Warkworth History Society members recently visited Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders: the former home of Sir Walter Scott, historical novelist and poet.The house itself was developed by Scott from a farm into a Baronial mansion in the Gothic revival style between 1817- 1825. Later it had an additional wing added to the building by…
On 13th May we welcomed Belinda Booth to speak about the history of our hall, part of a Heritage Project which started in 2019. The story begins in 1866. Adam and Robert Howitt were two of the original founders when it was known as the New Church following a division in the church on the…
On Monday 8th April Chris Tipple spoke on the topic of ‘Lord Armstrong of Cragside – Hero or Villain?’ The son of a coal merchant, William was born in 1810 near Carlisle and brought up in Newcastle. He was apprenticed into the legal profession but his main passions remained science and mechanics. In 1847 he…
Woodhorn is well known for its mining museum. It is also the home of Northumberland South Archives. On Monday 4th March archivist Sarah Littlefear introduced us to some of the work carried out there. The collection contains a history of Northumberland’s people, places and events, in the form of books, photographs, documents, film and newspapers….
For the February meeting Chairman Richard Booth welcomed local author Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Platten to speak about the history of the Shell County Guides.The Shell name originates from the late 19th century when Marcus Samuel decided to name the shipping company after the seashells he brought back with him from the Far East. By…
Happy Days Digging up Northumberland, local archaeologist Barry MeadeOur first meeting of the year took place on Monday 8th January, when local archaeologist Barry Meade delivered a talk entitled ‘Happy Days Digging up Northumberland’. Barry achieved local celebrity in 2019 when he was named ‘Community Archaeologist of the Year’ for his leadership in the restoration…
‘Geordie Newcastle: How we used to live’ Neil Storey. Social historian Neil Storey gave a fascinating presentation, based on his book, which he has produced along with Fiona Kay. It is a collection of digitally enhanced photographs which give some very clear and evocative depictions of the people and places of Newcastle from the late…
Elvis Lives! The Life and Afterlives of Elvis Presley. Professor Brian Ward, Professor of American Studies at Northumbria University. He began with the known facts surrounding Elvis’s death in 1977 at the age of 42, when a mixture of codeine and barbiturates was found in his system. But the cause of death was given as…
‘Ethiopian Odyssey: A Photographic Journey Through the Historic Sites of Northern Ethiopia’ by Richard Booth Due to a last minute cancellation by our advertised speaker, Max Adams, Richard generously stepped in with this photographic presentation of a visit to Ethiopia made in 2019.He started with a picture showing the fossilised remains of the earliest known…
