Josiah Wheatley

03/02/2021 by Northumberland Archives

History…..not that of kings and queens and battles and castles, but the every day history of every day Northumbrian folk seems to follow you round when you work in the Archives. I love it! You never feel lonely when you are treading in the shoes of those that have gone before. Last Saturday, Mr Josiah Wheatley of Bath Terrace, Blyth, born 1889 came for a walk with me around Newbiggin-by-the-Sea . We didn’t stop for coffee, all the cafés being closed of course, but we had a little mooch around the Church Point end and he showed me a thing or two.

I have been transcribing an audio recording of Mr Wheatley from 1971. He was born in Cambois, Northumberland and at the time of recording, was a grand old gentleman of 82 years of age. His father had worked the rope ferry at the mouth of the River Wansbeck, connecting Cambois to North Seaton in the days when the nearest bridge was 3 miles up river at Sheepwash. Mr Wheatley spent his entire life on or near the sea, first helping his dad on the rope ferry, then as crew and coxswain on the Cambois and Blyth lifeboats and finally as a ferryman guiding and tying up the ships that came in and out of a busy Blyth Harbour.

His tales of times long gone, of ship sails billowing in the wind, of coal keels leaving the Wansbeck and Blyth and of lifeboat crews rowing out into the fog are a truly delightful glimpse into our county’s relationship with the sea. Mr Wheatley had the sea in his veins and an unfathomable sea-dog accent to go with it. How best to get you close to his accent? Try imagining a good old pirate ‘ouh arrh Jim Lad’ with a heavy Northumbrian rolling brogue. Add in a generous sprinkling of mysterious nautical terms and you’ll start to see why I’ve been stuck transcribing this tape since well before Christmas.

One section that really perplexed me was Mr Wheatley’s timeline of three sailing ships wrecked in Newbiggin Bay around the year 1900. Mr Wheatley says, ‘there was a barque, The Haabet , a schooner, The Freeman’ and a brig, The F??????!!’. ‘Excuse me’ says I…’tricky one that Mr Wheatley’….so I listened again…and again….and again. First time I heard ‘The Ferric’, second time it sounded like ‘The Freak’. With nothing in the online records to helped me place this mysterious ship’s name, I called my son to listen. The ‘Faverham’ says he…’definitely The Faverham”. And then my husband. ‘The Berwick’, equally definite. And then my daughter Molly who confidentially declared the ship to be named ‘The Terry…or maybe The Fallon’. So despite knowing this ship had a German Captain with a big ginger beard, her mumbled name remained unsolved. I was ready to give it up and hope that better ears than mine would one day fill in the blank, but Mr Wheatley wasn’t quite finished with me yet.

Most weekends involve a family walk along the prom at Newbiggin and last weekend, we had to detour slightly around the Lifeboat House due to a cordoned off area on the beach. We wouldn’t normally walk up around that way, but I think Mr Wheatley was nudging me as there on the wall to the side of the old building, where they display the names of ships lost in the Bay, was my mystery!

Wrecked in 1900….’The Frederick’.

And I knew she was Mr Wheatley’s ship straight away. He’d been there at that call out. She was one of the three sailing ships that floundered in Newbiggin Bay in those stormy years at the turn of the last century, remembered by Mr Wheatley as the reason why Cambois got a new life-boat. From Bremenhaven, Germany she went ashore off North Blyth in a gale on the 22nd March 1900 and she was assisted by the Cambois Volunteer Watch.

I can add that story now. One of the men saved that wild and treacherous night had a big ginger beard!

Mrs. Keaney

01/02/2021 by Northumberland Archives

Myself and colleagues during this Lockdown have been given the task of summarising oral histories that are held at Northumberland Archives, making them more accessible to the members of the public. Through this I was introduced to Mrs. Keaney and the lives of the domestic servants and staff employed at Linden House, now Linden Hall, near Longhorsley.

At the time the property was owned by the Adamson family; Lieutenant-Colonel John George Adamson (referred to as the Colonel in the interview) had inherited the property from his father in 1911. He moved from Ireland to the House with his wife Lina, (Mrs. Adamson) and their two adult daughters (referred to as the Misses in the recording); Muriel Anne Pearl and Catherine Evelyn, known as Eve.

Mrs. Keaney was employed as Head Housemaid from about 1918. Her wage was £28, which was considered quite high especially compared to the others working in the House; she joined with experience, having previously worked in the homes of a gentleman farmer in Wooler and an ‘old man’ near Rothbury. She was Head Housemaid for two years, however, her connection with the House was much longer, her father had been a gardener and her husband was in charge of the home-farm.

Listening to Mrs. Keaney talk about the daily duties and routines, the uniforms, the ample food, sneaking back in after the doors were locked at 9pm, days that didn’t seem to end and competition with munitions factories for ‘girls’ transported me back to an earlier time. It was somewhat surprising, therefore, to learn that the house continued to be ran in much the same manner into the early 1960’s.

Employment at the House ended when she got married at the age of 24. When asked if she could have stayed longer, her response was that she had never really thought about it; she got married and left, it was just the way things were then.

Once married, Mrs. Keaney would help her husband on the farm, particularly in the dairy. She talks at length, and with some pride about her butter making skills. Mrs. Keaney stayed at Linden, in their cottage on the farm, raising six children, until her husband’s health deteriorated. Mr. Keaney had worked there for 43 years, and only ever took one holiday!

Linden House was sold to Mr. Liddell in 1963 after the death of the elder of the Adamson daughters, Muriel. The younger daughter, Eve, chose to remain in her London residence. The contents of the house sold of an auction; the oral history ends with Mrs. Keaney talking about the inventory for the furniture sale. After the sale of the property, the remaining household staff left.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 21ST JANUARY 1921

22/01/2021 by Northumberland Archives

HUNT BALL AT HAGGERSTON

The North Northumberland Hunt Ball at Haggerston Castle on Thursday evening last passed off very successfully. Over 300 were present, and the many coloured dresses of the ladies mingled with the huntsmen’s “pink” made a gay scene. Everyone was loud in praise of the excellent music of Archibald Joyce’s band, and the supper arrangements were generally voted splendid. This year the supper accommodation was increased by the provision of tables in the corridor near the dining-room. After dancing was over, the grounds, lit up with electricity, presented a busy scene, well over 100 motor cars waiting to convey the guests home.

There were some very beautiful dresses worn. Mrs Leyland was a stately figure in black velvet. Heavily draped in the skirt, the material was caught at the back to form the train, and the edges of the V-shaped bodice were jet-trimmed. The right shoulder was fastened with an ostrich pom-pom of shaded magenta, and a similar adornment clung to the left hip. A floating piece of black tulle hung from each shoulder, and the sleeves were of tulle, while diamond ornaments gave distinction to this beautiful toilette.

GLENDALE NOTES

WOOLER

There is every prospect of the Comrades’ ball again being a success. It will be held in the Archbold Hall tonight (Friday), Allan’s Band from Berwick will provide the music.

Invitations have been sent out for a whist drive and dance, the proceeds of which are to go towards providing a treat for the members of the Parish Church choir in the summer.

The weather keeps as changeable as ever. The week commenced mild and wet, but on Tuesday and Wednesday the wind was mainly from the N and NW which caused it to be much colder, but the return of sunshine was welcome.

SUCCESS OF A WOOLER DOG FANCIER

At the National Dog Show held in London on Wednesday, in the Border terrier Class, Mr John Strother’s bitch was awarded a first, a second and a championship. Mr Strother is to be congratulated on his success.

WOOLER WAR MEMORIAL

In order to assist the funds for the Wooler and District War Memorial the Belford Cinema Company are giving the entire proceeds of an exhibition of pictures to be held in the Archbold Hall on Wednesday next, 26th inst. Tickets may be had at the usual shops.

DR BARNARDO’S HOME

On Sunday last the Rev. T. L. Gomersall took the services in the Parish Church when he appealed on behalf of Dr Barnardo’s Homes, of which he is northern secretary. On Monday night a public meeting was held in the Archbold Hall at which the Rev. D. Mayes presided, there being a fair attendance.

The photograph above is the memorial to Dr Barnardo’s Children, in Tower Hamlets Cemetery, London. In 1921, the Rev. T. L. Gomersall, took the service in Wooler Parish Church, when he appealed on behalf of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes. © Copyright – Irid Escent. Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0.

Mr Gomersall was present and delivered an interesting address on the work carried on by the Barnardo Homes. The lecture was illustrated with lantern views. The lecturer expressed his gratitude for all that people in Wooler had done for the homes as they had always responded splendidly to their appeals. Owing to the extra cost of food, etc., they needed funds more than ever if they were to maintain the ever-open door. A collection was made on behalf of the Homes. The following sums were received on behalf of the above in connection with Mr. Gomersall’s visit to Wooler. Collections in Parish Church, £2 10s; collecting box, 14s; collection at meeting in the Hall, £3 10s. Total, £6 14s.

CHILDRENS COURT

WEDNESDAY

Before the Mayor, Chas. Forsyth, Alex. Darling, Thos. Wilson, Esqs., and Miss A. Henderson.

Eight Berwick boys were charged with playing football in Coxon’s Lane on Sunday, 9th Jany. All pleaded guilty. P.C. Latto said about four in the afternoon he saw the boys playing football in the street near Rampart House. He later visited the parents and told them their boys would be reported. The Superintendent said there were numerous complaints about boys playing football in the streets and several windows had been broken. There was no excuse for this conduct, as there were plenty of open spaces for the purpose of football round about the town. The mothers of several of the boys attended, and in reply to questions by the mayor, they said they boys had left home to go to – Nurse Evans’ Bible Class and they never heard anything about them until the police called and said they had been kicking a ball about. The Mayor delivered an admonition and lectured the offenders on Sunday observance. They were all dismissed on paying of costs – 4s each.

GUARD FALLS OUT OF A VAN

A rather peculiar accident occurred on the main line near Cockburnspath on Friday morning whereby James Burrell, a North British Railway goods guard, sustained injuries and suffered greatly from exposure.

It appears Burrell was looking out of his van when the “hill pilot” was giving the goods train of which he was guard, a “shove up” the hill near the distant signal at Cockburnspath. Whether the door of the van flew open or a rough shunt caused Burrell to lose his balance is not clear, but the fact remains that he was shot out of his van without anyone having observed the accident and the train proceeded to Berwick.

© Copyright – Ben Brooksbank. Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0.

It was only when the train checked through Berwick that Burrell was missed and immediately a light engine and van was sent north and various stations asked to send out search parties. Three hours after the accident Burrell was found lying on the lineside near Cockburnspath in an injured and exhausted condition. Medical aid was summoned from Dunbar and he was then brought on with all speed to Berwick, where he was admitted to the Infirmary. On examination it was found that he suffered from fractured ribs and minor injuries, but he was very much exhausted owing to the long period he had been exposed.

SPORT

TWEEDSIDE LEAGUE

Grindon United (h), 7; Horncliffe, 0.

A very exciting game was played before a small attendance of spectators at the Home Park, Grindon, when the United secured a glorious victory over Horncliffe. The visitors won the toss and decided to play with the sun in their favour. The homesters opened strongly, scoring two goals in the first five minutes. For a short time some mid-field play was witnessed. Graham once more proved himself an able leader and led some strong attacks against the visitors’ goal. At times the visitors attempted to raid the home goal, but their attacks were feeble, compared with those of the United, and seldom got past Brown, who gave a fine display. At half-time the score was: – Grindon, 4: Horncliffe,0.

On resuming Grindon pressed hard. Bell made some fine saves, but the ground being greasy caused bad shooting. The homesters kept pressing to the finish, and when the final whistle blew Horncliffe had to retire from the field beaten as above. The scorers were: – Graham (4), Waters, Wedderburn, Dalgliesh. The game was refereed by Mr J. Hume.

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