y 22nd, Mao , Wednesday, May 22nd, 1940. THE TEESDALE MERCURY. •••••" Tales of a Grandfather. the Ship Hotel, on the Bank, now known as Brignall Road assas,O1 and that 1h ,, rustic the Railway Hotel. Hannah Latham was poptdation had adopted. that iii iii id of TEESDALE PLACE NAMES. Itarnard Castl e present along with several of her acquaint- testifying to their satisfaction that though AN INTERESTING STUDY. was scored 01L TnE BRIGNALL TRAGEDY. ances, but only for a little while. The poor the murderer had escaped the hands of bust Middleton_ girl left quite early in the night to return human justice he had, at length passed to ocked up 103 not L ily \V. D. C110IT, PU6TMAsTEB.1 .A STORY OF THE EARLY NINETEENTH to Cross Lanes'..i.. It is known that she the bar of the Eternal to render an account In studying the lists of places which are laughingly declined the offer of a young of deeds done in the body. However much . CENTURY. in the roan' Castle postal area, it „has man, the son of a respectable farmer such ad incident Might be regretted, seeing Din.E.rox Si'. occurred to me how many of these place residing in the neighbourhood, to see her that it was directed against the reputation when it was more the custom than it is names convoy- a very apt description of the on Saturday. safely home. The good-looking, gay, and of an unconaemned and possibly innocent to-day' for people to spend their spare time town and the surrounding country. Anyone e. light-hearted girl called at Peggy Barker's, man, it yet remains a striking instance of in village churchyards—meditations among with a little imagination can visualise a whose nouse was fifty years ago occupied the abhorrence in which the unholy deed the tombs, as someone once expressed it- really true picture of the district. by Mr Michael Hobson, at ten o'clock. Said was head by the people of the district. -tore might have been a good many more For instance, a place named Barnard Peggy Barker to the buxom damsel, " Are In Lockhart's life of Sir Walter Scott, the nople acquainted with that neat pyramidal Castle must, of *course, have a castle, and is you not afraid to go home 7 " Hannah murder is referred to in a letter written by - `monument which stands in the corner of all indication of its historical associations. Churchyard and regards the replied, "Not a bit." It was said that two Sir Walter to Mr J. 13. S. Morritt, Rokeby young men who were present at the merry. Park,: in which the novelist says, " Your Its thoroughfares, Galgate tiallowgate), brutal murder near Brignall, on January Bridgegate, Broadgates, 'f horngate, and making joked with her about the supposed horrid story reminds me of one in Galway, 1st, 1813, of Hannah Latham. The perpe- Newgate, also convey some idea of its •t. 11. hlatighan, trator of the crime was never discovered, dangers of the road and proffered their ser- where the perpetrator of a similar enormity not hat. vices as an escort, but she laughingly on a poor idiot girl was discovered by means antiquity, the endings " gate " being and the monument was erected by i public formerly given to the main entrances orge. declined their offer, and they, inferring of a print of his foot which he left upon the to a subscription. town. '1'1le Batik is, of course, on a steep. hist lethwaite 20 y the story goes that Hannah that she was to be accompanied by some clay floor of the cottage in the death ••• more favoured suitor, did not press their struggle. It pleased HeaYen ! for nothing hill, and shows that the town lies on a hill- Latham, who was in domestic service at side. whilst the former allusion to Bridge- ... Brignall, obtained leave from her employer intentions furtlier.. short of a miracle could have done it) to The night was clear and starlit, and there enlighten the understanding of an old and gate indicates a river or stream running at ••. go to visit her friends in , the bottom of the hill. " The Scarce " is ••• 12 where she had been brought up, on New was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. ram-headed sheriff who was usually nick- Nothing more was heard of the poor girl named leather-head.' rhe steps which he also an indication of the steep rise from the -. 0 'ear's Eve. She came to the town and river. The Market Cross, Market Place and returned to Brignall in the evening, but did until the next morning, when leer dead body took to discover the murderer were most ••0 was found lying under a hedge by the side sagacious. As the poor girl was pregnant Horsemarket denote that it is a market not get there and nothing more was seen or town. The Museum and Park indi- 0 of the Brignalll Road, near Castle Farm, (for it was not a case of violation) it was heard of her until the next day, when she cates that excellent facilities for study and was found lying by the roadside by George about two miles from Barnard Castle, her pretty clear that her paramour had done the throat having been severed from ear to ear. deed, and equably so that he must be a recreation are at hand, whilst the Barnard 108 Raine, a carrier between Barnard Castle Castle ;Secondary) School shows that a st le. Johnson and Arkengarthdale. There was a story abroad for many years native of the district. The sheriff caused that Mr Henry Henning, a Barnard Castle the minister to advertise from the pulpit educational facilities in the district are well The fund for erecting the memorial was provided for. • OCKERTON. raised by a Dr. Bradley, who was in prac- surgeon, while riding toward Cross Lanes that the girl would be buried on a particular in order to visit a patient, saw, about hall- day. and that all persons in the neighbour- Seven banks (including the Post Office on May 14th. tice at Barnard Castle at the time, and the Savings Bank) eater for the savings and inscription is as foliows : a-mile beyond Thorsgill, in the dim light of hood were invited to attend the funeral to New Year's morning, the body of d female show their detestation of such an enormous spendings of the community, whilst the 9. Murder, although it bath no tongue, will lying beside the road, and dismounting from crime as well as to evince their own names of 12 hotels show that the needs of 0 speak with most miraculous organ. his horse, discovered the tragedy, but that innocence. This was to bring the murderer the thirsty traveller or resident) are 111(1 11 (1 ... 3 This pedestal adequate catered for. tale was discarded in the light of a more II ... 3 to the funeral, it was thought. When- the is raised by voluntary subscriptions likely to be true statement that it was people were assembled in the kirk the doors "The Woods" ;if these were not open to to the memory of George Raine the carrier who came upon were locked by the sheriff's order and the the public the prefix " the •' would not be geiwrally used), and Deepdale give the im- -• 1 HANNAH LATHAM, the remains of the hapless servant lass. shoes of all the men examined, that of the 9 ••• •. 'Who fell the victim of a sanguinary villain It has been handed down upon what murderer being detected by the measure of pression of leafy walks and of a ^ slender in the Brignall Road within a mile of this rill " running ,between high .banks with ---- would appear to be good authority that there the foot, tread, etc., and a peculiarity in the trees and wild flowers growing on them ... 106. place, were footmarks indicating that the Oh-fated mode in which the sole of one of them had On the 1st of January, 1813, girl, after having been first seized by her been patched. . . The fellOw bore a most (but these places should be visited to get a ... 24 and in the nineteenth year of her age. assailant, had escaped from him, crossed excellent character; and had .committed this true conception of their natural beauty, ) . ... 13 111-fated orphan ! Though no parents' tear the hedge into the adjoining field, and run crime for no other reason than that, having • The Auction Mart signifies that farming larke Was fondly shed in anguish o'er thy bier, a short distance. She had then returned to been led accidentally into an intrigue with is carried on in the surrounding district. ••• Yet shall thy murderer, while on earth, The names of the sub-offices, viz : Cother- ... 28 the road, and while attempting to climb the this poor wretch, his pride revolted at the ... 31 remain fence on the opposite side had been ridicule which was likely to attend the dis- stone, Egglestone, , Mickleton, - The victim of Remorse, Despair and Pain. clutched by her pursuer, dragged back- covery." Lockhart adds : " The account of Middleton, and Whorlton note the ending " ton "), Suggest t hat these places were 101 The details of the story—as far as I can a ;ads, and relentlessly slain. The footsteps a parallel! atrocity in Galway and . the mode remember what was told to me about fifty of the murderer, deeply indented in the of its detection will show the reader from formerly regarded as towns, whilst Bowes urton 4 for 24, is indelibly associated with Dotheboys Hall, • years ago—are as follows : earth, were visible on each side of the poor what source Scott drew one of the most About the close of the 18th century, a girl as she lay, and it was -plain that the striking incidents in his 'Guy Mannering.' " ittrmortal'ised by Charles Dickens. Similar- INGLETON. ly, Rokeby makes its association with Sir May 11th. soldier discharged from the army on account ruffian had held her down with some force The remains of Hannah Latham were of ill-health, arrived in Barnard Castle while he took away her life. interred at the west end of Startforth Walter Scott. accompanied by his little daughter. He said No one in the vicinity of Cross Lanes Church, but nut a vestige of the place of That there are hills in the district is 11 adequately shown by the many names end- ••• f• his name was Latham, that his wife was appears to have heard any cry for assistance. sepulture remains. Since then a new ing- with " hill "—e.g., Penny Hill. Hollin ethwaite -•• 11 dead, and that he was proceeding on foot to It happened, however, that at the moment church has been built and the ashes of .•• Lancashire, his native county. About that of the perpetration of the crime a Barnard Hannah are no doubt •numbered with the Hill, Battle Hill, Green Hilt, Windy Hill, ••• 12 Timpton Hill, Spring Hill, etc., whilst High time there stood on the site of the present Castle . tradesman was returning from the clods in the valley. ••• House, High" Barn, Christopher Bank, Far ••• premises of Messrs Parkinson and Son in country, and when he was grossing the Hill Top, and other similar names are also ••• the Horsemarket at Barnard Castle,. a Demesnes in the stillness of the night dread- ••• indications of height. • Then there are common lodging-house of which the pro- ful shrieks fell upon his ear. He was Scala Cinema. prietor was adjudged to be one Peter alarmed and terrified and stood roofed to numerous crags and ,eaurs, viz : High Whittaker, knife grinder and umbrella the spot in horror and amazement. In a This a-ei.1;-end brings a long-awaited Crag, Crag Farm, Crag House, Crag Top, attraction iii -Nurse Edith Cavell." the title Grey Scam', Rock Villas, Brock Scaur. Scar repairer. It was a very humble and tumble- few moments the unearthly cries ceased and rule of Which is played by Anna Neagle. down habitation, and in order to gain the the fiendish deed was enacted. Such was The full story and work of this courageous Head, et•, which shows that a great deal living apartment visitors had to descend the nature of the impression made upon the. woman are presented in it story faithfully of rock abounds, and several allusions to three steps to the half-door which was then mind Of his household that the family sat told even to the last detail. A fine support- quarries proves that this natural stone is ing cast includes such ;..:reat iiarnes as made use of commercially. There are also a common form of keeping out intruding up all night. The following nuet tiu it, ■ 11,2,0 Sanders. Edna May Oliver. and :kitty dogs, etc. Peter, by the way, was said to revealed the grim truth. Cook's paper mill ItObson. Next NIondity . introduces a new many places 'ending with rig.g ridge), suclf have always worn a cap, sleeved waistcoat was theta in full work, by the way, at " It " girl in Lana Turner in a light-hearted as Bough Rig g. Pry Rig.g, Carrick Rigg, and corduroy trousers. Thither came the Egliston Abbey. eomedy. .other inch it Lady. - The Pine Ridge, Side Riggs, etc. story hulddes with humour and a, famous The moors are brought to mind. by such soldier Latham with his daughter Hannah, Needless to say,. the event caused a pro- .knierican s\ving hand introduces many up- but he was so broken in health by foreign found sensation in the district and young to-the-minute hits. names are Moor House. Moor Croft, Moor service that he died only a few days after women from far and near gathered to the Head. Bowes abler, and Near Moor his arrival. So the child was left alone in granary at Castle Farm where the body was ,Neamour). • Ravines and glens are in abundance with the world, and might have fared badly but laid out. alr 'Morrill, Bolieby Park. on ! continued from cold= 4). for the kindness of Mr William Blenkinsopp whose estate the crime was committed, Thorsgill, Scargill, Hazel Gill. Low Gill, the footnote which appears against a cer- Glenside, Rose Girl, Broeliersgin, Hill mild 6 for and his wife, who took pity upon the poor busied himself assiduously in an attempt to tain post • viz • "Owing to the nature of the for 26. child and adopted her as their daughter. find out the murderer. Suspicions were and Howgill. route, the rate•of travelling cannot be more Dales and valleys are suggested by Lang- 111.-y brought her up, and in due course, entertained against several persons, and a than 4. mites per hour." Another one has ve scores leydale. Baldersdale. Vale House, Valley Whoa the poverty of her foster parents ren- young man who had been frequently seen seven. places ending with Hill " and five to , We ha' iellez her imperative that Hannah should in the girl's company was apprehended, but Farm. Low Houses, etc. gly. assuMiil ending with ".Rigg." Of course in such country there are many y recorded ownwn living, it was decided that she Ilk. result of his examination' before the Another part-time post until quite recently '11 eld enter domestic service, and she was magistrates failed to implicate hint in the streams (locally called becks, and many met a branch postman to collect. and con- are the names indicating these : Beck Side, '•-•rdingly placed in the household of Mrs deed, and he as• liberated: vey his own and his neighbours"leners, for i•ity puts 0 1 Tutta Beck, Mere Beck, Langdon Beck. Ndlie Jackson, who lived in a house near One record •made at the time stated that which he receiyes wages and uniform. A ie public : 1.44.nall Church which in later years was popular suspicion fell on several persons, Grains-o'-Beek you imagine the tiny the habit place called Grass Hill is 1.35e feet above c'iTilpied by a Mr Bainbridge. chiefly young men, and more especially on rills hereabouts), Beck Foot, Bog House, 'ay; 7 sea level and is reputed to be the highest Crook Beck, Gutters, Trough Heads, Clay t your black On New Year's Eve, then, in the year 181'- one of them. Though nothing was ev cr private house in . 1 3 Hannah, as I have said, obtained per- proved against him, he was ultimately eont- Level. Other isolated places are indicated by As these beAs increase in size. one gets tided that, it mission from her employer to proceed to pelted to leave the neighbourhood owing to such names as Farewell, Seldom Seen. 1 various mills. bn idges. waterworks. reser- an air-ral. Laniard Castle on a visit to her friends. The the antipathy of the public. Careful Struggl•,. Watchers House, Outherry Bat, - ou hear all" 'lay was frosty and a light covering of snow inquiries some years afterwards among the voirs, boat house. etc., and what better name ats overhead• and Edge End. lay on the ground to the depth of an inch inhabitants of Cross Lanes indicated that in than High Force could one give to the place situ and ta 6e if. More names to conjure with are Plover where the plunges in a straight. tiauft:1bh. On her arrival in the town the ill- the opinion of some of them this young Hall, Cat Castle (lounges (Arckoo Farm, d address orphan proceeded to the shop of Mr fellow was net at all likely to commit a drop of tio feet over a ioeliy precipice. The tout envelop , Booze Wood, Botany. Hagworin Hall, Folly, !Meeting of the Waters •where the river reys, watchmaker which was then crime so brutal!, and they did not fail to Step Ends, How, Frog..Hall. Honey Pot, in Xewgate. Mr Humphrey at that time state that in all probability the murderer Greta joins the Tees , is also very aptly our domes! ' Lonton Myths, Saddle Bow. Nettlepot. 13ow "'laved a wide reputation as a clock- was another person who possessed a much named. Leys, Willy Hall, Flushiemea, •Cocklade, The names of seven stations signifies that r114ker, and it was at his shop that the hap- darker reputation. Notwithstanding this Dirt Pit, Egg Pot, Pry. alidgeholme. D.S.O., of 0" 1 soldier's daughter bought a jew's harp want of direct evidence, however, a large a railway runs through the district, and the jarrici From the foregoing can be gathered the ill action. it deeseenvteseveral small articles, stating section of the public persistently held to their fact that six postal motor vans are used is s announce" impression of an historical (yet up-to-date) an indication of the numerous roads which . " for .darti'' ly thatat the trifles were intended as original suspicion, and it was said on reli- market town situated amidst beautiful sur- r traverse the area. Even with these facilities of hazardo l i - Year's's presents to be bestowed on her able authority that a gentleman arriving at roundings comprising hills, crags, moors, the Fleet All NeWtaist; some idea can be gathered of the difficulties children. Time wore on, and Bowes and inquiring why the church bells ravines, valleys, streams, and rivers. cially tio lai r in the evening, in accordance with a were being rung, was informed that news with which certain posts are presented by ' llstortl then prevalent, a dance was held at had arrived of the death of the supposed W. D. CROFT, Postmaster. (Continued on previous column.,)..

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