Bedlington Old Hall

[Andy Millne]

Received this email yesterday. It seems people interested in history are often stuck in the past as despite my cajolings for her to register and post it herself it didn't work Ah well better it gets posted by me than not at all.

I read in Nicolas Pevsner's book about Northumberland Architecturethat there is a place called Bedlington Old Hall, which is in part anold tower, and is opposite a pub called the Kings Arms. I cycled to Bedlington today, and was really interested in all the blue local history trail panels, but couldn't see any of the above. Can you help?

Many thanks.

OLD HALL, a C16 tower house with hood-moulded mullioned windows, and immediately adjoining it a frontage of ten bays, as plain and matter offact aqs if it had been built as a mill. Nearly opposite the KING'S ARMS, five bays, two storeys; doorwary with segmental pediment onTuscan pilasters.

From The Buildings of England, Northumberland, by Nicolas Pevsner, first published 1957.

You are are probably right about The Grapes being the Kings Arms. If so, it is devastating to think that the Old Hall has been demolished. Probably some of your older members will know.

I also plan to go to the church again tomorrow, to look at the"uncommonly interesting" chancel arch, according to Pevsner. I couldn't get in yesterday, but will go during/after the service at 9.15.

I really enjoyed the few blue history trail markers I saw too, andwanted to find a leaflet with them all in. Is there such a thing?

I came away quite fascinated about Bedlington! At the moment, I am looking at pele towers, bastles and older church architecture in Northumberland, so that was why I went there. Just for fun, and I tie it in with walks and cycle rides.

Bridget

[threegee]

My experience too. Not mentioning and names the simplest of things seems to be beyond some of our local historians. Maybe they should borrow someone's five-year-old kid to help?

Anyway, and present company excepted of course Bridget... back to The Old Hall. It was demolished by vandals (otherwise known as the local coonc'l). The site is now occupied by the outstanding piece of architecture called the Bedlington Council Offices. Constructed to the highest 1960's building standards, it was carefully and quickly distressed with cracks so as to blend into the local distressed environment/economy. I believe it is built in the the Socialist Empire (everything can be carefully planned, and committes know best) style.

This of course is the same bunch of idiots responsible for the erasure of much of our heritage. Also the very same "public servants" who go around slapping listing and protection orders on every piece of uninteresting tat just because it has somehow survived long enough i.e. without any regard to the town having a future either!

[Merlin]

Theres a building down church lane called The Tower,don't know if this is of interest to you,but there again you probably already knew about it!

[brian.turnbull920@btintern]

I was born in no 2 Old Hall in 1948. My father, a putter in the Dr pit, kept pigs at the bottom of the gardens ( fields really). Would bring pigs up to the Yard on Thurday night and kept in the old coal houses till saturday morning when Hay the Butcher would oversea the slaughter while mother was in the house with the wireless turned up full.. Couldnt go anywhere in the house without seeing a side of salted pork hanging up encased in white muslin.He later kept Rabbits, over 100 of them, again, for the table. Chicken was a luxury, way beyond our affordability. How times change, Brian T.

[Canny lass]

That's a nice little glimpse into the past, Brian. Welcome to the forum.

[HIGH PIT WILMA]

Hi Brian,and welcome to the forum,which,if you browse aroond a bit,ye'll find sum interresant bits o' history,especially if ye happen ti cotton onti the Bower family topic,seeing as ,....your Brother Billy....[? hope aam reet heor!],used ti knock aroond wi young Jimmy Bower,and me being Jimmy's marra,also used ti hang aroond wi thi two of them.!!

Noo isn't it queer hoo time gaans by,and ye wud nivvor hev dreamt that sum day ye wud hook up wi folks from thi past through technology!!

Billy Turnbull was a reet canny lad,and a can picture his face as a 14 year aad yungun' even noo.

A hope welshconnect comes on and finds this topic....that's Jim!!

Can ye remember the tunnel at thi side o' the keep,Brian?

[HIGH PIT WILMA]

Theor it gaans again.....font-change withoot my permission!!.......technology!!!!!.....and a was just praising it afore!!.......aa divvent knaa....!

[Vic Patterson]

Hello Brian, welcome to the forum, my wife Doreen's graddad Walter Dagless lived in the old hall, first door in the arch about that time. 

[Brian Cross]

Hello Brian, welcome to the forum mate

[brian.turnbull920@btintern]

Hi Brian Turnbull again. Just picked up a few snippets. Re Tunnel at the side of the"Keep".It had been filled with sand .we'd go in there and mess about. Nelly Scott,  Hanna's daughter who lived with Walter Daglass (also had a massive alsation called Prince) had seen me playing outside and took me into the tunnel and messed about. I heard my mother calling me in for my tea. Nelly told me to wash my hands at the tap in the yard and say nothing. My mother knew there was something strange going on but didn't find out. Anyway ,I bet nelly had a smile on her face for quite a few days afterwards, horny little bugger.

Regarding Vic Paterson , were you part of the Paterson the butcher who had a shop and slaughter House near the Coffin Chapel?.

Re Brian Cross, were you in my class in primary school and emigrated about 1958?. I think Matty Hall was our last teacher there He used to sing in the Bottom Club according to my dad. I barely remember you bragging about a Mortgage, and I said we had one too but couldn't remember what colour it was we obviously had no idea what we were talking about but we wouldn't be outdone.

 My brother Billy took his family to New Zealand to work around 1978 and I havn't heard from him since.

[Vic Patterson]

Hi Brian92, no I'm from Blyth my only connection to Bedlington is through my wife Doreen.

[Brian Cross]

Hi Brian no not me we emigrated in late1951

[John Fox (foxy)]

Welclolm to the forum Brian, I was very friendly with your Bill but we lost contact when he joined the Navy. I remember you when we lived on the Ridge Farm Estate.  

[brian.turnbull920@btintern]

On 8/9/2016 at 16:49, Vic Patterson said:

Hi Brian92, no I'm from Blyth my only connection to Bedlington is through my wife Doreen.

 

[brian.turnbull920@btintern]

Hi Foxy   I remember you from the 60/61/62 era. you were into motor bikes big time with young Arris Hayley( I say young because his father- a coal merchant was also called Arris). Billy joined the navy just before his apprenticeship with the NCB was due to end He, like me never had any intention of working underground.

[HIGH PIT WILMA]

Brian,Matty Hall used ti sing on Parents open days at the Whitley,and I distinctinctly remember him singing one song called "Tommy Lad.....Tommy Lad"...etc,in a deep baritone voice.

He was also a champion boxer in his army days,so they reckoned.

He was also a "Stinger".......with thi 4 foot  lang blackboard ruler!

Arris hayley was a real canny youngin',he used ti come ti school wearing Swiss [?] leather traditional short pants,looked heavy and bulky,and seemed as if they would be really uncomfortable!....can you mind them Brian?

One day he came over ti thi park,[beside the Whitley],flashing a gun,not a toy gun!!...I think it was a small derringer type,maybe a .38 cal....he was thi envy of aal thi kids!!

Come ti think on't,where was Arris from,or,should I say his Parents....Arris isn't a typical British name is it?.....!!!!

So,Brian,did your Bill gaan ti thi Whitley as weel?,cos tha's summick puzzlin' me.....

[brian.turnbull920@btintern]

Cant remember the name of the school Probably was the whitley .Turn left at the bottom end of Bedlington towards station. about 400 yards down on right side next to a sweet shop called Binks I think. Arris just lived 3 doors up from me in Meadowdale Cres.,He had an elder brother, can't remember his name. As far as I know,they were fully British no weird accents or anything. Before moving to the council estate they had a house and coal yard just down from the school.

[Canny lass]

The boy's name Arris, while not one of the most common names, wasn't too rare at the beginning of the 20th century. There was one in my family born 1917.

[John Fox (foxy)]

5 hours ago, Canny lass said:

The boy's name Arris, while not one of the most common names, wasn't too rare at the beginning of the 20th century. There was one in my family born 1917.

canny lass, the name of my mate is.... Arras,... I'm still in touch with him, Arras Haley who you may remember from Westridge, I believe there is a town in France with the same name.

[Canny lass]

The name rings a bell but I can't put a face to it. I just googled 'Arris'. It has Greek origins.

[John Fox (foxy)]

4 hours ago, Canny lass said:

The name rings a bell

That was Quasimodo,  my mates name is   Arras   as the town in France. pic taken from westridge class photo.

[Canny lass]

2 hours ago, John Fox (foxy) said:

That was Quasimodo,  my mates name is   Arras   as the town in France. pic taken from westridge class photo.

Quasimodo, haha! very funny!

Yes, I remember him now that I see his face (Arras, I mean).