THESE two magnificent items will be stars of the show at next weekend's Durham Book Fair, which is held on Saturday, February 13, at Durham School, Quarryheads Lane, in the city.

Above is a truly stunning, and quite enormous, framed etching of the city from 1745 – so long ago that Durham's famous tree-lined banks have no trees at all. In fact, they appear to be laid out as formal gardens.

It is the view of the city from the south-west – if you are trying to get your bearings, over the river on the left is Framwellgate Bridge, with buildings crowding onto it. It was built in the early 15th Century after the first bridge – built in 1120 – was swept away by a flood in 1400.

The Northern Echo: An abstract of penalties from the Darlington and Stockton railway. Picture: TOM BANKS (54487417)
An abstract of penalties from the Darlington and Stockton railway. Picture: TOM BANKS

A little in front of it is the Old Fulling Mill which, with the cathedral rearing up grandly above it, must be the most photographed view of the city. "Fulling" was the process by which fleeces of wool were washed prior to spinning. The mill fell out of use at the start of the 19th Century, and from 1833 to 2013, it was the university's archaeology museum. It looked rather sad and closed when Memories wandered round there recently.

For railway aficionados, there is a poster of penalties payable on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, dated July 11, 1826 – less than a year after the ground-breaking railway opened. It shows users of the railway how much they would be penalised for any misdemeanours or sloppy behaviour.

"Every driver or owner of any waggon, not having such waggon a proper brake to regulate the speed thereof, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding £2," says one rule.

"Every person passing upon the railway with a waggon or waggons earlier than one hour before sunrise, or later than one hour after sunset, without leave, in writing, from the Company, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding £2," says another.

The book fair, which is organised by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, runs from 10am to 4pm, and admission is £1 – although if you go to organisations website – pbfa.org.uk – and order at ticket, you will save yourself the full 100 pennies. The website also contains additional information.