BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

31/03/2023 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK JOURNAL, 15TH MARCH 1923

BURNMOUTH TO GET HALL

In order to secure a Public Hall for Burnmouth, a bazaar is to be held at Berwick. Mr John Anderson, Nulla Ghar, is Chairman of Burnmouth Hall Committee; Mr John Kinross, Schoolmaster, is Secretary; and Mr Thos. Barnfather, Stationmaster, is Treasurer. There are few spots on East Coast that can boast of such natural beauty as Burnmouth Village, mecca of Artists. Facing the sea yet shrinking from it into the shadow of the imposing Berwickshire Cliffs that rise to a height of 200 or 300 feet, stand the red-tiled cottages of the fishing community of this rock-bound coast- rich at every turn with picturesque scenery which Nature has bestowed with lavish hand. In Burnmouth Village there are some 400 inhabitants, and it is proposed the Hall be erected of the benefit of the whole community. By the efforts of the people themselves, about £150 have been raised since last March, and it is hoped the Bazaar in Berwick will make up the amount necessary. The young people, amongst whom are 60 ex-service men, have no place of meeting for recreation and social intercourse, and they have a special claim on public support, if village life is to be quickened, and the evenings made bright after a heavy day’s toil upon the sea. Truly indeed has it been said that the hardy fisherman’s calling in the vasty deep is “Lives o’ men.”

IN AND ABOUT SPITTAL SPECIAL AND EXCLUSIVE

TO THE BERWICK JOURNAL

Interest on Sunday afternoon last was largely centred on that part of the foreshore to which the Manure and Gas Works are immediately adjacent; groups of people watched the incoming tide, which being “Spring tide,” and one of the highest of its kind, forced itself with great power against the massive concrete cubes, which Messers McCreath had provided as a barrage against the tide in their efforts to protect their works. So great was the force of the waves that it undermined the foundation of sand and brought the cubes toppling down as if they had been mere paving setts. Men laboured the whole day (Sunday) filling the sand bags and placing them in position, in an endeavour to prevent a further inroad of the unrelenting tide. Messrs Dixon’s works, now discarded, serves only as a breakwater, and while it holds will afford some protection to the works lying behind; but the tide is already running underneath the foundations in places, and a collapse of part of the superstructure at any moment would not be surprising. The angry sea running last week produced a marked effect not only on Dixon’s premises, and the approach to McCreath’s but also to the foreshore of the gas works.

Here the foreshore has been used as a “tip” by the company for years, for the refuse from their works, consequently tons upon tons of rubbish have been banked up to a height of 10 or 15 feet, and this embankment has acted as a breakwater to the works. Gradually this debris, however, is being swept away, hundreds of tons at a time come crashing down under the impetus of the incoming tide, and should the erosion continue, the gas works, which are practically at sea-level will become inundated; indeed, that portion of Spittal lying north of St. Helen’s Terrace would appear to be none too safe from flooding, as the level it occupies is extremely low. The reclaiming of the foreshore now becomes a pressing question. What is needed is a strong concrete wall to form an efficient breakwater, and as a foundation would be difficult owing to the sandy nature of the bottom, such a project would be costly. How is such cost to be borne? Would it pay the proprietors of the several works involved to be at the cost of such a wall and so save their works, or would it pay such proprietors better to remove their works elsewhere?

BRO 426/879 St Helens Terrace, showing Industrial Spittal.

Evidently Messrs Dixon after spending something approaching £1000 in a vain attempt to save their works have thrown up the sponge. Should the remaining proprietors follow Messers Dixon’s lead, then the prospect for Spittal is none too good from the working man’s point of view, as many earn their daily bread in the various works. Is the question of the erection of a wall not one of wider interest than affects the effected property owners merely? Does it touch the Borough? Or wider still the Nation? On whoever the onus does rest, prompt action is necessary. The efforts which Messers McCreath are putting forth the sea is treating as puny, and it looks as if they, like their neighbour Dixon and co, are only spending time and money fruitlessly. Something solid on a substantial foundation is the correct remedy.

LOCAL NEWS

The first German trawler in Tweed Dock since the beginning of October arrived on Sunday last, having come direct from Bremerhaven, which port she left on the previous Friday. The “Dr. Asnas,” of Rostock, she took aboard 120 tons of bunker coal from Scremerston, motor lorries being engaged the whole of Monday conveying the coal from the pit. She left again for the fishing grounds on Tuesday afternoon.

The Glasgow steamer “Cretan” arrived in the Dock on Monday light, from the north, and sailed again on Wednesday with a cargo of barley, from Messrs H.G. McCreath and Sons. On Tuesday afternoon the schooner “John Sims,” Gloucester, arrived in the Dock in charge of 2 Spittal cobbles up the river. She is from Fewey with a cargo of China clay for Chirnside Paper Mills.

BERWICK’S NEW RAILWAY COY. HAS 7500 ENGINES

There is a stir in railway circles over the colour schemes to be adopted for locomotives and carriages now that uniformity is the order of the day as the result of all great railways of England and Scotland being combined into only 4 groups. Our own Coy., London and North Eastern, has come to a decision in regard to the change, and as its locomotives go through the “shops” for painting or repairing the passenger engines are being turned out in a green livery and goods engines in sober black. In both instances the new “trade mark, “L. & N.E.R.” appears in bold letters on the tender or other suitable position.

London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Coy. alone owns well over 10,000 locomotives and 25,000 passenger vehicles, which is world’s record, while London and North-Eastern possesses more than 7,500 engines and 20,000 “coaching vehicles.”

BERWIC NATIVE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Mr Robt. Kerr, Christchurch, New Zealand, (Native of Berwick-upon-Tweed), writes us from the Colony – Out here we have a large number of men and women out of work, partly owing to so many coming from Overseas, which we workers rightly or wrongly resent. The difficult thing is to find work. Sometimes it means displacing local men, and then comes friction. I think, however, we are in a position to help, as we grow much what we use. But Protection is the workers’ watchword although we have a large Free Trade population. We all love cheapness! The seamen’s dispute has had bad effect on business; they object to a reduction of wages, but most trades have been reduced, no doubt the “bonus” cut of our Civil Servants has cost the Hon. W. F. Massey many seats in the General Election. Labour gained 8 seats, now holding 17 places; Liberals hold 25; and Reform 38 – a great surprise to all Mr Massey lost his majority through the wages cut, but he is an honest man and struggled manfully during the war period to keep our finances in a buoyant state. Had he been a juggler in finance we might have been worse off than we are now. Outlook is good for a bountiful harvest as most crops are looking well. We have an Industrial Exhibition of local industries, showing how much we can make, which is really good. Only many workers today, don’t think they ought to try to excel to make our products worthy of a place in the world’s markets. Instead of indifferent work through carelessness and inefficiency, we now have the opportunity. Our temperance friends left no stone unturned in their endeavour to get National Prohibition, even to bringing “Pussyfoot” Johnson and Dr Mary Armour from America, but all to no purpose – they lost by 16,000 odd votes.

One by one my old Berwick acquaintances out here are dying. I miss my old friend Tom Smail, as he always had some news of the old place. There is a Stoddart family out here who are much interested in Borderland news. They tell me their late father was a great man for fishing.

All good wishes to “Berwick Journal” and North Northumberland News,” and also to “Berwickshire News,” for 1923.

NEW ROAD AT TWEEDMOUTH LIKELY TO BE ABANDONED

The proposal to make a new road at Tweedmouth from the 5 arches through Union Park, is now likely, we understand, to be abandoned. It will be remembered that some months ago the Council decided to purchase for that purpose, from Lady Francis Osborne, Ord House, the field adjoining Union Park, on the north side, extending to 10 acres. The purchase price was about £2,000, the Council agreeing to bear the cost of conveyance. An impasse has risen over the payment of the negotiating fees, claimed by Mr W. J. Bolam, agent for Lady Osborne.

BA-U10-04-02 Tweedmouth Section of the 1852 OS Map for Berwick showing West End, Union Park area.

The sanitary Authority last week agreed to the following report of the Works’ Committee: The Committee further considered the question of the negotiating fees amounting to £42 11s charged by Mr W. J. Bolam in connection with the proposed acquisition of land at Tweedmouth from Lady F. Osborne. The Town Clerk reported that the vendors’ solicitors refused to complete the purchase unless the negotiating fees in question be paid, and it was agreed to recommend the Council to refuse payment of the fees.

Following this decision, Mr Andrew Martin, Tweedmouth Town farm, of whose holding the field in question formed part, began to plough up the land on Tuesday, so that it would seem the negotiating are now definitely broken off.

VIOLENT PRISONER AT SPITTAL

Jas. Allan, engineman, Fowberry Moor, was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Billendean Road at 4 pm on March 3; and also, with doing wilful damage to 15 panes of glass and the frame of the door in the Police cells, to the amount of £2 10s.- Sergt. Barclay said he was motor cycling down Billendean Road when he found Allan lying in a helpless state. He put him into the side car and conveyed him to the Police Station at Spittal. About an hour after Allan had been locked up witness heard a disturbance and on going to the cell, found that Allan had broken 15 panes of glass in the cell window. Later there was another disturbance, and witness found him using the cell bed as a battering ram against the cell door, which was badly damaged.

Supt. Halliday- He was quiet enough on his way to the Police Station. I think the surroundings must not have suited him.

Fined 10s on the first charge, £1 on the second, and ordered to pay the damage, a total of £4.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 20TH MAY 1921

21/05/2021 by Northumberland Archives

BUILDING TRADES OPERATIVES’ STRIKE

On Monday the men employed in the building trades in the Borough struck work, having refused to accept the position created by the proposed National “cut” in wages rates of 2d per hour.

Joiners, plasters, stone workers and others in the trade are affected and workers have downed tools at Mordington Small Holdings work, the new Housing Scheme, and other jobs going on in and round and the town.

The dispute is rather an involved one. More than a year ago an agreement was entered into between employers in Berwick, and men employed on skilled work in the trade whereby the rate of pay was fixed at 1s 9d per hour. Though the agreement was binding for a year, there was still dissatisfaction amongst the men owing to the Newcastle area rate being higher. The employers recently have been paying 2s 1d per hour under a Wages Board area award, and last week at a conference the National Building Trades Federation, on which employers and employed were represented, a national reduction of 2d per hour for skilled workmen was recommended.

This the men have refused to accept as they contend that it will bring the Berwick wage down to 1s 11d, which is heavier upon workmen than in the Northern Counties Area where men received the full 2s 2d per hour under the Wages Board award.

The workmen are to be seen daily standing about the streets, evidently finding time hanging heavy upon their hands.

THE MEN’S CASE

The Secretary of the local operatives informs us that the Area Rate fixed by the Wages Board was 2s 2d per hour for the Northern Counties Area No. 9, and Berwick Branch being in that area should have received the full reward. Instead, it is contended, the employers only agreed to pay 2s 1d per hour and for the past 12 months negotiations have been going on with a view to getting the masters to meet and discuss the matter with employees’ representatives. The masters are stated to have ignored the communications and the men have now struck to get the full 2s 2d award before the 2d reduction comes off.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, SPITTAL

War Memorial Unveiled by Bishop of Newcastle

To commemorate thirty-seven men of the parish who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, a memorial in the form of an altar table reredos and panels was dedicated in St. John’s Church, Spittal, on Monday evening. Service was held in the Church, the Rev. J. H. Cuthbertson, Vicar, officiating, the lessons being read by the Revs. P. G. Peacocke and R. W. de la Hey. Canon Roberson, Norham, and the Rev. S. E. R. Fenning, St. Mary’s, Berwick, were also present. The relatives of the fallen were seated in pews in the centre aisles, and a detachment of the Defence Corps under Capt. F. B. Cowen, M. C., were present in Church. Miss K. E. M . Toohey presided at the organ. There was a very large congregation present.

The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist, in Spittal. In May 1921, a war memorial in the form of an altar table reredos and panels was dedicated in memory of the men from Spittal who lost their lives in WW1. © Russel Wills – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

The handsome memorial adds to the beauty of the Church, the altar table being executed in oak. The reredos has a border of an exquisitely hand carved design in oak, which is richly gilded. The border acts as a frame for panels hand-painted in beautiful colourings on mahogany, the centre one of which depicts Christ on the Cross. The two side panels represent St. John and St. Peter, and the Signs of Passion are depicted in colourings on four shields between the panels. The inscription reads; “To the glory of God and in grateful memory of those men of Spittal who laid down their lives in the Great War, 1914-19.” The list of names is as follows:-

G.W. Aitken, J. H. Boston, M. Beveridge, R. C. Clements, M. Cockburn, W. C. Dormer, W. Dumble, J. Elliott, G. Elliott, T. A. Forster, R. Forsyth, J. E. Forsyth, H. W. Heckles, R. F. Hills, J. Havery, H. Morton, A. Noble, C. N. Noble, A. Piercy, P. Patterson, A. E. Purdon, G. Patterson, T. Ridpath, W. Robson, R. J. Rowntree, G. A. Richardson, G. Richardson, W. Rutherford, W. F. Scott, J. Strassheim, D. Sykes, O. Sykes, J. Thompson, J. Wood, D. Wilson, W. B. Walton, J. J. Wood.

At the end of the list are the words “Rest evermore unto them, Oh! Lord, and let light perpetually shine upon them.” The cost of the whole memorial will be about £300, and during the service a collection towards the Church Restoration Fund was made.

THE COAL CRISIS

On Thursday week the Gas Company put out a notice that the gas supply might cease on Saturday night. There was considerable anxiety in the town over the week-end, but we are glad to say that the gas is still available, and not likely to stop for the present.

As many as from 60 to 70 men, women and children spend their evenings in the search for coal on the slag heaps near the Scremerston pit.

From Berwick, Tweedmouth and Spittal they come with sacks, hand-barrows, bogies, or anything on wheels, and hammer in hand crawl up and down the heaps searching for lumps big or small. And quite good coal they find, though the supply is getting exhausted now. The women wear sack aprons into which they put their treasures breaking big lumps with their hammers. When these aprons get full they return to the bottom of the heap, where the bogie awaits in charge of a youngster, empty their coal into it, and return for another supply. After an evening’s hard work, there is always the weary trudge homewards, but it is evidently worthwhile, as some will even carry a sack of coal on their backs for the two miles, cheered doubtless by the thoughts of fires to cook the family dinners on the morrow.

BELGIAN COAL FOR BERWICK

No Difficulty Experienced in Getting Ship Discharged

Excitement ran high in Berwick on Thursday when it was expected that the motor schooner “Hibernio” (500 tons) with a cargo of 350 tons of virgin coal from Antwerp would arrive. As the day wore on and the vessel did not appear fears were entertained that she had broken down on the voyage, but later news was received that she had been detained at Antwerp a day over her time in getting clear of the Customs.

The “Hibernia” arrived off Berwick with the morning tide on Saturday and was berthed in Tweed Dock, where a large crowd visited the dockside and examined samples of the coal. Quite sufficient labour was available to discharge the vessel, but as there was some difficulty in arranging for carts, which had booked up elsewhere for the day, it was decided to delay discharging the vessel until Monday. The coal is rather small, but is of quite good quality. It is being divided amongst the various industries in the town, and a portion is being allocated to coal merchants for sale for household use.

On Monday morning discharging the vessel was commenced and went on rapidly without interruption all day.

PRESTON MINERS AT BERWICK

Fancy Dress Procession In Aid of Soup Kitchen Fund

The band of the Prestonlinks Collieries visited Berwick on Saturday and a large number of masquers travelled with them in motor wagons to assist in the fancy dress parade held in aid of the funds of the soup kitchen, which has been organised by Mr W. Penman, secretary of the Miners’ Union, Cockenzie, for the provision of food for necessitous cases amongst the miners’ families.

The colliers got a sympathetic reception, and large crowds watched the procession on its way through the streets, and contributed liberally to the collectors. Standard-bearers followed the band, bearing aloft a large banner, upon which was inscribed “We Fight to Live. ”Pipers took turns with the brass band in providing the music during the afternoon.

The “get-up” of the fancy dress paraders was both original and humorous in the highest degree. A few did “busking” turns at intervals, while a bevy of pretty young damsels made an irresistible appeal for contributions. Dancing also took place at intervals on the route of the march, and the crowd greatly appreciated the efforts of the performers. Scotch step-dances were very well done indeed. Castlegate was crowded when the miners left by motor in the evening, and as the cars moved away they were given a hearty send-off.

BOWLING

Berwick Public Bowling Club

The bowlers on the Berwick-on-Tweed Public Green are at it nightly, and keen competition and some excellent games have been played for what is known as the “Gold Cup.” (It is in reality a neat miniature in brass). A. Carstairs and H. Jameison beat T. Harbottle and M. L. Walker on Monday night, and on Tuesday night the decision was reversed. R. Pagan and W. Lumsden then challenged the holders and ran out winners, semi-darkness coming on before the game was finished. Up till the time of going to press Pagan and Lumsden are still the holders, although they were again challenged by J. Mace and H. Borthwick, who they defeated (21-20), on Wednesday night. R Bowie and T. Harbottle next made a bid for ownership, but were not successful. The Committee have decided to run a pairs competition, and the competitions for the Darling Cup, and the Holmes Cup are also to be commenced. We are informed entries for all three competitions close on Saturday night. These competitions are bound to infuse a great amount of interest into the play. During this week those present on the green have been entertained to selections on the gramophone.

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.

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