Keith Scantlebury

The picture house was the Prince of Wales

Well hello stranger

I really enjoyed my time at Chillingham John, but to be honest it wasn't the best of carreer moves. We were living in Lincolnshire at the time - 1979 - and the wife was very homesick, our eldest daughter was only a year old at the time and the wife really wanted to be back in the north east. I was offered the job and I took it despite it being a lot less money than I was earning in Lincolnshire. On the other hand I was involved in working with one of the most famous herds of cattle in the world and I was made part of that history by being the first man in over 700 years to calve one of those cowsTo be honest I could tell you loads of stories about that place, but it would take far too much room up. Working for the Tankervilles was an experience and a half .

agree to both

I lived and worked on the Chillingham estate in the early '80's, and looked after the small dairy herd there as well as relief milked other herds in the area. I also worked with the wild cattle. What Ouston Widdows says about trying to catch them is absolute tosh. ( what he says about the history of them is true ). I am the only man to have calved one of those cows. The cow was stuck in a bog , we had no choice but to pull her out and I had to deliver the calf. The calf was removed to the calf house on the farm and hand reared. A few cows were lost in the 80's because of a mineral imbalance and the calves had to be reared by hand. After the foot and mouth outbreak in 1967 a small nucleus herd was set up at a secret location on Speyside in case anything should happen to the herd at Chillingham, the hand reared calves were sent there when they were weaned. The herd truly is wild and as Ouston says in the film, any that have been touched by Humans will be killed by the others, adult cattle would be banished from the herd and would usually die. The only help they would get is hay would be fed to them in the winter, but the hay has to be made within the confines of the wild cattle park , ie, within the boundary of the wall. The bulls keep within a group by themselves and they fight for the position of King Bull. I have had some very close encounters with someof those, they can be very very dangerous. At the time I lived there the castle was in ruins (although the lawns were kept immaculate). The castle was a right spooky place to go near after dark (till you got used to it). I remember once having to go down at about 10 on a winters night and could hear talking. Lady Tankerville (dowager) used to walk the dog, a Rotweiller, around there at night and she was stood talking to someone at an upstairs window. I whent to see if she was ok because I thought there mighy have been an intruder but I could'nt see anyone. She said " no no Keith I just like talking to those who looked after the place before us" I was outa there sharpish and if I had to go there after dark I did'nt hang around too long. The castle was offered to the National Trust who refused it on the grounds that it would cost too much to restore and make safe for visitors. It was bought by the present owner (Sir Hugh Wakefield, I think , or could it be Humphry) who restored the castle to what it is now. He also restored the ghost stories which have done his bank balance no harm at all. There is a ford in the village and a wooden footbridge that goes over it. We had the inlaws up for the day and the wife took them round the castle and told them a few stories about the place. Just as it was getting dark I was leaving the farm and I could see them coming past the church, so I hid under the bridge. When they were on the bridge I put my hand through a gap and grabbed my sister in law's ankle, I think people as far away as Wooler and Alnwick heard her scream, what rained down through the bridge was'nt rain water either. All the Tankervilles that have died are in the crypt in the Church, as well as the Earl Grey and Lady Jane Grey who are laid in the church itself. Their ephigies (spelling ?) are on top of the tomb. Chillingham really is a village worth visiting if you have never been. You can even impress your kids or friends by giving one of the Californian Redwood trees a thump. ( you wont hurt yourself on the velvety bark ) but make sure it is a Redwood first. Ha Ha

Aye and I was totaly agrieved not too see my name on the list AGAIN . Its about time I was sired.

brilliant

Looking at those maps I am even more convinced it is the Wansbeck. The Inn that is marked will be the Foresters, its right on the bend in West Sleekburn, you can see the island in the wider part of the river behind it . It can be still seen today as I mentioned in the previous post.

You need to remember, when looking at old maps that the Wansbeck will have changed because of the dam. There is an island a couple of hundred yards downstream from the bridge that mostly dissapears after heavy rainfall (we cant blame the high tide, like the t.v. reporters blamed for flooding Morpeth ) anymore as the river is no longer tidal above the dam.

Yes John and he did the disco's in the YM as well.

We have a stable on the allotments behind Wansbeck Tce. It's the closest one to the bridge, not far from where the 2nd pic was taken from. When I was down there this morning to see to the ponies I stood and had a good look and I'm pretty sure that, that is the right place.

I thought that as well

You might just have it sunshine !. If you look at the old pic on the left at far end of bridge. That could be what becomes Wansbeck Tce, that runs from the signal box to the Foresters. In the new pic the the photographer was standing below the allotments behind Wansbeck Tce on the riverside path.

Would have thought Dr Pit would be further to the left ??. What about Barmoor at Hepscot ?

If that is on the river Blyth looking south, the photographer would be standing on the downstream side of the bridge, on the Bedlington side. So that would rule the power station out because that chimney would possibly be towards Cramlington.Similarly if it was the Wansbeck, the photographer would be downstream side of the bridge on the Ashington side and that chimney would be off towards (Morpeth) ?

Symptoms, you're absolutely right. Why on earth did I think it carried a railway line. I can remember watching the Euclids going back and forth when I was a sproglodite.

Possibly was. I saw a few bands there. Long story short , me and Matty Lawson got the boot trying to get in (we were only 15 at the time) . We were stood in the budge opposite the Clayton when a van stopped, it was the band, they couldn't find the stage door so me and Matty showed them round. The band invited us in, the bouncers had faces like smacked backsides all night. The band even sneaked us drinks. The band was no other than Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. (I got a right bollicking when I got home)

Pretty sure that must be pre 1970 looking at some of the bands playing

Found this.

....... Douglas - Home :D

But there again........ Bebside Inn ?

The pub that I remember was The Albion Inn I'm sure that was referred to as the Folly. It was somehere near the fire station betweem Bog Houses and the Shankhouse roundabout.

Cant be the Bank Top 'cos the camera is pointing the wrong way, as it is pointing south across the bridge / river. To get the Bank Top the photographer would have to turn to his right. (90 deg). ..... ha !!! stick that in ya pipe and smoke it !!!!!I can remember the Costain bridge that took the railway from the opencast across the river and Atlee bank, but that is definately not it. I would have to agree with John as it seems more likely to be over the wansbeck

Theres that pic that Keith L put on, but I'm sure Foxy would oblige. .......... and aye if you want

Can you remember torchy Tait. He used to get some jip off us kids