A common belief is that working in the archives is a cosy job where all you do is sit down and help people with their family history. This isn’t exactly true…..
I love going out in a van to collect documents and over the years I have visited some interesting places. I had only worked for Northumberland Archives for a couple of weeks when I was taken out in a van to collect records from the Dickson, Archer & Thorp offices in Alnwick. It was liking stepping into a Dickens novel and you could almost imagine Scrooge sitting amongst all the parchments, ledgers and scrolled documents. I can still recall the smell of the building and remember it being extremely heavy work as we carried material from the upstairs rooms down to the van outside. My body ached for days afterwards but despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was eager to go out again.
Going to Prudhoe hospital in 2016 to assess a large collection of documents and plans was also extremely interesting. The hospital had closed so the building was bitterly cold and slightly eerie with its long corridors and rusty old signs. Some of the highlights of the day involved discovering a beautiful staircase, luxurious wallpaper and stained glass windows. The following year, staff spent a few days in the cellar of the Land Factor building in Haltwhistle where we appraised records which were eventually deposited at Woodhorn. It was extremely cramped, hot and dirty down there! It was also very hard physical work but above ground there were some lovely features in the building including lights and glass fire extinguishers.
Alongside all the outreach work we do with schools and community groups, we also work with other agencies such as the media, coroner’s office, police and law courts. We are regularly contacted by researchers who work for tv production companies as they want to use copies of our documents in their programmes. This can often be at very short notice which has an impact on staff as documents need to be scanned and permission may need to be obtained from the depositor if we don’t own the collection. Royalty fees also need to be paid when material is used on television or in a film. Last week we had a request from a film company in India who wanted to use one of our images in a scene in a Hindi film.
One of the departments we have regular contact with is the coroner’s office. Most coroners’ records are closed to public inspection for 75 years. However, if a request is made by a person to view records within the closed period, a request needs to be made to the coroner’s office.
When we are contacted by the police they are often looking into historic cases and need to consult records that we hold. If they need to visit us, they view the records in a closed room away from our Study Centre. The same procedure is followed for staff from the law courts when they come to look at historic court records. Working with these agencies is fascinating but I have to admit, I still love going out in a van!
This blog has been researched and written by Hilary Love, one of the volunteers on our maternity care project. Project volunteers are researching maternity care in Northumberland with particular focus on Castle Hills Maternity Home, Berwick, and Mona Taylor Maternity Home, Stannington. We are also researching in less detail some of the other Maternity Homes in the county. This blog about Dilston Hall is one of a series that we will post about some of the other Homes. The project is supported by the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Bright Charity and the Northumberland Archives Charitable Trust. We will be posting more blog content from the project over the coming months.
A new hall was built at Dilston in 1835 after the estates had been passed to Greenwich Hospital. When the estates were sold, Dilston was bought by Lord Allendale. In 1878, Dilston House was built and this is now occupied by one of the present Lord Allendale’s sons. After he moved to Bywell in 1942, Lord Allendale granted the Hall for use as a maternity refuge for Newcastle hospitals. The Dilston Maternity Home became established and remained until 1965 when it transferred to a new unit at Hexham General Hospital. After this the Hall was used for the education of children with learning difficulties and in 1971, MENCAP became the owners of Dilston Hall, including the Church and ruined castle. It is now known as Dilston College for the Education of Teenagers with Learning Difficulties. (Taken from The Northumberland Village Book, written by members of Northumberland Federation of W.I.s.)
A letter from Dr. Hart, Obstetric Surgeon, in July 1948, outlines some statistics of use at that time:
Admissions – 600
Discharges – 596
Deliveries – 563
Still Births – 16
Neo-natal Deaths – 7
Caesarian Sections – 12
Abortions -3
Maternal Deaths – 2
A report of the Hexham and District Hospital Management Committee in March 1949 records the increasing shortage of nursing staff (a familiar concern in 2023!) so numbers of bookings were restricted. 100 cases were booked per month and about 15 placed on the waiting list.
The Hospital was taken over by the Regional Hospital Board on 5th July 1948 which meant cases could be admitted without considering county boundaries. Ante-natal Clinics were held and women encouraged to attend. Clinics were also held at Throckley and Forest Hall. 85% of admitted cases had been seen, preventing many complications. X-rays were done at Hexham General. Post-natal care consisted of an examination on 9th day after birth and some had a second examination after six weeks if they lived near a clinic.
A draft copy of a report by P. H. Knighton, Architect to the Hospital Board, dated 17 February 1950, considers the pros and cons of the possible acquisition of Dilston Hall. His recommendation was to approach Lord Allendale to find out whether he was willing to sell with a view to its adaptation as a Convalescent Hospital, once alternative and suitable accommodation could be provided for maternity patients.
A poignant and touching memory was recorded by Mr. Alex Hillary, April 6th, 2007, as reported to Susan Hedworth, Community Care Assistant.
“Memories of Baby Burial at Dilston Maternity Hospital.”
“I was a taxi driver at Dilston Hall then…. It was a maternity place then ….and I had to take the dead babies up for post – mortem at Shotley Bridge. They crossed their little arms over their chests, just so, with a flower in the middle, and I would come and wrap the cloth over them, put them on a tray and lay them on the back seat of the taxi. I used to have to take them to the Infirmary in Newcastle, too. Live babies, but maybe with no roof to their mouths. The nurse used to go with them. There’s not one of them came back alive. She said they experimented on them – to make them better you know. But it didn’t work. …….
But I still remember all those babies, laid out in front of the altar in that old chapel they have there. They were so beautiful, some of them. And do you know where they were buried? There’s that cemetery on the back road from Corbridge to Hexham. Well, just over the wall – that’s where they are. Yes, it’s consecrated ground and they put all the unbaptised dead babies there.”
Sir- Following up a suggestion made in “Berwick Journal” last year, I have discussed here with several Berwickers, the holding of a picnic in Toronto at Tweedmouth Feast time. The proposal and arrangements are being made to hold pic-nic at High Park, Toronto, on Saturday, (Tweedmouth Feast Eve), July 21, to which all natives of Berwick and district are cordially invited.
I have received promises from quite a number, (but as there may be many in this District of Canada whom I am unable to communicate with, I would be pleased to have you publish this letter in your widely read Paper, so that anyone who gets the “Berwick Journal” out here – ( and every Borderer does) – may know of the coming event, which will link us up with our Homeland at Tweedmouth Feast-time.
Those who read “Berwick Journal” at Home, and have friends out here, might please send them out word; and anyone here wishing to be present can obtain particulars on phoning me at North 7241.
With good weather pleasant and happy day may be spent and many tales of “Ye Olde Towne” talked over by those who though thousands of miles away are with “Berwick Journal” and the Homeland in spirit in this Great Annual Re-Union of Tweedmouth Feast – yours, etc., Wm. Hogg, Sir.
This letter from our old friend Mr Hogg brings joy to us, for Berwickers and Borderes in Canada are going to do a very good thing- celebrate Tweedmouth Feast some thousands of miles from Home; and this is a thing which might be done by Natives of Borderland now in every Colony and Outpost of Empire. It is one of the best way of linking up with Home, and at opportune time, when Tweedmouth Feast brings many Exiles back again to their “Ain Folk”.
We give here a photograph of Mr Hogg and another Berwicker, Mr Alec. Barrie, sent Home to us from Canada, where it was recently taken.
Many old Berwickers and Borderers will remember well the faces above portrayed, and they will kindle many happy memories of Auld Lang Syne – Editor, “Berwick Journal”.
BELFORD
The past week has had little else to record, but election fever. Not probably in the entire history of the Berwick Constituency had a contest been fraught with more excitement than that on Thursday last. The supporters of each candidate were all for a time equally confident of the final issue. Many were the prognostications from day to day, but even the best forecast came a long way off the result. The fact of the matter was that it was not a question of politics at all, but rather of sentiment, and when the result of the polling was declared there is no doubt, that the figures for the Conservative candidate surpassed by far the most sanguine anticipations of her most enthusiastic supporters.
MABEL PHILIPSON, REF: BRO 85
A Constituency so traditionally Liberal has not turned Conservative on the question of politics. Belford which at one time actually voted 99 per cent. Liberal was on this occasion as red wellnigh as it was possible to be. The wave of sentiment caught on all over ere the polling day, and from that, and that alone, Mrs Philipson received her very handsome majority. On Friday night she was enthusiastically received at every at every village from Alnwick to Berwick. At Belford her car was met by some of the younger stalwarts, and ropes being attached, it was hauled through the village to the Market Cross, from where Mrs Philipson addressed a great crowd. Mrs Philipson very unfortunately had completely lost her voice and could only whisper to her husband the message she wished him to convey to her supporters, whom she ardently desired to thank. The car was afterwards gain taken in tow and pulled well up the North Bank. Certainly not in the memory of any Belfordian can there have been greater excitement evidenced than that seen-on Friday night. Long before the arrival of the candidate the Street was thronged with an expectant crowd, and her appearance was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. Mrs Philipson spent some time amongst the crowd, shaking hands with those whose acquaintance she had made at the previous election.
SPITTAL MAN KILLED TODAY
ON RAILWAY NEAR TWEEDMOUTH
As we were on the point of going to Press, we were informed that a Spittal man has been killed this day on the railway near Tweedmouth.
It seems that the engine driver of a south going train some time after noon saw what appeared to be a body on the line south of Tweedmouth, and he drew the attention of some workmen who had been on the line in Scremerston direction; and they found the dead man badly mangled and mutilated, having been, apparently, run over by a passing express train.
The unfortunate man is Jas. Laidlaw, aged 52, fisherman, Spittal, who used to live in Princes St. alone, but who has, for the past 6 weeks, been living with his sister Mrs Thompson, 52 Middle St., Spittal.
Laidlaw has been ill for some time, and depressed, and was, we hear, to go to Edinburgh infirmary for an operation.
The remains were conveyed to Berwick Mortuary; and an inquest will be held by the Coroner.
BERWICK WEDDING TODAY
OGG – HOLMES
A wedding of much local interest was solemnised in Wallace Green Church, Berwick, today, the contracting parties being Miss Phoebe Holmes, 3rd daughter of the late Coun. Ralph S. Holmes and Mrs Holmes, bridge Street, Berwick, and Mr James Edward Ogg, Cockburnspath. The Church was tastefully decorated with palms, plants and greenery.
Wallace Green Church, Ref: BRO 1636/9/5
As the bride leaning on the arm of her mother (who gave her away) came up the aisle the “Bridal March” from Wagner was played. The bride wore a charming dress of white satin broche (draped) and caught at the side with a brilliant and pearl buckle; the yoke and sleeves were embroidered with pearls. Her shoes were of silver, and her bouquet was of white laburnum and forget-me-nots. She was attended by 3 bridesmaids, Miss Doris S. Holmes and Misses Marjory Mc. C Willits and J. and G. Patricia Willits (nieces). Miss Holmes wore a smart dress of aluminum grey broche crepe-de-chene, trimmed with steel ornaments. She wore a black picture hat and carried a black and silver brocade bag with ivory top. The little bridesmaids looked dainty in white crepe-de-chene dresses and lace hats with pink ruching carrying ivory topped white satin bags.
The best man was Mr R. Oliver, Jedburgh.
The bride’s mother was attired in black charmeuse and wore a hat of black with Birds of Paradise tails.
The bride and bridegroom were recipients of many beautiful presents. The scholars of Cockburnspath and a number of friends presented the bride with a canteen of stainless cutlery in a beautiful framed oak case, with suitable inscription, on the occasion of her marriage. Miss Holmes has been a teacher in the school for 8 years, and has taken a great interest in her work, and has been much appreciated by the community. The Staff at Cockburnspath Post Office and late staff Oldhamstocks Post Office, presented the bridegroom with a beautiful smoker’s cabinet in polished oak, with bevelled glass panels and doors.
The staff of Messrs R. Holmes and Son, presented the bride with a beautiful entrée dish Mr R. Smith made the presentation.
BERWICKSHIRE MAN’S FIRM SENT,
1,400 of its Staff To The War
VICTORIA CROSS WON BY A WORKER
“To the glorious memory” of the 85 members of the Staff of William Whiteley, Limited, who made the supreme sacrifice in the War, a Memorial was unveiled on Friday on the firm’s premises, at Westbourne-grove, London, by Field-Marshal Lord Methuen.
Worked in bronze, the Memorial represents the figure of a recumbent warrior, wrapped In a Union Jack with Britannia at the head and Charity weeping at the foot. Behind is a marble tablet bearing the names of the fallen.
Every member of the Staff, numbering 5,000, was present at the Service, held beneath the central dome, the 4 circular galleries, being draped with the flags of the Allies. The Store was closed for half an hour.
Mr John Lawrie, Managing Director pf the Firm (noted Berwickshire Native, who lost his only son after gallant and distinguished deeds in the field), said 1,4000 of its employees went to the War, 13 won distinctions, and on was awarded Victoria Cross.
After unveiling the Memorial, Lord Methuen said we had had to face relentless enemy with patience, courage, and chivalry, and we had now among us an insidious foe that would do its upmost, not only in England, but in Europe, to destroy what had been handed down to us. The future was full of anxious thought. We had hitherto trusted to our great Navy, but that would be in the air. He was not one of those soldiers who wished to see this country a military nation, but he did feel what we had to do today was to see that our country had always a perfect assurance it was in a proper state of defence. We had no greater duty than to bring up our young as we should wish our forefathers to have brought us up. We should inculcate in them love of Country and love for God.
At the conclusion of the ceremony upwards of 100 beautiful wreaths were placed at the foot of the Memorial.
