Iacksoh,I Extension to Create Garage and Invasions of the 9Th Century, to a Small Band of Additional Accommodation

Wednesday, 18th May, 2005 THE TEESDALE MERCURY 9 Planning Jinny Howlett LIST of planning applications Teesdale through the ages received by Teesdale District Council in the week ending May 6: D ale People Field No 8758, Toft Hill; creation of hard standing. History of a village 1 AREAS COVERcn 15 Teesdale Road, Startforth; ‘W ELCOM E to the land of the Prince Bishops’ it says whenever you drive into County Durham. retransfers ^ 0 garage extension. What on earth does that mean and who were Conifer Lodge, Boldron; first floor these Bishops that were also princes? When you extension to existing dormer investigate our history you realise that at one time bungalow and extension to provide Jill’s passion for the stage these men had almost unimaginable wealth and utility room. power. Som e of the earlier bishops lived risky and ssS T Hilton Grange, Gainford; above dangerous lives surrounded by enemies, others ground farm slurry store. were corrupt and misused their power and a few made the Palatinate a better place. 18 Victoria Terrace, Cockfield; Their story goes back a long way, to the Viking iacksoh,I extension to create garage and invasions of the 9th Century, to a small band of additional accommodation. men who protected the remains of a great northern 01833 660367 Field west of Barningham Park; helps rising young stars saint from those pirates. This group of men, with additional car parking and their wives and families, came to be known as the realignment of stone wall. ‘Companions of Saint Cuthbert’. by Sophie Doughty They wandered about the countryside carrying Bourn Villa, Morley; ground and with them Cuthbert’s remains and such treasures 1 J O B S s f f first floor extension. A WEEKEND in Romaldkirk turned into as they had managed to rescue from the raiders, 30 Kirk View, Barnard Castle; 15 years in Teesdale for Jill Cole, who including incidentally, the Lindisfame Gospels. The erection of private garage. Companions stayed at a number of places simply had to find an excuse to stay in including Ripon and Chester-le-Street. the dale. Finally in 995AD, with Aldhun their bishop The drama teacher, who is now a director of Jack leading them, they settled at Durham and built a B B C w a n t s Drum Arts, admits that she first joined Barnard church there. The Companions and Cuthberfs Castle theatre group the Castle Players so that she shrine became the focal point of the north. People looked to them for stability and they began to v o lu n t e e r s would have a reason to stay in the Teesdale. attract gifts of land. King Canute went as a pilgrim Jill escaped to Romaldkirk after the breakdown of to Durham bearing gifts of land and treasures. The THE BBC is looking for her marriage and quickly found that nowhere villages he gave to the Companions included volunteers to help with one of compares to Teesdale. Staindrop, Ingleton, Hilton, Wackerfield and She was bom in Surrey, but proudly declares that Evenw ood. the most ambitious After the Conquest, William the Conqueror investigations ever into people’s she has never been back to her birthplace since she brought feudalism to the north - the king at the top stories from World War Two. left for university. and the barons carrying out his commands. He People of all ages and “My parents moved to Shropshire while I was a chose his own man, Walcher of Loraine, as Bishop backgrounds are being sought to student and I had no real desire to go back once I of Durham . had discovered other pastures,” she said. Then, after Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland act as ‘story gatherers’ to collect! was beheaded, he made Walcher the new Earl. people’s stories and pictures and Jill’s interest in the theatre began at an early age, Walcher then proceeded to begin replacing the submit them to the BBC when she got involved in productions at school. Companions of Cuthbert with a convent of monks website. “I didn’t have drama as an option in the brought from the south. The website - bbc.co.uk/ww2 curriculum, but I was always involved in the school You can just imagine what people thought about - is a new, massive archive of plays,” she said. “But I always had to play the boy’s all this - and you are right! Walcher was set upon World War Two experiences part because I was the only one with short hair at by the mob and had rafter a bloody end. The main from the perspective of ordinary my all-girl school.” perpetrators fled to Scotland before reinforcements 'Atodandlaitafe arrived from London. The top and bottom of it was people. After gaining a degree is English Literature, Jill that Durham was too far away to be ruled from Volunteers to The People’s decided to train to be a teacher, choosing to London. Have I heard that argument voiced quite War project will need some specialise in English and Drama, but this career recently? Mined m? Tel: 01325® computer skills and the time never came into fruition. From then on the Bishop of Durham was given mkenP more and more powers by the Crown. He was able and patience to listen, but full “I did my teaching practice at a very rough all to raise an army and a navy and exact taxes to iels Mob: 07762 U1| training will be given and boys school in Tooting and having survived that I pay for them. He could mint his own money, hold expenses paid. felt I could survive anything,” she said. “But that T e a m w o rk : Jill Cole (sixth from left) with members of the Turrets theatre company his own courts, choose his barons, build castles and take control of waste areas and forests. He JEW For more information, call put me off teaching.” just feed off their energy and it’s great watching working together in a team,” she said. became in effect like a king. However although he 01642 340 612. Luckily Jill was given the opportunity to teach them.” “I’m not strict, but I won’t have prima-donnas.” was primarily, at least in name, a spiritual leader English to Vietnamese refugees in the Far East. A year later, Jill got a job with Jack Drums Arts, But Jill admits that she does get a buzz from he also had also to be seen to be part of the 8234 “I did that for nine months and just loved it,” said and finally became an employee of a professional feudal system. He had to be a baron as well. It O r g a n is e r seeing members develop into talented writers and went with the job. So the Bishop of Durham was 187497 Jill who ended up living in the region on and off for theatre company. performers. “My youngest group are a great bunch also automatically Baron of - wait for it - five years. At the time, Jill’s friend Simon Pell was working and I can’t wait to watch them develop. They’re Evenwood! There you are - a moment of glory for re tire s In those five years Jill married and became a as a stage manager with the company and Jill met clever and they’re funny. They do things I know I Evenwood. Part of Evenwood parish is still known mother. its founders, who happened to be looking for an wouldn’t be able to do.” as ‘the Barony’, a reminder of earlier times. AFTER 25 years as organiser of When Jill’s husband’s work took him to Aberdeen, administrator. The Bishop certainly fully exercised his rights the Bamingham District poppy But Jill does admit that watching the youngsters until 1539 when Henry VIII clipped his wings. appeal for the Royal British she followed, although she now describes this period “I was looking for a job but I was a bit on stage can be a bit of an ordeal. However some of his regalian powers remained Legion, Doreen Railton has of her life as “the wilderness years”. apprehensive, because I didn’t know much about “It is absolute torture to watch them,” she until the 19th century. The Companions of decided to retire. “I lasted three years and then I ran away and got running a theatre company,” said Jill, but she laughed. “But I wouldn’t want to do anything else Cuthbert were dispersed in 1083 to Norton, as far as Romaldkirk,” she said. “By then I had two accepted the position eagerly. but watch.” Darlington and St. Andrew Auckland - on the Fenholme Anyone able to carry on the principle of divide and rule. However the children and we came down for a weekend and I Meanwhile, Jill was also offered the chance to do And although the group is going from strength to Building Servka cause is asked to contact Doreen Benedictine Priory established in their place w as to on 01833 621377. decided it would be a good place to stay. maternity cover for Teesdale District Council’s arts strength, Jill still dreams of bringing a real theatre prove nearly as much a threat to the Bishop as the coordinator Rosie Cross, and quickly became Companions were thought to be. And this gave AU types if mfMrtM Initially though, Jill did not intend to stay any to Teesdale, as so far the group has been longer than a year. But Teesdale worked its magic familiar with everybody on the North East arts improvising with various venues including the Evenwood its second moment of fame - but more Plastering: Rendenc on her immediately, and she fell in love with the circuit.

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