½  2 3 
Monday 1 – 1 ¼ – ⅓ – ½ ½ 2 3 
Tuesday 1 1 ½ – ½ – – ½ ½ 2 3 
Wednesday 1 – 1 ¼ – ⅓ – ½ ½ 2 3 
Thursday 1 1 ½ – ½ – – ½ ½ 2 3 
Friday 1 – 1 ¼ – ⅓ – ½ ½ 2 3 
Saturday 1 1 ½ – – – ½ ½ ½ 2 3 

Also written alongside was “No spirits allowed, when 2 oz of butter is issued daily per man ½ lb of meat less per man per day”, so this begs the question would you accept these terms and conditions? 

Ahh what of pay I hear you cry… well that depended upon your role on board. The captains pay is not stated. The mate was to receive £5 10s. The cook and steward £5, the second mate £4, the able seamen £3 10s. First ordinary seaman £1 and the second ordinary seaman £1 7s. 6d. 

Sound like a good deal? Well all contracts have two sides to them and the last page of the agreement lists offences and punishments, as sanctioned by the “Board of Trade in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping Act s. 149.” 

So, if you were caught swearing or using improper language you could be docked a day’s pay, sleeping or gross negligence while on the look-out would cost you two days’ pay and secreting contraband goods on board with intent to smuggle, well that could cost you a month’s pay. 

The thing I found most interesting though was the record for the cook/steward, who is recorded as being, a James Black of Jamaica aged 32, now whilst we cannot assume that James was a person of colour, people who had either been enslaved themselves, or were descendants of enslaved people were often given ‘English’ names and often the colour of their skin became their surname. Slavery was abolished in Britain in 1833 but continued in the U.S until 1865 James would have been born in 1842 and Jamaica at that time was a British Colony and had shipped thousands of enslaved African people to work on the sugar plantations. A James Black also appears on the ancestry website on a crew list for a vessel named the “Semantha” 

It may well be the same person as the Semantha was also a Barque, the ship sailed three years after the “Lucy” and James Black is the cook/steward, born in Jamaica and was able to sign his name, just as he did on the crew list of the “Lucy”. Unfortunately, as ancestry only have a transcription of the record, we are unable to compare the signature. If it is the same person, then happily his wage has increased to £6 10s and this time he got a cash advance of £3 0s. 5d. 

As for the “Lucy” she returned to Dover on the 21st Oct 1874, with all men discharged the following day. So now you know that the Ship returned three months after leaving with all hands on board safe perhaps the Ts and Cs listed above sound quite good? 

Happy searching, or should that be sailing!? 

NRO 00654/4 Agreements and accounts of crew 1863-1905 
NRO 00654/4 Agreements and accounts of crew 1863-1905 

N.B. The crew list documents have not been item listed so are not yet available to the public in the study centre, but we are able to carry out postal research using the records, should you be looking for a relative for example. 

N.B. More information about crew lists can be found on the excellent crew list website https://www.crewlist.org.uk/ where you can search for ships or crew, they cover the period 1863 to 1913. The National Maritime Museum also have a searchable database on their website if you are looking for later ships or crew https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/#home they cover the period from 1915 onwards. 

Appraising Archives: Hexham Racecourse

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One of the most varied and interesting roles that Northumberland Archives staff fulfil is that of visiting sites to view material that the archive would potentially like to take into its care. Historically significant documents can find their way to the archive from many different sources; from an interesting scrap of paper being found in the back of a cupboard, to the closure of a business resulting in the wholescale clearance of the organisation’s offices. Having the opportunity to visit places and view archives in situ can be incredibly useful for archivists, whose role also includes making sense of the material so that it can be accurately catalogued and made available to researchers in as obvious and logical order as possible. This process can also vary in difficulty; for every site that contains well-organised, clearly labelled, and boxed collections of records, there is the prospect of piles of unsorted papers dumped on desks or the floor. Happily, on a recent visit to view material from Hexham Racecourse, the former was very much the case.

Earlier this year, Northumberland Archives were contacted by Major Charles Enderby, the previous owner of Hexham Racecourse, to ask whether we would be interested in the course’s archive. Hexham Racecourse was established by Major Enderby’s great grandfather, Charles William Chipchase Henderson in 1890, and the majority shareholding remained in the family until it was sold to its current owner in 2015. The racecourse is known as one of Britain’s most scenic and is positioned amongst stunning Northumbrian countryside, two miles outside of Hexham. 

The racecourse archive contains swathes of interesting material that show the development of the site and the business from the early twentieth century up to the 2010s. Accounts, plans, minute books and correspondence all feature, which give an intriguing picture of the development of an important local sporting institution over the century. The archive also includes a comprehensive collection of race cards from the 1980s onwards and several photograph collections, providing an excellent resource for both local and sporting historians.  

The process of selecting material for transfer to the archive is an important and not always straightforward one. Archivists must often make informed decisions on what material should be permanently preserved and what can be housed elsewhere or discarded. In most cases we look for unique material of historical significance that shows how a business, individual or organisation functioned and operated. Luckily in the case of Hexham Racecourse’s records, it was straightforward to make these decisions and we were able to ensure that all the appropriate material could be taken to form the racecourse archive. By the end of our visit, roughly 32 boxes were ready to be transported back to Woodhorn. Once this material has been processed and catalogued by archives staff, it will be made available for consultation in our Searchroom. We look forward to sharing interesting stories from within this collection as they are uncovered during cataloguing.  

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