The village gossip column
please note: whilst not wishing to offend anyone the following events were published in the newspapers of the day. And further more if the named person wishes not be included, we will take the article off the page.
4th August 1838
J Welsh - Turret, watch, clock and watchmaker of Houghton -Le - Spring. J. W gratefully acknowledges the many kind favours conferred upon him by his country customers, he intends on Monday August 6th to open a shop at Haswell, where he will attend on Monday and Tuesday every fortnight. And he hopes there be regular attendance of the very good support with which he is favoured for 13 years, customers in Houghton. J.W. in early inspection of his valuable stock of a very splendid variety of superior 8 day day and 24 hour clocks, with mahogany and other cases, a great number of improved patent lever and vertical watches, wedding rings, jewellery etc.
25th August 1838
To let, and entered upon immediately a home at the pleasant village of West Herrington, consisting of seven rooms, with cellars and other conveniences and a spacious yard, where a stable and gig house may be build. And the tenant may be accommodated with every convenience.
N.B. The above is a desirable residence in the pleasant and healthy village of West Herrington being only four miles from Sunderland. Further particulars off Mr Hinlet at West Herrington or at the Gateshead Observer Office
2nd August 1856
Michael Lively was charged with committing rape on the person of Margaret Meally of West Herrington on this day 15th April last, found guilty and given two years imprisonment.
3rd January 1857
Presenting a pistol at Houghton - le - Spring petty sessions on Tuesday week, Joseph Park appeared to charge Thomas Wilson and John Halliday, both of whom were out on bail, and did not appear with assault. It appeared that the complainant had met these parties in the public house at West Herrington, and when he left to deliver his meat, he was followed by them, Wilson alleging that Park had struck him, making no more ado he struck him on the breast and knocked him down, striking another man named Dodgson at the same time. Ultimately, park having got assistance succeeded in apprehending both, tying the feet of Wilson.
29th April 1871
The correspondent of a Durham contemporary gives the following particulars of a treat, which has been provided for the poor of the village of Newbottle, by the wealthier residents: (spelling as it is)
Aw suppose sor, thor Rector o' Newbottle an three or fower maister men kind o' chaps belanging te th' earl o' durham's works, with other trades chaps in the village, hes been vory kind to subskribe a little money - aw mean th' stuff and wife bought th' pigg with sor - te get th' poor and people tegether te get a sup of tea. An aw suppose it was well pattoronised be th' klargemen, as thor awways reddy te be luckking eftor thor little flocks. On Tuesday last about four o' klock, about seventy of these and pilgroms sat down te eat o' th good things that was before them, in the national skoulrum, Newbottle, and mony o' them wor nearly ninety yo's of age. The aud men wor klene shaved, and weel th'lukt; two or three wor blind and sum wor deef, but weel th' eat, an eftor th' thought th' got a nuff, th' went quietly hyem with a bit backkey in thor pockets. as it was thor forst that's been aw hope it'i not be th' last. Aw shour sor thors neboddy onney worse for geen a bit money to them that want's ef th' gid as th' like te tack'tr
20th May 1871
FOR SALE to be sold by public auction, at the house of Mr. William Turnbull, the King William 1V Public House, Newbottle on Wednesday 24th of may 1871 at seven o' clock in the evening, Mr John Carr auctioneer. All that commodious and substantially build dwelling house situated in Philadelphia Lane, Newbottle in Co Durham containing fourteen rooms and a shop together with spacious yard and requisite out buildings behind are in occupation of John Wilson and Jane Robinson and others.
17th June 1871
The good people of Newbottle are still in the midst of the excitement that has been created by the threatening appearance of their water supply being cut off. and carried to the Britannia Iron Company .
.. many of your readers will have read the accounts that have lately been published in your column about Grass Well, a name that sounds rather oddly to strangers. Knowing what delicacy is required in the handling of such subjects as water courses and footpaths, or anything that has a tendency to encroach upon public rights, I might have shrunk from interfering in the matter, especially at such a time as the present when the whole village is up in arms. At the foot of the hill on which Newbottle stands, on the road from the latter place to Houghton - Le - Spring, there has been from time in amemorial a very strong runner of pure water, taking the direction of the latter place, but which is conveyed away to the above iron works. the trough through which the water flowed, having got into a very dilapidated state, it was agreed to make some improvements, and a committee of six gentlemen were appointed to carry out such purpose. The well being a resort for children, who occasionally at such places indulge i filthy habits, the gentlemen arranged and have carried out the erection of a cistern with a covered top, and have securely fixed on the top of the cistern a strong pump, from which could be easily filled the water carts that principally supply the village. So far the arrangement seemed perfect, but unfortunately, they allowed a strong pipe to be inserted in the cistern, level with the surface with the intention of conveying the waste water away to the iron works: as if in mockery the workmen had inserted a pipe for the use of the inhabitants with it's bottom level with the top of the pipe inserted to carry water away. Under such arrangements, the inhabitants were not slow to perceive that their water supply, they were at any time at the mercy of any mischievous person, or any young urchin who felt inclined to put a stone down the pump. the spout intended to supply the village ought to have run into a trough from which the water could have been conveyed away, or a tap ought to have been inserted beneath the waste pipe. I trust before another week the matter will be amicably arranged.
There are still cases of smallpox in the district, which, I suppose, may partly account for the authorities at Houghton -Le - Spring coming to the determination not only to compel all parents to have their children vaccinated, but likewise to attend at the medical officer's on the eighth day after the operation, in order to allow that gentlemen the opportunity of examination to see whether the vaccination had taken. the law is strong, and as it seems useless to resist, parents would, I think to well, under the circumstances, to rest satisfied with seeing that their children are inoculated from the most healthy they can.
12th April 1873
John Wilson, an old man was charged with threatening language towards Ann Cumming at Newbottle on the 20th March. He had approached her as she went for water, and asked her for a loan of £5, she refused. he went into the house and got a poker and threatened to kill her. he was bound over on his own recognisance of £10 and one surety of the like amount, to keep the peace for six months.
Houghton petty sessions.
Friday 20th Nov 1874.
Before the chairman Mr. R.H.A. Johnson and Mr. R.H.Hay -
Mr. Robert Grieves a respectable looking person, a grocer from New Herrington, charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the public house of Mr Crab, innkeeper of the Lambton Castle Philadelphia.
The wife of the complainant said he was the worse for drink, he then became very abusive and insulted Mrs Crab's daughter and refused to leave.
In his defence he said he was sorry to want had happened, he was fined 10/- with costs.
The defendant afterwards stepped across to the reporters and said he did not wish the case to appear in the newspapers, anyway the case was not much importance to the newspapers, and offered a valuable coin, which was declined. A person named Mathias Rickaby, who described himself as a good templar, suspecting the mission of the grocer, then addressed the reporters as follows "You are to put the case in the papers, I am a good templar and look after such people as him"
December 4th 1874
An application for a theatre in Houghton by Mr. Heslop surveyor of Houghton for the new town hall. The application was granted
March 25th 1876
Ralph Daglish, Austin Ingelby, and William Ingelby, were charged by pc Longstaffe with being drunk at Herrington on the 11th. the officer said he saw the defendants drunk and pelting a man with turnips.
Daglish - I will have the case adjourned, I will now then, and produced a shilling. that man is swearing my life away now then.
Mr C Kidson - no he is not.
Daglish - he is swearing my life away now then, they were each fined 10/- and the costs. Daglish on leaving the dock, said I will enter an action against the police now then, I will if I can get the brass.
April 20th 1876
A mechanical putter, which is driven by compressed air, was put to work in east Herrington colliery a day or two ago, in the presence of the inventors, Mr Lishman, manager of the Lambton collieries, Mr J.Young, engineer, bunker hill, and a large party of friends. the machine is designed to do the labour at present performed by ponies in the workings of the colliery; and in that way it's trail appeared to be answer admirably. starting from it's station with three tubs, it travelled with them about a mile, took up three laden tubs for these, and returned to it's station in something under ten minutes, thus performing work that would have occupied the horse about half an hour. the engine continued to work most successfully and without a hitch, throughout the day, and a number of them are now in course of construction in the Lambton engine works at Philadelphia for the use in the Lambton collieries.
September 9th 1876
Thomas Thompson and George Cooper were charged with gambling by playing at pitch and toss on the high way near Herrington, on the 12th august. the charge was proved by pc Longstaffe. cooper who is an old offender was fined 10/- and costs and Thompson 5/- and costs
Friday 14th May 1915
Before Dr D.S. Park presiding and Ald W.A.Weightman, M.T.Brough and W.L.M. Law.
Taking pony corn from the Dolly pit.
Alfred Todd a Hewer at the Dolly was charged with theft of horse corn and a offence under the Explosives in Mines Order. – by not keeping cartridges in a safe place.
Mr. E. Bell prosecuting, stated that the man had emptied the cartridge box canister to fill it with horse corn taken from the manager, this was partly in it’s self not right, because the pony had helped him in his work He had only taken a few ounces for his boy’s rabbit was Alfred Todd’s reply
The bench fined him on two accounts 10s for theft and 5s for breach of the rules.
April 9th 1929
Another court case the ABC Omnibus Co was found to be running without a licence between Sunderland and Darlington. awaiting report
Andrew Fletcher has written booklets containing stories like the above and are now on sale priced from £3.50 plus postage and packing.
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