Northumberland, Redesdale, agriculture, farming, history, moor burning, moorland management, dialect, humour Moor burning: A Redesdale Daft Laddie’s burning desire By Donald Clegg The smell of reekFor hundreds of years man has used fire as a means to clear scrub and invasive plants off land so that he could farm it in one way or another. … Read more
By Clive Dalton Poems and songsBellingham Show was such an important annual event, not only up the North Tyne valley but and on both sides of the Border, and especially in industrial Tyneside where ‘toon folk’ could have a day out by train in the fresh air of rural Northumberland. It wasn’t surprising then that … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Cranking handles in the 1950s As a student in the 1950s, we did statistics labs on small Brunsviga hand-cranked calculators with tiny levers pulled down to select the numbers wanted. You cranked the handle clockwise until a bell rang (I think when dividing), and then cranked it anticlockwise for a reason … Read more
Every month I create a newsletter of all the stories that have been added or updated with Northumberland in the keywords – lots of history, humour, photos, poetry and prose with contributions from a wide variety of canny lads from all over the world. Here’s your chance to download them to keep handy for a … Read more
Northumberland, history, humour, wartime 1939-45 By Bill Charlton The bridge over the North Tyne at BellinghamThe tiny cottage at the end of the bridge, (which at one time must have been a toll house) was nicknamed ‘the rabbit hutch’ and the nice lady who occupied it (who nobody knew much about) was inevitably called ‘The … Read more
Northumberland, history, humour, childhood memories, wartime 1939-45 By Bill CharltonSmoking experimentsIn our junior years in 1940/41 Cliff and I experimented in smoking by collecting dog ends off the road, looking in empty cigarette packets for a cigarette or cards which we used to save for a collection and swap with other lads in the village. … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton St Cuthbert’s church in Bellingham, Northumberland. I was christened here, tolled the bell and pumped the organ. Photo: The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne St Cuthbert on the Net It’s staggering how much information there is about ‘ Saint Cuthbert’ on the Internet – he would be gay pleased aboot that … Read more
The Pentland Press Ltd (1977)ISBN 1-85821-479-3 Dennis’s tales of life on the farm, are a priceless historical record of all aspects of farming at that time – and especially of the people involved and their attitudes to employment and life in the Dales. He writes with the sincerity and wry humour of a true Dalesman. … Read more
Norhumberland, history, childhood memories, 1940s By Bill Charlton Cairnglastenhope – a great kids’ adventureGoing back a couple of years before the 1939-1945 war started, my Dad (Bob Charlton) planned a great adventure for us kids (me and brother Cliff and our cousin Tom Thompson). It was to cross over the fells and visit Cairnglastenhope Lake … Read more
Northumberland, history, humour, wartime, 1939-45, cars By Bill Charlton Dad’s carDad’s fist car was an Austin 7, which he bought just before the war. Dad was called up for war service and one weekend when he came on leave, he put the car up on wooden blocks to keep the tyres off the ground in … Read more