Darlington: Big fat Quaker nuptial

JW was the eldest son and heir of Joseph "the Statue" Pease who employed thousands and thousands of County Durham people in his industries. It is a sign of those times how all of them bought in to 26-year-old JW's marriage in a way that is unthinkable today (I can say without fear of contradiction that there will not be celebratory cannons being fired in Darlington and Crook to mark the marriage of Katherine and Wills later this spring).

The Darlington and Stockton Times reported on the wedding celebrations in its next issue. I've quoted from the article in this morning's Echo Memories, because many of the celebrations focussed on JW's Woodlands home, which is now occupied by St Teresa's Hospice which celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend.

I thought some people might be interested in the full article. Big fat gypsy wedding it isn't, but a very large Quaker nuptial it is.

REJOICINGS ON THE MARRIAGE OF J W PEASE ESQ

Darlington was on Wednesday last the scene of great rejoicings, on the occasion of the marriage of Joseph Whitwell Pease, Esq., to Miss Fox, daughter of Alfred Fox, Esq., of Falmouth.

From an early hour in the morning the bells of St Cuthbert's sent forth their merriest peals as became the joyful occasion. A band of music at one period of the day also added to the hilarity which pervaded the town. Cannons (or substitutes for them) were fired at short intervals through the day, from Woodlands, the future residence of Mr Pease, from Southend, and from the Mill Holme.

From the towers of St Cuthbert's Church, Trinity Church, the Central Hall, the Town Hall, and several of the mills, large flags were suspended. At Woodlands and Southend there was a great profusion of gay streamers. The appearance of so many flags hoisted on such elevated positions, from the Bank Top was particularly striking.

In the evening about 120 workmen and others who have been engaged in preparing Woodlands for the reception of Mr Pease and his youthful bride, marched in procession, accompanied by banners and a crowd who cheered vociferously along the route, to the Fleece Inn, where an excellent dinner had been provided for them. After dinner, the healths of Mr and Mrs Pease and long life and happiness to them, were drunk with vociferous applause.

The event was celebrated with great rejoicings at the various colleries belonging to Mr Pease, viz., Adelaide, South Durham, Pease's West, St Helen's and Bowden Close. The firing of cannon was kept up through the day, and flags with appropriate inscriptions displayed.

In the enthusiasm of the men, little was thought of a number of squares of glass broken by the discharges of the artillery. Sundry half barrels of ale were broached, the effect of which was not so conducive to quiet and order as might be wished; still the day passed off very pleasantly on the whole.

At the Hutton, Ironstone Mines in Cleveland, between 200 and 300 workmen and their wives were regaled with an excellent tea in the large granary at Hutton Farm (the residence of R Robinson, Esq, the manager of the mines) which was tastefully decorated with evergreens, whilst about the farm buildings were displayed numerous banners bearing appropriate inscriptions. The Guisbro' Amateur Band gave their services, and during, and after tea performed many polkas, waltzes, quadrilles &c., in a highly creditable manner - We must not forget to mention that the proceedings of the evening were enlivened by numerous discharges of cannon.

After the tables were cleared, H W Thomas Esq., (who together with his lady, had partaken of the excellent fare provided) rose, and after remarking that the company were assembled for the purpose of celebrating the marriage of Mr J.W. Pease, and wishing him and his bride every happiness, went on to say, that some few years back the man would have been deemed a dreamer who ventured to assert that such a gathering as the present would take place, a gathering of hard working, honest sturdy sons of the soil, all of whom drew their living from the bowels of the earth, in the shape of ironstone, and though such gathering had taken place, he could confidently say that the mining operations in this district were only in their infancy, and that at Hutton alone the number of hands would be quadrupled. He was proud to be amongst such men - to see their happy, contented faces around him, and happy and contented they ought to be, for, from what he had seen of them, he felt assured he might go far without meeting with a body of men bearing such a high character for industry, sobriety, and general morality. To show that this was no mere idle talk, he would only just mention that the magistrates had never had a single case from the Hutton Mines, or from Hutton miners. He might also observe that another good feature was, the harmony that appeared to exist between them and their employers. In conclusion, he called for three times three for the bride and bridgeroom, which call was most promptly responded to.

After silence had been restored, Mr Robinson rose, and said he did not take what Mr Thomas had said with regard to the men as only an empty compliment, for he could bear out in every way what Mr Thomas had stated. He was happy to say he had got the best set of men at these mines it was possible to find throughout the length and breadth of the land, and as he himself rated them so highly, he wished every man of them to be well paid for the work they had well done. He was no advocate for screwing men down - on the contrary, he wished every man to have a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. before finishing he would venture to recommend them to persevere in the good course which had procured them such a good character. He then sat down amidst deafening cheers.

Dancing then commenced, and was carried on with great spirit until ten o'clock, when the party broke up, declaring, unanimously, that they had spent a most happy evening.