On 7 June 1897, Annie Mable Spencer of Greenhaugh Hall, Bellingham was brutally murdered by her husband John Cuthbert Spencer. The body of the 26 year old was found in the wood near the hall covered over with grass and branches from a fir tree. She died from wounds inflicted upon her with an adze [tool with an arched blade used for cutting or shaping large pieces of wood].
On the day of the murder, Mr Spencer had been working in a plantation about 400 yards from the hall. He had been cutting down trees for the purpose of making a new drive. Mr Spencer had asked Mr Foreman, his gamekeeper, to meet him in the woods at 6pm to discuss the renovations and help with felling the trees. Mrs Spencer was with her husband and after a short while they left the gamekeeper and went to look at a new pond before returning and informing him that they were going home for dinner.
When Mrs Spencer failed to appear for dinner at 7.30pm this alarmed the servants and by 9pm Sergeant Dobson from Bellingham police station received a telegram asking him to go to Greenhaugh Hall immediately. He was accompanied by P.C. Potts and P.C. Musgrove. When they arrived, Mrs Spencer was missing and Mr Spencer was plunging an adze up and down in a bucket of water.
Mr Foreman – Gamekeeper
Mr Foreman told police that when he spoke to Mr Spencer he was in an excited state and was talking wildly. He believed that his father was St. Michael and that he was St. John and said that his father had sent him a message instructing him to kill his wife.
John Peter Elliot – Doctor
Doctor Elliot visited the Spencer house on Monday 7 June about 7pm. He had attended Mr Spencer a few days earlier for insomnia. As neither Mr or Mrs Spencer were at home, the doctor waited about a quarter of an hour and was about to leave when he saw Mr Spencer coming towards the house from the direction of the wood. Dr Elliot waited for him in the smoking room and when he entered he could see that his hands, face and shirt front were wet. After a general conversation regarding his health, the doctor advised him to go away for a change of scene. Mr Spencer claimed that he was going to Newcastle with his wife the next morning and then on to Edinburgh where they intended to stay for two or three weeks. Dr Elliot noticed a large spot of blood on Spencer’s shirt cuff but when mentioned, he was told that it was from a scratch from his finger. The doctor was aware that Mr Spencer’s mental health had been a concern in the past and judging from his current behaviour, there was a fear that this could be a return of the insanity.
Arthur Patrick Brown – Doctor
Doctor Brown stated that he received a message on the night of 7 June to go to the Spencer house at Greenhaugh. A few minutes after his arrival at 10pm, Mrs Spencer’s dead body was brought to the house. The body was fully clothed and covered in blood. The doctor made an examination of the body and identified five wounds. The first wound was on the head above the left ear, wounding the cerebellum. The skull was fractured and all the blood vessels on that side of the neck had been severed. The next wound penetrated the brain and another damaged the frontal bone. There was also a fracture of the frontal bone. Two wounds were also discovered on the back both running longitudinally on the left of the spine, each about 4.5 inches long. Both these wounds penetrated the ribs.
The coroner claimed that this case was one of the most painful and extraordinary ones that he had seen for many years. John Cuthbert Spencer was later committed to trial. He was found to be insane and sent to Broadmoor.
The members then sat as a Town Council, Mr W. J. Bolam, Land Steward, being also present.
THE WAR MEMORIAL
The Clerk submitted the resolution regarding the War Memorial for Berwick, forwarded from the public meeting last week, in the name of the Mayor as Chairman, and delegating the question of a Memorial to the Town Council.
The Mayor said he was very grieved and very sorry at the termination of the War Memorial Committee. After the meeting last week he had determined not to let one hour pass till the matter was taken up again. It was up to those of us who had been kept in safety to erect a worthy Memorial to the men who had fallen. He moved that the Berwick Aldermen and Councillors be formed into a Committee with powers to add to their numbers, and take the work in hand. Councillor Darling seconded.
Mr Brewis, who thought at first that the Mayor’s motion was that the Town Council should take up the work of the War Memorial Committee and set up a Committee of its own for the purpose, said that it was no part of the duties of the Town Council to take over the management and disposal of voluntary subscriptions to a War Memorial. Last week’s meeting was held for subscribers only, and only 32 out of 1100 attended. No wonder Dr Mackay was bitterly disappointed. So would be every Berwick man who fought in the war. Berwick had failed where Tweedmouth and Spittal had succeeded. The Berwick War Memorial Committee should have had an alternative scheme ready, because they could not know that the ratepayers would agree to the removal of the Scotsgate. The ratepayers so far as he had been able to ascertain were against its removal, and against the rates being used for Memorial purposes. He knew of no other Town Council that had been requested to take over the work of a War Memorial Committee, and as he had stated, they were under no legal obligation to do so, and certainly under no moral obligation. The work of the Council was quite onerous enough already. At the meeting of subscribers on Wednesday last of the 32 who attended, 11 voted for the Town Council to take the Memorial in hand, and 9 against, leaving 12 who did not vote at all. Could the Mayor tell him if those 12 subscribers wished the Scotsgate removed or not, because one of the principal speakers at the meeting had asked him (Mr Brewis) months ago to strongly oppose its removal?
The Mayor – I am not in a position at the present time to answer that question.
Councillor Campbell – What was the spirit in which the motion was sent?
The Mayor – I am not answerable for the motives of other people.
Councillor Campbell maintained that the contentious spirit shown at the War Memorial meeting was not right. Col. Mackay had shown a different spirit.The handing over of the Memorial question to the Council was an endeavour to exploit the Council, who did not carry the Committee’s scheme to take down the Scotsgate. They were throwing the onus on the Town Council. He considered this was a matter for the subscribers. The Council had enough in hand already. As regards his own position, as his term of office expired shortly, he did not consider he was justified in becoming a member of the proposed new Committee. The decision of the War Memorial meeting of a majority of 2 on a vote of 20, was unfortunate.
Ald. Short stated there had been immense difficulties in the question of a Memorial for Berwick. Feeling had reached a rather high point. He considered the Mayor had had no alternative but to make the suggestion he did. The motion met with his (Alderman Short’s approval, but he suggested they ought to go further and take in the whole Town Council. They were all equally sorry for the loss of the men, and would all subscribe. If by becoming a subscriber they were qualified to be on the Committee he for one would certainly qualify. There had been 40 men on the Tweedmouth Committee, and everything had been very harmonious. He hoped they would all go heart and soul into the matter, and work as hard as they could to erect some worthy Memorial to the men who gave their lives.
Councillor Brewis stated there was no question of wishing to have the best Memorial. We were all at one about that (Hear, Hear).
Councillor Blench suggested that the Council join the other Committee, and work along with them, not to take the responsibility on their own shoulders.
Councillor Brewis – There is no other Committee.
Councillor Blench thought that if the suggestion was put before the old Committee they would agree. They were all anxious to complete the Memorial. If it had not been for the men who gave their lives, there would have been no Scotsgate, no Berwick standing today.
The Mayor drew attention to the fact that his motion did not confine the matter to the Council.
Councillor Dixon suggested that the Mayor had made his motion to get out of a difficulty. He thought the old Committee might be called together by invitation.
Councillor Darling stated in seconding the Mayor’s motion, his idea had been that the Council would form a nucleus to make a fresh start.
Councillor Brewis – That is not the application made.
The Mayor – We are not here to discuss the application but to find out the best way to erect the Memorial.
Councillor Wilson stated that there was no question that the mover of the motion at the Memorial meeting and his supporters meant the Town Council to take over the whole matter of the War Memorial. Personally he quite approved of the Mayor’s motion. But that was not the intention of the meeting. The Mayor had taken a wise path. This question of a Memorial should be above squabble. (Hear, hear.) It was far too delicate and solemn a matter. He suggested that the men and women be asked to help in this matter. He regretted the lack of tone at the Memorial meeting. (The Mayor- We all felt that). He thought the Council should not put their responsibility to one side, but shoulder it and make the Memorial a success.
Councillor Brewis pointed out that the whole of the members had come there that night with the same interpretation of the action of the Memorial meeting.
The Mayor – We are here to take steps to carry on the Memorial, not to do as someone else tells us.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
LOCAL NEWS
On Thursday morning last an accident occurred on the Old Bridge about 10.15 a.m. Two large motor wagons belonging to Messrs Johnson and Darling, and to Messrs Spring, fish curers, Berwick and Hull, colliding. There was very little damage done, but traffic was delayed for a short while.
A recent photogrpah of the Berwick Bridge (Old Bridge), where in August 1920 a number of incidents were recorded on the roadway. Copyright: Bill Harrison – (CC-BY-SA-2.0) – https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5593766
On the afternoon of the same day, while a woman was wheeling a perambulator across the Bridge, a pony and trap passing knocked the perambulator over, upsetting the two children in it. Fortunately the children were little the worse. The most regrettable part of the incident was that the party driving the trap did not consider it worth while to stop and enquire what damage had been done. On Friday two motor lorries again collided on the Bridge one of them having been in the smash the previous day.
BERWICK SANITARY AUTHORITY
Ald. Richardson drew attention to the absence of a urinal and a water closet at the Carr Rock. In those days when men came from all parts with herring boats, he thought it was the duty of the Authority to put this matter right at once.
The Mayor pointed out that the proper course for Ald. Richardson to have followed regarding this matter, was to have sent a complaint to the Town Clerk. The question could then have been put on the agenda. Otherwise time was put off, and members did not know what was coming before them. The matter was referred to the Works Committee with powers.
A early 1900s photogrpah of the Carr Rock, where in August 1920, there were complaints brought up at the Town Council meeting as to the state of the urinals. Ref: BRO 426 SL 83
Ald. Short asked how it was that for days there had been no water in the urinals and closets in Tweedmouth. People had come into his office complaining that the closets were dry.
The Surveyor stated that was the first he had heard of it. A man was paid to look after these things, and he had heard nothing from the man.
Councillor Edminson – Why do not the officials go themselves and see about it? There are a great many abuses that are not attended to? With all the officials Berwick should have been a little Paradise by now.
Ald. Short – The Surveyor is seldom in Tweedmouth to my knowledge. It is a very hazy recollection I have of seeing him the last time.
A good weather Sunday had us eager to get out of our town and explore. As we were still a little wary of going very far, we chose Mitford as our destination. A place so near yet we forget that some of our local villages can hold treasures that we still have to discover.
We took an indirect route to the village of Mitford, near Morpeth, Northumberland walking through the sun filtered woods and along the river, stopping at a few accessible places to throw smooth pebbles in to the water, trying to get them to ‘skip’ but failing as the dog wanted to splash about chasing after them. This is a great walk for dogs with lots for them to sniff at and explore.
The route eventually took us under a low bridge beneath the A1 and then it was a short climb up some wooden steps to reach the fields on the other side. The well worn path was easy to find, once more, leading us over a couple stiles and a small foot bridge. Finally we arrived at the rugged farmland area surrounding the Grade 1 listed historic monument. Mitford Castle is currently on the English heritage ‘At Risk’ Register’. Some works towards repairs and restoration have already been done. Its remains stand open to the elements, watching majestically over Mitford village.
The first impression we got of the existing ruins of the stone castle was that it must at one time have been a large and imposing building. Today it was standing there slowly crumbling away on a rocky ridge. The first thing that our dog (now back on the lead) noticed was ‘there are some lovely sheep smells here for me!’ This is a great site for nature and wildlife. Bees, insects and butterflies were in abundance. We found a safe place to sit amongst the decaying structure to have our little picnic. Sitting and reflecting in the tranquil atmosphere, taking our place in its layers of history.
Between walking around, exploring and taking photographs we tried to visualise where the doors, windows, towers etc. might have been. What went on here? Who were the important players in the unsettled years of Mitford Castle?
The Castle is said to date as far back as before 1072 when it would have only have been an earthwork fortress. Held by the De Mitford family, it was passed on through marriage into the ancient Bertram family. Earliest records of 1138 state that it was William Bertram’s ‘oppidum’. By 1215, the residing Bertrams strengthened it and it became a finished stone castle only to be seized by Scottish troops. Through time this castle experienced some desolate times as it became the target of continual Scottish raids and invasions. During the rebellion in Northumberland in the 1310s, poor Mitford Castle witnessed more unrest. In 1316 it was even used for kidnappings and as a prisoner hold.
After roaming around the grounds we then crossed the field at the base of the castle, keeping a watchful eye on where we put our feet so as not to step on nettles or wild flowers. But more importantly we tried not to disturb the local herd of sheep which acted indifferently to us anyway. We then made our way out of the castle grounds to check out the picturesque Saint Mary Magdalene Church. What turbulent scenes this parish church must have experienced over time being situated opposite to Mitford Castle!
