Hi. John Dawson here. Sixtownships Community Group Secretary and local historian. Good topics talked about on here. First, Storey's Buildings was to the rear of where the Welfare is today (2012) I see another topic on how Scotland Gate got its name. This is a very interesting topic indeed and i will clear the mystery up today. In the old days all fields had names given to them by the farmers and it just happened to be that when Scotland Gate was developed the field the building were erected on was "Scotland" and the with the entrance the name Scotland Gate. Gateway to Scotland Gate. Another interesting topic is Guide Post and how it actually got its name. The ancient Salter Road ran from Morpeth to the north east coast and at the north south road at east Choppington stood a sign post, also called a fingers post, and this was actually interpreted into Guide Post in the first half of the 19th century when the area was being developed. I see another good topic about the Queens Head and Anvil Inn. The person is right in saying the old queens was pulled down to make way for the round-a-bout when the slum clearance began. However, if you go into the bar of the Queens Head today, you are actually in the "Smithy" as the Old Anvil Inn, which is the top end of the lounge, as it was extenteded at a later date, had the smithy adjoining it. When the then Bedlington Terrier was built at Bedlington, the Anvil Inn tenant was offered the tenancy of the Bedlington Terrier and took the offer up. The Anvil stood empty after that for many years and when the old Queens Head was demolished, it was decided to rename the Anvil Inn the Queens Head. Now at the old Quuens Head the licensee was a Mr. Shiel, and Mr and Mrs Beal ran the pub for him. He decided to let them take the license over in their own right for their loyalty and he was to retire. I have many photos of the old Queens Head and of the inside, with the Beal's perfoming terrier in the bar, and of the opening of the Queens Head as we know it today. if anyone is interested i will post them up, let me know, as i am always busy doing something on the history of our area. I had spoke to Mrs Beal prior to her death, and she loaned me many pics and a duplicated them and gave her the originals back. She was a very interesting woman, and she told me she was once a nurse. i remember the Beal's son very well as he was a little older than me and went to the old Guide Post Secondary Modern School. Oh, before i go, Rutter who had the old Queens Head was a master stone-mason and was involved in the building of the very first Stakeford Bridge, as well as other prominent buildings. take care, if anyone needs any help i will try to answer questions. I will put up the story of how the Church at Choppington came to be very soon as its also interesting, and maybe about the performing bears at Choppington. All the best for the New Year to you all. regards john
