Northumberland

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 16TH SEPTEMBER 1921

by

ANOTHER FIRE AT JOHNSON & DARLING’S BREWERY

Maltings, Stores and Kiln Gutted.

Heavy Damage

Within three months from the last outbreak the Tweed Brewery, Berwick, was again the scene of a startling fire on Tuesday morning. The blaze was the biggest, and most appalling that has been seen in Berwick for many a long day, while the damage wrought in such a short space of time was well-nigh staggering. Even a rough estimate of the damage to buildings and material destroyed cannot be given, but there is a likelihood of this being well over £12,000. It is expected that Insurance will cover the heavy loss, and it is not anticipated that the work of the Brewery will be greatly interfered with.

It was on June 17th that the rafters of the malting barley kiln took fire and it is a strange that last Monday, the night after the work of repairing the damaged kiln was completed, fire should again reduce to cinders the labour spent upon it. A little window frame, with the sizing coat of paint and putty still fresh upon it, set in the gaunt wall of the now partly gutted kiln, is a pathetic witness to how the work of mortal man can be undone in a night. As a matter of fact several of Mr R. Sidey’s plasterer’s men had not removed their tools from the building where they had been at work that afternoon before, and these have been lost in the fire. There is no night watchman on the premises, this not being considered necessary with the residences of directors in the firm in the vicinity and adjoining, but when the last of the workmen left on Monday night everything appeared to be all right and nothing out of the way was observed up to a late hour. The cause of the fire is therefore unknown, though it is suggested that the fusing of one of the electric wires which run through the building caused the outbreak. The Inspector from the Insurance Company however, who examined the premises on Wednesday, came to the conclusion that it was highly improbable that the fire had been started by one of the electric wires. There was no fire in the kiln to throw a spark, but the kiln had been whitewashed and got ready for malting to start this week.

There can be no doubt that the fire must have been smouldering for some considerable time before it was observed, for when Mr Thos. Darling was aroused at 2.45 by Mr Younger the flames were through the roof of the malt barn and were shooting for nearly twenty feet into the air. The fire originated in the malt barn without a doubt, and the portion of the building and the kiln were the first to be destroyed.

THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE

When day broke the fire was still raging furiously, but the buildings at the malting were little more than gaunt smoke-blackened and flamed-scared walls. The lower concrete floor, or first floor of the building, held, though upon it were tons of smouldering debris, which blazed up at intervals in spite of all the water poured upon it. The bulk of the floor, however, fell on Wednesday night and now lies smouldering in the ground floor. All through the day on Tuesday the first floor of the maltings smouldered and blazed up, and though all immediate danger was then past, fire-hose had to be kept playing on it.

The heavy rain which fell on Tuesday night damped down the smouldering mass but did not succeed in putting it out. A look through the gutted building on Wednesday morning revealed a truly appalling sight. Where large stocks of barley, hops and other brewing materials had been stored was a pitted mass of smouldering debris, with twisted and broken angle irons and bare sticking through. \the screening machinery and other plant used in the malting were entirely destroyed.

Section of the O.S. Map Second Edition, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1852 showing the Tweed Brewery. Reference: BA-U10-04

The experience gained in this fire will have to be carefully weighed. Had it taken place in the High Street the steam fire engine could have been got to work, there being plenty of water, but in the Palace and no doubt other parts of the town the use of the steam fire engine is impossible. We cannot expect Berwick to maintain a fire prevention equipment like Glasgow or London. We know therefore that under the most favourable conditions, it will be half-an-hour before the Brigade turns out, that their best efforts are bound to be below the standard of city firemen, and that in many cases there will not be sufficient water to put out a big blaze. If there had to be a fire, a better night could not have been chosen for it than Monday. With a gale or a strong wind from the sea the damage must have been very much more serious. Are we going to continue to run the risk of this? If not, there seem to be two lines of defence- Either to increase the pressure of water all over the town, which would be very expensive, or to arrange that the storage of inflammable goods takes place only under approved conditions, which should include patrolling by night watchmen. Otherwise the safety of large blocks of the town may be at stake. One small improvement that could be made straight away is to connect up the telephone with the Superintendent and members of the Brigade, so that the alarm reaches them in their houses immediately, whether they are waking or sleeping. Again, the Brigade and equipment might, with advantage, be inspected annually by an independent expert, and a report presented to the Town Council. The police are inspected annually; why not he Fire Brigade?

THE CLOSE OF THE SALMON SEASON

The season which closed on September 14th is one of the most disappointing there has been. Not that it has been failure, but that at one time it promised to be a record success and then at the beginning of July the fish seemed to disappear in a body. Up till then exceptional catches were obtained both at the netting stations on the river and at the fixed nets on the coast north and south of the river-mouth. The first grilse was caught on April 27th, being earlier than last year, but the yield since then has been poor in number and quality. The great catches of the season were in trout and salmon. The prices realised for Tweed salmon have been good. Most other things have at any rate doubled in price; but this has not been so with salmon, which have therefore been relatively cheap, and certainly, on the whole, considerably lower than last year.

Pictured, in 1956, are sisters Grace and Annie Meston, employees at the former premises of Ralph Holmes & Sons in Bridge Street, Berwick. The salmon was caught at the North Bells Fishery, and weighed in at 38¼ pounds. Reference: BRO 1944-1-1341-3

The most disquieting feature is that for quite a number of years now the fish have fallen away in the latter months of the season. There have been various explanations of this year’s shortage. One of them is that the fish have been driven away by porpoises and dolphins. From the salmon caught it is easily seen that the porpoises have been busy, but they have been no more numerous than they have been in the past, though, of course, the shortage of herring has been put down to the high temperature of the water allowing the sharks to come north. But even if porpoises or sharks explained this year’s shortage that would only be a temporary cause. It is the constant shortage in the later months of the season which is the serious problem. What is more likely to be the correct explanation is that we used to be able to rely on getting floods, say about Tweedmouth Feast time and the Fair, which thoroughly cleaned out the river. These have been wanting in recent years. We have has rises in the river, after rain, but not sufficient in volume to make a clean sweep. They just serve to bring down the accumulated pollution of the river to the river-mouth, nut they do not scatter it out to the sea. The result is that the foul water drives off the fish and they disappear from the neighbourhood entirely. We have had heavy rain lately, and there is osem sign of the fish returning to the river-mouth, which seems to support the theory. On the other hand, it may be simply that they have had their usual tip that the close season is at hand.

The necessity for flooding the river is what makes the abstraction of the Talla water so serious. Most of that water is flood water, and if it were all returned to the river at regular intervals the necessary scouring would not result. We have turned the tweed into a sewer and a sewer needs flushing. To do what is needed, the reservoir’s contribution should be let out once or twice in the season at a gush, when the river is high without it. This unfortunately the reservoir authorities are not prepared to do, but until we can arrange for flushing we may have to do without the fish.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 2ND SEPTEMBER 1921

by

BRIDGE TO BRIDGE SWIMMING RACE AT BERWICK

T. ORMISTON WINS “VISCOUNT GREY” TROPHY

A crowd of some three thousand people watched the Bridge to bridge race held in the Tweed on Thursday night last under the auspices of Berwick Amateur Swimming Club and they were privileged to see one of the best races ever held for the trophy presented by Viscount Grey. The only regrettable feature in the proceedings was the poor collection taken, this only being a little over £3, or practically a contribution of £1 per 1000 of those who witnessed the race. As the Swimming Club depends largely on public support for the providing of prizes and running these races, it is hoped greater financial help will be I future extended by the public, otherwise the Club will have to cut out the Bridge to Bridge race and School Gala from their annual programme.

Berwick upon Tweed, Old Bridge

Nine competitors entered for the race. L. B. Dickinson, T. Ormiston, A. P. Hall, A. Erskine ( Kelso), E. J. Denholm, G. Adamson, W. Brotherton, W. Graham and Joe Renton, and when the lot got off their mark in a bunch it was soon evident that the race was going to be keen one. Ormiston and Dickinson swam neck to neck until about thirty yards from the Boathouse when Ormiston drew ahead by about two lengths and Erskine came level with Dickinson, Hall being close up. Up to thirty yards from the Royal Border Bridge Ormiston kept adding to his lead and then Dickinson made a wonderful spurt. He came up hand over hand on Ormiston who only crossed the line a yard and half ahead. The time for the race was 12mins, 12 secs., and a great cheer went up as the men finished.

WOOLER AS A HEALTH RESORT

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

A RUN OVER THE CARTER BAR

The advent of the motor car and char-a-banc have been the means of opening up the country surrounding Wooler, and it is ow possible to do a hundred-mile journey in the district comfortably in one day. It was my privilege to take a trip over the carter Bar a week or two ago in an easy-riding char-a-banc at a very reasonable cost.

Char-a-banc 1920s

Other trips are run during the season to Bamburgh (half-day), Scotland, Edinburgh, etc. These have been largely taken advantage of by visitors, and have added quite a fresh interest to Wooler. Our company, when I went, numbered some twenty-six souls, composed mostly of visitors, with a sprinkling of natives, and a most agreeable company we were. Leaving the Market Place just after 10 a.m. in dull, but fine, weather, we were soon rattling along the road at a steady pace, admiring the scenery as we went. The Haugh Head was soon reached. The old building was for long occupied by the late Kitty Jobson as a beer-house, and before the battle of Flodden (1513) was the head-quarters of Lord Surrey, leader of the English troops, which were camped on Wooler Haugh. The next place that engages attention is Lilburn Tower, the seat of Mr A. B. Collingwood, and its prettily wooded grounds. The dainty lodge at the West entrance looked very pretty with its floral decorations. Hedgeley, with its pretty little cottages, and Crawley Dene are soon left behind, and we are next brought into touch with the ravages of the late war, as Roughley Wood was denuded of its timber and now presents a dreary aspect. A brighter scene awaited us, for Runside Moor was a blaze of purple heather, there being hundreds of acres of it without a break. Our first stopping place was Rothbury, and by the time we had reached there the mist had lifted and the sun began to make its appearance.

BRO 426-1230 Wooler

The village was quite alive, as our friend, Mr R. Donkin, was holding one of his periodical sales of lambs at the spacious mart buildings. After a short stay our journey was resumed through a well-wooded district by way of Thropton, Hepple Old Town, etc. Numerous pretty cottages were passed with happy and smiling inhabitants, who invariably greeted us with a wave of the hand. The scenery begins to change as we ascend the somewhat steep banks. The surrounding hills, bathed in the now bright sunlight, were looking splendid, their sides being here and there covered with heather in full bloom. Our next break was at the old-time village of Elsdon, which nestles in a pretty valley a few miles from Otterburn. The village green is of considerable dimensions, and there is no suspicion of over-crowding. Like all Border villages, Elsdon has a history dating back hundreds of years, when the feuds between the English and Scotch were common. The old church contains some old tablets, fine old windows, and other interesting features, which we had not time to thoroughly examine. Our friend, Mr Brannen, of the Hotel, saluted us as we passed his comfortable hostelry. Otterburn was soon reached, where the famous mills are situated and the noted wraps made. Some time was spent in this pretty, old-time village, and a number of us had lunch at the old-fashioned inn. The church and the pretty chancel was surveyed, while others took a stroll up the burn-side which, although only a tiny stream, rose on one memorable occasion, flooding the hotel and other buildings to the depth of several feet. Between here and Catcleugh the scenery becomes wilder and more romantic. The County Council are making an effort to improve the road over the Carter Bar, but, judging by the few hands employed, it will take some time to complete the job. With so much unemployment here is a chance for putting a few extra hands in useful work. At Catcleugh is the large lake constructed by the Newcastle Water Company. The fine stretch of water with scarcely a ripple on its surface formed a fine setting to the surrounding hills with their craggy peaks or rounded tops. The road leading to the Carter Bar, which is the deciding line between England and Scotland, is in places very steep and the surface not of the best, but much improved on what it was a year ago. On reaching the bar a halt was called to admire the wide and magnificent view. Hill and valley, woodland scenes and heather-clad hills make up a panorama of surpassing grandeur. Several snapshots were here taken, which ought to be interesting mementos in days to come. After a short stay, we resumed our journey. The ride was through a nicely wooded district into Jedburgh, which town also has a history.

BRO 1796-1-10 High Street, Kirk Yeholm early 20th century

The ruins of the old Abbey proved a great source of attraction, and also the old Castle on the hill, from the top of which a charming view of Jedburgh and neighbourhood is obtained. After a refreshing cup of tea, the homeward journey was resumed, passing through the villages of Morebattle and Yetholm as the sun was setting in the West, Kirknewton, nestling snugly at the foot of the College Burn and surrounded by hills looked most peaceful. Wooler was reached soon after 9 p.m., the party all having spent a memorable and enjoyable day’s outing.

EX-SOLDIER WISHES TO JUMP BERWICK BRIDGE

An unusual case came before Mr A. J. Dodds and Mr Walter Hogarth at Berwick Police Court on Tuesday. P. C. Lindsay gave evidence that at about 9 p.m. on the night before (Monday) he received a complaint off the disorderly behaviour of James Ohlsen, a painter, of Leith, who had been working I the town, and cautioned him. Ohlsen then went over the bridge towards Berwick. He took some money out of his pockets and attempted to climb up over the bridge. P.C. Lindsay then apprehended him and locked him up, and he was brought before the Bench charged with being drunk and disorderly. Ohlsen pleaded guilty. He regretted having caused trouble, which was due to his having had some drink, and stated that while serving in France he had been buried and ever since had been subjected to fits. He was fined 5s or 7 days.

A Tale of Two Marys: The Bowes-Lyon Family

by

On 14th 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 17th 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 13th June 1774. Her new husband was the third son of Thomas Lyon, 8th 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 9th 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.

Andrew Robinson Stoney

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 10th 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 13th September 1796, Mary Elizabeth Lyon died 13th May 1811.

 

+ More