Lock, Stock and… Two Missing Gun Barrels: Davison, Gunmakers of Alnwick – Part One

07/09/2022 by Northumberland Archives

Within the collection of William Davison, the famous Alnwick printer, we have some printers’ proofs that relate to George Davison, Gun-Maker, of Alnwick. As someone who has spent a lot of their life in and around Alnwick, I couldn’t recall hearing of Mr. George Davison, and decided to delve a little further. When I googled George and read that his second wife, Mary Anderson, was also described as a gun maker, my interest in the Davison’s was well and truly cemented, and I needed to know more.

After again using the tried and tested historical research method of Googling, I discovered that George Davison was the son of Thomas Davison and Isabel Forrest of Wooler. I have been able to find the marriage of Thomas and Isabella in the records of Wooler St. Mary [ref. EP 33/3], but could not find a baptism of a George Davison that would provide evidence of his parents being Thomas and Isabella. At the moment, this link remains unsubstantiated.

The internet also carried the tale that Thomas Davison was a cutler who later became a gunsmith in Alnwick, and that George, as Thomas’ oldest son, took over the gunsmith business from his father; again, this is unsubstantiated in the research that I have carried out.

On 7 December 1805, George Davison, bachelor, and Margaret Bilton, spinster, were married at Alnwick St. Michael’s by Licence [ref. EP 132/8]. When Margaret died in 1815, aged only 31 years, the couple were living in the Market Place in Alnwick. George re-married in 1817 to a Mary Anderson, spinster, again at Alnwick St. Michael’s.

In July 1820, Davison’s 19 year old apprentice, George Snowdon, ran away from the premises, and we have a printers proof in the collection that gives a description of Snowdon and the reward offered.

Using the British Newspaper Archive, I found several adverts relating to George’s business, that spanned several newspapers, right across the north-east. One advert in the Durham County Advertiser on Saturday 21 August 1824 read:

TO GUN-MAKERS

Wanted immediately, a good Workman in the above line; good encouragement and constant employ will be given, by applying to George Davison, Newcastle and Alnwick

N.B. An Apprentice wanted at the Newcastle shop. Pilgrim-street, Newcastle, August 19th, 1824

This backed up the claims I had read online that Davison had premises in the Market Place in Alnwick, as well as within Newcastle.

A theft occurred from Davison’s shop in July 1825, when a pair of twisted copper cap double gun barrels were stolen from the Alnwick shop. The notice of the theft was printed by William Davison, on behalf of the Alnwick Parish Association and George Davison, who were both contributing to a seven guinea reward (about £86 in todays’ money).

In 1826, a notice placed in the Tyne Mercury, as well as other newspapers, reads:

GEORGE DAVISON

GUN-MAKER, Pilgrim-Street, Newcastle, and Alnwick. Has great pleasure in informing his Sporting Friends, that the improvement he has lately made in his PERCUSSION POWDER renders it equally harmless to the gun as common gunpowder, and which he warrants certain fire and water-proof.

An extensive assortment of DOUBLE and SINGLE COPPER- CAPPED GUNS, with the latest improvements, and of superior workmanship, on sale at his shops as above. Pilgrim-street, July 21, 1826

The Durham County Advertiser reports the death of George Davison in their issue on Saturday 24 March 1827, having occurred ‘Saturday last’, and note that he was a ‘…gunmaker, of Alnwick and Newcastle, aged 44.’ It is interesting to note than an Alnwick gunmaker’s death was reported as widely as Durham – I did find mention of the event in several newspapers of the time – and suggests that he was a well-known character in shooting circles.

To be continued……

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 1ST SEPTEMBER 1922

01/09/2022 by Northumberland Archives

NORHAM BOAT RACE

GOOD WEATHER FAVOURS SUCCESSFUL MEETING

A quarter of a century ago Norham Boat Races were the chief event in the sporting calendar of the village, but some eleven years ago for some reason or other this popular event was allowed to lapse. Since then it has been the grumble of the fishermen that while all other sports can be catered for, that of the boat pulling and quoiting which is more in keeping with the sporting inclinations of the villagers has been passed over. Immediately after the Norham Horse Show, a few local gentlemen heard these murmurings and immediately made the sporting offer that if a small committee could be got together and local support was whole hearted, the Boat races would be again restarted.

The result was seen on Saturday when under ideal conditions the boat races, foot handicap and quoit main came off on the river and riverside below Norham bridge, a large gathering being in attendance. The preliminary heats in the boating events were started in the early forenoon, and thought they were run off smartly, reflecting great credit on the committee; it was five-thirty before finals were decided, and seven-fifteen before the quoiting was completed.

THE SCOTTISH BORDERS COLLECTION- NORHAM REF: BRO 515-178

The beautiful weather had brought quite a large gathering of visitors to the village and from mid-day onwards the grassy bank of the river presented an animated appearance. To add to the attractions for the day too, there was a good variety of shows, shooting galleries, hoopla, and round-abouts on the village green, and here at night a pleasant hour or two was spent after the races.

The course, which was over a good 400 yards straight, reach of the river had been early marked off with flags fixed in both river banks, and it proved to be an excellent idea to have two anchored boats at the starting point, against which competitors had to back their boats preparatory to being slipped like a whippet when the gun went. By this means a great deal of time was saved, boats competing never needing to be manoeuvred to be brought into line. The running track was staked off on a flat stretch on the river side and with a high bank at the side of it spectators had no difficulty in following everything which went on. The quoiting ground, which was in close proximity was the centre of great interest during the day.

Refreshment and ice cream venders, as well as a stall selling all kinds of fruit, were on the ground and some of these enterprising people appeared to do quite a good trade.

During the afternoon music was provided by the Duns Branch British Legion Pipe band and the pipe music sounded very well on the waterside. A collection, to which a generous response was made, was taken in the course of the afternoon, the money going to help the funds.

Through the generosity of Mr N. Currie a handsome silver cup was offered this year for the championship, and handsome prizes in money were also offered in this and all the other races, while in the races on the flat for school children useful prizes wee given by the Committee.

THE BOAT RACES

None of the preliminary boats in the Championship were of a very close order, rows over being the usual thing owing to competitors at a distance not being forward. Once the first heats were embarked upon however some good races were seen though in one or two cases a rower gave up. Green Bell, Norham, won by a boat length after a stiff tussle with Murray Gregor, Norham, and John Steppard, also a local, only got the verdict by inches after a great race with T. B. Purves, Horncliffe.

In the second ties P. Elliott, Berwick, never put up a fight against Green bell, and J. Turnbull also gave up after being well left by John Steppard. J. Robson too also tired half way down the course and was badly beaten by T. Robertson, the Horncliffe champion. The best race in this tie was between G. C. Purves and Jas. Sheppard. It was a great race the crowd following along the bank to the winning post, cheering both men. Purves won by inches.

NORHAM CASTLE BY THE RIVER TWEED- REF: BRO 2288-023

In the semi-final Green Bell had a stiff task to beat Jno. Sheppard, but he did it and won by half a length, while T. Robertson finished alone owing to G. C. Purves giving up. The final proved none of the most exciting races ever rowed on the Tweed. Bel land T. Robertson came down the course practically level, and the Horncliffe man had a yard lead seven yards from the wining post. Bell finished strongly, his boat fairly lifting out of the water, and he crossed the line a dead beat with Robertson. After a breather the men rowed over but this time Green bell led Robertson home and won by a length amid scenes of great enthusiasm.

In the young men’s race, A. Robson, Morris Hall, rowed well in his heat, and in the final against J. Strother, Horncliffe he pulled a plucky race only being defeated by half a length. The veterans had quite a field day and put every ounce into their heats in the veterans’ race. The preliminary heat between T. turner, Norham, and Tom Purves, Horncliffe, was a very close one, being decided on a question of inches. “The prince” who got the decision fully deserved it, and when he fell against A. Sheppard, Norham, in the second heat he was never seriously troubled to win. Bill Malcolm made him go for it in the final, and it was only in the last ten strokes that Quinn pulled ahead to win by a length.

If Malcolm had to take second place in the veterans’ race, he made it up in the quoiting match when he defeated the famed Fairbairn of Ednam, and then outed White, of Royalty by 15-9 in the final. Not a bad performance for a man of 62 who has never thrown a quoit for nearly eleven years.

The 400 yards foot handicap produced little sensation, most of the heats being won fairly comfortably. There was a good race in the semi-final between R. Strother, Norham (4) and A. Russell, Twizel (20, inches only dividing the runners, but in the final Russell left little to chance, beating Watson, of Swinton (4 yds) by a yard, and Strother by two yards.

Insurance, its more interesting than you’d think!

30/08/2022 by Northumberland Archives

A project began earlier this year to add descriptive content to documents held at Northumberland Archives relating to the Lord Crewe Charity; this has been made possible by a grant the charity itself made to the Northumberland Archives Charitable Trust.

The description read “File of miscellaneous insurance policies”; so, to be perfectly honest I wasn’t expecting it to be the most interesting of bundles. I am happy to report that I was proven wrong!

The various policies relate to those connected with the running of the Haydon Bridge estate covering the period 1892-1925; they give us a great insight into life at that time. For those researching family history or the history of a house we can see names of tenants, the extent of land and the value the policy provider attributed to it.

Many of the policy types will be familiar to the modern eye such as insurance for motor cars, life assurance, employers’ liability, theft and even boiler insurance. Some, less so. Many of the policies related to fire policies taken out to protect specified haystacks and sheds. Aircraft insurance taken out in 1916 made payment if the named insured property was ‘destroyed or damaged directly or indirectly by aerial craft (hostile or otherwise)’. A riot and civil commotion policy taken out in 1920 conveys a sense of fear post-WW1; the property insured was ‘pigs and poultry only’, the policy for “riot, civil commotion, strikers, locked-out workers or persons taking part in labour disturbances”.

Even the policies that did seem familiar are vastly different to today’s equivalent; employers’ liability related to domestic servants, providing a list of the number and description of those employed, e.g., indoor servants, coachmen, governesses and footmen. Motor car insurance was a great excuse to look up early vehicles that were unfamiliar to me. The last thing to note is how ornate some of these insurance policy headers are as you can see from the images.

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