North-East History Hub
Local History - Genealogy - Archaeology
Northumberland - County Durham - Teesside - Tyne & Wear
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Week 35 Update (Posted Sunday 29th August 2010)
First of all, you will have noticed the DONATE button above. If you feel generous, please consider sending a little something my way - especially if you don't subscribe to the two-monthly newsletter. No obligation, though - the website will still be fully and freely available to all. Thank you for your support if you are able to help out.
Heritage Open Days
As you're a history enthusiast, you'll need no reminding about this splendid annual event - but here goes anyway. This year it's over Thursday 9th - Sunday 12th September, and is a must for those of us who enjoy poking our noses into little-seen corners of the region's heritage... and being able to do it for free! As usual, there are literally hundreds of events / venues to choose from - frustratingly too many, really, as it's just not physically possible to visit them all! It really is utterly pointless trying to pick out the highlights for listing here, and I would urge you have a browse of the official national website, or the North-East section.
Region United
Sir John Hall, the man behind Gateshead MetroCentre and the former owner/chairman of Newcastle United, has issued a timely call for the region's civic and business leaders to come together and provide a united front to enable the North-East to move forward in an effective manner. With around £1billion of government funding up for grabs at a time when, otherwise, belts are being tightened, Hall argues that it is vital we do not fragment into smaller groups and therefore lessen our chances of success. Teesside already seems to have decided to go its own way, and other areas are also looking into this possibility - and Sir John thinks this will be disastrous for the region's future well-being. Councils and businesses have until the end of next month to submit plans for the future of city and regional governance - and it is hoped that North-East leaders can still come up with a viable option to the recently-scrapped OneNorthEast Regional Development Agency.
100 Reasons...
... why it's great up north! A little bit of fun from local newspaper, The Journal, can be found here. Don't take it too seriously, though, for there's plenty of stuff missing. They should have made it 1,000 reasons!
Stan Laurel Treasure Chest
A private collection of more than 50 photographs of comedian Stan Laurel are to be auctioned on 7th September. The images, most of them never seen in public, are being put up for sale by Stan's sister's granddaughter, who lives in Sunderland. They feature Stan in a wide variety of poses and scenes - many of them also featuring Oliver Hardy - and are expected to fetch £10,000-£15,000. Laurel - real name Arthur Stanley Jefferson - had strong links with the North-East, of course, living for periods in both Bishop Auckland and North Shields; his father, Arthur, also managed a string of theatres in the region. You can read the full story and browse a selection of the images here.
Interesting to note, too, from the above newspaper piece, that the previously unseen diaries of Winston Churchill's personal nurse, Muriel Thomson, are being auctioned in Newcastle next month. She apparently describes the great man as an "abusive", "unco-operative" and "ill-humoured" patient!
Note: the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society meet on the 1st Tuesday of every month (except Jan & Aug) at 7.30pm at the Eden Theatre, Bishop Auckland Town Hall. Annual membership £5 (guests 50p per meeting). Ring Bishop Auckland Town Hall on (01388) 602610 for further information. Next meeting 7th September.
Whitley Bay Meeting
The former North-East pleasure ground that was Whitley Bay is undergoing something of a renaissance with the renovation of its Spanish City site. But, as usual, folk are getting their knickers in a twist about developments, with the locals claiming that the authorities are being overly secretive about their plans. If you're interested in what's going on, then you may care to trot along to a special forum being held on Tuesday 31st August at 6.30pm in the town's Playhouse. The regeneration of Whitley Bay is the general topic up for discussion, and senior council officers will be in attendance.
Sid Gives Himself Up
Sid the snake's bid for freedom from his tank at the Great North Museum: Hancock, in Newcastle, is finally over. The three-foot long python and his mate, Holly, gave their keepers the slip a month ago; and whilst the latter was quickly tempted back into her tank with food, Sid proved rather more elusive, slithering into the aquaria plant room and out of the reach of staff. However, the escapee reptile was caught off-guard by museum learning officer, Stephen Kelly, during a routine equipment clean, and was quickly bagged. Sid is not considered in the least bit dangerous, and the museum remained open during his dramatic adventures beneath the floorboards.
National Family History Fair
One of the year's major genealogical events is almost upon us, in the shape of the National Family History Fair in Newcastle. This year it's being held at the city's Central Premier Inn on Saturday 11th September (10am-4pm). I can do little more than refer you to the official website, here. Don't miss it!
Talks & Lectures
A rather unfortunate clash with the above is the Northumberland & Durham Family History Society's 'Family History Weekend' on Friday 10th & Saturday 11th September at North Shields Central Library. On Friday morning there will be an advice session, followed in the afternoon by a ‘Beginners’ talk; and on Saturday AM there will be a talk on ‘Tracing Irish Ancestors’, followed by another general advice session in the afternoon. The library can be contacted on (0191) 2005424, and the NDFHS website is at www.ndfhs.org.uk .
Other forthcoming talks on offer from the NDFHS are as follows:-
Wednesday 1st September (2pm) - Bolbec Hall, Westgate Rd, Newcastle; Durham Cathedral by Tony Elliot (contact: Elizabeth Brookes, c/o Bolbec Hall - see website).
Wednesday 1st September (1.30pm) - Community Project Centre, Pegswood; Emily Davison by Maureen Howes (contact: Wendy Stafford, 01670 503130).
Thursday 9th September (7pm) - Community Centre, Gilesgate, Hexham; My Favourite Golden-Era Postcards by George Nairn (contact: Susanne Ellingham, susanneellingham@hotmail.com ).
Other talks...
Wednesday 8th September (7.30pm) - Cheviot Centre, Wooler; Collingwood's Northumbrians by Dr Tony Barrow. Visitors welcome but a charge of £2 for non-members. Further details from Rosemary Bell (Secretary) Tel. 01668 281310, e-mail: rosbell04@yahoo.co.uk .
Friday 10th September (7.30pm) - The Great Hall, Bamburgh Castle (event re-instated - new details); in association with Bamburgh Castle and in aid of the RNLI, "Great North East Heroes" in the King's Hall, Bamburgh Castle. Celebrating the bi-centennials of the death of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood and the birth of 1st Lord Armstrong. Dr Tony Barrow presents Collingwood's Northumbrians and Ken Wilson presents a biography of Lord Armstrong. Refreshments available, with a short interval between the talks. Admission by ticket only, £5 per head. Please contact Bamburgh Castle on (01668) 214208 for tickets and additional information.
Monday 6th September (7.30pm) - Astronomy and Stone Circles by Gordon Muir. Organised by the Border Archaeological Society, but venue as shown on their website is rather ambiguous. Best contact them on (01289) 306760 or basconnect@aol.com . Please note, too, that the BAS has organised a major day-long archaeology workshop on Friday 24th September (see here), for which the booking deadline is 13th September.
Walks & Tours
Sunday 12th September (9am-5pm) - Across to the Nick, by the North Pennines AONB Partnership. Discover the geology, landscape & wildlife on this linear walk between Cow Green Reservoir and Dufton, via High Cup Nick. Includes minibus transport from Dufton to start of walk at Cow Green. Meet at Dufton village car park (NY689250). 11 miles, 8hrs (inc.travel), hard grade, £6, full hill-walking kit required. No dogs. Telephone (01388) 528801 to book.
The theme for this year's Scottish Borders Walking Festival is 'Walking the Tweed Valley', and takes place during 4th-12th September. Full details here.
Readers may like to know about the daily walking tours of the city of Newcastle which take place Monday to Saturday from June through to 30th September. They commence at 11am from Newcastle Tourist Office, 28 Market Street (tel. 0191 2778000). They last 90mins, finishing on the Quayside. £3 (concessions £2). The Association of Newcastle City Guides also offers many other regular tours of the city - ring the above number for details.
Exhibitions & Displays
Beamish Museum's Great North Steam Fair takes place during Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th September, where visitors can re-live the golden days of steam. Several guest appearances from visiting engines join the Beamish regulars for a steam & transport spectacular. The museum is also holding an Agricultural Show during Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th September, where the theme will be all things farm-related (obviously).
Last call for fans of the adult comic Viz. Newcastle's Lit & Phil Society's exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Tyneside magazine's founding - see here. The exhibition ends on 4th September.
All for now. Don't forget the DONATE button ... especially if you're in a good mood and feeling particularly benevolent!
Week 34 Update (Posted Sunday 22nd August 2010)
Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter is now available. Click here for subscription details.
Churches in the News
Being history enthusiasts, places of worship are never far from our thoughts. Whether it's digging around them as archaeologists, researching them as local historians or researching events that happened in them as genealogists! Anyway, a few stories have surfaced this week concerning the said institutions, all of them very different.
Firstly, the 2010 'Constructing Excellence in the North-East' Heritage Award (Large Project) has been won by the team in charge of the renovation of St.Michael & All Angels Church, Newburn. The building was badly damaged by fire in 2006, and it is great to see the place back to its best. The award for the 'Small Project' went to the conservation effort recently lavished upon Shittleheugh Bastle, near Otterburn (see here for a video report on Shittleheugh). The restoration of the controversial Pasmore Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee was 'Highly Commended' in the CENE ceremony.
Secondly, there is the news story concerning St.Laurence's Church in Middleton St.George. This beautiful erection has lain unused since 2008 due to structural concerns, with the local congregation using the nearby school for services; and those who love the old building are becoming concerned amidst rumours that the authorities are using underhand tactics to see that the church is demolished and replaced by a brick affair. The stone effort, dating from 1871, was once referred to as "a striking ornament" to the village, and locals are at a loss to understand why anyone would want to flatten it. A long period of consultation has begun.
Finally, it seems that a bright future, literally, lies ahead for Newcastle's Cathedral Church of St.Nicholas'. A bar opposite the ancient building has offered to pay for the church to be lit at night, thus greatly enhancing its nocturnal appearance. The pub, called 'Tup Tup' caused some upset a couple of years ago when they cheekily used the cathedral's walls as an enormous projection screen during an advertising campaign - and the recent gesture is being seen as a peace offering. The scheme will be funded via a special charity night at the pub on 4th September.
Heritage Moves in Morpeth
The Morpeth Antiquarian Society, which utilises the old caretaker's flat in the Town Hall for the purposes of storing its artefacts, has been given a month's notice to quit the premises. The Butter Market part of the Town Hall has been offered as an alternative home for part of the collection, and this suggestion has kindled the idea of a new town museum. So it seems that much good will come out of a little bit of bad news. Hopefully, there will be more to report in Issue 3 of the e-Newsletter.
Bowes Museum Developments
A dedication ceremony has taken place at the Bowes Museum to mark the opening of their new Reading Room. The new facility has been named The John Eccles Reading Room, in recognition of the work of the Viscount Eccles, former chairman of the museum's trustees. The new room provides access to the institution's library and archives, and its completion provided an appropriate topping-out process, literally, to the museum's recent refurbishment (the room is in the high central dome of the building). Check their website for access details. A book has also been published about the museum's founders entitled John and Josephine Bowes: The Creation of The Bowes Museum, which is available via their website.
New Resources ...
Check out www.culturegrid.org.uk - a great new resource for images and information on the holdings of the nation's museums, libraries and archives. 'Culture Grid' is the latest offering from the Collections Trust, and is funded by a variety of institutions.
A couple of new local record sources have appeared on the Mormons FamilySearch website, namely, the 'Calendar of Marriage Bonds & Allegations for Durham Diocese 1594-1815' and the 'Marriage Bonds & Allegations for Durham Diocese 1692-1900'. Click here (and scroll down a bit) to access the same.
... And a New Thought
A communication from reader Alan Thompson of Burneside Heritage Group got me thinking last week. Burneside is a little village a mile or so north of Kendal in Cumbria - a good few miles outside our region - but it was home to many evacuees from the North-East during WWII. The child population of the local school doubled, for one thing (from 79 to 159), as many thousands of kids and their teachers made the trip across the Pennines to the safer environs of the Cumbrian countryside. This pattern would have been repeated across the whole of the land, of course, and it makes you think just how the very fabric of our society was stretched during those difficult times. Incidentally, Burneside Heritage Group have just published a book on the history of their school (including mention of the North-East evacuees) - contact Alan Thompson at alan@astonline.co.uk for further details. Alan may also be able to help with other, more general Cumbrian evacuee material.
Talks & Lectures
Thursday 2nd September (7.15pm) at Darlington's Head of Steam Museum - The Tornado Story... And Now What? by David Elliot from the A1Steam Trust. Concerning the future of the Trust. In the museum's Meeting Room; free to members of the Friends, but non-members welcome (tel. 01325 460532).
Saturday 4th September (from 11am) at same venue - Curator's Lecture Lunch 1: Railway Roots. At the museum's Ken Hoole Study Centre. Come and discover your heritage and view the museum's archives, followed by soup, a sandwich and a free gift. £10 per head, limited places. Contact same as above.
Thursday 9th September (10am-noon at Cramlington Library, and 2pm-4pm at Morpeth Library) - military historian, John Sadler, will be giving talks on Bronze Age Northumberland and the making of swords. Telephone Cramlington on (01670) 714371 or Morpeth on (01670) 500391 to book your place.
Walks & Tours
The programme of talks, tours, and open days continues at Ormesby Hall. The next handful can be found here, and are taking place on 24th August, 27th August, 3rd September and 12th September.
The twice-yearly Haltwhistle Walking Festival is almost upon us again. The latest effort runs from 9th to 17th October - see here for full details. As usual, there are lots of historical bits and pieces to take in on most of the rambles - but you'll have to book your place.
Exhibitions & Displays
The Meccano, Hornby and Dinky models exhibition entitled Two Men and a Collection at Kirkleatham Museum is coming to a close on 31st August - as indeed is their Viva Talbot - Woodcuts (steelworks) display on 12th September.
Ryhope Engines Museum's next 'Steaming Date' is the weekend of 28th-30th August - but they'll also be going at it over the Heritage Open Weekend of 11th-12th September.
Indeed, the Bank Holiday weekend of 28th-30th August is a busy time for the region's museums generally, so keep an eye out for special events. Most prominent, perhaps, is the 'Hadrian's Wall Roman Festival' during 29th-30th, when English Heritage is holding themed festivities at its Wall properties (Birdoswald, Corbridge, Chesters, Housesteads). Binchester Roman Fort is also holding a special day on Monday 30th August.
Also, two vintage car rallies are coming up:-
29th August at the North-East Aircraft Museum - the Sunderland Classic Car Club will be displaying their wares (ring 0191 5190662 beforehand, as the event seems to be missing from their website!);
29th-30th August at DLI Museum & Art Gallery - the long-running Military Vehicle Rally (10am-4pm both days), in association with the North-East Military Vehicle Club.
Week 33 Update (Posted Saturday 14th August 2010)
Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter is now available. Click here for subscription details.
'Recent' History
Is it really 30 years since the opening of the Tyne & Wear Metro system? It certainly is! My earliest memories of Newcastle city centre are of boarded-up and cordoned-off areas around the shops and streets as the underground tunnels were dug and the tracks laid - a process which took six years, from 1974 through to the system's launch on 11th August 1980. The Metro now carries 40million passengers a year - a total of over one billion in its 30-year existence. It was the first rail system of its kind in the country outside London, and it was extended to Newcastle Airport in 1991 and then to Sunderland in 2002 - a total of 48 miles of track, 60 stations and 90 trains.
TV History Fest
It is taking some doing. Keeping up, that is, with all the history programmes which are currently being churned out by the BBC. It's their Norman Season, of course, and though there's not much for the North-East to get excited about in this regard (apart from regular mentions for Durham Cathedral), the Beeb are taking the opportunity to churn out some of their old, related stuff, much of which has plenty to do with the region. As well as The Normans, Norman Walks, Domesday, and the like, there have been re-showings of the excellent Inside the Medieval Mind, several Michael Wood documentaries, and a nice introduction to Anglo-Saxon art and culture by way of Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons. The latter, in particular, contains lots of North-East interest. Many of these are still available via the BBC's iPlayer - but remember that they are only available for a limited time.
Additionally, I believe that the archaeological goings-on at Bamburgh will feature in the BBC's Digging for Britain programme on Thursday 2nd September at 9pm.
Britain's Oldest House
Until a few days ago, the North-East of England held the national 'record' for the country's oldest house - a 10,000-year-old effort at Howick, in Northumberland (well, not a whole house, you understand, but the remains of one). This has now been bettered by an even older find made last week at a site called Star Carr, near Scarborough (still the North-East of England, I suppose!). The remains of the 3.5m circular construction were put at around 11,000 years old - and seem to indicate that our hunter-gatherer ancestors lived a more settled life than previously thought. It is estimated that the house and site were continuously occupied for 200-500 years, and stood at the edge of a lake. An expanse of timber 'decking' nearby is thought to be the oldest example of carpentry in Europe.
Northumberland Park
The 125th anniversary of the opening of this historic park passed on 11th August. Families turned out to celebrate the special day, as plans begin to come together for the revitalisation of the public space, situated on the border between Tynemouth and North Shields. It is hoped that Heritage Lottery Fund cash can be attracted to the project, which will include a community archaeological dig on the site of a former medieval leper hospital known to have existed within the park's bounds.
National Probate Calendar
Ancestry.co.uk have released another useful index for genealogists, namely the National Probate Calendar 1861-1941, being an index to all wills proved and administrations granted in England & Wales for the period in question. Subscribers to Ancestry.co.uk will be able to gain most from the resource, but a good deal can be gleaned from using the freely available search facility. Check it out here.
Talks & Lectures
Sunday 22nd August (2pm) - Building Model Cobles by Tony Peereboom, at the Grace Darling Museum, Bamburgh. You simply pay for entry to the museum on the day, and take in the lecture whilst you're there - which will be about 45mins in length. Ring (01668) 214910 for further details.
Wednesday 25th August (6pm) - Kinder Transport to the North-East by John Sadler, at the Lecture Theatre of the Mining Institute, Neville Hall, Westgate Road, Newcastle. This is an event for members of The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne - non-members are only admitted if signed in by a society member.
Early notice is given of the following:- Cleveland FHS is holding a ‘Family History Day’ entitled ‘Unlocking Your Past’ on Saturday 18th September 2010, at Collingwood College, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LT (9.45am-4.30pm). The day will feature the usual mix of talks, computer workshops and advice stands – as well as much in the way of goods to peruse and purchase. It will be suitable for both experienced and newbie family historians. Cost is £15 per person – see www.clevelandfhs.org.uk for full details.
Walks & Tours
Sunday 22nd August (1pm-4pm) - Thornaby's Medieval Fair will give history enthusiasts the chance to take advantage of guided walks led by Tees Archaeology at 1.30pm & 3pm which will explain medieval points of interest around the town. See here for full details.
Saturday 21st August (10am-3pm) - Guided walk: Barnard Castle & Whorlton, with local historian, David Butler. Start from Bowes Museum (NZ055163); medium/long grade; 9 miles; 5 hrs; packed lunch required. Fee payable. Ring (0191) 3834144.
Sunday 22nd August (11am-6pm) - Guided walk: Rookhope Ramble, with geologist and natural historian, John Burgess. Start from Rookhope village car park (NZ937428); medium grade; 6.5miles; 5 hrs; packed lunch required. Fee payable. Ring (0191) 3834144.
The musical/movie bus tours of Newcastle-Gateshead which have been running every Sunday of late have been extended due to popular demand - with the programme now being carried into September. The excursions begin and end at Newcastle Central Station and run for three hours. Tyne Idol bus trips can be contacted via their website at www.tyneidols.com.
Week 32 Update (Posted Sunday 8th August 2010)
Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter is now available. See bottom of this update for full details.
Tall Ships Races 2010
What a weekend they've had down in Hartlepool. As I write, the sun is (sort of) shining and the Tall Ships party will be in full swing a few miles down the coast. Tuesday's 'Parade of Sail' will be quite an occasion when the vessels take their leave - it's an event which will no doubt live in the memory of the townsfolk for a very long time.
Shakespeare Update
Followers of this story (see Week 31 Update, and Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter) will be interested to learn that Raymond Scott has received an eight-year jail sentence for the handling/smuggling of the famous Shakespeare First Folio. The lengthy term, handed out at Newcastle Crown Court on 2nd August, brings to a close this amazing tale, whilst the Folio itself is being nursed back to health at Durham University Library. One wonders what news item from the region will next thrust itself into the national spotlight. It's never quiet here in the North-East - if often for the wrong reasons.
Digs Winding Down
If, like me, you've a passing interest in the various archaeological digs of the region, you'll know that they are now beginning to wind down. Of the major projects, the Vindolanda effort continues on until 16th September, but those at Bamburgh and Binchester have been mothballed for the year. We look forward to the Time Team programme on the former, due to be broadcast during 2011.
Heritage Open Days
The forthcoming 'Heritage Open Days' weekend of 9th-12th September is almost upon us. Stand by for plenty of mention on this website about this brilliant time of year. Point your browser at the official site here, or at the North-East section here. First out of the blocks is Newcastle City Library with this little lot, which seems to indicate that our local repositories are getting into the spirit of things this year, too. Great news!
Another 'Final' for Great North Museum: Hancock
The region's most-visited attraction, the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle, has made it to the final of The National Lottery Awards 2010. It is one of only three projects to make it through to the last stage of the 'Best Heritage Project' category, and I order you, as your webmaster, to vote for the institution now by going to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards and clicking on the appropriate links. Be quick, though, as public voting ends at midday on 13th August.
Guisborough Plans
A period of public consultation has just ended concerning the future of the layout of Guisborough town centre. Displays at Sunnyfield House and an internet survey have combined to inform the authorities of just what the public would like to see, and they are now working through the various suggestions to help move the scheme forward to the next stage.
Hylton Castle & the Hiltons
It's all happening at Hylton Castle, near Sunderland. Whilst campaigners continue to press ahead toward their long-term goal of having the ruin restored to proper community and visitor use, the venue played host to a travelling band of Hilton family members and descendants a few days ago. The party, containing folk from as far away as North America as well as many locals, are enjoying a tour of Wearside's historic sites - and Hylton Castle was naturally the highlight of their 10-day trip. See below for further pending Hylton Castle activity.
New Armstrong Guide
A new children's guidebook has been published outlining the contribution made to Tyneside's heritage by the great Victorian industrialist, Lord Armstrong. As part of the series of events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth, the younger generation are being encouraged to investigate the man's many projects, schemes and ventures in and around Newcastle. These include his massive armament, warship and hydraulic crane works on the Tyne and his contributions to many of the city's best-known buildings - including the present-day university, the Hancock Museum and the Royal Victoria Infirmary. The new guide is available from tourist information centres, the Centre for Life, the Discovery Museum, the Great North Museum and Newcastle City Library.
Exhibitions & Displays
27th July until 12th September - the 1884 Royal Visit to Cragside, near Rothbury, is recreated by actors on a daily basis. Prince Edward and Princess Alexandria are the royal guests in question, and they will be going about their everyday duties whilst the visitors mill about them.
The Watch House Museum, Rocky Island, Seaton Sluice, is celebrating the exploits of Thomas Langley, 'The Hartley Hero' and his fellow 'rocket men' of the local volunteer life-saving company, until 26th September. Open every Sunday 2pm-4.30pm and over the Heritage Open Days, Friday 10th - Sunday 12th September (10am-4pm). See here.
Bombs & Barrage Balloons exhibition looks at the iron and steel industry on Teesside during WWII - and the display is now at Acklam Library (until end of August, I think, when it moves onto Norton Library for September)
Other Stuff
Gateshead Central Library will be closed for building work during 23rd-30th August. Ring them on (0191) 4338400 if you've any queries.
And, the e-Newsletter...
Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter contains the usual eclectic mix of historical news stories from around the region. For a FULL picture of what's happening in the North-East then you need both the weekly website update AND the regular two-monthly Newsletter - it's well worth the £8.00 subscription fee for six issues (one year). Click here for subscription details. In the meantime, here's the contents list for the latest 24-page issue:
1-2 Headlines (inc. 'Heritage Open Days', 'Landmark Artwork for Boro', 'Get Carter Car Park', 'Shakespeare Up in Court', and 'Teesside Name Change';
3 Editorial & Contents
4 Sir,… Readers’ letters and emails
4 Local History News
8 Genealogy News
9 Archaeology News
10 Other News
12 Heritage at Risk (short article)
13 Places of Worship: Praying for a Miracle (short article)
14 Around the Repositories
15 Around the Societies
16 Around the Museums
18 On the Web
19 Book Releases & Recommendations
21 Network North-East – Interests Section
22 Confused? Let me explain … (how it all works)
23 Advertisements & Appeal for help
24 How to subscribe to this e-Newsletter
Remember that there is very little overlap between the website and the newsletter, so order your two-monthly dose of historical information from the North-East of England today!
[Note: if you'd like to join the subscription list and start with Issue 1, then just let me know - and I will ensure your £8.00 fee covers Issues 1 to 6]
Week 31 Update (Posted Sunday 1st August 2010)
A thin week, news-wise. Well, on the history front, at least. But August promises much as the region's museums and other attractions pull out all the stops for the kids' summer holidays. So those of you who prefer a nice peaceful visit to a local landmark may therefore wish to check with the relevant website before making your plans. Having 300 screaming tots running around the exhibits may not be everyone's idea of fun!
Tall Ships Races 2010
England's biggest free event of the year centres on Hartlepool during 7th-10th August when the world famous maritime extravaganza hits town. The ships will begin trickling into port on Saturday 7th as the second and final race is brought to a conclusion. The 'Parade of Sail', when the 100+ ships take their leave on Tuesday 10th, promises to be a spectacular occasion. A special five-day 'Meet the Georgians' event runs from 6th to 10th August, which will help add a little colour to the festivities. If you decide to go along then you'll not be lonely, with upwards of one million visitors expected! Keep abreast of developments at www.hartlepooltallships2010.com .
A story connected directly with the Tall Ships Races surfaced this week which ties in nicely with the host town itself. And 'surfaced' is the right word, because the tale concerns The Swan, a vessel which back in 1989 was lying at the bottom of Hartlepool Marina, but is now back on the high seas. A chap by the name of Keith Parkes led the campaign to raise and restore her, the latter task being performed by a team of Shetlanders after the boat had found its way into the hands of one Tom Moncrieff - Shetland being where the ship was originally made in 1900. Back on the waters by 1998, The Swan has featured in several Tall Ships Races since - and the crew is relishing the vessel's return to its former graveyard next weekend.
Stealing Shakespeare
You just can't keep the North of England out of the news at the minute, primarily for the wrong reasons, of course. Cumbria has suffered more than most, but the North-East has had plenty to worry about, too - Raoul Moat and all. But what about that court case concerning the theft of the Shakespeare First Folio from Durham University Library? The case has already been mention below (scroll down a bit), but the BBC broadcast a 50-minute documentary about the amazing tale a few days ago. The programme is still available on the BBC iPlayer here (until the evening of Thursday 5th August) - please try to catch it as it's truly extraordinary.
Schoolboy's Idea Brought to Life
Eight-year-old James Summers, a pupil of Lockwood Primary School in Boosbeck, near Skelton, is the inspiration behind the new life-sized statue of an old ironstone worker which stands in the village. Three years ago, little James, then five, made the suggestion to the chairman of the parish council. The unveiling ceremony took place a few days ago amidst great pomp - the statue being situated near to the old mine shaft, which was filled in and capped in 1986.
Walks & Tours
I have discovered a new outlet for walks and tours in County Durham here. Scroll through to page 24, where you will find loads of events coming up in August and September. Subjects include: Durham City's Bridges (4th Aug), St.John's Chapel/Westgate (7th Aug), Stepping Stones over the Browney (8th Aug), Upper Gaunless Industry (8th & 15th Aug), and lots more, covering all difficulty grades and various distances.
Exhibitions & Displays
I've just about finished putting together Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter, and will be announcing its release soon. But no sooner is the thing ready for release, than something else pops up which should have been included! A particularly interesting development at the Heugh Gun Battery, Hartlepool, has just been announced - namely a recreation of an underground trench. Thanks to a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, visitors can now get a taste of what trench life was like for soldiers during WWI. The educational and interactive facility is the only one of its type outside London - and opened on Saturday 31st July.
Oh, and I've uploaded another article onto the website, here, entitled A Rough Guide to Electoral Registers & Associated Records.
Those who have already subscribed will receive Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter before next weekend. If you'd like to be added to the subscriber list then click on the relevant link on the left-hand side of this page.
Week 30 Update (Posted Sunday 25th July 2010)
By pure chance, Gateshead seems to have dominated the news this week. Past glories of an athlete often to be seen at the town's International Stadium, the passing of the UK's oldest (Gateshead-based) person, a new exhibition and the pending demise of the Get Carter car park all feature below. Anyway, my apologies for the lack of news from elsewhere!
Cram's Glory Days Remembered
We begin this weekend's update with a piece of relatively recent history. Nevertheless, it is still hard to believe that it is a quarter of a century since North-East athlete, Steve Cram, broke three world records at three different distances within nineteen days during the summer of 1985. What an era it was for British middle-distance running, with the likes of Cram, Coe and Ovett running the rest of the world ragged in meetings across the globe. Cram's amazing sequence began in Nice on 16th July 1985, when he beat Said Aouita by four one hundredths of a second to win the 1,500m in record time. Eleven days later it was a victory over Seb Coe in Oslo's Bislett Games, where he smashed Coe's existing world mile record. Then, on 4th August, it was a race against the clock in Budapest to successfully register the fastest 2,000m of all-time. A gala dinner was recently held in London to celebrate the anniversary.
UK's Oldest Person Dies
Britain's oldest person, Eunice Bowman, died at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 16th July 2010, aged 111 years and 327 days. Eunice held the title of the UK's oldest person for only a few short weeks, following the death of Florrie Baldwin on 8th May. Born on 23rd August 1898 in Lancashire, she moved to the North-East as a child in 1905 and worked in Armstrong's Munitions Factory during WWI. She married twice, mothering six children, and lived independently in Gateshead until her move to Hillside Grange care home two years ago.
Get Carter Landmark and New Exhibition
With the demolition of the infamous Get Carter car park in Gateshead commencing on Monday 26th July (a quiet dismantling rather than a dramatic instantaneous felling, I'm sorry to say), old Gateshead is being remembered in a new, temporary exhibition in the town's St.Edmund's Chapel. The building, which lies in the shadow of the aforementioned car park, is playing host to the photographic display until the end of August (except the week commencing 2nd August), which consists of images of the High Street of yesteryear.
National Trust Top Trumps
Yes, the children's card game. 30 of the UK's premier tourist attractions feature in a new edition of the popular pastime - including three from the North-East, namely, Lindisfarne Castle, Wallington Hall and Seaton Delaval Hall. The cards' categories are: Size (acreage), Cups of Tea Sold, Hollywood Factor, Year Built and Hauntings. Top Trumps was all the go in the seventies, but lost its appeal in the eighties - only to come back into favour from 2000, since when more than 40 million packs have been sold (mainly to my kids - Ed.).
Newcastle School on Screen
Filming has been approved on the site of La Sagesse School, one of Newcastle's most historic educational establishments. Tracy Beaker Returns is due to be shot there soon, as were previous episodes of the kids' show. La Sagesse, a famous private girls' school which closed in 2008, is more properly known as Jesmond Towers - and is now owned by former Newcastle United chairman, Freddie Shepherd.
Walks & Tours
The Festival of the Northumberland Coast Path begins this Wednesday 28th July, with a wander along the seafront from Cresswell village to Warkworth, beginning at 9.45am. The series of walks will continue every Wednesday as the programme works its way up the coast. If you're interested, check out www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk , where you can find details of all sorts of other walks and events of interest to the historically-minded (a series of Holy Island walks can be found there, for one thing). Seems like for most of the events you can just turn up on the day, but a phone call may be advisable.
Week 29 Update (Posted Sunday 18th July 2010)
This week's 'appeal for information' from myself is a request for any details concerning speakers and lecturers in local history, family history and archaeology. In the 'Local History' section of the website you can find a short section dedicated to the topic, but I've not had much success in expanding the same. Local groups and organisations are always looking for speakers to fill their programmes, so if you can help out with any contact information for any of the region's speakers then do let me know. Obviously, if you provide such a service yourself then get in touch!
Time Team Visit Region
Channels 4's Time Team visited the North-East this week when they turned up at Bamburgh to cover the activities of the Bamburgh Research Project. The archaeological dig on the Northumberland coast has been in progress for over a decade now, where the experts have been working both within the confines of the castle itself and on a site in the nearby dunes known as the 'Bowl Hole Cemetery'. Bamburgh was once the capital of the Anglian kingdoms of Bernicia and its successor Northumbria, and the work there is revealing much about the high status end of our ancient regional civilisation. Time Team was hoping to help locate the early medieval village, including the Anglo-Saxon Great Hall - and the programme is due to be shown in 2011.
Whilst we're on the subject, there is to be a public lecture on the subject of the Bowl Hole Cemetery Dig at Bamburgh by Dr Sarah Groves, on Saturday 24th July (3pm) at the Pavilion in Bamburgh village. The event is free and open to all and no need to book.
Monkwearmouth Station Museum Boost
The Heritage Lottery Fund has this week confirmed the award of a £92,000 grant to Monkwearmouth Station Museum, which will go towards a railway wagons and sidings restoration project. A 1939 covered carriage truck - the earliest known example of its kind - and a goods brake van from 1915 are set to be renovated, and will be housed in a building being built on the museum's sidings. The new arm of the museum should open sometime next year.
Spanish City Appeal
Readers of Issue 1 of the e-Newsletter will know that 2010 marks the 100th birthday of the famous Spanish City Dome (and the adjoining Empress Theatre) in Whitley Bay. Though the authorities have been a bit slow to get their finger out (the centenary was actually in May), things are finally staring to happen following the appointment of a design company who have been charged with the task of putting together an exhibition. Black Dog Design have put out an appeal for anyone with memories, photographs or movies of the famous landmark and the associated funfair, etc., to come forward to help them with their project. There will be a book and a short film to accompany the exhibition - which will all come to fruition as renovation work on the famous old complex comes to a conclusion later this year. To contact Mick Sharp of Black Dog Design ring (0191) 2902206; or to contribute to the book, call 'Northern Voices' on (0191) 2529531.
Gisborough Grant
The Gisborough Priory Project, the group dedicated to improving the woodland/gardens adjoining the priory, has receive £5,000 from Impetus Environmental Trust to assist them with their work. Other fundraising schemes have raised a similar amount over the past twelve months, which all mean that the project is gathering pace nicely.
Sunderland Sailors Honoured ... At Last!
A memorial is to be built to honour the Sunderland sailors who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the combined French and Spanish fleets were defeated by the British. 66 individuals are thought to have served in the British fleet on that most famous of days in 1805, and the new monument will amount to an inscribed granite slab in Trafalgar Square, near to the Aged Merchant Seaman's Homes in the city's East End.
Exhibitions & Displays
Blyth Battery - their July exhibition is entitled The Civil Defence Service and the ARP Wardens. In August, their display switches to the subject of Blyth Battery in Peace.
This weekend sees a slight change to the way in which the website works. From now on I shall only be updating the same once every seven days with a major weekly update, generally over the weekend. This may vary slightly from time to time - and there may be odd midweek updates if something important crops up. This means that you only need visit the website once a week for the sake of catching up on the 'Latest News'. There will not be any fall-off as regards quantity or quality of content, but it should save us all a bit of time. It will also give me a chance to make the site a bit more informal and easier to read, by linking between articles and mentioning any amount of trivia concerning other areas of the site, etc.
So let's get started.
Week 28 Update (Posted Saturday 10th July 2010)
Firstly, with the second issue of the e-Newsletter only three weeks or so away, I would like to put out an appeal for the submission of some 'research interests' for the Interests Section of the same. I am looking for surnames or subjects that you are currently interested in, and you can be as specific as you want. If you've any genealogical 'dead-ends' that you'd like to give a public airing to then drop me a line at micksouthwick@blueyonder.co.uk and I'll slot them into the e-Newsletter. Try to keep the entries down to no more than 100 words or so - but send in as many surnames/subjects as you want.
Remember, you can still obtain your copy of the first issue of the e-Newsletter by clicking on the 'Newsletter' link in the left-hand column.
I know it's only been a couple of days since I last brought you a batch of news items, but it's quite busy at the moment! In the coming paragraphs you'll find plenty of news snippets to help you take your mind off a certain other story from this part of the world which seems to have been grabbing the national headlines these past few days.
Shakespeare in Court
This extraordinary story has been hogging the headlines here in the North-East for several weeks now, with occasional outbreaks into the national arena. For the moment, though, it's sort of over - but there'll be more to come in due course. It concerns the trial of 53-year-old Raymond Scott at Newcastle Crown Court, who stood accused of stealing a rare copy of Shakespeare's 'First Folio' and attempting to hawk it round the literary world. The 1623 compendium of the Bard's plays disappeared from Durham University in 1998, only to resurface a decade later when Scott handed them into a Shakespearean Library in the USA and asked them to verify it. Suspicions duly roused, the Americans notified the authorities and Scott was hauled in. Something of an extrovert, Mr Scott kept the court and the watching public well entertained - especially after his lengthy criminal record was unveiled. The manuscript is worth around £1million, despite having had its cover removed during its ten-year absence. Only yesterday, Scott was cleared of the charge of theft, but found guilty of handling stolen goods and removing stolen property from the UK. He was remanded in custody and awaits a substantial custodial sentence - the case being adjourned whilst a psychiatric report is prepared. More news to follow in Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter.
Fires all the Rage
Two notable blazes caught the attention of the newspaper reporters this week. On the evening of Wednesday 7th July, the famous Dunston Staithes were set alight in what is strongly suspected to have been an arson attack. The old coal staithes, thought to be the largest wooden structure in Europe and something of an icon, date from 1893, and you have probably spotted them countless times on Catherine Cookson dramas. 50 firemen attended the scene, and though they successfully dealt with the problem, a good deal of damage was done. It has suffered similarly before, with arson attacks in both 2003 and 2009 placing the historic monument in danger.
A few days prior to this, what was described as "an inferno" engulfed the disused St.Paulinus RC Church in Guisborough. The church and its ancillary building on Park Lane were so badly damaged that they had to be demolished. As it happens, they were due to be dismantled anyway, as the congregation has moved to a new building on The Avenue. St.Paulinus' was built in 1927. A residential nursing home is to be built on the site.
New Heritage Walks Book
Author David Haffey has produced another 'walks book'. This time its Heritage Walks in North Northumberland - just the ticket for those of us with a historical bent who like to get out and about in the countryside. He was busy today signing copies at Alnwick Tourist Information Centre - the tome containing ten circular walks of modest distance in the area between the Cheviots and the coast. You can pick a copy up from the tourist info centres of the county - or, no doubt, somewhere online very soon (oh, you can find it here already!).
'Durham Records Online' Stuff
Finally, I have just received a lengthy email from the commercial enterprise that is Durham Records Online, which contains details of their recent releases. Most of the content of the message is also included in their 'new releases' list at www.durhamrecordsonline.com , though they have also updated what they have to offer from the parishes of Whittonstall and Bywell St.Andrews. I seem to have been added to their mailing list, so I guess you'll be able to do the same by getting in touch with them via their website.
Can I just add that I have no qualms about mentioning commercial concerns on my website. As long as there's something of interest to be had for my readers then that's good enough for me. Remember that it's also free to advertise on my website here.
Durham Road Cemetery Call Posted Thursday 8th July 2010
I've not personally seen it, but it must be a little out of shape. Durham Road Cemetery, Stockton, that is. For locals have banded together with the aim of forming a 'friends' group to help improve and preserve the site. The group will work in tandem with the council to obtain funding and make decisions concerning the general upkeep of the burial ground. Anyone interested should contact James Dooley of Stockton Bereavement Services on (01642) 527341 or email kasacal@hotmail.co.uk .
Berwick Plea Posted Thursday 8th July 2010
Of all our towns and cities, Berwick-upon-Tweed is perhaps among the most admired. But their local civic society is still not happy with the look of some parts of the town - and good on them, for we should never rest on our laurels! Anyway, chairman Do Shaw has raised fresh concerns over the number of decaying buildings in and around the town centre and wants something done about them. On her list of priorities are the former Playhouse Cinema, Youngman's on Hide Hill, St.Aidan's Hostel and a former electrical premises on Chapel Street. All these buildings have been empty for some time and are looking neglected. She argues that as they are in a conservation area they should be brought back into use - with the owners, perhaps, being ordered to smarten them up.
Vindolanda Activity Posted Tuesday 6th July 2010
A reminder to you all that visiting tourists can watch the archaeologists in action on an almost daily basis at Vindolanda Roman Fort, near Hadrian's Wall. Weather permitting, the lads and lasses will be out there most days on their hands and knees fiddling with their trowels between 10am and 5pm - the only exceptions I am aware of (until the last day of excavations on 16th September) being August 27th & 28th and September 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th. From Sunday 11th July through to the end of August, there will also be daily talks at 2pm by an archaeologist about the current excavations (except August 27th & 28th).
Portraits Seek Home Posted Sunday 4th July 2010
The Sir William Turner Foundation, in Kirkleatham, are looking for the descendants of two former headteachers of Coatham School, whose portraits have been found in an old attic at the Sir William Turner Almshouses - with the aim of reuniting them with their families. The paintings of Arthur Pryce and Canon Harold Littler (headmasters during 1885-1919 and 1919-1941, respectively) are of no real monetary value but will be of considerable sentimental value to the men's surviving relatives. Coatham School was a successor to the original Sir William Turner School, transferring to its new site in 1869. If you think you may have a claim, contact Peter Sotheran, chairman of the foundation, on (01642) 471662.
Second Tyne Tunnel Breakthrough Posted Saturday 3rd July 2010
The first official walkthrough of the new Tyne Tunnel took place yesterday, as council leaders and local MPs met at the mid-point under the river to celebrate a crucial stage of the construction process. The supplementary tunnel has been required for some time, with the original 1960s creation suffering from chronic congestion problems for many, many years. The new affair will open early next year - with the original closing for an overhaul, before reopening in December 2011. Each tunnel will then take a one-way dual carriageway. The tunnel was created by digging a trench across the bed of the River Tyne, then capping the same with a series of concrete sections and sealing them. The scheme will end up costing around £260million and span almost four years.
Church Closure Posted Saturday 3rd July 2010
A service of thanksgiving to mark the closure of another North-East church took place last Sunday. The church of St.Andrew the Fisherman in Boulmer, Northumberland, had seen its congregation dwindle to just two this past year or so, and the decision was eventually taken to close the building for good. June Green and Jean Chalmers, the two regulars, attended the final service with a few dozen others, and were presented with flowers to mark their long years of service. The Parochial Parish Council will surrender its lease on the building in September.
[For further information regarding the plight of our local places of worship be sure to read the forthcoming piece in Issue 2 of the e-Newsletter (due out first week of August)]
Kirkharle Project Takes Shape Posted Thursday 1st July 2010
The recently-launched campaign to reshape the landscape around Kirkharle to the designs of its most famous native, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, have taken an important step forward. Brown was born in the little Northumberland village in 1716, and his plans for the estate of his childhood - only recently discovered - were probably his very first surveying effort ... even if they never left the drawing board. A new lake, parkland and oak bridge have so far been completed and are open for public inspection. Much work is still on-going, and the official opening will not take place until next year - though there is much for the tourist to see in and around the village today.
Libraries Survey Posted Thursday 1st July 2010
Hot on the heels of the online survey for users of Northumberland libraries comes a similar effort from Durham libraries. The county's new 'draft library strategy' has now been laid open for public scrutiny and comment. Click here to 'read all about it' and to have your chance of putting your oar in. If you'd like to see better and wider access to family and local history resources, for example, then here's your chance to tell them. Consultation period runs until 23rd August.
Old Dears Save Church Posted Tuesday 29th June 2010
Next time you pass the Church of St.Thomas the Martyr in Newcastle's Haymarket, spare a thought for 82-year-old, Laura Mullin, and her friend, Marion McMahon. For if it wasn't for these quick-thinking ladies, the church may not be there for you to see at all. Laura and Marion were on duty at a Fairtrade shop inside the Grade II-listed building when an exploding halogen bulb set a shelving unit alight - but the two successfully extinguished the flames before firefighters arrived. The 200-year-old John Dobson-designed building - including its valuable Harrison organ - survived relatively unscathed, but it could so easily have been much worse.
Almhouses Up for Hire Posted Tuesday 29th June 2010
The historic 'Sir William Turner's Almshouses', Kirkleatham, are opening their gardens, community room and chapel for use by outside organisations as meeting places. The community room is relatively new so has all mod-cons for such use, and the garden is large enough to take a marquee. All facilities are open for inspection today (Tuesday, till 4pm), and Thursday 1st July (10am-noon & 2-4pm). Call (01642) 482828 or 471662 to book - but presumably they will entertain enquiries well beyond 1st July.
More Hexham News Posted Saturday 26th June 2010
Thanks to Greg Finch of the Hexham Local History Society for letting us know of the release of another of their publications. Hexham Timeline is a list of key milestones and events in the town's history and provides a handy guide for tourists, history students and amateur historians. The 8-page concertina-fold leaflet also contains a reading list for those interested in taking their investigations further. Edited by Mark Benjamin with illustrations by Stan Beckensall, it is available in local shops for £1.90 and via the society's website (above) for £2.40 inc.p&p (ed's note: couldn't find on site today, but will no doubt be there soon - or email them about it! More of this sort of info, please, from local history societies!)
New WWI Records at Ancestry Posted Saturday 26th June 2010
Those of you who subscribe to Ancestry.co.uk (I don't. What's it like?), may be interested to know that a WWI 'scrapbook' held at Gateshead Central Library is now available to peruse online. The new resource, called Gateshead, Durham, England, Roll of Honour, 1914-1920 is a collection of newspaper cuttings from the Gateshead area, featuring more than 4,000 men. I believed the scrapbook has been indexed by Ancestry, and many photos are included. Read about it here.
OneNorthEast to be Axed Posted Monday 21st June 2010
Regional development agency OneNorthEast is set to be abolished, according to Business Secretary, Vince Cable. However, in response to pleas from local businesses and councils, it will be replaced by a 'Local Enterprise Partnership' - covering, probably, the same area as the disbanded organisation. OneNorthEast enjoyed considerable success over the years (its recent outgoing Chairman, Margaret Fay, receiving a CBE), but the new coalition government has taken a dim view of perceived "waste" - including the opening of offices in China, Korea and Australia.
Toon Hero Auction Posted Saturday 19th June 2010
The footballing mementoes of the last Newcastle United captain to lift a domestic trophy, Jimmy Scoular, have sold at auction for £20,000. The sale at Chester included Scoular's 1955 FA Cup winner's medal (£6,960), his shirt & shorts from the final (£1,740) and the match ball (£540). Scoular died in 1998. Medals belonging to two of United's old FA Cup-winning goalkeepers were also sold: Jack Fairbrother's 1951 gong, and that of 1924 keeper, Sandy Mutch.
New Hexham Book Posted Friday 18th June 2010
Hexham in the Seventeenth Century: Economy, Society, and Government in a Northern Market Town by Anna Rossiter is the new offering from the Hexham Local History Society. It is a work of some substance, running to in excess of 300 pages, and is available in hardback, paperback or digital download. It can be purchased by a number of different means - see the website above for further details (you can save on p&p by picking it up in person - contact tandtw@hotmail.co.uk ).
Durham Uni Library Closures Posted Friday 18th June 2010
Durham University's Main Library PC Rooms will be closed between 21st June and 6th September for essential maintenance work. A limited number of computer terminals will be available on Level 1 - and users are advised to ask staff for guidance. See here for further information.
Joplings: The End? Posted Wednesday 16th June 2010
Joplings department store in Sunderland is set to close for good on Saturday 19th June after 206 years trading. The axe has been hovering for several weeks since Liverpool-based owners, Vergo Retail, called in the administrators. At its peak it boasted 50,000 account holders in the region - and famously survived a massive fire in December 1954, when all that remained amidst the ashes and rubble was a sign declaring "Santa Claus is Here Today". Its present store on John Street opened in 1956 - but the end is now nigh for good. Unless, that is, a last minute buyer steps forward...
Customer Focus Group Appeal Posted Wednesday 16th June 2010
Newcastle City Library is looking for members of the public to get involved with the running of the institution, and to have a say in developing their city-wide libraries' cultural and learning programme of activities and events. The new focus group is hoping to attract a healthy cross-section of adults (16yrs+) and gather their opinions about various topics in these fields. The group will be voluntary, but travelling expenses will be met. For more information contact Angela Forster on (0191) 2774148 or email angela.forster@newcastle.gov.uk .
Tyneside Treasures on ... Wearside? Posted Wednesday 16th June 2010
Boxes of glass plate negatives of images of Tyneside have been found in the archives of the Sunderland Antiquarian Society. Dating from around 80-100 years ago, they lay untouched for six decades until Bill Hawkins had a rummage in his society's holdings. The images of places like Swan Hunter's, Newcastle's St.Nicholas' Cathedral, Tynemouth Pier and the High Level Bridge, will be copied and offered for distribution to societies across Tyneside. Anyone who may be interested in the negatives should get in touch with the Sunderland Antiquarian Society.
Wear Bridge Plans Shelved Posted Tuesday 15th June 2010
After announcing grand plans for their new bridge over the River Wear (as outlined in the e-Newsletter ), Sunderland Council have been forced to put the scheme on ice as the government tightens its public spending belt. The Labour government had already promised £90million towards the construction of what would have been the country's tallest bridge, but the new coalition have suspended all cash for transport projects. It is hoped that the funding will still be forthcoming - but we'll have to wait until October for a final decision.
Gladiator Finds? Posted Tuesday 15th June 2010
I trust you will forgive me for wandering slightly outside the region to bring you interesting news from the city of York - where archaeologists think they may have discovered the world's best-preserved gladiator cemetery! The burial ground, containing some 80 skeletons, was originally unearthed six years ago, but lengthy analysis of the remains has left experts with little option but to draw their extraordinary conclusion - even though they've yet to find the amphitheatre. The bodily remains consist of large males, many of which have suffered considerable damage - wounds that had not had time to heal, including animal bite marks. At first, archaeologists thought that they may have discovered the aftermath of a massacre, but this has now been ruled out.