Spittal

This Week in World War One, 12 November 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 BERWICK ADVERTISER, 12 NOVEMBER 1915

 

MORE LIGHT

 

Mr Elder – It is now absolutely necessary to take some action to have more light in the streets of the town at night. There is a medium, but I must say we in Berwick are even far beyond the limit. It is a danger to go out at night now and I think it is high time we had more light.

Main Street, Spittal showing an early lamp standard - © Berwick Record Office BRO 1887-8-1
Main Street, Spittal showing an early lamp standard – © Berwick Record Office BRO 1887-8-1

 

Mr Blench – Why should we in Berwick be darker than any other town? Not only need we more light on the streets but in the shop windows. In Newcastle, Edinburgh, and even Blyth, which is right on the sea, the shop windows are lighted. In Berwick the police have taken matters into their hands to put us into darkness, and I think they are going a little too far. On the suggestion of Mr Dixon the matter was referred to the Lighting Committee for consideration.

 

COURT-MARTIAL AT STOBS

 

A military court was held at Stobs on Wednesday at which there were tried the German prisoners of war Gustav Beblein and Alfred Joksch, who made their escape from Stobs Concentration Camp on 26th ult. The former was recaptured at Granton, and the latter at Leith Docks. The Court was composed of Major J.M/ Hunter, 2-4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, president; and Captain W.F. Cochrane, 2-4th Battalion K.O.S.B., and Captain A.P. Oliver, 2-4th K.O.S.B. The prosecutor was Lieutenant F.W. Hancock, and the interpreter Lieutenant H. W. Farrell. The decision of the Court will be given later.

Stobs military camp at Hawick (1903-1959) was used to train men for war. © Copyright Walter Baxter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Stobs military camp at Hawick (1903-1959) was used to train men for war. © Copyright Walter Baxter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT TWEEDMOUTH

Pipe Manufactory Completely Gutted

 

About 2am on Wednesday morning fire broke out in the pipe manufactory of Mr R. T. Tait, at Tweedmouth, which caused the whole of the works to be completely gutted. The outbreak was first discovered by Miss Wood, a niece of Mr Tait’s who was wakened by the sparks blowing against her bedroom window. She immediately gave the alarm and the fire brigade was summoned. By this time the window frames and doors of Mr Tait’s dwelling house were ablaze, but with the assistance of his brother-in-law, Mr W. Trainer, they managed to prevent the flames from spreading in the house by the aid of chemical fire extinguishers. When the fire brigade arrived the flames had taken a good hold and the whole of the factory was blazing furiously.

Clay Pipes - © Author Simon Speed - Wikimedia Commons
Clay Pipes – © Author Simon Speed – Wikimedia Commons

Owing to the situation of the premises difficulty was first experienced in getting the engine into a suitable position to pour water on the burning buildings, and also owing to the fact that the horses refused to face the showers of sparks which were sweeping Main Street. With the strong gale fanning the flames it was impossible to quench the fire, and the main efforts were directed in preventing the conflagration spreading to the adjoining properties. This was the wisest course as the properties in this quarter are so congested that there was every possibility of the fire spreading to the properties in Kiln Hill and Main Street. On Tuesday the kiln had been working and it is thought that with the strong gale the fire had started from that part of the works. The factory comprises a warehouse, offices, finishing shop, packing shop, despatching room, moulding shop, clay house, drying house, engine house, with electrical plant and saw mill, all of which have burnt out, and only the walls remain, and even in some cases these have collapsed. So furious was the fire that even the sockets of the beams in the walls of the building were burnt clean away. As already stated, the office was amongst the rooms destroyed. This was a first storey room but the furniture and safe crashed through to the ground floor. The safe, which is fireproof, withstood the terrific heat well, but the papers within were quite brittle. The loss is put at £1,000 and is partly covered by insurance.

 

LOCAL NEWS

Harvest Thanksgiving at Norman Hall

 

On Sunday evening the Gospel temperance meeting at Norman Hall, Tweedmouth, took the form, of a choral harvest festival. The hall was artistically decorated for the occasion with a wealth of autumn bloom and the fruits of the soil and made a very effective picture. Mr John Anderson of “Tweedside” Lodge of Good Templars presided over the gathering, with Miss Stokoe at the piano. Succeeding the brief preliminary address from the chair appropriate to the occasion, the service was entirely musical, and comprised some choral numbers by an augmented choir and solos by Mrs Johnston, Miss Macdonald, Miss Davidson (Scremerston), Mr R. Elliot, Sergt. Clark and Sergt. Davidson of the Royal Scots, a duet by the Misses Davidson lending variety to a finely sustained programme. The Chairman, in the name of the Lodge, thanked all who had sent gifts of flowers, fruit and vegetables which the decorators had displayed to such excellent advantage and the contributors to the musical service. The festival concluded with “God Save the King.”

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Norman Hall, Tweedmouth please contact Berwick Record Office email: berwickarchives@woodhorn.org.uk

 

This Week in World War One, 3 September 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 3 SEPTEMBER 1915

 

MARRIAGE OF CAPTAIN P. W. MACLAGAN

 

Marriage of Captain P.W.Maclagan. – The numerous friends of Captain Philip Whiteside Maclagan, R.A.M.C., son of Dr C.G.Maclagan, Ravensdowne, will be interested to learn of his marriage, which took place on Wednesday in the Erskine U.F.Church, Annan, the bride being Miss Jane Scott, second daughter of the late Mr William John Robinson and of Mrs Robinson, Cluden, well-known and much esteemed citizens of Annan.

Annan Free Church
Annan Free Church

The bridegroom, who has been acting as assistant to Dr. Hunter, Annan, joined the R.A.M.C. at the beginning of the war. Dr Maclagan has been much thought of during his stay in Annan, and has made a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The presents were numerous and costly. There was a large attendance of personal friends at the wedding, the interior of the church being adorned with many pretty floral decorations. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Archibald A. Campbell, and the bride was given away by her grandfather. Miss Robinson, the bride’s sister, acted as bridesmaid, and Dr Hunter officiated as the best man. At the conclusion of the marriage the happy couple left on their honeymoon per motor car.

A TWEED ANGLING STORY

 

The autumn season of salmon angling in the Tweed properly begins in the middle of September, when the nets are taken off at Berwick, according to law, as the phrase goes. Last year the stretches of the river belonging to the riparian properties were poorly let. The war called away many potential lessees, and those who remained did not care to enter on the sport. This year (writes a correspondent of the Glasgow Bulletin) there is an improvement. How the season will turn out nobody can tell. The weather is a great factor – a big flood in September or October being absolutely necessary to bring up the fish from the sea. But the more important question of supply arises. A venerable and experienced angler informed me that salmon are very scarce at Berwick this year up till now. I asked the reason, and added, half jocularly, “Owing to the war?” he replied in all gravity: “Weel, that might be sae. Thae submarines an’ torpedoes an’ other things mann hae had an unusual effeck. The sea about the East Coast has been greatly disturbit, an’ it’s juist possible it mav hae changed the coorse o’ the fish. Mind ye’ salmon’s queer beese.”

Salmon net fishing Paxton House, 2013
Salmon net fishing on the River Tweed below Paxton House, 2013. Copyright: Les Hull, Creative Commons Licence.

 

ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

Forbidden Postal Packets – The Press Bureau issues the following:- Attention is called to the fact that it is a punishable offence to send through the post any explosive substance or any article or thing likely to injure other postal packets or officers of the postal service. Cases have recently occurred of shells, pieces of shells, fuses, and cartridges being sent through the post. This dangerous practice has already caused loss of life, and has been forbidden by the military authorities.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

The Last of an Old Spittal Family – Mrs G. Forsyth, late of 20 West Street, Spittal, died last week, in her eighty-fourth year; the last of a generation of a long lived family named Richardson. Nine of them reached maturity, and their ages when added together amounted to 726 years. We noted, some time ago, that one of them, Elizabeth Richardson, married to Thomas Elliot, fisherman, Spittal, who died aged 94, had 222 descendants, children, grand-children, and great-grand-children. The country which has most of that kind of citizen will quickest and best get over the ravages of the war.

 

SALE OF WORK AT CORNHILL

Sum of £43 Realised

 

The interior of Cornhill Schoolroom on Saturday afternoon wore a bright and fascinating appearance – just the very opposite to the rainy weather outside – for it was arrayed in all the splendour of an eastern bungalow, and it certainly well maintained the reputation to the title of an Oriental bazaar.  The various stalls were laden with a most artistic selection of all kinds of fancy and embroidery work, worthily sustaining the labours of Mrs Holland, of the Rectory, and the other ladies in the district who were responsible for the effort. There was a beautiful display of embroidered and decorative napery, Chinese and Japanese tables, Chinese lacker tables, Thibet and Lhassa tables, Indian rugs, Chinese, Venitian, and Jerusalem jewellery, besides Indian chutney, Java jelly, foreign stamps.

Lhasa style antique Tibetan Buddhist Altar table
Lhasa style antique Tibetan Buddhist Altar table

 

A feature was the Sowers’ Band Stall, the labours of the Cornhill  children, which was devoted to  the Cornhill Cot in Quetta hospital. The remainder of the sale was for the benefit of the Church Army Ambulance Fund, and Foreign Missions. Mrs Holland, the respected mother of the Rev. Mr Holland, and the several ladies who assisted her certainly deserve all credit for the splendid result of their labours as was witnessed in the display on the various stalls. A refreshment and tea stall was also tastefully arranged at the end of the schoolroom for those who wished to have a quiet cup and friendly crack.

Among those who assisted at the various stalls were Miss Low, Mrs Collingwood, Mrs H, St. B. Holland, Miss Rand, Mrs. J. Logan, Miss Murkin, Mrs Matthewson, Miss Hoyle, Mrs Fleming, Miss Tristram, Misses Collingwood, Fenwick, and Fleming, and Messrs Blake, Collingwood, and Fleming.

During the afternoon the sale was visited by a considerable number of representative ladies and gentlemen and among those present and who kindly sent donations were :- The Countess of Home; Sir Francis Blake, the Honourable Mrs Baillie Hamilton, the Hon. M. Joicey, the Misses Milne Home, Mr and Misses Selby, Mrs Neligan and party, Mrs Rea, Miss Fleming and party. Mrs Little, Mrs Maling, Mrs Swan, Mrs Shotton, Mrs Mackay, Mrs R. Carmichael, Mrs Mangin, Miss Baker Cresswell, Miss Sellar, Rev. W. I. Moran, Mr Swanston, Mrs Bell, Mrs Dickson, Misses Raines, Mr H.J. Swanston, Marshall Meadows, etc.

During the evening patriotic and other glees were well rendered by members of the choir, and Miss R. Jeffrey’s solos were much appreciated.

The proceeds amounted to over £43.

 

 

This Week in World War One, 27 August 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 27 AUGUST 1915

 

 EARLY SHOP CLOSING IN BERWICK

 

Although it may appear on first examination to be inflicting a hardship on some people to close the merchants’ shops at six o’clock in the evening still it has to be borne in mind that we are living in very abnormal times. It is a time when sacrifices have to be made, and the man or woman who exhibits any hesitancy in adapting himself or herself to the special and exceptional times manifest a want of true consideration to help their country in the hour of its direct necessity. The highest and supreme sacrifice has been paid by many a family during the terrible times we have passed through. The closing of business establishments a few hours earlier is a small matter in comparison therewith, and if it is to safeguard the lives of the community and frustrate the cowardly intentions of an unseen enemy nothing should stand in the way of adopting the most stringent and exacting precautions. There is no reason why a shopkeeper should not be able to close early if the public determine to assist in this direction. If the public resolved to discontinue patronising a particular shop they would very effectively close that shop altogether.

Early 1900s photograph of Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwick Record Office, BRO 1636-3-16
Early 1900s photograph of Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwick Record Office, BRO 1636-3-16

 

The early closing of business premises, therefore, depends wholly on the public being alive and educated to the fact. And as the early closing does not effect locally till the 1st October there is ample time for all customers to realise the fact, as well as for the various merchants taking adequate steps to meet the inauguration of the new hours. The easiest way to meet the new situation is either for the customer to send in a list of his orders early, or else for the merchant to call at the customers’ residences and take a note of these. On Saturday evening there should be no hardship inflicted, for all will surely manage to purchase there weekend provisions before nine o’clock. Indeed, at the Town Hall meeting, there were no real solid arguments adduced against closing earlier, and as soon as the public can thoroughly comprehend the hours the new method should be found to work quite smoothly in a small borough such as Berwick. No merchant need be afraid of losing his customers, as these will quickly respond to the altered circumstances, and they will not desert patronising a particular shop where they think they have an inducement to buy. Although there was a small minority against the motion which became the finding of the meeting it was very gratifying to observe how whole-heartedly they fell in with the majority. Unanimity means success, and all that is now required is that the various merchants should take full advantage of the reasonable interval before 1st October in reminding all their customers of the changed hours to suit the exceptional needs of the country’s peril.

 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Friday

Before Captain Norman, R.N., and J.McNab, Esq

 

Hanselling of Spittal Lock-Up- A large crowd gathered in the precincts of Spittal’s new Police Station on Thursday afternoon. The occasion was not the opening ceremony of the imposing building by the civic fathers but merely the new cells receiving their first occupant. The crowd again gathered on Friday morning with a view to seeing the delinquent take her departure to the more commodious quarters of Berwick Police Court. However the curious ones were disappointed for the prisoner was taken out by the back door while the crowd waited patiently at the front door. Following upon the foregoing events Mary Johnson, married woman Lanark, was charged with being drunk and disorderly near the Forge, Spittal, at three p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Defendant pleaded guilty, Sergt. McRobb said that upon receiving a complaint he proceeded to the Forge and on the grass

A half crown coin (2s 6d), the sum of which Mary Johnson from Lanark was fined, with the alternative of seven days imprisonment.
A half crown coin (2s 6d), the sum of which Mary Johnson from Lanark was fined.

near there found defendant lying in a drunken condition. Defendant had been creating a disturbance and on witness attempting to lift her to her feet she drew forth her hat pins from her hat, and by this action exposed witness to the hatpin peril by attempting to thrust the aforesaid pin into his leg. Foiled in this defendant refused to walk to the lock-up but witness obtained a trap and she was driven there in state. In defence defendant said she had met someone home from the Front. The Chief Constable said defendant had 2s 6d in her possession. Captain Norman-We will relieve you of that half crown with the alternative of seven days imprisonment. The Chief Constable said defendant was the first to be locked up at the new police station at Spittal.

Berwick Advertiser, 27 August 1915 Playhouse advert.
Berwick Advertiser, 27 August 1915 Playhouse advert.

 

BELFORD CENTENARIAN

MRS ISABELLA LEARMOUTH OF ROSS

 

A happy event was celebrated at Ross, Belford, on the 5th August, when Mrs Isabella Learmouth, wife of the late George Learmouth, North Sunderland, attained her 100th birthday. Mrs Learmouth, who is the daughter of the late Mr Robert Geggie, is in good health, retains all her faculties and at present is always busily engaged knitting socks and comforts for the troops. On the morning of her birthday she received many letters of congratulations and birthday cards from the following- Rev. J and Mrs Miller, Belford; Mr J. and Misses Blenkinsop, Ross; Miss Arthur, Chathill; Mr David Black, Berwick; Miss P. Aynsley, Blyth; Mr Adam Jefferson, Spittal; Mrs Margaret Clark, Beal; Mrs Hunter, Ross; Misses Ross, Grange Mill; Mr John English, Bedlington; Miss M. Davison, Ross; Miss A. Heffen, Ross; Mr James Hoje,(sic) Ross; Mr George Hope, Ross; Miss M.G.Clark, Newcastle; Mr and Mrs W. Learmouth, Gosforth; Co-operative Society, Ltd, Wooler; Mrs Young, Ross; Miss I. Learmouth, Ross; Mrs Gibson, Bltyh; Mr J. Mole, Belford.

To mark the occasion a birthday cake was made and presented to Mrs Learmouth by Mrs Graham and family, Belford. Mrs Learmouth also sent a birthday cake to her grandson at the front, Lance Corporal George English, 7th N.F., to celebrate the event with his comrades in the trenches. It will be the wish of all that Mrs Learmouth may be long spared to enjoy the quiet eventide of life.

In the 1911 Census, Isabella is living with Alexander Hope, her son-in law at New Shoreston in Bamburgh. According to the Census, she was born at Ayton in Berwickshire.

 

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