BERWICK ADVERTISER, 23 JANUARY 1920

24/01/2020 by Northumberland Archives

THE CLOSING OF THE SCHOOLS

Berwick Elementary Schools have been closed as follows during the last fifteen months:-

October 22nd, 1918 to January 6th, 1919 – Closed for influenza

Mid – February, 1919 to 17th March – Closed for influenza. Bell Tower Infant School closed for another fortnight.

April 14th to May 12th – Tweedmouth Infants’ School closed for measles.

September, 1919 – Extra week’s holiday for the conclusion of the war.

December 10th, onwards – Closed for scarlet fever.

We don’t wish to suggest that anyone is to blame for this, but when to these periods are added the regular holidays and the absences from school due to individual cases of illness, it will be seen that – to put it at its lowest – the town is paying away a great deal of money for nothing. We suggest that the public and the teachers should consider whether some means cannot be found of avoiding this serious loss.

HOLY ISLAND

WHERE ST. CUTHBERT LIVED- ON FAR LINDISFARNE

The “Sphere” of December 20th contains the following interesting article:- “Lindisfarne Castle, on Holy Island, is one of the many historic places in the market to be sold, with all its furniture and pictures. It was thoroughly restored a few years ago, after a long period of neglect and is now a most attractive and interesting property. It is situated on a basaltic stone forming the promontory of the little harbour of Holy Island where the small fishing boats gather for their trade in crabs, lobsters and periwinkles. The island has a romantic history, having been the seat of earliest Christianity in the north of England. In 635 A.D., Aidan, the Irish monk from Iona, came to Holy Island at the request of King Oswald to teach the heathen Northerners the precepts of Christianity. He established himself on Holy Island, probably appreciating its similarity to his old home of Iona, and also its nearness to Bamburgh, the Royal seat of King Oswald. Men flocked to hear him preach and his success was tremendous, 15,000 being baptized in seven days. The most famous of his successors was the austere St. Cuthbert, who retired after two years of holding the Bishopric, to his hermit’s cell on one of the Farne Islands. When he died, shortly afterwards, from the severity of his self-inflicted penance, he was buried beside the altar on Holy Island. But his body was not permitted to remain in peace, and was constantly shifted during troubled period of the Middlle Ages, till it now rests in Durham Cathedral. His body was hurriedly removed from Lindisfarne when the marauding Danes attacked the Island in the ninth century, and the Monks had to flee, carrying the body of their revered saint in a wooden coffin.

A photograph of Holy Island Castle taken from the ruins of the Priory, in the early-mid 20th century.
Ref: BRO 1865-12

“The Danes robbed and destroyed the Church and Monastery, leaving the place in utter desolation. It was not till 200 years later that a new Priory was erected, whose remains are to be seen today. The foundations were laid in 1093, the architect being a monk from Durham, who designed a beautiful cruciform Norman church, built of a warm red sandstone. The church remained almost unaltered till the Dissolution of the Monastries brought the inevitable destruction, but the ruins of today are eloquent of the dignity of the 12th century Benedictine Church. The centre tower stood till the middle of the 18th century, only a delicate slender arch over the transept crossing remaining to remind us of what had once stood there. The western end, with its 2 towers and fine Norman doorway, is in course of careful restoration. The cylindrical columns of the nave are of the sturdy Norman type, signalised by sunken zigzag mouldings cut across the piers. The ground plan of the monastic buildings remain in a very complete form, so that it is possible to trace out the whole structure of a Benedictine priory with its cloistered garth, chapter house, dormitory, parlour, prior’s hall, kitchen, bakehouse, and their offices.

The article has 5 illustrations:-Central Holy Island Castle-now for sale. The castle occupied a rocky buff and is here seen from the ruins of the domestic part of the Priory.

2. Repairing the West doorway. (The Abbey doorway is now under repair by the Office of Works) – scaffolding erected to do the work is shown.

3. A fine Norman pillar, with zig-zag ornaments which connect it with Durham, which has similar columns.

4. In the ruined Nave- showing the stout Norman pillars and north aisle, now open to the winds.

5. The flying Arch over the tower crossing of the Priory Church, which still defies the gales from the North sea.

OLD SPITTAL

A correspondent writes:- Mr Borthwick’s lecture on “Old Spittal,” brought together an audience which completely filled St Paul’s Hall- a testimony not only to the ability of the lecturer, but of the esteem in which he is held by the inhabitants of Spittal.

OLD SPITTAL- THE LECTURE

Mr Borthwick said perhaps a more suitable title for his lecture would have been “How Spittal Began.” A brief revisal of the general history of England led up to the first authentic mention of Spittal. When the Tweed first became the boundary between England and Scotland in 1018 or 1020, the salmon fishery at Hallowstell belonged to the monks of Coldingham. King Edgar of Scotland, in 1097, granted a charter to Hallowstell, and presented it to the Bishop of Durham, who gifted it to the monks of Holy Island. The word “stell” means a fixed place. When the monks came into possession of the fishery they hallowed it, hence the name Hallowstell. Both words are Anglo-Saxon, and the fishery was probably known long before we have any recorded mention of it.

About the time the charter was granted to Hallowstell, leprosy was common, and a hospital for lepers was built at Spittal, and dedicated to St. Bartholomew. It stood on the ground now occupied by Messrs Boston’s herring curing yard and the boat-building yard.

An early 20th century photograph of the Sandstell area at Spittal. Bostons Yard where the hospital for lepers once stood can be seen behind the five fishing boats on the beach. Ref: BRO 1887-2-2

It extended across the street and up the north side of Princes Street to the Well Road. It must have been fairly rich and of considerable dimensions, because in 1226 the revenues for the up keep of the hospital were derived from lands at Tweedmouth, Orde, Scremerstone, Fenwick, and other parishes. In 1234 the Bishop of Durham, when on a visit to Fenwick, confirmed all the gifts made to Spittal hospital. In 1362 the master of the hospital was John de Lowick, and in 1369 his successor Bather, owing to an increase of lawlessness, built peel tower for its protection. This tower was still standing as late as 1612, and was known as Bather Tower. Just before the dissolution of the monasteries, owing perhaps to slender revenues or defenceless situation, with Border thieves on both sides, the revenues of the hospital were transferred to Kepier, near Durham. On the dissolution of the monasteries, Spittal became the property of the King.

During one of the Border raids in 1547, a Scotsman named John Cockburn, Lord of Ormeston, guided a party of English raiders through the passes of the lowland hills, and was rewarded by Edward V1 with the lands of Spittal.

No trace of the old hospital remains. It was probably reduced to ruins about 1555, when the Border Abbeys of Melrose and Kelso were destroyed. In conclusion, the lecturer described the religious life of the Spittal people from the destruction of the old hospital till 1745, when the first Presbyterian Meeting House was built, on the site where now stands St. Paul’s Church.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 9 JANUARY 1920

23/01/202010/01/2020 by Northumberland Archives

NORHAM

The Old Year’s Night was spent in a very happy fashion at the Primitive Methodist Church. At 7 o’clock the Rev. C. L. Stowe (accompanied by the Rev. J. Crawford, Presbyterian minister) took charge of a delightful programme of vocal and instrumental music; which had been arranged in the interests of Home and Foreign Missions. The programme was sustained by Mr M. Mason (Scremerston) organist, Misses Mason, Davidson, Nelson, and Mrs Pardoe, soloists; Mr R. Smart, elocutionist. The concert was followed by a supper daintily set out by the Norham lady-workers, and generously provided by the villagers. Missionary services were continued on Sunday, January 4th, when the Rev. R. Banham, Deputation form West Africa, preached at 2.30, while Mr Pringle, of Longdyke, occupied the pulpit in the evening. Miss Nelson was the soloist on Sunday. The total proceeds of the Missionary effort amounted to about £12.

The children attending the Church Sunday School were entertained to tea on New Year’s Day in the Old School, when a most sumptuous repast was enjoyed by the youngsters. The good things for the festive board were kindly provided by the Hon. Mrs Askew Robertson, Mrs Roberson, Mrs Herriot, Miss Embleton, and Mrs Ritson. Miss Head, formerly of Norham, and at one time a Sunday School teacher, sent two lovely iced Christmas cakes for the occasion. After tea, games were indulged in, and in this way a very pleasant evening was spent, the children’s smiling faces and loud shouts of laughter showing how thoroughly they were enjoying themselves. On the call of the Vicar, three hearty cheers were given for all those ladies who had so kindly provided the tea, and for those who kindly given their assistance to make the evening an enjoyable one.

BERWICK AND DISTRICT

BACHELOR’S BALL

After a lapse of five years due to war conditions, Berwick and District Bachelors’ annual ball was held in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday evening. This Ball has for many years been always regarded as one of the most notable of social functions in Berwick. Of the original list of bachelors responsible for getting up the first ball held on January 15th, 1879, very few now survive, those being Messers A. L. Miller, T. Thompson, D. K. Gregson, T. Darling, and Sir F. D. Blake. Of these Mr Thos. Thompson is the sole survivor of the Committee of five.

Image from the Berwick Advertiser 4 December 1858, opening of the newly erected Corn Exchange, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Thanks to the artistic taste of Messrs John Crow and Son, decorators, the Corn Exchange, losing its everyday, business-like appearance, was transformed into a beautiful ball-room, the walls of which were panelled in pale blue and white. Special doorways leading to various ante-rooms were done in white and pink mouldings, with the Berwick coat of arms and the figures 1920 painted in pink.

Allan’s band was accommodated on a raised platform, tastefully decorated with pot plants, at the top end of the room. The whole effect of the ballroom was greatly enhanced by the electric light decorations, put up under the direction of Mr Barlow, Resident Engineer, Urban Electric Light Works. Intermingled with evergreens, strings of coloured lights were suspended from the roof girders, prettily coloured Chinese lanterns also appearing in the decorations round the room. A special staircase, draped in white and trails of ivy, was erected by Messrs J. Cockbburn and Son, from the floor of the ballroom to the gallery and thence to the supper room, which was tastefully laid out. The gallery, used as sitting out accommodation, was ornamented by fir trees. The two side-rooms downstairs were set out as refreshment rooms, the front entrance being transformed into a sitting-out rom, shade with soft crimson lights.

GLENDALE

COMRADES’ BALL

A very successful ball was held in the Drill Hall, Wooler, on Friday evening last, under the auspices of the Comrades of the Great War. Despite the numerous attractions in Wooler and District during the holiday season, over a hundred were present. The spacious hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion. High-class music was supplied by Allan’s Band, Berwick, and many encores were clamoured for. Comrades W. Dixon and T. Curle acted as M.C.’s. The supper was catered by Comrade J. Shilan, Temperance Hotel, Wooler, and as on previous occasions, to the satisfaction of all present. In addition to the supper oranges, apples and grapes were served out. Dancing was kept up with great vigour until 3.15 a.m., when reluctantly one and all wended their way homewards after a most pleasant evening.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

EVENING CLASSES FOR SOLDIERS

The Clerk read the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee, which, after having been in communication with the Scottish Command, the Registrar of Evening Classes, and the County Director, agreed to recommend that evening class instruction in Woodworking, etc., be given to soldiers, the cost of which would be defrayed by the Military, and that the classes be arranged for with the teachers

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report, saying this was going to be no expense for the Committee. Anything required would just be intended for. Agreed to.

The Clerk reported that, including arrears, the amount to be distributed to teachers under the County Scheme of Augmentation of Salaries was £1325 15s 5d, and this augmentation would be paid out with the December salaries.

LOCAL NEWS

In the past history of Berwick as a shipping centre one of the most outstanding names was that of Gowan, at whose ship-building yard on the Quay below the eight-gun battery, numerous vessels were constructed. Ship-building is carried out no longer in Berwick, and there are now no representatives of the Gowan family in the town. Some members of the family are, however, still connected with the ship-building trade elsewhere. Mr Arthur Byam Gown, as is well-known, is Managing Director of Palmer’s famous works on the Tyne.

BRO 1636-5-22. Berwick Quay and Docks early 19th Century

Others, we learn, are doing well in the colonies, where Mr John Miller Gowan runs a station in the River Nia, Australia. He married his cousin Estelle, a daughter of the late John Gown, of Melbourne, and has five sons and one daughter. The eldest son went to the front with the 17th Battalion and was in the Great Push in France – arriving just in time. The next boy is in the Bank of Australia in Henty, the younger ones being still at school. Another member of the family, also in Australia, is Mr Henry Flockhart, who follows the profession of a journalist, and whose mother was Miss S.L. Gown. He never can forget, he says, the happy days he spent in Berwick and Spittal, with fly-fishing up the Whitadder and kettles up the Tweed.

During the week some of the local coal dealers have experienced difficulty in getting enough coal to meet the demands of their customers. Many householders have been without coal, a state of affairs, which at this time of the year, is far from pleasant. Every effort to adjust supplies has been made by Mr Turnbull, the local Fuel Overseer, who has made a point of at once supplying the needs of households where there was sickness.

An early 20th century image of the former Scremerston Pit. BRO 0515-209

The shortage, which is not regarded as serious, is attributed to the recent three days holidays at the pits at Scremerston, when supplies were allowed to get behind. It is poor comfort to say that other districts are, and have been, much worse off, but with a pit two miles away, there is little fear of a serious shortage in Berwick and district. To help out supplies in the meantime, recourse has been had in some instances to wood as fuel, and the Overseer has also exercised his rights and commandeered two waggons of coal off the railway.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 19 DECEMBER 1919

20/12/2019 by Northumberland Archives

SCOTCH CHURCH 200TH ANNIVERSARY

DEDICATION OF MEMORIALS AT ST. ANDREWS

MAYOR AND COUNCIL ATTEND THE SERVICE

More than usual interest centred round the services of the Church of Scotland at Berwick on Sunday last, when after having been decorated and enhanced by the installation of electric light, the Church celebrated its 200th anniversary. Occasion was also taken to unveil memorial tablets to the members of the congregation who had fallen in the war, the Officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the K.O.S.B., and of the 2/10th Royal Scots, who during their stay in Berwick had worshipped in the Church.

THE UNVEILING

The ceremony was performed by Major McAlester who, in the course of his address, said there were three tablets to be unveiled that day to the glory of God and in memory of those had fallen. The first was in memory of the officers, N.C.O’s and men of the 2/10th Royal Scots who had fallen in the war: the second or central tablet in honour to those members of the congregation who had laid down their lives; and the third in memory of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the K.O.S.B. Of the Royal Scots he felt that he did not need to say more than that they were a Lowland Regiment, the first regiment of the line, with a long and honourable history of which the nation was proud. Of the 2/10^th battalion he could speak.

Still standing, St Andrew’s church (Church of Scotland), Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Author: mattbuck, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

On the 22nd October, 1914, this Battalion was raised at Bathgate, and from thence they proceeded to Berwick. They were in Berwick for three Christmases, and had the proud boast that of all the new battalions of this country’s Armies they were the best behaved. They had hoped to go overseas as a Battalion, but this was not to be, the battalion becoming a feeder. During the war they sent no less than 42 officers and 2,000 men to the fighting line. Many had gained honours in the war, and many, alas, had not returned, having fallen in the cause of Justice and Freedom. The second tablet was raised to the memory of the fallen of the congregation, those who had answered to call and returned not. In the list were the names of fathers, brothers, and sons of the congregation, and their loss had brought painfully home the calamity of war. It was no longer a fight in a foreign country. They had struggled for the existence of their own country and right- and right had triumphed.

ORD

Ord War Memorial Fund benefitted to the extent of £16 by a Block Test, in which competitors on payment of one shilling, were asked to guess the weight of a fat bullock fed by Mr Hogg, East Ord. The bullock, which weighed 83 stone 8lbs. was on exhibition in Sandgate, Berwick, on Saturday. There were four guesses within one pound of the weight. Mr John Turnbull, Berrington Lough, guessed 83st. 9lbs, 1lb. over, and Messrs M. Kirkup (Ord Moor) Geo. Douglas (East Ord), and C. J. Dixon ( Ord Gardens), all guessed 83st. 7lbs., 1 lb. under correct weight. Prizes of £3, £2, and £1 offered will be divided between these four, each getting 30s.

LOCAL NEWS

Under the new Education Act the duties in regard to the physical care and development of school children will be considerably enlarged. There are many recommendations as to how the physical welfare of the children might be secured. One of these is playgrounds for organised games; and some part of the playground attached to every school to be cemented or tar-paved for the purpose of physical exercises in the open air. Another suggestion is that in country schools, where the children mostly come from distant places, there should be some place provided where they could take meals under civilised conditions. At present, as far as children in elementary schools are concerned, we now spend in Northumberland over £200,000 per annum to supply teachers, and only £4,000 upon the physical welfare of the children. The establishment of clinics or dispensaries is also regarded as being necessary. At these clinics, in addition to such minor ailments as sore eyes, ringworm, scabies, and verminous conditions, attention would also be given to defective teeth, defects in eyesight, and diseases of the throat, nose and ear. It is further suggested that the county should be divided into districts and clinics established at certain centres, such as Alnwick, with sub-centres at such places in the northern part of the county as Berwick, Cornhill, Belford, and Wooler. The closest co-operation is also advocated between Child Welfare Committees and Health Visitors and School Medical Officers. By these means it is hoped to remedy physical defects in children, and so render their mental development more efficient. There is no doubt that children physically unfit cannot derive the same benefit from school attendance as those who are perfectly fit.

RESUSCITATION OF SHEPHERDS’ SUPPER

For several years prior to the war it was the custom to hold an annual supper in connection with the Belford Union and District Show, but if memory serves us right, this important function has been suspended since 1913. However, the Committee, having become pretty hopeful of the awful carnage being over, decided to resuscitate the supper, and on Thursday evening of last week this event took place in the Blue Hotel Assembly Room, when a company numbering approximately one hundred and twenty assembled in the old Hostelry to partake of the excellent supper catered by Mr and Mrs Davison. The room was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the tables were tastefully set out with floral and other decorations which, on entering, thrilled one with pleasure. Dr. Macdonald presided, and the first item on the programme being the supper. He wasted no time in opening the way for a commencement with the good things provided. After supper had been partaken of the Chairman proposed the toast of the King, and this was responded to by the singing of the National Anthem. A concertina solo by Mr Moody was next given, which called forth an encore. The toast of the Army, Navy, and Air Force was given and responded to by Mr Ross.

Then followed songs by Messrs Mountjoy and Moody. The toast of the Shepherds was given by the Chairman, and this Mr T. Hall responded to. Mr Mountjoy gave another song, and then Mr T. Hall, one of the joint secretaries read the financial report of the Show, which showed that there was a balance of £130 in hand. Mr Moody gave selections on the concertina, one-stringed fiddle, and mouth organ. Mr J. Guthrie followed with the toast of the Judges, and this was responded to by Mr H. Bowmer. A monologue, “The Coster’s Conversion,” was next given by Mr Mountjoy, and was followed by a toast, “The Farmers,” by Mr J. Clark, which was responded to by Mr Summerfeld. Mr J. Robinson gave “The Strangers,” and Mr Davison responded. An innovation, which caused no small degree of merriment, was given by Messrs Moody and Summerfield with a dancing dolly. By request, the Chairman proposed the health of the returned soldiers and sailors, and the toast was responded to by Mr D. Elliott. The Chairman then proposed votes of thanks to Mrs Davison, her staff of willing assistants, and all others who had taken part in making the event such a great success. The closing items were the singing of “God Save the King,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”

SPORT NEWS

A COMPLAINT FROM HOLY ISLAND

We have received a long letter from “Fairplay” in regard to the Holy Island – Rangers match protesting against the inference which he draws from our report on the game that Holy Island were guilty of rough play. He informs us “that the Islanders as a rule are very considerate in their play, and no doubt being young and strong, their strength has been taken for rough play instead of their being allowed full justice for their zeal and interest in the game.”

We accept the statement of our contributor that this may be partly responsible for the impression left with the majority who attended the match, but would point out to him that the rules of football are now specially framed to protect less strenuous players from the attacks of zealots whose strength over-balances their good judgment. A few of the islanders, just like members of other teams, are too prone to “take the man” when tackling, and this once introduced into a match leads to incidents which are not in the best interest of the game. As our correspondent “Fairplay” remarks, “they are young and strong,” and we trust with age they will learn to use the strength with which they are endowed legitimately. Holy Island, like many other young teams, would improve greatly in developing along scientific lines instead of following the doctrine of the survival of the fittest.

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