General

I’ve been sat here in my kitchen ‘office’ during lockdown doing a bit of time travelling for the County Archives. So no, they didn’t give me a Marty McFly DeLorean or that spinning thing Hermione Grainger has, or even an H.G. Wells time machine, but they did give me two beautiful hours in the company of Mr Robert Reay and his life memories, as recorded back in 1971 when he was 78 years old. In my efforts to transcribe these tapes, I have been to another time and place – time travelling between the cups of coffee and emails to a mining heritage so familiar to me as a miner’s daughter and yet so removed from the modern world in which we live.

In 1971 Mr Reay recorded his memories of living at Coxlodge, Northumberland (now City of Newcastle Upon Tyne) and working at Hazlerigg mine for the County Archivist, Mr Robin Gard in the front room of Mr Reay’s house at 24 Mary Agnes Street, Coxlodge. His soft Pitman accent, alive with Northumbrian tones and rolling ‘r’s invites us into the near past to explore the everyday lives of our colliery forebearers.

Working man and boy in the mines, Mr Reay relates his memories of over 50 years of unprecedented change in the colliery villages of south east Northumberland. He recalls his life in vivid colour, leading us through the day-to-day of the colliery before and just after the First World War, describing the advent of mechanisation and the hopes of a new dawn that nationalisation promised. Through his warm dusty words we meet this mother and glimpse the difficult life a colliery wife led and his father who links us to earlier times in the mines of Seaton Delaval and Seghill. He shows us the shadows of men and boys in the underground lamp light, working along side him to ‘hew’ (hand digging coal) and ‘put’ (transporting tubs of coal from the coal face) the black gold that fuelled England’s place in the world.

We see the lost streets of Coxlodge Colliery through Mr Reay’s bright descriptions of the buildings and people that made up this thriving village community. I had to go! Armed with an old map and sat-nav, I spent an afternoon circling the streets and avenues of a now suburban Coxlodge, imagining the farms, the brickyard, the fields, the mine yards, the stone quarry and the rows of colliery dwellings that vanished under the spread of ’50s and ’60s housing development. Glimpses of old Coxlodge are still there if you are willing to look. Tantalising road names that echo earlier days – Regent Farm Road and Jubilee Road, reminders of the Regent and Jubilee pits sunk in the early 19th century and heralding the start of Coxlodge village. The Trap, the Coxlodge Inn public house, is still there on Kenton Road; a grand old establishment that was in Mr Reay’s earlier days the life blood of the colliery community, now shut up and showing signs of vandalisation and decay. And then, surprisingly and delightfully, tucked away amongst Coxlodge’s anonymous ’60s and ’70s developments, hidden from the modern world by the back wall of St Nicholas’ Hospital, is Mary Agnes Street, Mr Reay’s colliery row home from boyhood. There stands this neat little terrace, unchanged as the concrete world of the Newcastle’s suburbs engulfed it and looking very much like it probably did on that day back in 1971 that the County Activist and tape recorder came to call. A pocket of colliery history in the midst of a rainy suburban landscape – I could almost see the young Mr Reay racing through his front door, hoping to beat his brothers home to be first in the tin bath – or wiping tired sleep from his eyes as he set off in the early morning with bottle and bait in hand to catch the wagon-way down to Hazlerigg mine. And in concluding my Coxlodge adventure, it was lovely to realise that the final words on the tape, Mr Reay’s parting hopes, came true – Mary Agnes Street was reprieved from demolition to survive as a token of the world he knew.

So thank you Mr Robert Reay, miner of Coxlodge, for the chance to spend some time in your world. It’s 50 years since that tape recorder clicked on to record your words. We became such good friends, I couldn’t bring myself to look up the day you passed away – but bless you Mr Reay and know that your memories of Coxlodge and Hazlerigg, Seaton Delaval and Seghill are cherished in the County Archives so that the world you knew stays with us; a heritage in which we are proud.

The traditional image of Christmas Day in the workhouse is of inmates sitting down to beef and plum pudding. Reports in local newspapers confirmed this but also highlighted that there were many more treats and gifts provided by local shop keepers and wealthy patrons.  

The Morpeth Herald reported that Alnwick workhouse enjoyed a happy Christmas in 1888. There was the usual dinner of beef and plum pudding, but residents were also given sweets. Smokers were gifted tobacco and those who didn’t smoke received tea and sugar. All children received sweetmeats and oranges. In the evening, all inmates were treated to tea with fruit and cakes which was followed by musical entertainment. The children received toys, cakes and buns and all the older inmates were given a glass of punch at the close of the evening. 

In December 1903, there was a lovely treat for the younger members of Alnwick workhouse. Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland gave an afternoon tea and gifted a Christmas tree to the children. The tea took place in St. Michael’s Guild Room in Alnwick and 25 children were present under the supervision of the Matron and the School Superintendent. They had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and received gifts of sweets and toys. Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland and the Ladies Margaret and Victoria were present during the festivities. 

In 1904, to go with the beef and plum pudding, Alnwick inmates also feasted on mutton, pork and mince pies. Half a barrel of ale was supplied by the Alnwick Brewery Company and Messrs T. Dixon & Son, Confectioners, supplied all the children with sweets. In the afternoon all residents were entertained to a nice tea. The Duke’s forester sent evergreens for the adornment of the dining hall and Mrs Bosanquet of Rock Hall sent a Christmas letter conveying seasonal greetings and words of encouragement and hope for the future. The ladies Margaret and Victoria Percy gave presents of cake, tobacco and flowers. 

The Morpeth Herald reported that Christmas 1864 was a very happy one in Morpeth workhouse. A Christmas tree was exhibited for the entertainment of the children and was laden with oranges, apples and sweetmeats of various kinds. After they had feasted on the pretty vision of the tree, the fruits were distributed to the excited infants.  Mr Robert Oliver, baker of the town, proudly presented each inmate with a piece of his ’monster loaf’. In 1888, the Christmas beef was described as ‘prime’ beef and this was accompanied by an abundance of vegetables. A full barrel of beer was supplied and pretty plants decorated the dining tables. The Rector gave Christmas cards and each inmate received a Christmas letter from the Young Women’s Christian Association. 

The Hexham Courant reported on workhouses in Hexham, Rothbury and Haltwhistle. In 1877, the children of Hexham workhouse enjoyed a treat of tea and oranges provided by the Waddilove family of the parish. The festivities took place in the boys school room which was decorated in a neat and tasteful manner with holly, evergreens and Chinese lanterns. On Christmas Day, the Hexham inmates received an unexpected treat after lunch. The band of the Hexham Rifle Corps, on their way back from a performance, entered the workhouse yard and to the great delight of inmates played a selection of music ending with Auld Lang Syne. The following year, it was agreed by the Hexham Guardians to give the inmates a tea on New Years Day instead of beer with their Christmas Dinner. This was readily welcomed by all. 

In 1889, residents of Haltwhistle workhouse were reported to have received their usual Christmas breakfast treat of fruit loaf, cheese, tea and coffee. Dinner was the usual beef and plum pudding then after the meal there was entertainment in the dining room which had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. Inmates were treated to a performance of Little Red Riding Hood by Miss Saint’s Sunday School class. After the show there was singing and dancing then a tea similar to breakfast finished off the lovely day. 

On Christmas Eve in 1904, all inmates in Rothbury workhouse had an excellent tea and the smokers were given tobacco. On Christmas Day all the children received toys, and cakes were supplied as an extra treat for tea. Mr & Mrs Donkin of Haw Hill presented each inmate with half a pound of tea and sugar and gave tobacco to the smokers. Mrs Blackett-Ord sent two parcels of tea, shawls for the old women and toys for the children. 

The case books record many sad and tragic stories but the most heartbreaking are the entries for children. Although they made up a small percentage of patients, it is important to remember that children were admitted and were often there for many years. Some were discharged but sadly, some died in the asylum. 

Entries in the case books often label young children as idiots and class them as dangerous to others. Many suffered from epilepsy and had severe fits so were placed in the asylum as parents were unable to look after them. The patients below were extracted from the male case books. Female admissions will feature in a future blog.  

Patient 1  Age 9  This child was admitted on 13 February 1893 as a result of epilepsy. He is classed as dangerous to others due to a habit of biting and scratching. He has a wild and vacant stare and is constantly rolling his head and eyes. He is unable to articulate words, shouts for no apparent reason and laughs in an idiotic fashion. His mother states he has taken fits since he was three years old. He constantly tried to bite and scratch other children in his household and would often put faeces in his mouth and try to eat scrap metal and paint. When his mother was pregnant, she received a shock and she believes this resulted in her child becoming mentally unstable.   Ward doctors note that this boy labours under idiocy and has almost no intelligence. On 14 February 1893, he was on an observation ward but on 23 February he is transferred to the female ward. It is noted that he is a big favourite with the women and is a great pet. By 6 March, he is having frequent fits and not sleeping well. He is regularly given Chloral to keep him quiet. By August he is classed as a chronic case and is having to be looked after like a baby.  Although his condition does not improve, this boy was discharged on 17 December 1894.

Patient 2  Age 14    This boy entered the asylum on 12 February 1893. His behaviour at home has become increasingly worrying and there are fears for the safety of the family. He set fire to clothing in a wardrobe, hit his brother and threatened his mother with a knife. After speaking to his mother, the ward doctor discovered that the boys destructive and violent behaviour started a week ago and concludes it is probably due to shock after the recent death of his father.  Once on the ward, staff struggle to keep the boy in bed. He constantly mutters and talks incoherently. He is always running about, shouting and making a great noise. He likes to sing loudly and laugh to himself. He is quite incapable of rational conversation. On the 8 March 1893, it is noted that he cut his wrist after putting his arm through a window. By 13 June 1894, his notes state that he labours under chronic mania with occasional stupor. By the next month he has stopped eating and lies quietly in bed. He shuts his teeth tight so food can’t be slotted through them.    This young boy sadly died on 16 July 1894. The cause of death is noted as General Paralysis.

Patient 3  Age 9  This young boy was admitted on 7 October 1915. He is classed as an idiot with epilepsy who is restless and screams. He is unable to talk and doesn’t seem to understand what is said to him. He father states that he is dangerous as he takes severe fits and needs to be tied to a chair to stop him from injuring his little brother.  On admission, the doctor notes that the boy labours under idiocy with epilepsy and has no intelligence. He is unable to understand the simplest question and wets and soils himself. He is also unable able to feed himself.    This boy was only in the asylum for eight days and was discharged on 15 October 1915. His notes read discharged but not improved.

Patient 4  Aged 8  This young boy entered the asylum on 23 November 1896. The case book states that this congenital idiot with epilepsy is filthy in his habits and violent in his conduct. He is quite incapable of taking care of himself. Before entry to the asylum, he would often break furniture and injure other family members.   After admission, it is discovered that the boy loves music and enjoys being in the ballroom on occasions when dances are held. He constantly hops about waving his arms. He brightens up as soon as the music begins. His notes show that since admission in 1896, he has never had any fits but on 14 October 1898, he had his first attack in the asylum. These fits continue and in October 1901, doctors note that this imbecile shows no mental improvement. By 1905 the fits are more frequent resulting in the sad death of the boy on 11 August 1905 [aged 15].    An attendant responsible for the care of the young boy, provided a witness statement as a post mortem was requested. The attendant stated that the patient had a fit around 6.45pm on 10 August 1905 and fell forward onto the arm of a sofa. After the attack was over the boy seemed to have no pain so was put to bed. About 8.55pm he had another severe fit and the Medical Officer was summoned as the boy became unconscious. He remained this way until he passed away at 4am. The Assistant Medical Officer stated he was satisfied that there had been no violence towards the child from either attendants or patients. He believed the force of the fall had resulted in a rupture to the stomach owing to distension after the evening meal. A post mortem found a rupture on the stomach on the anterior surface, three inches in length.   The saddest part of the report reveals that the doctor believed that the boy did not indicate he was in any pain due to his feeble minded condition.