Recorded in 1975, Northumberland Archivesholds a fascinating oral history recording of Norah Balls, a suffragette. Norah talks to the archivist Amanda Arrowsmith about her life and campaigning. She reminisces about joining the Women’s Social and Political Union and the people that she met, including the Pankhursts. She describes brushes with the law and the end of the struggle at the beginning of the First World War. After the war, Norah threw herself into the Girl Guide movement and local government.
Hear her story in her own words by downloading this podcast.
Northumberland Voices
Northumberland Archives actively collects oral histories to document the experiences of people living in the county. We hold a collection of recordings from the 1970s to the present day. Many more can be heard by visiting Northumberland Archives at Woodhorn or Berwick (see website below).
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At a meeting of Belford Rural District Council last Wednesday.
Colonel Leather enquired how the Council were going to get the money to carry out the housing scheme.
The Clerk explained that endeavour had been made to obtain the money locally, but so far he had had no replies from an advertisement asking for loans. If they failed to raise the money they could apply to the Ministry of Health, who would supply the money.
Colonel Leather – The Ministry will probably not give us the money. I propose we postpone the whole scheme for three months till we see whether we can get the money. Everything is cut and dried, but we are not committed to anything and the time has come for us to mark time. No businessman would go on with the scheme, why should the Council do so?
Mr Davidson seconded Colonel Leather’s proposal.
Dr Macaskie explained that all that was necessary if they could not raise the money locally was to apply to the Ministry of Health who would lend the money.
The Clerk – There is no fear of not getting the money.
Colonel Leather – Look how the Government tried to wriggle out of the agreement with the farmers about the price of corn. I move we delay matters till, we get a definite and satisfactory answer about the money.
On being put to the meeting the motion was caried unanimously.
Mr Hunter – Will the plans be laid before the Council to be passed?
The Clerk – The plans have been been passed.
Mr Hunter – The original plans have, been cut down to get cheaper houses. Things have been taken out of our hands. The Surveyor ought to see these new plans before approved.
Mr Clark – We are not providing the money and can’t grumble.
Mr Hunter – We will ultimately have to provide the money from the rates. It is not right for the houses to be built and the Surveyor not to see the plans.
Mr Davidson moved and Colonel Leather seconded that copies of specifications be submitted to the Council before any tenders were accepted. Agreed.
Sir E. C. Haggerston – If the tenders were accepted the firm could carry on, but Colonel Leather’s motion stops this.
Colonel Leather – It does not stop us going on with the details
WORKERS’ UNION MEETING AT NORHAM
How Changes in The Minimum rate will affect the Worker
At the branch meeting of Friday night, Mr. Borrell attended at the last moment, in the place of Councillor Buchan, who was unable to keep his appointment.
Asked as to the position of the wages in case of a change in the wages Board rates during the year, Mr. Borrell explained that if a man hired for say 51s or 52s per week, he would receive that wage throughout the year, even if the Agricultural wages Board rate fell.
If the Agricultural wages Board rate went up, the total difference between the rate he hired for and what was due to him under the Wages Board increases would have to be paid to him in a lump sum on May 12th, 1922, if it had not been paid previously. If, however, a man hired at the wages Board rate without specifying any figure his wage would naturally go up and down with that rate. He did not think there was any likelihood of a reduction in the wages Board rates. They had to find a subsistence basis, and they still stood much below other industries. There was only a slight reduction in the cost of living. The railways were 21 millions to the bad, and they would have higher transport charges. Coal was going up, and it was an important item in the farm workers’ budget. His house required a deal of warming, and his cooking arrangements were wasteful and extravagant of fuel. There was often a quantity of wet clothing to dry, which entailed the fire being kept up after the household had retired. He could see little prospect of any material lowering of their household expenses, and he urged them to put aside all thoughts of a reduction of wages as impractical at present.
BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS
THURSDAY
EXTENSION OF HOURS FOR DANCING OVERDONE.
Mr W. B. Dickinson applied for an extension of hours to 2.30 for the Good Templar Hall, on the occasion of a whist drive and dance on Thursday 17th, to be held by Berwick Cycling Club.
Sup. Halliday considered that the extension of hours for dances was overdone. If they got to 1a.m. that was quite long enough. Most of the people who went to the dances had to be up early in the morning for work. These applications were too frequent. In other districts the Magistrates were not granting extension after 12 p.m.
The Mayor — The dancing season is nearly over now. Mr Dickinson pointed out that formerly dancing used to be allowed to 3 and 4 a.m., without need for applying for extensions of licence. The Mayor — The Bench grant the licence on this occasion but will consider future applications.
SHOWMAN’S OFFENCE
James Ratcliffe, showman, was charged with failing to employ a third person to give assistance to drivers of horses if required while in Berwick on 2nd March, and with not having the weight of his wagon affixed.
Serg. Middlemass gave evidence, proving the charges. Superintendent Halliday said it was very important these regulations under the Locomotive and Highways Act should be carried out. He did not look upon the offence as serious but wished to bring to the notice of users of the road the fact that these regulations could not be broken with impunity. He would not press for a heavy penalty, only wishing to draw the attention of users of the road to the regulations. The defendant was a showman and had called at the Office stating he had to go to Kelso to secure his stance and could not appear. Fined 10s for each charge.
DRUNK IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR CYCLE
Robert G. Waugh, commercial traveller, 20 Fenkle Street, Alnwick, was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor cycle on the Old Bridge, Tweedmouth, on 4th March. Defendant did not appear, but wrote expressing regret, and stating he had had trouble with his clutch and had not had time for lunch.
The Mayor said the bench considered this a very serious case. A motor cycle was dangerous at any time, more so when in charge of a drunkman. In addition, the Old Bridge was a dangerous place. Fined the maximum penalty of £2 or 18 days.
We were reminiscing lately, about a time before the world went topsy turvey –
A warm day in August saw us venturing 6 miles west of Morpeth to explore the picturesque old village of Hartburn. It is a peaceful village hat has not been changed by any modern housing developments. We have often passed through Hartburn while roaming the typical rural winding roads of the county, but today was the day when we stopped off and took time to look around. We parked up in the car park that belongs to Saint Andrew’s Church. As I went to put our contribution into the honesty box at the opening of the carpark, I was delighted to see a bonny thrush on the grass verge close by.
We made our way across the road and then through a little gate that led us into the lush green grounds of the impressive 11th century, Grade 1 listed building of Saint Andrew’s Church. Walking around the perimeter of the church we stared upwards, noticing how the gentle light played on the beautiful stained-glass that relayed various religious teachings in some of the windows that decorated the building. Many of the well-preserved headstones surrounding the church were highly decorated with reminders to the living of the fragility of mortality. Stone carved cherubs, skull and cross bones, hourglasses etc., were enhanced with small colonies of lichen and mosses.
After a while we returned to the road and continued with our walk which led us to the site of the Hartburn War Memorial. A typical war cross design, proudly standing on its chunky base on a grass triangle of grass in the heart of the village. The main inscription read “PASS FRIEND ALL IS WELL, 1914 HARTBURN 1919” and “1939 HARTBURN 1945”, was also engraved into the stone.
The sleepy old village around us has few buildings. The charming houses and cottages with their well-loved gardens, seem to huddle together on top of the woodland banks of the Hart burn. We passed a tall building of a house that was part Gothic style, noticing the steep stone steps outside led up to an entrance door situated on the middle floor. The other side of the building looked like part of a tower. Its sandy coloured walls were crowned with deteriorating crenellations.
Walking carefully now along the very narrow footpath by the side of the main road, towards the farthest end of the village, we could hear the tumbling water of the burn down below us, winding its way through a typical British woodland. Eventually we spotted an opening in the hedge. We passed through and we were greeted by an elaborate affair of a stone footbridge that seemed to be there just for effect! The track that we chose to follow along the burn side, was steep and well-worn.
Once we were on a more substantial trail, we were aware of how peaceful it was within the protection of the trees. The sunlight was filtered as it reached the ground. We could hear the rustling of a blackbird as it scratched around the undergrowth, searching for insects or if it was lucky, a worm or two. The smaller birds continued with their business of flitting to and fro, calling out to one another. The effect was instantly soothing and encouraged us to slow down in order to take in more of our surroundings. We ventured on, not really speaking to each other, caught up in the sense of the place. The burn banks twisted and turned. The cool water only stopping to pool in the deeper intervals along its journey. A male pheasant called out in the distance across the nearby fields.
We came to a stop. What was this? We stood silent together staring up at a strange occurrence in the steep cliff. We turned and looked at each other, then returned in silence once again to stare in amazement at what? We did not know what to call what we saw. What we were looking at certainly was not what we expected to find in this setting. A cave, a tomb, an opening, a recess? Whatever it was we were stunned to come across it, carved into the rocky crag towering us. What a find!
Mother nature had taken on the task of decorating the opening into this place with a mixture grasses and ferns. One minute ago, we were walking along in lush woodland and the next were transported to a jungle setting complete with some long-lost shrine.
High above us fingers of ivy climbed, trying to lay claim to two empty spaces or shelves.
The dark opening, a portal of a doorway space was inviting us in. We were wary though. As we ventured closer, we became a bit braver. Peeping through into the gloom beyond the entrance we could just make out a Gothic style stone archway. It was at this point we decided that we just had to enter the sleepy chamber.
We switched our mobile phones onto ‘torch’ mode (not because we were scared you understand!) to light our way into who knows what? Wow! Old leaves had found their way in before us and resembled a sepia-coloured welcome mat, the still air smelled musty and the place was created into room like spaces. A high ceiling gave a spiritual feeling, as though we were about to enter a chapel or a temple. To our right was a large lintel topped fireplace, yes, a fireplace built into the wall of dressed stone. We looked at it in disbelief but the fireplace just stared blankly back as though it had the right to be there and not us.
Above the cavity of the Gothic style arched doorway were two vertical openings that resembled arrow slits. The deteriorating walls were part green with age.
Loose stone was scattered among debris in dark musty corners. Some not so kindly visitors had left litter, empty packets, a broken plastic chair and empty tea lights strewn around. These man-made items looked strangely out of place, alien like.
Outside in daylight again we wondered when, why and who had constructed such a rare enchanting place? With the rock face behind us now, we had missed seeing a short low tunnel with a flagged roof going under the path, from the secret bower leading down to the river’s edge. What went on here?
The day was marching on and we were impatient to return home, put the kettle on and settle down to do some research on our finds.
I gathered this information from Wikipedia:
Hartburn Grotto, as it is known, is a Grade II listed building. It is a cave, constructed and modified by Dr. John Sharpe who was vicar of Hartburn in the 18th century, as a resting place and changing area for ladies who wished to bathe in the river. The tunnel running under the path, would have been larger at that time and was used as a throughfare allowing bathers to discreetly access the river’s edge where they would emerge on the banks of river.
Dr. John Sharpe also built the crenellated Tower House that overlooks Hartburn Glebe. It was built in 1745, as a village school and also used to stable the parish hearse. The north face of the house is built in an 18th-century Gothic style whilst the south face, with its stairs up the outside, resembles a large Northumbrian bastle house.
The Hartburn War Memorial was designed by famous architect Sir Edward Lutyens to his War Cross design. Commissioned by Mr and Mrs Straker of Angerton Hall, Northumberland, whose gardens Lutyens renovated in 1904. It is a Grade II listed building.
Hartburn Glebe is a small area of woodland under the care of The Woodland Trust. The woodland is an important part of the landscape and community of Hartburn. It is well maintained. The ancient site has been replanted with numerous specimens including oak, beech, lime, cherry, lime, sycamore and blocks of Scots pine and Douglas fir.
Northumberland Archives, EP 151/45 Church Warden’s accounts and vestry book includes rules for use of parish hearse (1799).
