BERWICK ADVERTISER, 14TH OCTOBER 1921

15/10/2021 by Northumberland Archives

HORNCLIFFE MEMORIAL HALL

OPENING CEREMONY

What may be termed as Horncliffe’s completion of her memorial schemes to her fallen sons was the opening of the Memorial Hall on Thursday. Favoured by delightful weather, there was a crowded attendance within the building when Mr Alec. Ritson, Thornton, declared it open in fitting terms.

There still remained a debt of £200 to be cleared off, however, and immediately after a sale of work, for which preparations have been going on for many months, followed. Business was very brisk during the afternoon, which augured well for the effort being successful.

Horncliffe War Memorial © Eric Musgrave (WMR-33471)

THE OPENING CEREMONY

Capt. F. C. H. Allenby, R. N., presided, and in calling upon Mr Thornton to declare the hut open, made fitting reference to those who had returned after enduring hardships for the sake of those at home. He mentioned that they had collected the sum of £583 to date for the Memorial and the Hut, and he hoped that at the end of the day they would be able to raise the greater part of the £200 to clear off the debt still standing on the building. They could not, he proceeded, have selected one more fitting than Mr Ritson to declare the Hall open. He was always willing to help and serve the community. He much regretted that he suffered from ill-health, but he had served his country to the best of his ability in the War. He knew he felt deeply he was unable to serve in the trenches. He remembered a service friend of his telling him that he wished all men would only do their duty in the sphere they were told off for, and Mr Ritson had always done his duty in his own sphere, rather than call on other people to do it. (Applause).

VISCOUNT GREY AT BERWICK

A LONG AND THOUGHTFUL SPEECH

For some weeks Berwick has been a centre of political interest, on account of Viscount Grey’s return to active politics in support of Mr Walter Runciman in his candidature for the Berwick-upon-Tweed Division, and on Monday night the Corn Exchange was filled with an audience drawn from all classes of opinion in the constituency. The daily and Sunday newspapers have been prophesying that Viscount Grey was to assume the leadership of the Independent Liberals, and again that he was to announce an alliance with Lord Robert Cecil. Neither of these things came off. The meeting was arranged in support of Mr Runciman, and the main thing that came out of Viscount Grey’s speech was that he was in entire sympathy with the Independent Liberals and Mr Runciman. Whether he will be able to remain in the background time will show. There was a large gathering on the platform, and the list we give of those present will also be interesting for its omission of some who have been prominent Liberals in the past, but who are not at the moment “Independents.” In addition to the two prominent speakers there were: – Mr. R. C. Bosanquet, president of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Liberal Association ( in the chair) and Mrs Bosanquet; Mrs Runciman; Sir Walter and Lady Runciman; Mr G. W. Hindmarsh, chairman of the Executive; Ald. T. Wilson. J. P.; Messrs Gerald France, M.P.; Wm. Macdonald, Rock; Rutherford, Seahouses; A. Mitchie, Alnwick; J. Clark, Belford; the Rev. C. L. Stowe, Berwick; D. Elliot, Belford; Mrs Richardson, Berwick; Messrs R. Boston, Spittal; J. Boston, Spittal; Ald. P. Boston, Spittal; W. Nelson, Lowick; J. H. Culley, Kirknewton; T. L. McAndrews, Amble; Miss Boston, Spittal; Messrs F. R. Padley, Wooler; J. Seals, Berwick; A. Younger, Allerdean; Councillor Dudgeon, Berwick; T. Elder, Berwick; Ald. J. Elder, Berwick; Miss Hume, Alnwick; Messrs H. Dowsett, Northern Liberal Federation; D. Elliot, Alnwick; C. Hindmarsh, Alnwick; H. W. Willits, Berwick; J. Cleghorn, Wooler; F. Hindmarsh, Alnwick; J. B. Beveridge, Tweedmouth; T. Morrison, Berwick; J. J. Simmen, Berwick; lady Robson; Miss Gregson, secretary Women’s Liberal Association; Mr W. A. Edwards, secretary Berwick Divisional Liberal Association, and Mrs Edwards; Mr J. Macnab, Beal.

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

When the party filed onto the platform, amid cheers, there was a pause for a flashlight photograph, and then Mr Bosanquet welcomed Viscount Grey on his return to the constituency from which he had been taken during the war, assuring him that their love and pride and confidence in him were unabated. A rapturous welcome greeted Viscount Grey when he rose. There was a marked improvement in his appearance since he last spoke in Berwick at the War Memorial Meeting. He was more vigorous in his gestures, and had much less difficulty in referring to his notes, which were brief. At one point he was speaking with uplifted arm, and there was another disturbing flash from the camera, which should never have been allowed. We give below a full report of the speech. There was no lack of ability in the Government, he said, but great ability was combined with extreme instability of policy, which had shaken the confidence of people both at home and abroad. We saw it in their treatment of Russia, Mesopotamia, the French Government and the Labour Party, with whom they had played fast and loose over Nationalisation. His most important remarks were on Ireland, and it is a pity that they were not made months ago. We should clear our minds, he said, of sentiment and gush and face the facts of the situation, instead of pretending to be generous after our policy of reprisals had failed. His only reservation to admitting Ireland as a full partner to Dominion partnership was that the naval defence of both islands should be under one naval authority. His last topic was unemployment, and the only permanent remedy in his opinion was good trade. Nationalisation was not the remedy but labour should have its share in the management of industry- an important admission. The speech was well received. There was silence while Lord Grey spoke of nationalisation, loud applause when he said that time had shown the South Africans that in negotiating with them we had been speaking in good faith and that what we had promised had come true. References to Mr Gladstone and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were also cheered. Indeed one felt that at the back of Viscount’s Grey’s mind was the thought of what a difference it would have made if Home Rule had been accepted, as it was first offered by the great leaders he had a served under.

TWEEDMOUTH RATEPAYERS’ MEETING

In the absence of Alderman Elder, Councillor Brewis presided over a large and orderly meeting of Tweedmouth ratepayers in the Mitchell memorial Hall on Wednesday night. Supporting him were Councillor Watt, Mr T. Douglas, Mr D. Watson, Mr Eales, and Mr Bradford. Apologies were sent by Councillor Lockhart and Mr Trainer.

Councillor Brewis, in his opening address, touched on various topics. With regards to the Glasgow Steel Company he thought the non-Freemen were wrong in commencing their activities when the negotiations with the Council were at a critical stage. He thought it was only when the Company saw that the Freemen and non-Freemen could not agree among themselves that they decided to go elsewhere. He could assure any industrial company that wanted to establish themselves in their neighbourhood that Tweedmouth could supply them with a site and equal railway facilities.

The opening of the housing scheme on Monday was a great event for Tweedmouth. The cost to Tweedmouth was a penny in the pound, and the income taxpayers in the country found the rest. They welcomed the new residents. Unfortunately they would not see the whole scheme carried out; in fact, full consent had not yet been obtained for the present addition of twenty-four.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 29TH JULY 1921

30/07/2021 by Northumberland Archives

TWEEDMOUTH FEAST FESTIVITIES

Splendid Racing on Land and Water

Rain Spoils Cycle Races on Monday

The time honoured festival of Tweedmouth Feast was celebrated this year on a much more ambitious scale than has been the rules for some years past. There were amusements for all, from the round-abouts and side shows in the West End for the youngsters and the frivolous, to professional and amateur races on the flat, cycle races, and a salmon coble regatta.

Tweedmouth Feast, 1966. Ref: BRO 1944-1-4597

The crowd in the town over the weekend was well up to previous standards, and from the Tyneside area large number of old Twampies and Berwickers came back to observe the old ceremony. At the Sports, perhaps the crowd was slightly smaller than in previous years, but the running made it well worth the while of those who patronised the event. Tweedside Cyclists had a great night on Tuesday, and seldom has finer racing been seen.

The Feats of 1921 will be remembered as one crowded weekend of first class sport.

TWEEDMOUTH SHOW,

BERWICK HORSE PROCESSION INCLUDED,

A SUCCESSFUL START TO A NEW VENTURE

When the question of reviving the old time Berwick Horse Procession came up this year, the Committee with a knowledge of past difficulties, decided that to be a financial success, the procession could never be revived on quite the same lines as in pre-war days. The idea of a show to include the horses and other agricultural classes was mooted and taken up enthusiastically by a go-a-head committee with Capt. J. E. Carr as chairman and Mr Ralph Bradford and Mr J. B. Beveridge, Tweedmouth, as secretaries. Last year an attractive programme of sports was arranged for Tweedmouth Feast Saturday, and the Committee, knowing that no better day could be chosen for launching a new venture in Tweedmouth, decided to incorporate the procession and the Show with these sports. During the past few months , a great deal of work has been put into arrangements for Tweedmouth’s first Show – as the inhabitants on that side of the water proudly term it, and the Committee saw the reward of their labours in the successful gathering on Saturday last in Union Park, Tweedmouth. Weather conditions were favourable and a large number of people from the Borough and district assembled off the field to inspect the stock in their pens or see them parade in the ring.

BERWICK AMATEUR ATHLETIC SOCIETY

Rain Blasts Spoil Annual Sports Festival

A Flat Racer’s Day and Cyclist’s Wash-Out

The annual athletic festival held by Berwick Athletic Society was this year spoiled to some extent by the gale which prevailed and the drenching showers of rain which swept over the field at intervals. As might reasonably be expected there was a falling off in the “gate” receipts, and officials tell us that this year the enclosure was dvoid of many of its usual patrons, while country people, too, did not attend in such large numbers as usual.

The heavy rain of the previous night had rather improved the track than otherwise, and all would have been well for competitors had only the weather remained on its best behaviour. Rain, however, fell at intervals, and although it did not interfere with foot racing to any great extent, still the greasy state of the grass rendered cycling extremely hazardous. Many a good cycle race was spoiled by the back markers side-slipping when making their winning-spurts at the bend leading to the home straight, and after the second heavy shower, men who were giving away big starts took no risks. No one could blame them, as several nasty smashes had taken place previously. Fortunately there were no serious results.

The organisation was again this year well-nigh perfect, and the marksmen and officials deserve every credit for the expeditious manner in which the events were run off. Particularly we would give them credit for the way they got through the numerous heats in the boys’ and girls’ races. It was essentially a youngsters’ day. Their races had an entry which promises well for future sports, and heats were all the more interesting because everyone was a tryer.

FETE IN FORD CASTLE GROUNDS

A Fete in aid of the Ford, Etal, Pallinsburn and Milfield Nursing Association was held in the grounds of Ford castle on Thursday last in fine weather. A large gathering of people was present from the district, char-a-bancs running at intervals from Alnwick, Wooler and Berwick. The Fete was opened at 2 p.m. by Lady Francis G. Osborne, Ord House, who was introduced by Mrs Charles Mitchell, of Pallinsburn, Vice-President of the Nursing Association.

Lady Francis, who was accompanied by Lord Francis G. Osborne, was received with cheers. Her remarks were as follows: – Ladies and gentlemen, – If we read the newspapers of today we see there is a great movement on foot to improve the general health of the community – better housing, Infant Welfare Centres, School clinics, all are part of the same scheme. But the district nurses were at work long before such things were thought of. When we look back over their years of work we see how good it has been, and how useful, for it has enabled those people who could not otherwise afford it, to have the benefit of trained nursing in their homes in time of sickness. The expenses of running the Association are increasing and the subscriptions do not cover them, that is why this fete is being held in these beautiful grounds of this historic castle, kindly lent by Lord Joicey. I appeal to you, ladies and gentlemen to open your hearts, your hands, and your purses and make it a huge financial success for the benefit of your friends and neighbours in their time of sickness. I know declare it opened. (Applause.)

A Tale of Two Marys: The Bowes-Lyon Family

05/12/2018 by Northumberland Archives

On 14^th March 1797 Mary Elizabeth Lyon wrote to Charles Wren, possibly her family solicitor, from her home at Hetton House, County Durham. She warned Charles that they ‘should be on their guard’ when dealing with ‘Sir H. Vane’s coal’ and ended her letter by sending ‘her regards to Mrs Wren and Emma’.

Correspondence between Mary Elizabeth Lyon and Charles Wren, dating from the late 1700s, can be found within the Dickson, Archer and Thorp Collection. It is thought this vast collection of letters came to the Dickson, Archer and Thorp firm when they took in Wren’s business documents and accounts. Wren had served in Northumberland as an ‘Under-sheriff’ during the 1780s.

The letters mainly contain legal advice regarding coal mining, accounts and business deals, but they also contain personal information and family updates. During the summer of 1797 Mary Elizabeth sent Wren a bill to be paid to a Mrs Hann for a pianoforte, bought for Mary Elizabeth’s children Elizabeth, John and Charlotte. The pianoforte was taken to Mr Broadwood’s of Putney to be fitted for stands and additional keys. Mary Elizabeth’s letters often refer to the illness of her children, with all appearing to suffer from breathing issues. She specifically mentions her daughter Elizabeth, who experienced long bouts of illness in the spring of 1797.

In another letter, dated 17^th September 1797, Mary Elizabeth apologised for her ‘sad, tiresome family’ and described how ‘Bessy’ (most likely the sickly Elizabeth) was doing well and enjoying the ‘waters of Bristol’. The family to which Mary refers could be either her own family or her in-laws.

Mary-Elizabeth was the daughter of Farren Wren and had been born in Binchester, County Durham. She married the Hon. Thomas Lyon on 13^th June 1774. Her new husband was the third son of Thomas Lyon, 8^th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and his wife Jean Nicholson, who originally hailed from Rainton, County Durham. Thomas had matriculated from Pembroke College Cambridge in the late 1750s and was a Fellow at the university during the early 1760s. During the late 1760s Thomas won a difficult election battle to become MP for the Aberdeen Burghs. He was re-elected to this position in 1774. Thomas and Mary resided at Hetton-le-Hole in County Durham. The estate had belonged to Thomas’ mother, Jean, and Thomas believed it possessed ‘good coal’. The couple had eight children; John (d. 1829), Mary (d. 1803), Anne (unknown), Frances (d. 1863) who married Thomas Thurlow, Charlotte (d.1871) who married Henry-George Liddle of Ravensworth Castle, Susannah (d. 1864) who married Rev J Fellowes, Mary Anne (unknown), and Charles (d. 1859).

The Lyon family are perhaps most notable for being the ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II, through her mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Mary Elizabeth’s ‘tiresome’ family also included one of the most complicated characters of the eighteenth century – Mary Eleanor Bowes. Mary Eleanor was Mary Elizabeth’s sister-in-law. Whereas Mary Elizabeth had married the younger Lyon son, Mary Eleanor had married John Lyon, the 9^th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Mary Eleanor became heiress to the Bowes fortune on the death of her father, George Bowes, in 1760. George was a powerful coal magnate and had held great estates and castles across the North of England, including Gibside and Streatlam. He stipulated in his will that any man who was to marry his only daughter, and heir, Mary Eleanor would have to take on the name the ‘Bowes’ in order to inherit. This stipulation was an unusual act in the patriarchal society of eighteenth century England. Hence John Lyon became John Bowes, although their children often hyphenated their name thus creating the well-known ‘Bowes-Lyon’.

John Lyon, 9th Earl of Strathmore and Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore

Relations between Mary Eleanor and her Lyon in-laws became strained when John died in 1776. In 1777 the Dowager Countess remarried in a dramatic ceremony. Her new husband was the little-known Andrew Robinson Stoney, a lieutenant in the British Army. He had fought a duel to protect her honour from slanderous gossip which had appeared in a national paper, The Morning Post. During the duel, with The Morning Post’s own editor, Stoney was ‘mortally wounded’ and physicians believed he would not last the night. Mary Eleanor heard of the duel and rushed to Stoney’s death bed. She agreed to marry him in a hastily arranged ceremony conducted at St James’ Church whilst Stoney lay on a stretcher, believing it to be his dying wish. But the duel and fatal injuries had all been a ruse; Stoney now possessed the Bowes fortune and Mary Eleanor.

News of the ad-hoc ceremony shocked the Lyon family. Thomas, Mary Elizabeth’s husband, was particularly infuriated at the situation. He had been made responsible for the financial welfare of his nephews and nieces through his brother’s will and proceeded with legal action to remove the children from their mother and new step-father.

Almost immediately after his ‘miraculous’ recovery from the brink of death Stoney turned violent towards his new bride; subjecting Mary Eleanor to eight years of physical and emotional abuse. During this time the Bowes-Lyon children remained under the jurisdiction of their uncle Thomas, who became responsible for their education and care. In 1785 Mary Eleanor escaped from her brutal marriage and filed for divorce through the ecclesiastical courts.

During the court process Mary Eleanor hid from her abusive husband, but Stoney sent a gang to find and abduct her. Chased by her relatives and the authorities Stoney forcibly took her through the harsh Northern countryside and attempted to beat her back into submission. The horror became national scandal and the Lyon family were once again thrust into the spotlight. Mary Eleanor was eventually rescued and Stoney stood trial for abduction. He was found guilty of conspiracy to abduct Mary Eleanor and sentenced to three years imprisonment. Their divorce was never officially granted, but Stoney lost any rights to the Bowes-Lyon fortune. Mary Eleanor died in 1800 and has since been immortalized as the ‘Unhappy Countess’.

The letters found in the Dickson, Archer and Thorp collection reveal Mary Elizabeth’s feelings towards the Bowes-Lyon children in the years following the scandal. These letters are especially important as they reveal how the familial relationships endured after a particularly fraught period, and reveal Mary Elizabeth’s family-centric character. In one letter, dated January 1797, generous payments were made to Lady Anne Jessop (Mary Eleanor’s third child, a head-strong girl who eloped with Henry Jessop only to return to her family when her experience began to mirror that of her mother.) In drafts of Thomas’ own will, also held amongst the documents, Mary Eleanor and her eldest son John, the 10^th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, are frequently mentioned, as Thomas verified their claim to the Lyon’s Scottish estates and reiterated his loyalty to the young Earl.

Thomas Lyon died on 13^th September 1796, Mary Elizabeth Lyon died 13^th May 1811.

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