ANCIENT HOTEL IN THE MARKET

KING’S ARMS TO BE SOLD

For nearly two centuries the King’s Arms has been an institution in the town, and in view of the fact that the death of the owner (Mr Robert Evans) causes it to be again offered for sale we give a few notes on its past.

That it was a flourishing concern in the 18^th Century is recorded by Dr Fuller in his History of Berwick (17990. He says of it: “The King’s Arms Inn is situated about the middle of Hide Hill. The buildings are of hewn stone and very strong. The Inn is commodious, and from its being built on the top of the bank encourages the free circulation of air. The mail coach has always stopped here, and it is kept in readiness. The house is also connected with the High Flyer coach, and chaises are kept at this inn.”

In those days the proprietor was one named Mr George Dixon, and about the same time the Red Lion (in High Street), the Black Bull, and the Hen and Chickens (Sandgate) also did a lot of posting. Like its contemporary, the Red Lion (now the Ford Garage), the King’s Arms had large Assembly Rooms, and these in past years were the scene of many memorable gatherings.

BRO 0426-355 Hide Hill, showing the King’s Arms Hotel, Berwick-upon-Tweed

In the early days of last century Berwick’s Theatre was held there, and on the 6^th May, 1824, and succeeding days the public were invited to witness a reproduction of Cumberland’s “Wheel of Fortune.” There was no such thing as entertainment tax then, and the charges were:- Boxes, 3s; pit, 2s; and gallery, 1s. After the performance a certain Mr Johnston and others gave comic songs, the whole performance finishing up with a farce entitled “Love-a-la-Mode.” At that period the Mayor of Berwick was Mr David Logan, to whose family the hotel belonged for generations.

In the early “fifties” Charles Dickens, the famous novelist visited Berwick and gave a recital in the King’s Arms Assembly Rooms, we believe, entitled “Greta Expectations, “ which work, however, was not completed until 1857. Later, in the early “seventies,” Penny Readings” were held in the rooms very frequently, and were a most popular form of entertainment, the Assembly Rooms being filled to overflowing. The Landlord was then Mr John Carr (some of whose monogrammed silver plate is still in use in the hotel). His predecessors were Mr Davidson and Mr George Montgomery. Following the Carr family in the hotel came Mr Corrie. Mr Hugo Reneicke, and in June, 1919, the hotel came into the market. It was purchased by the landlord, Mr W. J. Dover, who, in September of the same year, sold the hotel to Mr Robert Evans, of Whitley Bay, a well-known north-country sportsman and hotel owner. Mr Evan’s died rather suddenly during the summer, and as a result the hotel is again being sold.

A number of people in the town are under the impression that Jenny Lind, the famous singer, once stayed at the King’s Arms while passing through the town, but, on authority of an old and worthy resident who died some years ago, we were informed that “the nightingale” put up at the Red Lion some 90 years or more ago, either about the March Hirings or Berwick Fair periods. The Duke of Albany, we understand, did out up for a night at the King’s Arms when passing through at the head of a regiment of horse to Edinburgh about 60 years ago.

Many famous public dinners have been held in the Assembly Rooms, which have been used for a variety of purposes. In the middle of last century the majority of the leading townspeople learned to dance there, when dancing classes and balls were frequently held. Before the Queen’s Rooms were built Mr W. Purves, auctioneer held his sales there also, and since then many estates have changed hands within the same place under the hammer of Mr Bolam, amongst these being in the outlying portions of the Corporation Estate.

The Assembly Rooms, which had fallen into a rather dilapidated state prior to Mr Evans taking over, have been re-decorated and made most comfortable and thoroughly up-to-date. The hotel, too, has been renovated and re-decorated, and in the last few years, under the management of Mr Scott, it had begun to regain some of its old-time glory.

CHILDREN’S COURT

Before T. M. Morrison, R. Boston, T. Purves, W. Hogarth, P.P. Boston, Theo. Bolus, Esqs. and Miss Henderson

DAMAGE BY CHILDREN

Two Tweedmouth boys aged seven and nine were charged with wilful damage to growing turnips, the property of Andrew Martin, farmer to the amount of 3s each. They pleaded guilty.

P.C. Lindsay said he saw the boys come through the “one tunnel” at the embankment. They entered Mr Martin’s field and each pulled a turnip which they stripped of the shaws. One boy ate his turnip and the other put his in his pocket.

Mark Anderson said within the last month damage amounting to £20 or £30 had been done by youngsters pulling up turnips and leaving them lying.

The bench retired to consider the case, and on their return the Chairman said they would be bound over in the sum of £5 for six months, the parents to pay costs 4s 3d. The Chairman said there was a lot of destruction going on and parents were really responsible for not exercising proper control. In future cases parents would be held responsible and the sentence would be a heavy one.

Another little Tweedmouth boy was charged with a similar offence. He pleaded guilty, and similar evidence having been led, the boy was bound over, his father being ordered to pay costs 4s 3d.

WILFUL DAMAGE TO SPITTAL SHELTER

A Spittal boy aged thirteen was charged with wilful damage to a wooden shelter at Spittal, the property of the Sanitary Authority, to the amount of £2 5s. He pleaded guilty.

Ellen Jamieson and Mary Sykes gave evidence that three boys were there. One of the boys took another boy’s foot and cracked a wooden panel, and defendant then took his foot and put it through the panel.

Mr Burn, joiner, said he estimated the damage at £2 5s. It certainly would take that to put the woodwork right.

The Bench retired, and on their return the Chairman said he wished it to be known that the Bench intended to put these cases of wilful damage down. He was ordered to pay the damage £2 5s, fined 5s, and costs 4s.

FEAR OF POVERTY

FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS’ APPEAL

The National farmers’ Union have addressed an important letter to employers’ representatives on Agricultural Conciliation Committees whose agreements are due to expire at an early date. It states that a conference had taken place between representatives of the Union and those of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and the Workers’ Union and all present appreciated that “The position of agriculture is disastrous, alike to the farmer and the farm worker, and it was realised that unless some alleviation can be found, poverty and misery face many whose livelihood has in the past been drawn from the land.

“It was agreed that a committee consisting of representatives of the Union and the two unions representing the workers should meet forthwith to consider the position generally and endeavour to formulate proposals to place before the Government for the relief of the industry.

FUTURE WAGE RATES

“It was further agreed that the Conciliation Committees should be asked to adjourn the consideration of the fixing of future wage rates and to recommend the payment of existing rates until September 30th in order that the joint committee of the organisations may have time to explore the serious problems which they will have to consider.”

It was pointed out that the letter had been shown to the representatives of the National Union of Agricultural Workers and the Workers’ Union, and the hope is expressed that the employers’ representatives on the Conciliation Committee will fall in with the suggestion, and that everything will be done to influence a united policy between the three unions.

SPORTS, AMUSEMENT, &C. SWIMMING

SCHOOL SQUADRON CHAMPIONSHIPS

The annual School’s Swimming Gala had to be postponed last Thursday afternoon on account of the bad weather. On Saturday afternoon the School’s squadron championships were decided, and weather conditions were much more favourable, and the water not too cold. There was a great muster of headmasters, teachers, scholars and others interested, and the encouraging cheers of the youngsters lining the banks or squatting on the roof of the bathing hut made the rocks ring with their heartiness. There were six teams entered for the boys “Askew Challenge Shield,” which St. Mary’s School held, but only three for the girls’ “Sergt. Major Hamilton Challenge Shield, “also held by St. Mary’s. Berwick Grammar School won easily in their heat and also in the final, when they beat St. Mary’s “A” team by fully two yards. The winning team included R. B. Richardson, who went up to the Grammar School this year and who swam in St. Mary’s winning team last year. The final was an excellent race, though the British School were handicapped by only having two representatives, one of the boys having to swim the pond twice. St. Mary’s made a fine effort to retain the shield, but Richardson was a little too much for Borthwick in the last lap.

Berwick Grammar School, Golden Square, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1927

The girls were very excited, and were off the mark before the signal was given, and owing to the cheers of their supporters were almost halfway across the pond before they heard the starter calling them back again. When they got going again it looked as if the National School “A” team were likely winners till the last journey across the pond when, amid great excitement. Peggy Richardson overhauled the National School girl only just in time to retain the shield for St. Mary’s for another year, winning by about a yard. She is a sister of the boy who swam for the Grammar School.

Mr Brotherton acted as honorary secretary in place of Mr T. Oliver, who was unable to be present, and also acted as starter. The Rev. S. E. R. Fenning and Capt. D. Hebenton acted as judges. At the close of the races the shields and prizes were presented by Mr Fenning, who was thanked for his services by Mr. A. Leach, headmaster of St. Mary’s School.

RIOT AT THE ALNWICK MARCH HIRING!

On Saturday, 6^th March 1875, a disturbance in the Angel Inn was to end with the death of a local man.

An auction poster advertising a sale to take place at The Angel Inn. *REF: NRO 11343/B/DAT*

The events that took place that afternoon were described by the Alnwick Mercury published on the 13^th March as ‘RIOT AT THE ALNWICK MARCH HIRING’.

March hiring’s were a common practice in England, it was a time for farmers to hire workers for the next twelve months. The 1875 hiring’s saw a great number of agricultural labourers arriving in Alnwick as well as large number of pitmen from the surrounding collieries. The Alnwick Mercury described that Saturday as “such a concourse evidently contained the elements of tumult and disorder; and what made matters worse was that there was more than the ordinary drunkenness, as the rain that fell heavily during great part of the day drove the people to resort to the public-houses to a much greater extent than would otherwise have been the case.”

The disturbance in the Angel Inn was down to two brothers, John and Thomas Waite. John Waite had been drinking in the Angel and was worse for the drink that he had consumed. The Alnwick Mercury reports that he behaved in a “riotous and noisy manner” in a downstairs room and even worse when he went upstairs. The article continues with “he was so violent that at length Mr (John) White, the landlord, sent for the police to put him out.” When the police arrived, they asked Waite to leave the premises but he refused and continued to act in a violent manner. Waite was taken hold of by the two constables with a view to eject him from the inn but as they walked down the stairs, he broke free and returned to the upstairs room. The constables recaptured him and this time were able to get him downstairs where he was pleaded with to go home quietly. Instead of doing so, Waite punched one of the constables, P C Robinson, causing him to stagger. Waite grappled with the constable and unable to shrug him off, P C Robinson drew his baton and struck Waite on the side of the head.

The constables then brought their prisoner out of the Angel Inn yard onto Fenkle Street with the intention to escort him to the police station on St. Michael’s Lane. To do this, they had to cross an open space which was crowded with people. It was at this stage that Thomas Waite grabbed his brother in an attempt to rescue him and a number of the crowd joined in to help him. The constables were able to hold onto their prisoner and tried to make their way through the drunken crowd. It was at this stage that Police Sergeant John Hately and two other constables made their way through the crowd to assist P C Robinson and P C Connell. The report states that the route to the police station was packed with almost two thousand people, most of whom were drunk and jostling the policemen. Due to the pressure of the crowd, the policemen and their prisoner were forced to the Shambles on the opposite side. It was here that John Waite was rescued from the police by his friends.

The police formed a line in front of John Dickman’s shop and wielding their batons, were able to clear a space in front of them. Not wanting to provoke the crowd further, Sergeant Hately decided that he and his men should make their way over to the entrance to the nearby Correction House Yard where they could more easily defend themselves should the need arise. Leading his men forward, Sergeant Hately found himself surrounded by the mob and whilst defending himself he fell to the ground, ashen faced. The constables rushed forward to assist but the jeering crowd made it difficult. P C Robinson was first to reach Hately and as he was trying to lift Hately to his feet, he was kicked and jostled by the drunken crowd. Eventually the constables were able to carry Hately and force their way to the police station. Medical assistance was called but to no avail, he was declared dead. The post mortem was held on Sunday, 7^th March by Dr A J Main who found no wounds on Hately’s body, but an examination of Hately’s heart found evidence that he had died of a heart attack. Sergeant John Hately left a widow and eight young children.

It was nearly 5 o’clock before the riotous crowd dispersed into smaller groups, both John and Thomas Waite were apprehended and taken to the cells in the police station. The next day, Monday 8^th March, saw both brothers in court where the magistrate, Mr H Lisle, ordered them to be remanded for eight days. The Waite brothers, together with six others were charged with assaulting and resisting Police Constables Robinson and Connell in their execution of their duty. All eight appeared in front of the town’s magistrates on Saturday, 20^th March and after hearing the evidence, John and Thomas Waite and the other six were all fined the sum of £10 with failure to pay would result in three months imprisonment. All paid their fines except for one, a Thomas Dunn, who was sent to prison.

A map showing the location of the Angel Inn as it was in 1827, forty-eight years before the riot.

This piece has been researched and produced by a volunteer working on the Dickson, Archer and Thorp Project. We would like to thank him for his work.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 26TH SEPTEMBER 1922