Friends of Berwick and District Museum and Archives

Details of time/venues of these lectures may be obtained from either the Record Office or Museum.

Well, there is not much for me to report from the Archives this quarter as I haven't been there. As most of you will already know, I'm enjoying my maternity leave with my little daughter, Siobhan, who was born at the end of February. She is coming on very well but keeping Stuart and me very busy - she can't be organised or work to a timetable like the Archives! However, she is adorable and sleeps all night, so I can't complain.

In my absence, Ishbel McKinnon who normally works at the Northumberland Record Office is covering for me on Thursdays only. Because the Office is only open on one day, it is extremely busy and Ishbel has been kept on the go all the time, helping people and learning what records are kept at Berwick. Both Ishbel and I are very grateful for all the help that the Friends have given her - directing people to sources and transcripts which are readily available in the Searchroom and offering their local knowledge to help her to answer people's enquiries. Obviously during the summer months, it will be even busier for her, so please keep helping her.

In mid March, the Record Office was visited by Justin Frost from the Public Record Office who came to inspect our premises and assess our ongoing suitability as a place of deposit for Public Records. Fortunately, I was able to meet Justin and talk to him about the Record Office and its work. Our licence was renewed and he was very impressed with our involvement with and support from the local community . He is also aware of our ongoing problem of not having enough space to store records.

Finally, Stuart and I would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, cards, flowers and presents on the birth of little Siobhan. We have been overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.

That's all for now. Normal service at the Record Office will resume at the beginning of September when I return to work full time.

Although Archives are often not associated with modern technology, it is surprising how many requests I receive for information from all over the world via e-mail. Recently, I was contacted by a gentleman in Canada whose ancestors, Walter and Jane Pringle, along with their two children, Elinder,4 and Jane, 2 had gone out from Berwick to Saint John in New Brunswick in 1836. From his end, Mr Dixon had established that the family must have sailed on the D'Arcy which had taken 33 days to sail from Berwick with goods for a J.V.Thurgar and 110 settlers for the New Brunswick Land Company. He wrote to me trying to find out if there was any additional information here. Normally, I have not been able to find any information about emigrants, however, the following entries were in the Berwick Advertiser about the ship:

13 MAY 1836

Tuesday May 10, D'ARCY, Phillips ( master) arrives at Berwick from Sunderland, carrying coals.

EMIGRATION - The D'Arcy of Sunderland . Captain Phillips, a fine new brig, of 230 tons register, arrived at this port on the evening of the 10th instant, to receive on board a number of emigrants for St Johns, New Brunswick. The vessel is chartered by the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Land Company for the conveyance of agricultural labourers, etc., engaged by them in this neighbourhood, to settle on their estate , in the province of new Brunswick. We are informed that about 160 persons engaged with the Company's agent, who was in the neighbourhood a few months ago. The company allot a farm of 100 acres to each family of which 5 acres is to be cleared and copped, with a comfortable log-house built there on, ready for the reception of his family on arrival at the settlement, of which a lease of at least 50 years will be granted at the yearly rent of one shilling per acre, with an option to the tenant to buy the freehold at 20 years purchase at any one period within the first ten years. The company also convey the emigrants there, which is to be repaid by them sometime after landing. They will probably sail in the early part of next week.

20 MAY 1836

The D'Arcy emigrant vessel, sailed from this port on Monday for New Brunswick, having on board 100 persons, including children; the number not so large as had been anticipated, several changed there intention in consequence of the vessel being somewhat behind the time appointed, together with other circumstances. The emigrants were in high spirits as they proceeded down the river, shouting and cheering to their friends on the shore.

The Friends of Berwick & District Museums and Archives held their 6th Annual General Meeting in the Parish Church Centre.

At a well-attended meeting the president, Lord Joicey, took the Chair and the committee was voted in en-bloc. He welcomed members and guests and paid particular attention to Stuart and Linda Bankier who had brought the latest recruit, their three week-old daughter, Siobhan, with them.

Lord Joicey commended all members of the committee for their dedicated work over the last year and thanked Dennis Nicholson for his special input as editor of the Newsletter which is eagerly anticipated in over a hundred households. The President thanked Linda Bankier and Chris Green for the lasting interest in FBDMA. Chairman, Mrs. Barbara Herdman, then thanked Lord Joicey for his support over the past year. Although he was not able to attend every function, the committee were well aware that his expertise in many fields is available when needed. The AGM closed and after a short break for wine and refreshments the evening continued in a new format. Instead of one speaker talking on one subject for about 40 minutes there were four speakers talking on subjects of their own choice.

First to speak was Stuart Bankier whose subject was his house "Three Stone Burn House" which stands three miles down a farm road near the Ingram Valley. Stuart and Linda have renovated the house and in doing so have uncovered a fascinating history of this 18th century dwelling. Where now the house is fairly isolated, in past ages there was quite a flourishing community. The house also lies near the Three Stone Burn stone circle which Stuart says actually has 18 stones but only the largest three are very visible. As the lecturettes were to be only 10 - 15 minutes long it was with great reluctance that the audience allowed Stuart to finish. There is so much more to know.

The second lecturette was given by Chris Green, Curator of Berwick's Museum and his subject was the "Future of Museums". He gave a potted history of museums from the 17th Century up to today and the vision of the future. Chris is an amusing and enthusiastic speaker and the audience listened with fascination as he moved from the collectors of Bacon and Ashmole to the huge V & A and Natural History Museums of the Victorian era, to the radical changes made in the 60's and 70's. Johnston's collection in Berwick is nearly all perished but the Museum still holds vast quantities of shells and fossils. Chris explained that from now the past will be brought to life by "Theatre in Museums". Drama is the way forward to explain the relevance of collections and to stir the residual memory of the public.

Next to speak was Jim Walker whose talk "Made in Berwick" covered from the 13th to the 19th centuries. His first artefact was a silver long cross penny with John of Berwick stamped on it. John worked from 1250-1280. It was a magic moment to know there was an object 750 years old made in Berwick in the hall. Jim moved to Thomas Bridges, one of 60 clock and watchmakers working in Berwick between 1700 and 1900. The clock Jim showed the audience was all made by hand and had the date 1708 on it. In 1801 Peter Lambert was admitted to the Berwick Freemen. He was registered Goldsmith who advertised locally. Jim had three of his silver spoons which were dated 1813. Lambert worked in Berwick at 11 Hide Hill for over 40 years. The graves of Lambert and his family are in the North Road Cemetery. A horn spoon was the last artefact to be shown. One firm made 7000 spoons a year in the last century. Jim concluded his talk by intimating that he had only touched on a minute number of craftsmen who had plied their trade in Berwick.

The last lecturette was given by Gus Fairburn who took the audience back to his roots in the south and some of the great museums of specialised interests which had fascinated him as a boy. The British Museum was oppressive as was the Natural History Museum but Gus admitted that the Science Museum was much more fun for youngsters. His own interest in calligraphy had stemmed from a visit to Beely Abbey where there is a wonderful collection of manuscripts. He also highlighted steam locomotive collections and the RAF museum at Hendon. Nostalgia crept in when Gus pointed out that what was commonplace in our young days is now becoming "history" and the objects themselves are houses in museums.

Mrs. Herdman gave a vote of thanks to all the speakers who had held the audience enthralled. Certainly the new format seemed very acceptable.

The following is the only record to date of emigration from Berwick.

3 Sep 1852 - from the "Newcastle Courant":-

The fine New Ship LORD DELAVAL, 700 tons, A1 at Lloyd's, CHARLES YOUNG, Commander, carrying an experienced Surgeon.

Having a Full Poop.
Special Agreement for Families and Individuals in all the Classes.
Apply Immediately. Rates of Freight Moderate.
Berths secured in this splendid Vessel, and Deposits of One-half of Passage Money received, and all further Particulars given, on Application to

GEORGE GRAY, 51, Quayside, Newcastle. Newcastle upon Tyne, Aug.27,1852 1 Jul 1853 Intelligence has been received in Berwick of the safe arrival at Melbourne, on the 27th of February, after a passage of three months and seventeen days, of the Lord Delaval, emigrant ship, which sailed from Berwick. All were well.

16 Mar 1855 FOR SALE BY PRIVATE CONTRACT. THE fine, first-class, British-built barque LORD DELAVAL, 451 tons register N.M., has a full poop and topgallant forecastle, classed 9 years A.I. at Lloyd's. Sheathed with yellow metal, sails fast, and caries a large cargo. This handsome vessel was built at Berwick, under special inspection, in 1852, of the best materials, well found in stores, and every way adapted for carrying troops or passengers, having a good height between decks, and fitted with air ports. Now lying near the New Quay, North Shields, where she may be inspected on application to Capt. Gladston, on board.

Note:- On this particular voyage the Lord Delaval carried 187 emigrants of whom 50 were from Berwick. The full list of passenger names is available in the Record Office. However, due to the fact that the passenger's Nationality only is given, as either English or Scottish, it is not immediately possible to determine which of the passengers were of Berwick origin.

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