Berwick

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 15 OCTOBER 1920

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LONGRIDGE FURNITURE SALE

Moderate Prices for Fine Future

£1,000 For A Carpet

Mr Robert Donkin, auctioneer, Rothbury, acting in conjunction with Messrs Anderson and Garland, auctioneers, Newcastle, conducted the first day’s sale at Longridge on Tuesday, where in excellent weather, there was a large turnout of bidders, drawn from a wide area. Antique dealers from Edinburgh, Newcastle, Durham, Whitley Bay, and Berwick, along with a large assembly of district residents took part in the bidding, which was at times of a spirited description. While certain lots made good money others went comparatively cheaply. The highest figure of the day was given by Mrs Deuchant, of Middleton, who paid £1,000 for a large and beautiful pile carpet.

The effects were auctioneered in the large drawng room, and the work was gone through by Mr Donkin in his usual expeditious manner. The principal bures were Mr Hall, Newcastle; Mr Home, Whitley bay; Mr Dover, Berwick; Mr Nelson, Edinburgh; and Mr Jos. Ewart, Berwick. Mr Collingwood Thompson, jun., was also an extensive buyer. He got a beautiful ebonised Italian cabinet, richly inlaid with ivory and with enamel mounts, at £30. Mr Dover, Berwick, got a similar inlaid Italian secretaire at £34, and Mr Ewart became the owner of a fine china cabinet, with Dresden china pillars and panels, at £24. The Louis XV settee and fauteuils, upholstered in silk damask with carved and gilded frames, and also the window seats to match, went at £31 and £13 respectively to Mr Nelson, Edinburgh.

Time Line For Longridge Towers:

1875-1879

1875  – Foundation stone laid

Built by Sir Hubert and Lady Jerningham

Cost about £140,000

Coat of Arms in the entrance are for the Stafford Family

Family Home

1879 – completed

BRO 1944/LA9/25 Image dated 1969

1879-1920

House built by Sir Hubert & Lady Jerningham. Family home costings c 140,000 (c 6 ¾ million today). Foundations laid in 1875

1902

            Lady Jerningham dies & leaves property to husband for his lifetime

1914

            Sir Hubert dies 3 April

  • 1920- Estate sold and house bought by Collingwood Thompson for £6000
  • Apr 1924- Miss Gordon Smith moves her school from Berwick to here
  • 1938 – Miss Smith moves school to Ava Lodge
  • 1939-1945 Requisitioned by military
  • 1946- Purchased by Carr Rock Holiday Camp Co Ltd in Spittal to becomes a hotel
  • 1949-still a hotel
  • 1951- became a convent
  • 1983 – became Longridge Towers School

LOCAL NEWS

Coroner Peters held an inquest without a jury on Monday night touching the death of Andrew Hastie, the infant son of Mr James Hastie, 61 West End, Tweedmouth, who was found dead in bed beside his mother on Saturday morning. James Hastie, the father, said he last saw the child alive about 7.50 a.m., when it turned over in the bed beside its mother. He took some breakfast to the mother in bed about nine o’clock, and then noticed the child had not moved. He noticed it had a blue mark behind the ear, and when his wife asked him to sit beside the fire with it he observed that something was wrong, as the child never moved. He formed the opinion that it was dead, and, handing the child to his wife, he ran for his mother-in-law, at the same time sending a girl for the doctor. The child had never ailed a day previously. Dr T. P. Caverhill gave evidence of having conducted a post mortem examination. There were no marks of violence, and he found the thymus gland to be enlarged. This was the primary cause of death, as the pressure would produce convulsions. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

Berwick’s newly formed Opera Society met for practice in the Old Welcome Hall, high Street, on Wednesday evening. H.M.S. Pinafore is the work chosen for the winter’s session.

Speculation is still rife as to what the new owner of Longridge Towers ( Mr Collingwood Thompson, Jr.,) intends to do with the mansion house. Before anything is settled, the Berwick Town Council Housing Committee might do worse than make an offer for the stones of the mansion and use them for putting up some of the new houses in the town that are so badly wanted.

TWEEDMOUTH

Mr Calder, “Border View,” has bought Coldingham Law and will shortly be retiring from the Woodyard to take up farming.

The most interesting event of the week to Tweedmouth inhabitants has been the erection of the handsome War Memorial.

Tweedmouth War Memorial

The beautiful carved figure which crowns the monument was raised into position on Wednesday morning, and the work of erection is now complete, though there is still a good deal to do to the site. The memorial, to be unveiled on Sunday, 24th October, by Capt. Hon. W. J. M. Watson-Armstrong, looks very well in position, and will doubtless be greatly admired by everyone.

NORHAM AND ISLANDSHIRE RURAL

DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Rural District Council then met, with the addition of Dr McWhir, temporary medical Officer, and Mr J. R. Lake, Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector. In the absence of Mr J. R. Wood, Mr E. Waugh presided.

The Clerk intimated that the Finance Committee recommended that a rate of 1s 10d in the pound be levied for the half year. This was the same rate as last year. Special contributions were also asked from Holy Island, £10; Norham, £10; Shoreswood, £1. These were sealed.

Plans from the Haggerston estate for alterations to cottages at Fenwick were submitted as under:-

Four deaths have been registered in the district since the Council’s last monthly meeting. This represents an annual death rate of 9.98 per 1000. In view of the prevalence of small pox in Glasgow and of the frequency with which cases crop up in widely separated parts of the country, it may be well to point out that children who have never been vaccinated may be exposed to special risks during the approaching winter. It is a matter for regret that few adults in the district appear to have availed themselves of the Council’s offer of free vaccination; as the part played by vaccination in lessening the ravages of a particularly loathsome disease cannot be too strongly emphasized.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 30 APRIL 1920

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BRIGHTENING UP SPITTAL

Councillor Edminson asked if anything was going to be done for Spittal this year. The place wanted a little cleaning up before the visitors arrived. They wanted to brighten the place up somewhat. The shoulder of the “prom” was in a dilapidated state and there were some palings which needed attention. She also suggested that the tree-guards might have a coat of paint to freshen them up, and asked if anything was going to be done in levelling and cleaning up at the new Fish Quay.

The Mayor – That is for the Harbour Commissioners.

Councillor Edminson – It looks a very untidy place, and is very dilapidated. Situated at the entrance to the town, it does not help to attract visitors, and I think something might be done to clear the place up and make it pleasing to look at.

Councillor Hadley – Has the Sanitary Inspector anything to do with the filling up of the new quay.

The Mayor – He has to do with anything which is a nuisance.

Councillor Hadley – Then I would suggest that he takes a walk round there when he has time.

Mr Boyd said the last time he had visited the place there had been a nuisance, but it had been covered up by ashes. It was a regular tip for all manner of things. He did not think there was anything he could object to as a nuisance.

Councillor Edminson – It has an evil look and a terrible smell. (Laughter).

Ald. Boston – The Harbour Commissioners are taking it in hand.

Ald. Short – I think tonight we might endeavour to meet Mrs Edminson’s suggestion about the clearing up and painting.

The Mayor – Her remarks will be brought up at the Works Committee.

Ald. Short – I hope so. With our blessing. (Laughter)

Councillor Edminson – We have got our spring cleaning done inside, sir, and we want to get started cleaning outside. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)

URBAN SANITARY AUTHORITY

OVERCROWDING AT EAST ORD VILLAGE

At East Ord village, four cottages of a poor type, for which Mr Adam Scott, 6 Winchester Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne, acts as agent, call for attention. One of these – a wrenched single apartment hovel – shelters two adults and five children whose ages range from 2 to 9. There is no drainage.

With regard to these cottages, Mr Lake reported that the owner had died, and the present proprietrix was resident in America. A new agent, Mr A. Scott, Newcastle, had been appointed. Mr Wood recalled that many years ago, the late Dr Paxton had reported these cottages. It was agreed to draw the attention of the new agent to the defects.

OTHER COTTAGES

Two cottages owned by Miss Lilly, East Ord, present objectionable features. One, a single apartment dwelling, with a capacity of 2304 cubic feet, accommodates four inmates – two adults and two lads of 16 and 20 respectively. The second, which is of similar size, is occupied by two women, a young man, and a girl of 11. Dr McWhir drew attention to the fact that in this case the privies were 100 yards away from the cottages.

It was agreed to send these to the Housing Committee for consideration.

Several dingy, badly lighted dwellings are to be met with on the Green; and in one of the single apartment type, for which Mr James Simmons, East Ord, acts as agent, there are five occupants – a widow and four children, whose ages range from 6 and 16.

Mr Lake reported that this cottage belonged to a Miss MacDonald, residing in England, and Dr McWhir, while agreeing with Mr Wood that the over-crowding was not so serious as it might have been with persons from 18 to 20 years, yet condemned it from a moral point of view.

It was agreed to defer action to a later date.

ORD NOT A MODEL ENGLISH VILLAGE

To the traditional tidiness of the English village, East Ord can lay little claim. Five privies which belief their designation, occupy places of prominence on the Green, three ash-pits utilised by eleven tenants, and a quota of piggeries, hen houses, and coal houses are also dotted round this open space, that, with a little attention, might be made one of the best rural recreation grounds in North Northumberland.

REF: BRO 0426-1185 East Ord Village c.1900

Mr Wood did not think that the Council could interfere with the privies, as the people were allowed to erect them. The only ground for the Council to complain was if they constituted a nuisance, which Dr McWhir and Mr Lake said they certainly did, Mr Lake adding that in summer the privies were most objectionable. This question was referred back to the Medical Officer and Mr Lake.

LOCAL NEWS

At a meeting of the May Horse Procession Committee, held in Berwick on Monday night, it was decided not to hold the Horse Procession this year, in view of the fact that the Northumberland Agricultural Society are holding the County Show at Berwick this year. It was felt that too many calls would be made upon tradesmen in the town should they be asked to subscribe to the two objects. Cost of prizes having advanced so much it is possible that, should it be decided to hold the Procession next year, the event will be more on the lines of the Norham and Paxton games. The idea is to hold a show in the Fields and charge for admission, and it is also suggested the Show might be brightened by having jumping and driving competitions.

An interesting ceremony took place in the Girls’ C. of E. School, Parade, on Friday afternoon, when the Vicar, on behalf of the Managers, teachers and scholars of the School presented Miss A. D. Shields with a wedding gift consisting of a silver tea and coffee service. The Vicar and Headmistress (Miss M.R. Richardson) both spoke of the service so ably and ungrudgingly rendered by Miss Shields during her thirteen years’ connection with the School, and wished her much happiness in her future life. Miss Shields, in a charming little speech, expressed her thanks for the beautiful gift, and referred to the happy relations which had always existed between her and the other members of the staff. Hearty cheers were given by the scholars for Miss Shields and the Managers, several of whom were present, and the proceedings were concluded by the singing of the National Anthem. Teachers and scholars parted from Miss Shields with very real regret and their affection and hearty good wishes go with her into her new sphere of life.

HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT

SURVEY TO TAKE PLACE SHORTLY

An extraordinary meeting of the Berwick-on-Tweed Employment Committee was held in the Board Room of the Employment Exchange, Berwick, on Saturday, when Councillor W. J.Dixon presided. There were also in attendance The Mayor (Councillor T. Bolus), Messrs T. S. Elder, W. Joures, Jas. Kean, J. Makins, Geo. Martin, A. C. Parkes, R. C. Rennison, W. R. L. Blakiston, Divisional Controller, Newcastle, and Mr R. Tipping, secretary.

The object of the meeting was to prepare for the survey of the harbour, which is now definitely decided upon, and the Chairman intimated that a copy of the Department’s minute had now been received. It was in the following terms:-  “The Committee should be informed that a reply has now been received from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, who state that arrangements are at present being made for the conducting of surveying operations, which will be put in hand as soon as possible.”

In view of this official assurance, the Chairman proposed that a Sub-Committee be formed to meet the Government Surveyor when he arrived and lay all the information available at his disposal.

After discussion, it was unanimously agreed that the following Sub-Committee be appointed to meet the Surveyor if, and when required:- The Chairman ( Councillor W. J. Dixon), Councillor T. Bolus ( Mayor), Mr J. Makins, and Mr Geo. Martin.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 20 FEBRUARY 1920

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BERWICK SCHOOLS OPEN AGAIN

Everyone will be glad to know that the schoolchildren are back again to their work. A few weeks ago we drew attention to the educational loss which the town was suffering through the impossibility of keeping the schools open. One master says that he will feel the effects of the closure for five years to come-through the children having missed instruction in passing through their standards which it will be normally assumed they have had. Reckoning from the break-up for the summer holidays at the end of July, 1918, into February 14th, 1920, is 80 weeks. Of these 80 weeks, what with holiday as and Saturdays and Sundays, and what with illness, the schools have been closed as nearly as makes no matter 40 weeks.

A photograph of pupils and staff at Spittal County Primary School in 1921. A year earlier in 1920, some these pupils would have suffered an infection which necessitated the closure of all schools in the borough.

This is a matter which requires the combined consideration of the parents, the teachers, and the Education Committee. When we last wrote on the subject, some teachers seemed to consider that they were being blamed for their schools being closed. Nothing could be further from the truth. But teachers are more and more demanding, and rightly demanding, representation on Education Committees. They are the real educational experts of Berwick, and if this is not fully recognised at the moment, it will be before long. It is impossible to deal with such a serious problem as the closing of the schools without the help of the teachers. They themselves would be the last to claim that the only time they should be consulted by the Education Authority is when their own salaries are under consideration. The town will be the poorer if the teachers are not asked to share in joint control in everything that affects the education of their pupils.

We, therefore put before the Education Committee, the parents, and the teachers, the following suggestions for what they are worth. Firstly, is it not possible to reduce the risk of infection by spraying or disinfecting the schools, so that even if infectious a disease is about the school is about the safest place for the children to be in? Next, is it not possible when an epidemic is threatened, for each child to take part in breathing and gargling exercise first thing in the morning, much as if they were going thorough physical drill? The mouth and the nose are the parts of the body most sensitive to infection, and they can both be easily and systematically cleaned with a solution of permanganate of potash, if the teachers will look after it. The drill might take place in the play-ground. As time goes on the teachers will become more and more responsible for their pupils’ health. They will, we think, increase their knowledge of hygiene, and under medical supervision they could watch the children closely to detect the first symptoms of illness. Even without medical supervision they might as it is when an epidemic is threatened take their temperatures each morning. This might not be book learning, but it would be real education, which would never be forgotten. We only offer these as suggestions, in the hope that all concerned will apply their minds to keeping the schools open for the longest possible period each year.

There is one other matter which we have refrained from mentioning until the schools re-opened. It is absurd to close the schools and allow places of entertainment to remain open. It seems very hard on business enterprises that they should have receipts reduced by the children, who are valuable patrons, being locked out. The risk, however, can easily be insured against, and we recommend the Education Authority to issue a notice that, if there is another epidemic, places of entertainment as well as schools will have to be closed to the children. This is a matter which cannot be allowed to rest. The proprietors of places of entertainment must be given fair notice of what will happen, so that they may make preparations for it. They will pass the cost of insurance on to the public, and we are sure that the public will see that it is cheaper to pay the insurance bill than allow these places to keep open as possible centres of infection.

LOCAL NEWS

We draw our readers’ attention to the entertainment advertised for next Wednesday evening in aid of Berwick Infirmary. The work carried on there deserves to be more widely known. During the past months the patients admitted have frequently overtaxed the resources and additional beds have had to be obtained.

A current photograph of the front of Berwick Infirmary.  With the exception of the modern vehicles and signage, a similar scene would have been witnessed by those carrying out improvement work there in 1920.  © Copyright Rod Allday – Creative Commons Licence.

The Committee is thus face to face with increased establishment charges and present prices spell a higher cost of maintenance. It is to be hoped there will be a “bumper house.”

Lord Tweedmouth is running Boy Ben in the Waterloo Cup and was present at the banquet after the draw on Tuesday night. Boy Ben is an Australian dog, imported by Mrs Pape, but running as the nominee of Lord Tweedmouth. There have been many stories about his importation, though it was never intended that there should be any mystery about him. He was a fair performer in Australia, where all the coursing is in enclosures and, judged by the trails he has been given since his arrival in England, he is not at all likely to create a record by winning the Waterloo Cup for Australia. He is undeniably fast, but, like all enclosure dogs, he works his hare loosely, and does not run out his courses at all cleanly. He won his first course at any rate, as also did Mr J. R. Marshall’s nomination, Fullecourt.

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