Spittal

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 25TH NOVEMBER 1921

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DEVELOPMENT OF BERWICK

The second article in the “Edinburgh Evening News” dealing with Berwick was as followed:- Linked up with the development project previously outlined there is another scheme which the unemployment emergency may force into speedy practical operation. Local authorities everywhere are finding great difficulty in providing work for the unemployed, the cost of which can be absorbed, in the largest possible proportion, in wages, but Berwick, although its unemployment problem is not so acute as in many places,  could at once address itself to a work of improvement which meets that qualification. What is proposed is the levelling and laying out of a promenade on the low-lying sea cliffs which, extending within the borough for three miles from north to south, skirt the area that has been suggested for town-planning and continue for some distance on the Spittal side of the river.

This line of sea front, is uneven just now, but it has beautiful turf. There is at present only a narrow and ill-defined path, but a beautiful promenade could be made which would greatly enhance the attractiveness of the town. There is reason to believe that more will be heard of this proposal in the near future.

SCHEME OF RECONSTRUCTION

With regard to the houses which have been scheduled as unhealthy and call for reconstruction, it is proposed, if and when reconstruction takes place, that the first areas to be dealt with will be those from the ramparts between the Scotsgate and Wallace Green, and between High Street, Church Street, and the Town Hall.

Elevation of Houses in Wallace Green from Sanitary Report Ref: E.26-7-18a

Wallace Green should be hallowed ground for patriotic Scots. When Wallace was executed in 1305, one half of his body was ordered to be exposed on Berwick Bridge, and, according to tradition, his left arm was buried in the Wallace Green.

Berwick is justly proud of its Town Hall, which, dating from about 1755, has a tetrastyla Doric portico and a tower surmounted by a spire 150 feet high and occupies a commanding position at the foot of High Street, but the wit of man could not have conceived a more inconvenient situation for it. To make the bottom corners reasonably safe for traffic would entail carrying back the frontage on both sides of the street a very considerable extent.

Such a project could not be undertaken all at once. Building lines should, however, be laid down, and any rebuilding made to comply with them, so that the improvements could gradually take shape. It is from the spire of the Town Hall that the curfew bell rings at eight o’clock every evening, Berwick being one of the few remaining towns where this ancient custom is observed daily as a reminder of a bye-gone age is the existence of the old wooden stocks in a conspicuous place to the right of the Town Hall entrance.

THE SCOTSGATE

The original war memorial scheme having been dropped, the Scotsgate at the top of high Street has been given a fresh lease of life. The Scotsgate was once the most important of all the gates, and originally was in architectural harmony with the ramparts, of which it forms part, but the present structure has neither architectural nor antiquarian value.

A public improvement embodying a much needed widening of the road was proposed by the War Memorial Committee for the removal of the Scotsgate, and on the wall face which would require to have been built after the demolition, it was intended to place large bronze tablets depicting a naval and a military incident in the Great war, together with the names of the 450 gallant townsmen who fell. But a cry of “vandalism” was raised, and the scheme fell through.

War Memorial, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Copyright J Thomas – (cropped image) Creative Commons Licence 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Instead of one memorial for the whole borough, Tweedmouth and Spittal went forward with memorial of their own, and Berwick is now to have its memorial in the shape of a bronze figure of Victory on an open space in front of St. Mary’s Church in Castlegate.

INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION

Only a moderate shipping trade is now carried on at the harbour, but a case could  be made out for Berwick greatly extending its harbour and vitalising its industrial activities.

Berwick is probably the nearest British port to the Baltic, and an important development of the timber trade suggests itself as the only one consequence of future harbour extension. Berwick is admirably situated to be a busy seaport and an inland distributing centre. Much of its present prosperity depends upon its service to the agricultural communities in Berwickshire and Northumberlandshire. As matters stand there is a considerable import of timber for the well-known saw mills at Tweedmouth.

Other local industries are connected with fishing and agriculture. There are important implement works in the town proper and a big manure facture at Spittal. The corn and cattle markets rank very high in the country, and before the war more barley was exported coastwise than from any other port in the Kingdom. Pride of place should probably be given to the fishing industry. The salmon fisheries have always been famous and the herring fishing with its attendant trades of curing, smoking, and coopering is carried on in the town on a large scale. This has unfortunately been a disastrous season for the herring fishery, and Spittal feels particularly sore about it, because improved accommodation for the fishing boats has only recently been provided.

INADEQUATE RAILWAY STATION

When one considers the importance of Berwick as a railway centre, its position as the terminus of the North British and North eastern systems and the splendid enterprise of the former company some 70 years ago in erecting the Royal Border bridge with its 28 noble arches, one is amazed to find the content with such a mean, inadequate, and squalid railway station. A new railway bridge outside the station has, however, just been completed, and it may be assumed that this is the first stage in the erection of a properly equipped station.

Berwick Station, although a poor affair, occupies a proud site, the ruins of the old Castle having been demolished to make way for it. Only a fragment remains of that famous fortress, the scene of grim battle and weighty council that decided much in Scottish history.

Railway poster from the 1930s, shows the punishment of Isabella, Countess of Buchan, in the 1300s.
Ref: BA/W/6

The present booking office stands on the site of what was the great hall of Berwick castle in which Edward I assembled the gathering of nobles which decided as between Bruce and Baliol for the Scottish Crown. The same English King has a sinister connection with the Castle by having shut up for four years in a wicker basket with its walls the Countess of Buchan for placing the Crown upon the head of Bruce at Scone.

THE ANCIENT WALLS

Upon whatever lines Berwick of the future chooses to develop it will for ever possess peculiar charm as one of the few walled towns that remain in Great Britain. Only scant relics exist of the Edwardian walls, but the earth-works of the Elizabethan Walls, now converted into a well-appointed grass-banked promenade, encircle the old town for about a mile and a half, and afford land and sea views of rare beauty and interest.

For all their romantic charm the Walls have seriously contributed to the congestion of buildings and hindered expansion, and for proper expansion it would be necessary to make openings through them without obstructive archways. No one dreams of destroying the Walls, but to cut a slice here and there would open out the town and would not obscure the fact that they were once continuous. From the Walls many interesting landmarks of the town can best be viewed, including two places which this year are entitled to centenary notice. Berwick barracks have now reached the 200th year of their age.

Fuller’s engraving of Berwick Barracks 1799. Ref: BRO 1637-04

The other place of centenary interest is the Pier, which was completed in 1821. It is about half a mile length, and is one of the favourite walks of the townspeople, who have peculiar affection for their lighthouse, a noble building on the end of their Pier, dating from 1826.

Berwick stretches its burghal sphere of influence to the south side of the Tweed to embrace Tweedmouth and Spittal. Access to Spittal is obtained by a ferry, the landing stage of which might with great advantage be made more convenient for the public.

The southern suburbs of Tweedmouth and Spittal, the latter enjoying much popularity as a holiday resort, displaying those wholesome pro-pressive tendencies which, in an increasing degree are today characteristic of the whole borough. A new atmosphere is being created in Berwick, and while little can be done immediately, the spirit of progress has awakened, and in due course will make itself felt.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 20TH MAY 1921

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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.

Scremerston Colliery Ref: BRO 515-209

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, 24 DECEMBER 1920

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CUSTOMS PECULIAR TO BERWICK

(LET’S US HOPE!)

Dear Sir, – This old town, in many things, seems to be “a law unto itself.” To an incomer there are, now and again, what might be termed “different ways of doing things”; but, really, the other evening there came “a startler.” Thus am I compelled to write, in order to convey to these “Christmas Waits” (?) how such extraordinary conduct appears to a stranger.

To be informed that there were men waiting at the door, begging a Christmas Box, for doing work they are PAID to do – making a house-to-house visitation – came as a surprise. Ugh! I refer to the scavengers of the town. Their work, no doubt, is lowly – but mighty useful all the same. Still, surely when night comes on, ‘tis a pity to go around doing still more lowly work. Can they not trust to the generosity of the inhabitants, who surely would remember those to whom we owe so much, in the same way as the postman, milk boy, baker’s boy, et., or any other dependent, whose faithful services throughout the year are never forgotten?

Or is it that the salaries of the scavenger are so meagre and inadequate that they resort to begging? There must be something wrong somewhere. Surely real Scotch pride might be expected to be found amongst workers in the Borderland – I am, Sir,

“ASTONISHED RESIDENTER.”

LOCAL NEWS

In response to an urgent appeal for the Russian Relief and Reconstruction Fund, to relieve the distress in Russia, the pupils of the Girls’ National School on Monday last took a collection at their school concert, amounting to £1 1s 6d.

© Author: Unknown.  Source: International Committee of the Red Cross.  Wikimedia Commons.

In Russia the conditions of the people are terrible, says the appeal, owing to the shortage of food, the scarcity of clothes and the expensive fuel. Typhus ravages the people, and the death rate has averaged 30,000 per month. The shortage of fuel is more especially felt just now when often the thermometer registers 25 to 27 degrees below zero.

The leasing of the Mariner’s Cottage on the North Road, Berwick, to Mr Lyal Irvine, Tweedmouth, calls to mind how these two cottages got their name. Many years ago, in the time of the Lamberton Toll marriages, an old sailor, named Capt. Sharpe, becoming tired of a life on the ocean wave, came to live at the cottage, and being a bit of a sea lawyer he took up the duty of “Lamberton Priest.” On the end of his cottage facing the road he put up a board, which announced that he was prepared to tie the happy knot, and each day he attended at Berwick station to ascertain if any couples had arrived wishful of being tied up at Lamberton Toll.

Pictured is Lamberton Toll, REF: BRO 515-296.

When given notice, he was prepared to hire the carriages to convey the contracting parties to “Gretna.” Sharpe was known to the people of Berwick as the “Ancient Mariner,” and the cottage soon became known by the name it now bears.

Next week, commencing on Monday, the Northern Entertainments Coy. will present in the Queen’s Rooms their smart revue musical comedy “Lizzie.” A treat is certainly in store for patrons of the “Queen’s” as this talented Company have performed to large houses recently. A special matinee will be held on Monday first, when, owing to the limited accommodation in the gallery, intending patrons should make sure of a seat by booking early.

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

In the November number of the “Lifeboat,” the journal of the R.N.L.I., there is a very interesting article on a new device used for launching lifeboats, known as the “Platform Lift Launching Method,” which, we understand, is to be adopted at Spittal when the new motor lifeboat comes to the river. The platform system has been adopted at Sunderland, and it is specially suited to rivers where the difference between high water level and low water at spring tides is over twelve feet. Shortly the system is this. The boathouse is built on piles above the river with a well channel between the side piles in which the boat will float at any state of tide. The lifeboat is placed on a platform inside the house, which can be raise or lowered from or to the “well” by wire ropes and winches manipulated by man power or by petrol engine power. When the boat has to be launched the crew enter the craft in the boathouse, and at a given signal the winding gear is released, and she sinks down into the well between the piles. The boat is still moored to her platform carriage, but when a slip chain is released and the landward end of the platform tilted up by the winches, she glides into deep water down between guide rails. The motor can be started as soon as the vessel leaves the platform. When the boat returns she is backed in on to her platform, and once secured with the slip chain can be raised to the boathouse above by the winches. When man power is used to lower and raise the boat, two men at the crank handles can lower her safely, but it needs eight men to raise her. When funds permit, however, the Institution intend to put in petrol engines at the boathouse, where this system prevails, and this will save a great amount of manual work.

SPORTS, AMUSEMENTS, & C.

FOOTBALL

BERWICK RANGERS’ MATCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The Rangers hope to be well patronised on Saturday, as they have gone to considerable expense in securing a visit from the Edinburgh Civil Service Strollers – one of the best amateur teams in Scotland. The kick-off will be at 2.15. The Rangers will put a good team into the field, the majority of them cup players, but names cannot be given yet, as the Committee are waiting to see what players are at home in the town for the holidays. The Rangers are holding a whist drive and dance in the Corn Exchange on the 27th, and are looking for a bumper house.

ISLANDSHIRE FOR LOWICK

Lowick Rovers engage Holy Island at Lowick on Christmas afternoon. A good game is sure to be the outcome. Rovers: – E. Henderson; Carr and Foreman; Swan,Weddell, and Waters; Dalgleish, Henderson, Robertson, Harmiston, and Murray. Kick-off 2.30 p.m.

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