Chester le Street Heritage Group Newsletter

Volume 7, Issue 3 Newsletter Date 6th September 2017 Special points of interest: School Trip in Bygone Times The School trip !

Inside this issue:

John Bolton— 2 Clockmaker My husbands mother, to alight from the – Elizabeth Ellen Cowie was charabanc to lighten the belonged to the Earl of Lambton Majority 3 born in August 1916 and load on the steep incline. Warwick –back in Chester- always lived in the West Passing Windermere, Willington – Mining le-Street Pelton, Perkinsville area . Rydal Water, Grasmere, Centre She often recalled a school and Thirlmere the final Wolsingham – Holiday trip in her final year at destination was Keswick resort. Iron & Steel Chester-le-Street 4 school , in a “Charabanc” where everyone had tea works. Lock Up. to the Lake District. and a trip on the lake. Stanhope – Chief Town We have an old copy of The pupils arrived home in Weardale, Holiday the school log recording at 11:30, no doubt centre. Soldiers Story of 5 th WW1 continues. the outing dated 5 July exhausted. Eastgate/Westgate – In 1930 as being the 8th annual The log states “ a most Olden days the entrances school trip. enjoyable day had been to the Bishop of Pelton Colliery 6 All places of interest are spent”. Durhams Hunting Park. Appreciation detailed with a potted The cost ? 6d !! Wearhead – Nearest Medals history commencing in the village to the source of Durham area through Weardale to Alston. Summary of the school Killhope – One of the Details of the Hartside pass log is below :- highest road summits in are well recorded but Mrs Nevilles Cross – Battle . Highest point Cowie used to reminisce between English and Scots 2056 ft above sea level. that all the passengers had 1346. Scots defeated. At base of Kilhope the Page 2 Chester le Street

Wear rises near the view of the valley of the end of Ullswater. summit, notice a large Eden and if it is a clear Ullswater – Deepest boulder which marks the day the Solway Firth can lake. Scene of Thanks to Anne j u n c t i o n o f be seen in the distance. Wordsworth poem Cowie for this “Daffodil by Ullswater”. article and the , Durham To the left of the pass is photograph of a and Cumberland. From the Crossfell (2930ft) the South of Ullswater we typical Charabanc summit look backwards highest point of the pass Brothers Water trip of the time is and notice the view of the Pennines. Descending and then climb by Courtesy of the western slope of the Joseph Andrew & valley of Weardale. Kirkstone pass. Nenthead – Lead mining pass we run into Penrith Windermere – Largest Gavin Purdon centre. the most important English lake. Alston – Said to be the market town in Rydal Water – Rydal highest market town in Lakeland. The lofty hill mount, Wordsworths England. Streets still paved above the town is called home. with old fashioned cobble the beacon. Grasmere – Old stones. Pooley Bridge – fashioned church. In Hartside Pass – Between Northern end of winter season floor Alston and Penrith from Ullswater. the top we have a beautiful Patterdale – Southern covered with rushes. Also Dove Cottage.

John Bolton In the last newsletter we A Clockmaker of only relevant record of a clocks, bracket clocks, published an Renown. “John Bolton marriage that I can find in turret clocks, musical extract from an Northumberland, Durham clocks, tavern clocks, article about the was unquestionably a New Clock at genius.” So said an or Yorkshire is that of a table clocks and church North Shields article in the Durham John Bolton with Margaret clocks. In 1802, he made library installed Advertiser of October Prest in Northallerton on the clock for the town by John Bolton of November 20th. 1790. It is hall in North Shields; he Chester-le-Street. 1873. Bolton was born Maureen Sanders in 1761, possibly in not known when he came made the clock for the has done a bit Yorkshire, where there to Chester-le-Street, but County Jail in Durham; more research is a record of a baptism he owned a shop in the and in 1818 he simplified about this in 1762, and it is known town in 1812. John Bolton and repaired the clock Chester le Street was a nationally renowned for the church in clockmaker…. that he was working in York in 1785. On his clockmaker, producing Corbridge. He was asked gravestone, his wife is clocks of all types: long- to restore the clock in named as Margaret. The case (“grandfather”) Durham Cathedral, which he did, and added chimes said to be of “curious skill surpast. In works of which were heard for composition, often in art, but death has beat at the first time on doggerel verse”. last. Christmas Eve 1808. Interestingly, he described Though conquered, yet As well as making clocks himself on his sign-board thy deeds will ever shine. and watches, Bolton was and in his circulars as Time can’t destroy a an organ-builder, a “from Chester-le-Street, genius large as thine. naturalist, a keeper of a not London!” museum of “interesting Bolton moved to Durham, collectables”, an probably in 1812, and he arranger of chimes and a died there, in Old Elvet, on very good astronomer. October 21st 1821. He is He did, however, have a buried in St. Oswald’s reputation as being churchyard. somewhat eccentric, and His epitaph reads: his advertisements were Ingenious artist few thy Volume 7, Issue 3 Page 3

Lambton Majority

Lambton on the 19th June twin brother, the Hon. Frederick William 1876. It was returned to Lambton, sons of the Chester-le-Street one earl of Durham was hundred and forty years celebrated yesterday at later when it was on Chester-le-Street. The Earl of Durham and his show at the Heritage villages in the Group's Exhibition 19th- family are abroad and 22nd July 2017 at the consequently there were district. In the evening Purchased at Boldon no festivities at Lambton Lambton Arms. between 200 and Auctions this year, was a castle, excepting a dance From Sunderland Echo 300 gentlemen sat framed Majority, which last night in the servant's 20/06/1876 down to a dinner, was presented on behalf hall. provided by Mr Burn of the inhabitants of Majority Celebrations at During the day the of the Lambton Chester-le-Street to the Chester-le-Street. church bells at Chester- Arms, Chester-le- Right Honourable John The coming of age of le-Street were rung and Street, in a tent George, Lord Viscount Viscount Lambton and his flags displayed in the erected near the inn. warm and earnest future might be augured Lambton and might The chair was occupied acclamation when they from their character and they follow the by Sir Hedworth remembered that the dispositions he felt example of their

Williamson, Bart. Lambton family had not convinced that the excellent father and Whitburn Hall. The vice only lived amongst them young men whose darling mother, and chairmen were G.E. for a number of coming of age they were that of the long line Forster Esq., generations, but so far as celebrating (who are of valiant and Washington, J. Crawford he could discover had officers in the illustrious ancestors. Esq., Lumley and Mr A. during the whole of the Coldstream Guards) (Cheers) Long life McLaren, Offerton. that long period deserved would do honour to and prosperity to In proposing the toast of nothing but what they their ancestors; he asked them with three the evening the had received namely, the them to drink their times three. (Cheers) chairman observed that affection, support and health's and the success The Hon. and Rev. he was sure he was right respect of their fellow of Frederick John J o h n G r e y in thinking that the toast men and ancestors. (Loud George Viscount responded. The he had to propose Cheers) In conclusion Sir Lambton and the Hon. Chairman next asked would be received with Hedworth said if their Frederick William the company to drink

"Success to the Earl of he came in contact. tenants on the estate The reference to Durham and his family", (Cheers). The Rev. J. and other friends, on the "darling mother". which was a toast which Grey responded. occasion of the coming refers to Frances would not require much Subsequently Mr of age of Lord Lambton Beatrice who had preface from him, Goddard proposed and the Hon. F. died aged 36 years in because wherever the "Prosperity to the Coal Lambton. On Monday, January 1871 shortly name of the Earl of trade" to which Mr the children connected after her thirteenth Durham was known and Martin responded. with the estate were confinement and in particularly where entertained to tea in the ninth son. She had ever the Earl of Durham beautiful park married the Earl of From Durham himself was known, the surrounding the Castle. Durham in 1854. integrity of his conduct Advertiser 07/07/1876. The day was fine and the John George and his uprightness and Majority of Earl of woods being in the Lambton (3rd Earl his general justness and Durham's Sons. height of their summer 1855- 1 9 2 8 ) honesty must A ball was given in foliage, the young people succeeded to the recommend him to the Lambton castle on enjoyed themselves to earldom in 1879 on Thursday evening to the respect of all with whom the full. Page 4 Chester le Street

From Local Histori- the death of his father ans Table Book by (2nd Earl 1828-1879). M.A. Richardson. He died in September 1928 and his twin

August 1630. brother Frederick th William (4 Earl 1855- Chester-le-Street was 1929) succeeded him. visited by troops Frederick William died during the Civil War. in January 1929 and he

was succeeded by his th son John Frederick (5 In 1797, Lambton Castle , the seat of Earl1884-1970). the Earl of Durham was built. It occupies Research by Dorothy Hall. The Auctioneer from Boldon Auction Rooms and an eminence on the some of the Heritage group with the majority at the north bank of the recent Exhibition. River Wear, on the identical site of Harraton Hall, anciently the Chester-le-Street Police Lock Up 1846 residence of the D’Arcys and The report by Her station, and the looking into a yard Hedworths. The Majesty’s Inspector of dwelling house of a belonging to the station. edifice, erected by Constabularies resident keeper and There is a provision for Bonomi is situated in following his his wife. The an extensive park warming and ventilating, seven miles in inspection of Chester- situation is in the but the warming does circumference. le- Street Police middle of the village not appear to be Station, on 21st July, and appears to be effectual. There is a 1846, makes interest- unobjectionable. guard bed in each cell, August 8th 1808. Newcastle and its ing reading :- “Two The cells are each with straw base and rugs neighbourhood was cells for a lock-up ten and a half feet for bedding. The place visited by one of the house have lately been long, and eight feet appears to be secure. In most awful formed out of part of high, the breadth of one of the cells part of thunderstorms ever an old house, the one being six feet remembered. The the wall was damp. flashes of lightening remainder of the and the other five The keeper and his wife were terrific in the house being used for a feet. Each cell has a have a respectable extreme. At Lumley, County police small glazed window appearance, and seem to lightening entered the roof of a house and killed a woman be properly qualified. coffee and bread for soap, towels, and in the lower room. breakfast, bread and The keeper acts also as a combs to be provided. County policeman. cheese generally for June 25th 1829 There is no register of dinner, and tea and Bit of a difference to A thunderstorm prisoners. The keeper bread for supper. the centrally heated, air visited Chester-le- Street , where a hay stated that there was conditioned, CCTV stack, the property of not more than about I made the following monitored Custody the owners of three prisoners per recommendation:- Suite of a modern Chester brewery was month, and that few of 1.The cause of Police Station. struck by the electric them stayed more than a dampness in the wet fluid, which entered cell to be, if possible, at the roof and day and a night, though The house referred to passed through the he has known a case of a removed. is believed to have stack to the ground, prisoner remaining a 2. A register of been in Middle Chare. setting it on fire. The week. On the day of my prisoners to be kept. flames however were 3. Matting and rugs visit the place was easily extinguished. to be provided for Cuff Key. empty. The keeper said that the prisoners had bedding. 4. Wash hand basins, Volume 7, Issue 3 Page 5

The Soldiers Story of WW1 cont

In the last edition we the following twenty Wytschaete explained how Thomas minutes until, at 03:10, ridge. Audible in Dublin Merciful Justices. the order was given and his brigade were part and by Lloyd George in At the local across the line to of the heavy his Downing Street study, Magistrates Court at bombardment of the detonate the mines, the combined sound of Chester-le-Street, German lines which which totalled 600 tons the simultaneous mine in November 1918, ceased at 02:50 on the of explosive. Of the 21 explosions comprised the the presiding morning of 7 June. The mines laid 19 were loudest man - m ad e Magistrates were German troops, sensing exploded. The invariable explosion until that Mr. P. Kirkup imminent attack, rushed loss of surprise in the point. The lighting up of (Chairman), to their defensive use of a preliminary the sky as the Mr. G. Doyle, positions, machine guns bombardment was detonations ran across Mr. W. B. Kerrich- ready, meanwhile sending entirely offset by the the ridge was likened to a Walker and up flares to detect British effect of the mines, 'pillar of fire'. The effect Mr. B. Bolam. movement towards the which blew the crest off of the mine explosions the Messines - The Chairman of the ridge. Silence prevailed for upon the German Bench announced that, “having regard defenders was Gough's Fifth Army and Allied hands. The to the unique devastating. Some 10,000 the French First Army Messines battle, which circumstances in men were killed during under Anthoine reached greatly boosted morale which they were the explosion alone. In its their own final objectives among the Allies, present that day, in wake nine divisions of by mid-aft ernoon. signified the first time the cessation of infantry advanced under German troops counter on the Western Front hostilities, the signing protection of a creeping -attacked on 8 June, that defensive casualties of the Armistice, and in the victory they artillery barrage, tanks and without success, in fact actually exceeded were rejoicing in, gas attacks from the new attacking losses: 25,000 losing further ground as they were prepared Livens projectors which the attacks were against 17,000. Of the to dismiss a number were designed to throw repelled. German two mines which of cases.” gas canisters directly into c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s remained undetonated the enemy trenches. All continued in diminishing on 7 June, the details of initial objectives were form until 14 June: by their precise location taken within three hours. this stage the entire were mislaid by the Reserves from General Messines salient was in British following the

war, to the discomfort Steentje and were of the locals. One of the involved in the shelling mines was detonated in which preceded the a thunderstorm on 17 third battle of Ypres. June 1955: the only They were at Canal casualty was a dead Bank through all of cow. The second mine August supporting the remains undetected, offensive but due to the although in recent years weather conditions of its location is believed to mainly constant rain, h a v e b e e n very little further pinpointed. No-one has progress was made. as yet attempted its There were 7 Brigade recovery. For all of July, soldiers killed and a although the Brigade further 46 wounded were regularly on the during the month of move, they were mainly August. around the area of Page 6 Chester le Street

My Grandfather and his Pelton Colliery Appreciation Medal My grandfather was a with relatives in First World War. He is presented by Sir stout fellow called Sunderland for a number invalided out in 1916. It Horace Plunkett to William Morley of years. By the time he is understood his gun men employed at their Gardner who was was 20 in 1911 he was blew up and he was collieries who had b o r n i n living as a boarder in wounded with shrapnel. returned from the Monkwearmouth in Lambton Street, Chester- Fast forward to 1920 war. I have included a the 1891. His le - Street. His occupation and a newspaper couple of photos of forefathers had at this time was a coal clipping from the my grandfathers silver worked in shipbuilding hewer. Chester le Street medal and a transcript on the River Wear Although not confirmed I Chronicle dated the 30th of the newspaper although it seems he suspect he was working of July 1920. It seems article that described shunned this way of at Pelton Fell Colliery at that the owners of the day. It makes for life for reasons this time for reasons that Pelton Colliery had a interesting reading unknown. Both his will become clearer later. presentation day at giving as it does an mother and father died In 1911 he signs up with Whitehill Park on this insight into the when he was very the Durham Light Infantry day when upwards of apparent debt of young and he lived and sees action in the 600 medals were gratitude felt towards

the men and the worth a read. sympathy and help Dave Gardner Collieries, when shown to the widows upwards of 600 silver of the fallen by the PRESENTATION OF medals were presented Colliery owners. As MEDALS. by Sir Horace Plunkett my grandfather had to the men employed at one of the silver GIFT TO SIR HORACE medals with his name the Collieries who had PLUNKETT. inscribed on it I think returned from the war. it is safe to presume Whitehill Park, Chester-le A portion of the he was working for -Street, was on Saturday afternoon was marred Pelton Colliery and by rain, but the weather was there on the day the scene of an occasion which will be memorable improved and the of the presentation. holiday was a success in I have enclosed the in the minds of the every way. article below word workers at the Pelton for word and it is well

The proceedings were Mr. George Trotter, introduce to them Sir the war, had not presided over by Mr. secretary to the Horace Plunkett, been adequately Henry Armstrong, presentation committee. chairman of the Owners recognised, and the agent to the of the Pelton Collieries, more often than colliery, who was A guard of honour was and who would make that their services supported by the furnished for Sir Horace the presentation of had been forgotten Right Honourable Sir Plunkett and those medals on behalf of the when the war came Horace Plunkett, accompanying him, by owner. He (the to an end. He was Lieutenant Colonel Boy Scouts belonging to Chairman) had heard it however, glad to Preston, secretary to the district under Scout- said on some occasions say that so far as the Company, Mr. masters T. Johnson and J. and sometimes what Pelton was Guy Armstrong Dixon. had been said was right concerned that that - that those who had was not the case. colliery manager; Mr. The Chairman said it was come back after fighting He knew the John Spry, surveyor his privilege and a very their country’s cause in interest that Pelton to the colliery; and pleasant duty to Volume 7, Issue 3 Page 7 had taken in the war in man suffered the result had been done was the Pelton had a regard to those who of his services during the outcome of the owners’ splendid record. As went out and those war. They had admired sympathy with those many as 686 went whom they had left a men’s services and who had worked at the out from this small behind. He had received given every sympathetic colliery. (Applause). c o m m u n i t y i n orders to look after the consideration to the response to the call. Sir Horace Plunkett said dependents until the afflicted and bereaved. They have alas to it was quite true that bread-winners and others They were at present mourn 107 who had the relationship had returned; and he had erecting cottages in the made the supreme between the owners of received no complaints Garden City so that the sacrifice. that that had not been lives of the widows of Pelton Colliery and their done. Moreover, he had their employees lost in employees had always Thirty-five had had instructions from the the war should be happy been friendly. He hoped gained distinction. owners to reinstate every and comfortable. They that employers and The company, man in some class of would he was sure, employees would hoped not only to work suitable to his agree with him that they co-operate in trying to provide dwellings strength or having regard had not forgotten lessen the sufferings for the widows, but to any disability that a anyone and that all that incidental to the war. also to do their

share in solving the very enjoyable, closed housing problem. The with a magnificent proposed memorial was display of fireworks, a matter for the men. which was witnessed by The company had given a concourse of several a contribution, but were thousand people. A prepared to increase charge for admission to that when the scheme the grounds will be was complete. They handed to the St. recognised that their Dunstan’s Homes for obligations to the men Blinded Soldiers and were never greater than Sailors, and this amount- it was at present. The ed to £106. proceedings, which were

Postcard sent from Chester-le- Street to Ferryhill.

Dear Mary I received your card and it was very nice. You will think I am a long time of writing. I should have wrote before but I have been bad for three weeks but now I am getting a bit better. I hope that you like the place and are enjoying yourself. When you come through don't forget to call. From your loving companion Annie

CONTACTS

Chairperson - Another postcard [email protected] from Information requests/web Chester le Street [email protected] from Dorothy’s collection. Friends [email protected]

Newsletter [email protected] This one is

From mother with her best love to her son Bob

Next Newsletter Wednesday

Wednesday 6th Don’t forget to keep sending me your contributions for future December editions of the newsletter. Any subjects, stories, memories etc will be of interest to the readers . If you have contributed but not Contributions seen your article yet, please be patient it will appear shortly. E Mail to [email protected] or hand written to any required by group member. Wednesday 23rd November Events Diary

Date Time Event Location

Every Tuesday 10:00- Drop In Session Salvation Army until December. 12:00 All Welcome Citadel Low Chare , Chester le Street. Wed 20th Sept 19:00- Members Only. Ch-le-St Library AGM 21:00 Wed 4th Oct Speaker Julian Harrop Wed 18th Oct Collieries Project completion Wed 1st Nov Speaker Noel Adamson Chester le Street Wed 15th Nov New Project Discussion

Heritage Group