Gas rise a dark day for town

Roads were left in darkness when gas lamps were turned off in Barnard Castle back in 1873.

The supplier 140 years ago was not a huge national organisation such as today, but a small local firm, the Barnard Castle Gas Company.

It had its works down below Scar Top, near the River Tees.

It said it had to put up its prices because coal was costing a lot more. It pointed out that in the first six months of 1872, it paid £172 for coal. But in the second half of the year, the bill for coal shot up to £374.

Its earnings from the sale of coke had also gone up from £51 to £87. So its bill for lighting street lamps had to go up from £108 to £156 for the half year.

Far too much, declared members of the local board of health, the forerunner of the urban council. So the lamps were not lit at dusk and folk started fumbling around.

There was a fear that burglars would find it easier to creep about in the darkened corners and get into their homes.

One member of the board complained, perhaps as a joke, that he and a friend could not have their usual handshake as they bade each other goodnight, as it was too dark to see their hands.

Another remarked that the situation was just as bad at Bishop Auckland, though it was at the centre of the coalfields.

But a protest by the Durham Fusiliers Militia led to Barnard Castle’s lights being put back on before long.

Its troops were due to move into the town for a fortnight’s training. There had been complaints in the past about the soldiers causing late-night trouble and damage after spending hours in local hostelries.

Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel JF Gales, wrote to the board stating that it was essential for the town to be lit by gas lamps during the regiment’s visit.

He said his men had been accused of outrages in the past, some of which he felt they were not guilty of.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013 northernecho.co.uk MEMORIES 73 Gas rise a dark day for town With Jim McTaggart mctagg@uwclub.net But now it would be utterly impossible for any offender to be recognised and brought to justice as long as the present lack of light continued.

He feared his men would be blamed for the misdeeds of others. One board member suggested the soldiers should wear personal numbers on their uniforms like those of policemen so culprits could be identified.

The Sarmatian, which took thousands of immigrants over the Atlantic between 1871 and 1908

However, others felt numbers would not be seen in the dark and that the military authorities would not allow it.

But they agreed the militiamen brought worthwhile trade to the town, so the gas bill was paid and the lamps were lit.

Local residents were pleased, so perhaps the troops were treated to a drink or two when they arrived.

ANNE LAWLOR got in touch to say she is the great, great, greatgranddaughter of Mary Hammond who, as reported here a few weeks ago, died aged 72 in 1812 after being landlady of the New Spital pub.

The Reverend Richard Wilson wrote at the time that Mary’s manners were very civil and her charges reasonable each time he called there on his horse for refreshments.

Mrs Lawlor, who lives in Esh Winning, has traced much of her family history, showing that Mary, nee Harker, was married to Richard Hammond of Crackpot Hall, near Muker, in March 1764.

They later settled at New Spital and had seven children – Richard, William, Mary, John, Robert, Margaret and George.

The youngest, George, was born in 1787 after his father had died. In 1813, he married Ann Milner, of Barningham, and Mrs Lawlor is the couple’s great, great granddaughter.

George’s sister Mary, who never married, lived at Spital until she died in April 1830.

Her will shows that she was fairly well off. She left a guinea apiece to three of her brothers, John, Richard and George, and 19 guineas to her “dear niece” Mary, who was Richard’s daughter.

She left her land and property, along with the rest of her money, to her other brother Robert.

He was also executor of the will, which was registered at Northallerton. Her other brother, William, had died before her.

Mrs Lawlor. a retired secretary, is still gathering information about her relatives, and the areas in which they lived long ago, Crackpot and Spital.

Anyone with details about them can email her at annelawlor@fsmail.net MANY young dalesmen must have dreamed about crossing the Atlantic to start a new life after hearing about the rosy prospects in Canada in late 1880.

A group of farmers and land experts was sent there that year to judge what conditions in their industry were like for immigrants – and when they came back they declared it was a wonderful place for anyone willing to work hard.

Those struggling to get a start on a farm in Teesdale, Weardale or other areas were told that if they went, they could be granted free land right away and could buy more at a rock-bottom price.

The party sailed from Liverpool on the SS Sarmation.

Their trip was paid for by the Canadian government, but it was stressed that they had to give their honest opinions, reporting any bad points as well as the good.

One of the goup was George Broderick, a land agent and surveyor, whose report was eagerly studied by farming folk in all the dales when he returned.

His words received just as much attention as those of Judge John Bathgate, who spoke about the merits of New Zealand some months earlier. Broderick stated that a man with £100 could make a good start on free land in Canada — and even those with no cash could start farming their free acres immediately while working for wages.

He reported that a decent wooden house could be put up in a week with the help of local workers.

After three years, the newcomer could be running 160 acres of grant land plus 160 acres bought for ten shillings or less an acre. He would own his 320 acres and a comfortable house, with no rent to pay and very little taxes.

He said dale farmers’ sons, with little hope of getting their own farms here for many years, could go there, work hard and have a genuine chance of becoming wealthy.

Gentlemen’s sons, with a good education, but no farming experience, would not be much use — nor would what he called kid glove farmers.

Progress being made in the country meant that the right young men making a start now could see their free or cheap land being worth £10 or £20 an acre in future.

Broderick travelled extensively in Canada and explained which areas had fertile or poor land, and which districts were best for crops or cattle and sheep.

He felt there was a promising future for horse breeding.

He quoted prices for animals, crops and produce.

The ruins of Crackpot Hall, where Mary Hammond lived in her early married life

He spoke of meeting a farmer from Lincoln who had gone out a year earlier and now had 1,280 acres of fertile land. Buffalo that had roamed the plains had been killed off, but their bones were still scattered around.

He went through Indian reservations used by the Sioux tribe, who kept asking him how Queen Victoria was getting on.

The good ship Sarmation took thousands of immigrants, including some from the dales, to Canada between 1871 and 1908.

SUPPORTERS have raised more than £15,000 this year to replace the roof of St Andrew’s Parish Church, at Winston.

It is a superb sum for a village of its size. The bad news is that there will be extra work to do, as a fault has been found on part of the chancel roof.

The cost of all the work will be known soon, and various grants will be applied for, hopefully allowing the job to be done next year.

The attractive church dates from about 1220, but much of it was rebuilt in 1846. Some features of the original building can still be seen.

It was once said that no unmarried clergyman should ever be appointed there, because if he later wed, it might be felt his bride only married him for the wonderful view from the nearby rectory.