North East Vernacular Architecture Group

NEWSLETTER No 81 Summer 2018

Apologies for long delayed newsletter. This is a June will be well known to anyone with a keen very busy year for me, hopefully I’ll have more interest in County Durham’s history and heritage, time next year. especially in Durham and Weardale. As a young The major item to report, is one most of you will woman she came to Durham University to study already know about – the death of June Crosby history and it was there that she met her future earlier this year, just a month short of her husband Jack (who was to become a noted ninetieth birthday. She was a long-standing botanist) and with whom they had three children, NEVAG member, committee member, stalwart Matthew, Vicky and Alison. June began her recorder, provider of epic refreshments and one career as a teacher and later returned to Durham of the most selfless people you could ever be University at St Hild’s College, training future lucky enough to meet. history teachers. Here she was instrumental in getting local history onto the training curriculum despite departmental opposition. Through her passion for history she was deeply involved with the protection of our heritage becoming closely involved with the City of Durham Trust, serving as Chairman for many years and leading the campaign for the restoration of the city’s early eighteenth-century statue of Neptune. In 1981 June and Jack retired to Stanhope, where she felt the absence of an amenity group such as Durham enjoyed, and so, with others, founded the Weardale Society. She was also an active supporter of many societies, including the Weardale Museum and the NEVAG (she was our first member!) Besides her organizational and fund-raising activities, June was, of course, an accomplished researcher and author. She produced two volumes of Weardale in Old Photographs and is best known for her biography, and indeed advocacy, of the early nineteenth century Durham architect, Ignatius Bonomi. These then are the bald facts of a long, full and fruitful life. But to those of us fortunate to have known June, there was so much more. Firstly, if perhaps flippantly, an accomplished baker, her heaving tables of cakes, scones and lashing of tea are fondly remembered. Quiet kindness and generosity combined, very deceptively, with a

1 steely determination. The good teacher’s gift of possible if they are intending to go to any of the encouragement and, when needed, only positive remaining meetings of the 2017 programme. criticism. And always, above all, a deep devotion 2. Apologies for Absence to her family. Hugely missed, June will live long These were received from Martin Roberts, Lindsay in our memories. Allason Jones, Grace McCombie, Michael Atkinson, Martin Roberts Sylvia and Michael Graham, John and Gisela Wheeler and Christine Ruskin.

Now brief reports on past meetings in 2017 and 3. Minutes of 2016 AGM 2018, and details of future events for the rest of The minutes were accepted. the year. 4. Matters Arising There were no matters arising which were not covered by the agenda.

Saturday 1 April 2017 5. Secretary and Recording Secretary’s Report Fitzhugh Library, Middleton-in-Teesdale 2016/17 Programme Just under twenty members enjoyed an excellent Healthy attendances in the past year for our main ‘visit’ talk and tour of the Fitzhugh Library. Thanks to meetings – May 2016: Wooler AGM (24), June: Friarside and clocks (30), Sept: Durham (20), Oct: Kiplin with NGT library trustees for hosting the event. (30)…today (29). We had two recording days planned. July 2016: Kepier attracted 20 members, and April 2017: Marwood Farms, which fell through when the farmer, at the last moment, denied access (first time in 30 years). So, Saturday 6 May 2017 AGM 15 members went to the Fitzhugh Library at Middleton in Alnwick Abbey and Hulne Priory Teesdale for an exploratory visit. Special thanks to Sue To Alnwick for the AGM and a good attendance Ward and Belinda Burke of our neighbouring societies for of over 30 members. After the formalities at St circulating our meetings to their members when numbers appear to flag. James (United Reform) Church Centre on Pottergate, lunch then a visit to Alnwick Abbey Recording work has largely been put on hold pending and a guided tour of Hulne Priory, both in the catching up with the considerable backlog of outstanding Alnwick Castle estate. Thanks to reports. Building Studies Vol 2 nudged a little further forward, but only a bit, for which I apologise to members. Northumberland Estates staff for guiding us on the day. To ensure that the archive of past NEVAG recording work is shared out and not sitting uniquely on one computer (mine) I have gathered all the recording work together and on receipt of three 8GB memory sticks next week, I will send them to the committee for them to hold and update as the archive grows. The hard copy is held by me but clearly marked.

Remaining 2017 Programme As always it would be helpful to know a few weeks in advance if NEVAG members are attending, as if numbers are down, say three weeks away from a meeting, I would usually ask Sue and Belinda to circulate to other societies, something I’d rather not do regularly. Often there are then last-minute surges in attendance.

Future 2018 Thoughts for venues? So far, we might try Tudhoe and Byers Green Halls again. I think we have never done Hulne Priory. South Shields? Provisionally NEVAG and NGT will do another joint meeting to Hamsterley Hall (currently under restoration). NORTH EAST VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE GROUP

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Chairman suggested that we could consider paying 11.00 am Saturday, 6th May 2017 for professional services to assist Martin to speed up the held at St James Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick, production of the recording volumes as he is so busy, and Northumberland this has been a concern for some years.

6. Treasurer’s Report 1. Chairman’s Welcome The Group continues to be solvent with a steady increase The Chairman welcomed twenty-eight members, stating in numbers. The interest on the bank balance was 78p, he was very pleased to see a good turnout. He then small but welcome. Surprisingly the cost of insurance had outlined the programme of events to follow the AGM. He decreased. appealed for people to let Martin know as early as 2

Interest on Deposit Account £0.78 Peter Fletcher suggested that members could sign an indemnity and refrain from claiming against the Group Subscriptions £546.00 in the event of an accident. However, this could incur legal costs in the event of a claim and did not protect Meetings: day fees NEVAG against claims by property owners. The 7 May AGM Wooler £96.00 Chairman was concerned that NEVAG officials could be 3 Sept Durham £40.00 personally sued and abandoning insurance cover should 1 Oct Kiplin Hall £431.40 not be considered due to the litigious conditions of our country now. Access to some properties was only Publications: sales available as the Group carried insurance. Bricks and Brickwork £177.00 Sales of books remain small but steady. About one sixth of the cost of publishing Bricks and Brickworks had been TOTAL £3,983.82 recovered from book sales and wider publicity was required. EXPENDITURE Dick Graham asked whether NEVAG would have a Newsletters 77-79: £150.42 presence at Yesterday Belongs to You to be held this year Recording Secretary's expenses: £18.60 at Beamish. Margaret said that this had not been done yet Affiliations as it had not proved very productive in the past, but it Vernacular Architecture Group £20.00 needed to be discussed by the committee. Co Durham Forum (2 years) £30.00

7. Subscriptions Meetings: hire of hall, tokens to speakers, photocopying The treasurer saw no need to increase subscriptions and 2015 2 meetings (tokens) £60.00 this view was accepted. 7 May AGM Wooler £28.80 3 Sept Durham £40.00 8. Website 1 Oct Kiplin Hall £431.40 The website had attracted a few followers and provided good publicity. It had also provided a few book sales Publications: post and packing including one in the USA. Ian Forbes had volunteered to Bricks and Brickwork postage £10.35 help Margaret updating the website and she would take up his offer in the near future. Yesterday Belongs to You meeting £20.00 Insurance £322.76 9. Library The books owned by NEVAG were at Brancepeth Castle Barclays Bank Deposit Account 31/3/2017 £2,117.06 and it was suggested that they be moved to the Fitzhugh Barclays Bank Current Account 31/3/2017 £734.43 Library at Middleton in Teesdale with the exception of the VAG Journals which could be housed in a more centrally located library. Margaret Maddison thought it Saturday 3rd June 2017 would be advantageous to find out exactly what was in our library at Brancepeth and she offered to assess the Whickham walks with Richard Pears collection as no one knows what it contains. Elspeth About 25 members were guided around Gould, Peter Fletcher and George Hodgson offered to Whickham, his home village, by Dr Richard accompany her. Pears, one of the region’s most distinguished

10. Election of Officers architectural historians, and a NEVAG member. Colin raised two major concerns: he was leaving the area as soon as his house was sold and could no longer continue as Chairman and Margaret, whilst prepared to continue for a further twelve months but would not be able to remain in office after this. Colin appealed for any of the members who felt they were able to contribute in any way to advise Martin. The duties of committee members were not onerous as most of the business was conducted via email with only occasional meetings. Margaret and Dick Graham, Ian Forbes and Martin Roberts had indicated their willingness to remain on the committee.

11. Any Other Business There being no other business the meeting concluded at 12.10 pm.

Statement of Income and Expenditure 1/4/2016 – 31/3/2017

INCOME

Barclays Bank Deposit Account 31/3/2016 £2,116.28

Barclays Bank Current Account 31/3/2016 £576.36 Richard Pears leading us at Whickha 3

Saturday 1 July 2017 Linnels Mill and Hexham Abbey About twenty members were guided around the early C18 Linnels Mill, complete with all its machinery, by the most welcoming of owners, Ash and Gill Winter, who also undertook the laudable restoration of the building, with Historic England grant support. We are sad to report that Ash died in March this year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer only two months earlier.

Saturday 2nd September 2017 Hylton Castle and Sunderland Over twenty members visited Hylton Castle, prior to its concealment in scaffolding for a long- awaited transformation from a romantic ruin to a roofed and floored community building. In the afternoon we walked through Sunderland, from Holy Trinity into the city centre. Martin Roberts was our guide for the day.

Stella Hall (demolished) Photos courtesy of Gateshead Library.

Saturday 4th November 2017 Members’ Morning and Summerhill Square walk The usual clutch of members talks, this year in the Jazz Café, Newcastle. Followed by a tour of the magnificent Rococo plasterwork in 55 Westgate Road, and an afternoon walk round Summerhill area with Margaret Maddison. Many thanks to

Margaret and Mike Tilley.

C18 Gothick at Hylton Castle

th Friday 8 December 2017 Hollinside Christmas Party Friday 6th October 2017 (joint with NGT) Stella….and the search for Garibaldi The usual place, the usual crowd, the usual food and drink, the usual hosts, welcoming and After a morning at Stella looking at the RC church generous as always. Many thanks again John and and the vestiges of the C18 Stella Hall and its Rosy. estate buildings, something quite different in the afternoon – hunting for the dismembered body

(actually a stone statue) of Italian radical th Garibaldi. Memorable and great fun, many thanks Saturday 7 April 2018 Lyn and Eric. Gateshead churches A tour round three of Gateshead’s best C19 churches, guided by stained glass expert Dave Webster. We visited St Chad’s, Bensham, St Helen’s Low Fell and (former) Christ Church, Low Fell.

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Saturday 5th May 2018 (joint with NGT) handsome Victorian home. Many thanks to Val Hamsterley Hall, Derwentside, Co Durham and the SBVT members. A memorable day at a very memorable house, newly restored by Steven Spry and his family we Saturday 7th July 2018 made us very welcome for the whole day. A Hunstanworth, County Durham guided tour of the C18 Gothick house in the morning, then an exploration of the woods, walled garden and parkland in the afternoon.

Hunstanworth Vicarage

A day at Hunstanworth to hold our AGM and then looking at the estate buildings of S. S. Teulon. More exceptional kindness from NEVAG members, this time from Dave and Gilly Tulip and family, residents of Hunstanworth, who hosted us first at the village hall for the AGM, then after a walk around Townfield, at their farmhouse for a buffet lunch. They also laid on excellent weather. After lunch the church and vicarage were visited, the owners of the latter, at no notice letting us in and telling us something of its history. A great day thanks to the Tulip family.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The curious oval ‘bath’(?) building 10-30 am, Saturday, 7th July 2018, held at Hunstanworth and and the cascade Townfield Village Hall

Saturday 2nd June 2018 1 Chairman’s Report The previous chairman, Colin Rees, had retired and Shotley Bridge, County Durham moved out of the area and Martin Roberts took the An excellent well attended day guided by Shotley meeting welcoming 19 members. Martin introduced Bridge Village Trust members, ending, by the Mrs J Hollins the secretary of the village hall association who gave a brief history of the hall, a kindness of NEVAG member Val Butcher, with a corrugated iron sheet building which had been part welcoming cuppa and cake at her large and of a post first world war hospital near Hexham. The hall had fallen out of use and into a serious state of

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disrepair but was now being brought back into a useable state. 8 Web Site Martin explained that meetings were funded on the Margaret Maddison has continued to update the day by dividing the cost by the number of attendees. website. Today’s meeting included a buffet lunch, provided by Gilly and Dave Tulip, and that the £8 per head 9 Library would all go to the hall restoration fund. The library was not used at present but it is secure being housed in a tower at Brancepeth Castle. Peter 2 Apologies for Absence Fletcher and George Hodgson offered to go and Apologies from Ian and Pam Forbes, Jack and Tina make an index of the library contents. Massey, Margaret Maddison, Sue Ward, Elspeth Gould, John and Gisela Wheeler 10 Election of Officers Martin acknowledged that there was a pressing need 3 Minutes of the 2017 AGM to appoint a new chairman and treasurer and he These were accepted. would give this priority when his work on updating Prevsner was finished at the end of the year. He 4 Matters Arising hoped that Margaret M would continue in the There were no actions not covered by the agenda treasurer’s role until a replacement was appointed. items. Richard Pears agreed to join the committee. Most of the business was carried out by e-mail and 5 Secretary’s and Recording Secretary’s Report very few committee meetings were necessary. Martin reported that there had been a good attendance of 20 to 30 people at all of the meetings. 11 Future meetings Using e-mail, he knew how many were likely to The next meeting is on 1st September when we will be attend and if numbers were low he could contact one visiting South Shields, on the 6th October we visit or two societies with similar interests to make up the Bradley Hall, November 3rd is the members’ meeting number. He apologised for the lack of a recent (venue to be agreed) and the 7th December is the newsletter and for this year’s programme of visits Christmas party. being concentrated in county Durham. He was Suggestions for next year’s meetings included spending much of his time on updating Pevsner but Brinkburn Priory, Dilston, Peel towers in Corbridge had to finish by the end of the year and next year and Witton House near Rothbury. Annie and Steve should return to nearer normality. offered to organise a day visiting Northumbrian Cragside House, an interesting and important house mills. at Eastgate had been measured and was almost completed but another important house known as 12 Any Other Business Brookside had existed nearby and, although Colin Rees who contributed much to NEVAG and demolished, was worthy of investigation. He would was chairman for several years has stood down as he probably consult Linda Drury who has studied the has moved away from the area. The members wished history of the medieval hunting park. to record their thanks to Colin and to wish him well for the future. 6 Treasurer’s Report Peter Fletcher emphasised that it was important to The treasurer was not able to attend the meeting but consider succession planning for the organisation the accounts were available, although not yet audited which was so dependent on Martin. and she had prepared the following statement. “Membership: We had 95 paid members at the end of (Finacial accounts attached as separate document) the year (more than last year), plus 8 honorary or complimentary members. Now news of forthcoming events in the second Reserves: Interest on the deposit account was paid at 0.2%. half of 2018. If you plan to attend, please let Insurance: The cost of insurance was the same as the Martin Roberts know. [email protected] previous year. You can also write to Martin at Old Fleece Outstanding Expenses: Claims for items covering House, 20B Front Street, West Auckland DL14 more than one year have been refunded to the Recording Secretary and Treasurer. 9HW. Or 01388 833214, or 07717 533577 if you Bricks and Brickwork book: Sales continue very want to text. slowly. We have recovered about one third of the cost of printing so far.

General Data Protection Regulation: We do not need to register for this. However, NEVAG’s Privacy and Saturday 1 September 2018 Data Protection Statement has been added on our South Shields, South Tyneside website. Overall NEVAG’s finances remain healthy.” Two walks in South Tyneside. First a walk Martin added that we had not pushed book sales and around urban South Shields and, after lunch, that we had sufficient funds for future publications. another round one of its rural villages. We shall meet at 10.30 at the Old Town Hall (above) in the 7 Subscriptions The policy of covering the cost of meetings by middle of the Market Place, please take any making a charge on the day means that the modest refreshments beforehand in the town. A generous annual subscription can continue unchanged. lunch break will allow for either a visit to the old 6

Custom House, nearby, fish at chips at Coleman’s The gardens and landscape include a terrace old place, bit further away, at their new and ha-ha to the south, overlooking the parkland. restaurant on the coast (car drive way), or To the west of house, modern formal gardens by wherever you choose. Sophie Simpson, beyond the later C18 brick orangery and still further west, on falling ground, a late C18 ice house. NE of the house, across Sled Lane, the late C18 walled kitchen garden, now Bradley Gardens a separate commercial enterprise and a suitable place for pre-visit coffee and/or lunch. We are the guests of Charlie and Sophie Simpson at Bradley. This will be a morning only visit. We will meet at the Hall at 10.00, where the party will split to view the interior and exterior of the Hall, in turn. After that the whole party will walk around the grounds. We would suggest that members may wish to spend a long leisurely lunch at the Bradley Gardens nearby. The Ship at Wylam, just to the north, also recommended for lunch. To book a place please contact Martin Roberts at The Old Town Hall [email protected]. Bradley Hall, Wylam (postal address) NE41 8JL, lies N of the A695 between Crawcrook and Prudhoe. Grid ref: Saturday 6th October 2018 (joint with NGT) NZ124633 Bradley Hall

Bradley Hall

The house was built c. 1750 for John Simpson, of a Newcastle merchant family. A classical house, with just one odd gothic touch, in a style reminiscent of James Paine but not him, nor William Newton (respective biographers unusually keen to say it’s not their man!). John Bell, Paine’s executant architect, might be a candidate. More certainly, Dobson altered the Note that Bradley Hall has its own access from house c.1813. Fine interior with Rococo the A695 as has Bradley Garden Centre (Sled plasterwork and a cantilevered staircase with Lane). Chinese Chippendale balustrade.

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Saturday 3rd November 2018 Members’ Morning probably be a sign out at the bottom of the drive Weardale Museum and High House Chapel on the night). Return a slip to, or email, Martin if you want to come, please book with [email protected] We are going to the Weardale Museum and High House Chapel at Ireshopeburn for our Members Morning. Meet in the chapel first for tea/coffee at 10.00am. Meeting starts at 10.30am. After our talks, a chance to look around the Museum. For satnav, the postal address is Ireshopeburn, Weardale, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 1HD. For lovers of ‘maps, not apps’ (my planned tee-shirt slogan until my children objected), the grid ref is NY 872 385.

To book a place please contact Martin Roberts at [email protected].

Friday 7th December 2018 Christmas Party We are delighted that John and Rosy Gall have invited us back again this year to Old Hall at Hollinside Farm, Lanchester, Co Durham. We will start at 7.30pm. As in previous years please bring an item or items of food and drink – wine, beer, cheese, pate, bread, biscuits, flans, quiches, savouries, pies, puds, etc, etc... party food. The Old Hall is about a mile SW of Lanchester, along the B6296, past the Roman fort, then look N of the road when you approach the Hollinside Terrace (which is to the S). The house is about 150 metres up a farm track. (John says ‘We suggest people do NOT use satnav as this takes them up the wrong drive.) there will

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