here - The History of Gainford

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The History of Gainford
Articles published in
the PARISH NEWS magazine
1996-2007
PARISH NEWS MARCH 1996
In March, 1921 Gainford's War Memorial was dedicated. Avis M. Tucker looks back 75 years for the
dedication of the monument around which our annual Remembrance Sunday takes place.
LEST WE FORGET
Last Summer we commemorated 50 years of peace since the end of the last war -Yet, 75 years ago, the people
of Gainford erected a monument to remember those who fell in the 1914-18 war - the war to end all wars!
From Newspaper March 19th 1921
A peel from six muffled bells of the Church, gave notice to the neighbourhood of Gainford of the
memorial service in the Church at half past three, prior to the dedication of the monument which had been
erected in the Churchyard. Front seats in the Church had been reserved for 60 servicemen. The Archdeacon of
Auckland conducted the service. After the service, Lord Gainford addressed a large gathering assembled in the
Churchyard for the unveiling of the memorial by the High Sheriff of Durham. The Vicar of Gainford dedicated
the monument and read out the names of the fallen. The "Last Post" was sounded, and proceedings ended with
the singing of the National Anthem.
Parish Magazine March 31st 1921
The vicar, the Rev. H. C. Watson writes:"Sat. March 19th was a memorable day in this parish, when the monument, erected in our Churchyard,
to commemorate those from Gainford who fell on our behalf in the Great War, was unveiled. We shall not
easily forget the stirring and encouraging words which were spoken on the occasion
by the Archdeacon of Auckland at the Service in the Church, and by Lord Gainford,
and the High Sheriff of Durham at the ceremony of unveiling and dedication which
followed. That there has been no hitch anywhere from first to last, since the first
Public Meeting held to consider the memorial, is due to two facts: the readiness of
all to acquiesce in the decisions of a pronounced majority, even when those were
opposed to their own private opinion, and again to the counselled judgement, and
untiring efforts of the Memorial Committee of five - Mr. C. Dent, Miss Edleston,
Mr. D. Pryce, Mrs. Sykes and Mr. J. P. Charge, whose hand has reproduced so
skilfully the design handed to him. To all those we owe our best thanks for securing
a monument worthy of a great object. Today is "Warriors Day" when we think of
those who have fought for us and still survive, and half of the proceeds of the
entertainments, musical and dramatic, which have been so well organised for the
purpose, will be handed to Lord Haig's Fund for distressed soldiers."
The Memorial
The piece of Yorkshire sandstone of which the memorial is made came from
Robin Hood's Bay Quarries. It was delivered by train to Gainford Station and taken
to the workshops of Charge Bros. It was sculpted, carved and lettered by Percival
Charge (himself a Flying Corps ex-serviceman) - all done by hand! It was designed
by a member of the Committee on the lines of a Saxon Cross which had been taken
from Gainford Church to be placed in the library of Durham Cathedral. Cost
£129.15.6. (The Memorial is included in the Imperial War Museum "National
Inventory of War Memorials".
Note of Interest
Isaac Charge, the founder of Charge Bros., and father of Percival, sculpted the cross on the green. It
celebrates Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1897. The base is probably the old market cross which stood in the
middle of the green. It was moved by Vicar Cranke (1798-1816) to a spot near the Church gates, prior to being
moved to its present location.
PARISH NEW JANUARY 1998
We are indebted to Mike Stow for providing us with the following article which illustrates one of the many
changes which has taken place in Gainford over the years.
Gainford - in past times.
MOST people in Gainford think that there have only been three pubs in Gainford, but back in the 1850's
and before the building of the Queen's Head there existed on the Green, the Bay Horse Inn.
The exact site of this old pub was where the theatre and the flats are today, In fact, the pub was knocked
down to make way for the big improvement and extension to the Gainford Academy, run by the
Congregationalist Bowman family.
This pub was knocked down in the 1850's and I think it may have been owned by the Tennick family, but
without doubt, shortly after it's demise, the Tennick family opened up the Queen's Head on the old Back Lane,
now the Main Road in Gainford.
*South Terrace, Gainford and the old garden of the Bay Horse Inn
KEY: A- Arch House; B- The Bay Horse; C- Coulton House; E- the Eden Family Farm-house;
P- Post Office; Y- The Alleyway:
This old sketch, which unfortunately has no date, came from Miss Edleston's collection and could date
back as far as 1800, or before that even.
*South Terrace was the old name for what is now known as High Green.
The area which is hardest to decipher is the part marked 'X', and I am always willing to listen to any
interpretation from more knowledgeable villagers.
and the present
High Green, Gainford
PARISH NEWS FEBRUARY 1998
Gainford - past and present
by M. Stow.
1920's
1
2
3
4
5
6
7.8.9
10
11
12
Butchers shop - Wrights, and then Charlie Clements and Norman Colling.
J.J. Thornton, boot and shoe maker.
Stackhouse's Garage - Pratt's Petroleum sign on the wall.
Allen Chapman's house.
Single story blacksmith's shop owned by Alan Chapman.
Alan Chapman's cottage, now Forman's house - Kelso House.
The old Poor-house which ceased in 1837 and could hold 20 people and was taken over by Barnard
Castle Poor-house which housed all paupers in the district. This building was split into three dwellings
nicknamed Gas Alley.
Abbey House.
Extension to Abbey House formerly I believe a dwelling on its own.
The Gasometer which used to rise and fall on its gantry. Originally constructed in 1866 and jointly
owned by the vicar Dr. Edleston and the Congregationalist minister and owner of Gainford Academy,
Mr. Bowman. The works closed in 1950. Prior to 1860 this was the old malt kiln site.
1998
1
2
3
4
5
6
Barnhouse
Mr. J. Aungier's house
Mr. J. Aungier's house. The large door leads to Catchpenny Field.
Mr. M. Absolem's house.
Parking space next to Mr. M. Absolem's house.
Kelso House built in 1929 (the Forman's house ) which used to be a single storey house, the home of the
village blacksmith.
7.8.9 The old Poor-house now demolished to allow the entrance to Water's End which incidentally was the
Poor-house garden.
10
Abbey House.
11
Extension of Abbey House.
12
Garages.
Mike Stow describes the easy way to cross the river at Gainford. Unfortunately this service is no longer
available. But who knows.......................one day !
Who Paid The Ferryman ?
Watergate is the small lane leading down off the Green between the New Vicarage and the first of
the new houses on the Green belonging to Mr. D. Allan. This lane led to the Gainford Ferry for many
years run by the Davison family, while the last ferryman was the late Mr. Bob Cobb. The ferry just
survived the second world war to around 1950 and the last ferryboat is said to be buried under the
sandy bank on the far side of the river.
When the artist painted the
picture opposite there were
three dwellings in Watergate
itself, which is now part of
Mr. Allan's garden. As you
can see from the painting
there was a staging area for
roping up the ferryboat while
a wheeled staging was to be
found on the south side of the
river. The cost of the ferry
was 1p and 1/2p for the return.
You called the ferry-man by
ringing a bell placed on the
wall near to the landing. Mr.
Davison, who also ran a shop
on the south side of the Green,
where Mr. T. Coulthard lives
today was easily able to hear
the bell from his shop and
would come and row you
across the river in his boat
named Annie after his wife.
The occupants would then
travel up Boat Lane to the
farms or to Eppleby district
only about three miles away.
Many people from Gainford
A Painting of Watergate and Davison's Ferry by W. Sachse.
would take the ferry and go
for a picnic on the scenic banks on the south side of the river. The walks and views on this side of the river
are delightful and I believe should be opened up and utilized once more as they were prior to 1950 for there
are some wonderful walks which have been neglected for fifty years. (perhaps stepping stones could open up
this unexplored paradise as part of a millennium project.)
The houses in this picture have red pantiles and could with hindsight have been developed into an historic
mews in keeping with the older cottages on the Green. However, when decisions had to be made in the
1960's this whole area was semi-derelict or worse. They had been owned and rented out mainly by three
families namely the Adamsons and Gaddas families together with the Edlestons but there were at least
twelve houses on this site. These were replaced by only four dwellings. This area was known as the Coulton
or Curtain. Many older villagers were only too pleased to start off their early married life in these cottages
which in this painting look idyllic. Among those villagers were Mr. Gillan who had a cobblers business,
Mrs. McCrickard, Mrs. Hobson, Mrs. Youds, Miss Allison and many others.
The River Tees has changed, and has continually changed over the years. It is easy to see why they call
the main swimming area under Boat Scar the "High Boat Pool" for a private ferry ploughed across the river
here from the sandy beach to a large rock with a metal hoop on it on the south side of the river. This private
ferry belonged to the people who owned Barforth Hall. On the south side there were steps leading to the old
Boat-house and a path also leading to the boat-house. Both can still be spotted from the Gainford side of the
river. However, there was a "Low Boat Pool" which was the village ferry crossing in the painting and just
upstream from this is a free piece of fishing called Church Streams whose boundaries are Watergate and the
St. Mary's Well stream. This ferry crossing was another deep pool but on a smaller scale to the High Boat
Pool..
PARISH NEWS MAY 1998
The Gainford Ferries
Mike Stow's recent article about the ferries of Gainford has certainly created interest. Tim Ollier was
contacted the other day by Mrs. Dorothy Robinson, who told him that the people who owned Barforth Hall
at the time and referred to in the article were called Herbert.
Mrs. Robinson lived in Gainford in the 1920's. Her father, Albert Edmond Crookes, had a shop at the
bottom of Chapel Terrace. He was also instrumental in starting the garden party in Miss Edleston's garden
which was such a feature of Gainford life 50 or so years ago.
PARISH NEWS JUNE 1998
Gainford Ferry
Now to the on-going saga of the Gainford ferries - may I be permitted to add my little piece of information.
Before the Herberts (mentioned in last month's magazine), my grandfather farmed at Barforth Hall, and
my mother was born there. I think he left in 1907. It was probably at that time that my great uncle, Charlie
Clement, lived at the boat house, and had the boat which crossed the river at High Boat Pool. The Boat
House was situated on the Yorkshire side, among the trees, above the boat pool - but it has since been
demolished.
I don't think my grandfather used the boat to cross the river. Apparently he always came across to
Gainford on his pony by Barforth Wath.
Avis M. Tucker
PARISH NEWS DECEMBER 1999
As the millennium ends, Isobel Richardson asked a number of people in Gainford for their memories of
our village in the 20th century.
Over Our Shoulder........
Mrs. Nancy Deas has lived on High Green for nearly 50
years and her book on Gainford's history has a wide
reputation. "There have been more changes in the past 50
years than in any previous half-century" she writes. "The
population has grown enormously, with a huge increase in
building. The council estate was finished in the early 50's,
then came the Balmer Hill development, Academy Gardens
and Waters End. "Back Lane", once so quiet, has become a
very busy "Main Road". Most of Gainford's commuters
travel by car today, but the bus fare to Darlington was just
11d. then. The railway which has been running since 1856 was still working but closed on November 28th
1964."
For Mrs. Avis Tucker, Gainford, "Queen of Northern
Villages" still lives up to its name. "I was born here, as was
my father and mother. I went to school here and then
travelled by train to Bishop Auckland Girls' County School. I
married straight after the war, lived abroad for ten years and
then returned to live here - there must be some magic
somewhere!"
"Gainford was a wonderful place to grow up in - the
riverside was a great attraction - playing in the sandpit,
paddling, catching tiddlers in a jam jar, or just throwing
stones in the water. Sunday afternoon walks with the family
(no games allowed on a Sunday). Perhaps we went to the Spa
and brought home a can of water, or we went over the
railway bridge (no trains on Sunday) into Yorkshire and up
to the ruins, or along the riverbank until opposite Watergate, where we shouted "Boat" - and the boatman came
running down the lane to bring you back across the river - all for the price of tuppence!"
But the river had its own moods, and Nancy Deas recalls the night before Cow Green reservoir was built,
when there was a great flood, and a crowd of villagers came out at midnight to see the river lashing up the
cemetery gates.
Highlight of the year was the village fete, held on a Saturday
in Miss Edleston's garden. Avis Tucker continues: "All the
village joined in and proceeds were shared by the various
organisations. The fete always followed the same pattern Maypole dancing by the school children. The maypole was
erected in the school yard in the summer term, and the children
practised hard to perfect the various patterns they wove on the
pole. The day before the fete, the pole was re-erected in the
garden ready for a final rehearsal. There was also a pageant, usually written by Norman Calvert, and performed
on the main lawn - a natural stage with a high beech hedge at the back, with two natural stone entrances. A
stone summerhouse was used as a dressing room. Performances of both dancing and pageant were repeated in
the evening. Teas were served by the Women's Institute, and there were stalls, side-shows, a band, ice-cream,
Punch and Judy, coconut shies etc. After the evening performances there would be a fancy dress parade
followed by dancing on the lawn."
"In later years the Maypole/dancing gave way to country dancing by the children, but the format remained
the same. The fete was so popular in later years that a mini-version was held on the Monday evening following
the main Fete day. If wet, as much as possible was held in the Montalbo Rooms (village hall). Also in later
years, the dance was held there. I think the last fete was in 1939, when the pageant was "The tale of the Royal
Vest" and the Women's Institute Country Dancers were in the production."
Mrs. Enid Burdon came to Gainford in 1933 when her father, Mr. Fred Peart, was appointed Station Master.
She writes "It was wonderfully exciting to live at the station with all the lovely old steam trains going up and
(continued on next page)
(continued from previous page)
down the line. Gainford was a small village then, with four churches, three public houses, seven shops
including grocers, butchers, general stores, a fruiterer and fish and chips. I attended Gainford School, little
realising I would spend many happy hours there later in life, working with four Headmasters, Mr. Hull, Mr.
Cree, Mr. Peart and Mr. Heeley."
In wartime, the station was very busy with many troop trains going to various camps in Teesdale. As Avis
Tucker recalls "Gainford was invaded by a few hundred troops, most of them new recruits. They were billeted
in empty houses and stables and in the Montalbo Rooms. They soon became absorbed into the village and
seeing soldiers on parade was part of everyday life. Most were invited in the evening to a village home for a
bath and some supper and a sit by the fire. The war ended, and Gainford returned to normal having come
through its "war service" unscathed."
Enid Burdon writes that her father had a
thriving coal business with Mr. Davison. One
of the porters was Mr. Glendenning, and
descendants of both men still live in the
village. She continues "I must also mention
Spot, the terrier belonging to Mr. Foreman,
the caretaker of the Montalbo Rooms. Spot
used to come up to the station every day to
greet the first train through, and spent all day
at the station, accompanying the porters
when they went to tend the lamps on the
signals. He often went through to Barnard
Castle riding in the Guard's van, had a walk round there and came back on the next train. He was so wellknown that people used to send him picture postcards when they went on holiday. He went home every night
about 5.30 p.m. and lived to a venerable old age, although latterly he could not manage the trip to the station!"
Dr. Beeching axed the line with many others, depriving us of a lovely scenic route over the summit to the
west, but Mrs. Burdon recalls it as it was - with crossing gates, offices, porters' cabin, the old gas lamps and
beautiful prize-winning gardens.
Mrs. Joyce Line's parents were Robert Allan, Postmaster, and his wife Agnes. They followed Agnes' mother,
Mrs. Hughes, and in turn were succeeded by Joyce's sister, Kitty, who make a third generation of Postmasters
in Gainford.
"My first memories are of the Post Office, where I was born. The telephone exchange was situated there,
and I was taught to operate it at a very early age. Calls were few and far between as there were only about 30
subscribers, and not all those in Gainford. Telegrams came by telegraph (Morse code) and both my parents
were telegraphists. Messages were delivered by a boy whose bicycle was provided by the Post Office - he
worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and was paid ten shillings (50p) per week. He had to maintain
his bike and the carbide lamp - most important for delivering messages after dark, sometimes as far away as
Bolam, Ingleton or Winston, no matter what the weather." Joyce recalls that on Saturdays she and Avis Charge
(now Tucker) often cycled to Ingleton with a telegram for which they were paid 6d.
"The mail arrived by van daily from Darlington every day at 6 a.m. except Sundays. Two postmen started at
6 a.m. sorting the mail for their own rounds. They too had bicycles, provided with carrying racks on the front,
and with oilskin capes for wet weather."
"The Labour Exchange was also housed at the Post Office, and long queues of men from near and far-off
villages queued for their Benefit (dole). The queues sometimes extended way past Rickinsons Grocers (later
the Co-op). Benefit was about 18 shillings (90p) per week. It was unfortunate for anybody if my father found
out they had been doing a little job on the side because in that case he could not pay the benefit. Young as I
was", recalls Joyce, "I remember feeling terribly sorry for those men; life was very, very hard then."
"Another memory is that of meeting three or more of Harrisons bulls being taken for a walk up Spa road to
Grant Bank, where they were loaded on a train at the siding there. They were being exported, and even in
Australia, where I went with my brother Dick, we met farmers who knew of Harrisons bulls!"
"Everybody knew everybody in Gainford then. Food was simple, buying cake or bread unknown! Milk was
delivered by pony and trap and served from the churn - literally, from cow to consumer! Coal was delivered by
"Baggy" Davison, and law and order kept by Constable "Bobby" Lane. The worst crime was boys scrumping
apples, but heaven help them if they were caught."
"Children walked to school from far and wide, even from over the river, and winters were very hard. There
was no electricity: we had lamps and or gas made by Joe Lee. The gasometer on the green used to rise and fall
according to supply and demand, and the smell left a lot to be desired. There were only four street gas lamps,
and although electricity arrived in the 30's it was after the war that we got the street lighting we know today."
Simple memories - recalled by just four villagers here, but enough perhaps to stir the memories of us all.
Interesting to record, because life is changing so fast, and who knows what our village will be able to record in
2099, let alone 2999!
This article is illustrated by our new contributor, well-known local artist Newman Smith. We are
immensely grateful that Parish News will be able to use the great talents of this much-admired and
sought-after artist from time to time. The article, printed here by kind permission of Richard Collier and
the Richmond Civic Society, was sent to us by John McBain.
Old Richmond
ANYONE coming across the words "Old Richmond" on a map of North Yorkshire could be forgiven for
being puzzled. It lies overlooking Gainford across the River Tees, now a good mile outside Richmondshire's
northern boundary, whereas once it lay within. It is not difficult to pick out two of the prominent features of
"Old Richmond" from the main road at the west end of Gainford, the ruined Chapel of St. Laurence, and the
nearby tower-shaped dove-cote. Two further remnants, the old manor house and the bridge are out of sight
from this point.
For a closer view the
adventurous enquirer should
approach by the public
footpath. At High Close,
between Eppleby and Winston
a no through road sign
indicates a long straight
ancient lane. This is Boat
Lane and goes to one of two
fords or waths across the
Tees, Barforth Wath. Whilst
the Romans crossed in
comfort at Piercebridge, the
Brigantes of Stanwick would
surely come this way. Take
the opportunity to park in the
last farm entrance on the right, and then skirt the top of a large field to the left. The effort needed to negotiate a
chained gate at the far side is well worthwhile. Suddenly you emerge onto the top of a steep escarpment with
excellent views over the valley to the north. The chapel is soon approached at its eastern end, where its three
lancet windows are still a feature. A plan of 1907 notes a small amount of Norman work before the large
additions of the 13th century (c.1220). A priest's residence is evident to the west of a central wall in which is a
hagioscope to view the altar: further work in the 16th century added an upper storey and fireplaces. By the
Reformation it may have been a priest's college, attached to the church at Gilling.
Below the chapel's west end, and cutting deep into the hillside is Chapel Ghyll Beck, crossed here by a rare
and ancient stone bridge, said to show work of the 14th century. It has a single pointed arch with four
chamfered ribs on its soffit, with a row of protruding corbel stones above. It was once much narrower.
A wide track turns abruptly and steeply down the hill to the manor house. Dr. Whitaker described the hall
as being a quadrangular building of the 15th century, and one of the enviable residences of the Pudsey family.
That was before "improvements" noted by the Doctor.
What sort of community did the chapel on the hill serve, and where is it now? Stretching upwards from
below the chapel and over the brow of the hill is the lost village of Barforth, the plan of its main street and
dwellings visible in the grass. These remains prompted the name of "old Richmond" in the 18th century, a time
when the romantic was more important than the factual to the amateur antiquarian. Much of the history of hall
and village is well documented in original manuscripts, from the times of Danish rule and Norman times when
its 3 carucates of land was in the manor of Gilling. The manor was then held of Richmond Castle. It may be of
interest to find that the fosse and vallum of Scots Dyke is said to cross the river at this very point.
The reasons for deserting a once thriving village are well known. True there was a shift in many places
from arable to pasture early in the 17th century, but the cause here was just as likely to be a series of visitations
by the plague over many years. For example, in 1636 nearby Winston was affected. In 1644 and 1645 an
outbreak of illness "made great havoc" in Barnard Castle. Again 1663 and 1665 were bad years, so it is hardly
surprising that by the time of the Restoration this awkwardly placed little village was no longer viable.
Both Chapel and Dove-cote are on the At Risk Register, the second list of which was recently published by
English Heritage.
Richard Collier
Books consulted:
1. Gainford in Teesdale by Janet McCrickard (1986).
2. Victoria History of the Counties of England - County of York.
3. The antiquities of Gainford by Walbran (1846).
The restoration of Gainford Spa is the aim of Gainford and Langton Parish Council, to mark the first
year of the third millennium and the 1200th anniversary of the first written reference to this village in
history.
Spa Restoration
THE Spa is in poor
condition having been
vandalised in 1999 and
financial help is being
sought because of the
limited parish precept.
Councillors Wendy
Withers, Newman Smith,
Mark Charge and Jack
Diamond head the appeal
committee and Jack
Diamond has produced
an interesting document
tracing the Spa's
influence in making
Gainford the village we
know today.
In the nineteenth
century prospectors came
to Gainford, determined
to find coal to extend the
Before; Early photo Gainford Spa circa 1900
huge mining areas in the
northern part of the county. When they made a test bore hole on the river bank, a huge surge of stinking,
sulphurous water shot in the air. Thus the village turned its head from thoughts of coal-mining riches to a
new prosperity based on the health and tourist trades. Gainford Spa was never to become the popular health
resort like its famous sister, Harrogate, but the village did prosper and much of the development of those
years marked the village with its own very distinctive stamp.
The railway arrived in 1856, which helped the budding tourist industry. This was catered for with the
building of boarding houses, such as those on South View, and the Spa Boarding House and Temperance
Restaurant, containing 20 bedrooms and a great many public rooms. Here, if staying in the Spring, ladies
paid from 23s. 6d. to 27s. 6d. per week for board and lodging, while gentlemen were charged 27s. 6d. - 31s.
6d.! Children were charged 8 to 15
shillings, according to age! Today we
know this Boarding House as the
Gainford Academy Theatre.
The Spa, a listed structure, has been
in existence for some 150 years. Local
historian Mike Stow, of Balmer Hill,
prepared historical notes for the appeals
committee, and other material used
include some from "Gainford in
Teesdale" a book by another local
historian, Janet McCrickard, and from
"The History of Durham" by Mackenzie
and Ross (1834).
Gainford Spa water is still pure and
fresh. It has a great reputation for making
a good cup of tea, and locals still can be
seen taking away water in cans and
bottles for this purpose - boiling takes
After; Gainford Spa in 2000 -Damaged by vandals
away the strong sulphur smell!
We hope that the Parish Council's efforts to obtain grants from the Heritage Fund and other sources will
be successful, and also their current negotiation with Raby Estates to lease the immediate Spa area.
Mike Stow, of Balmer Hill, recalls more of the history of Gainford
Fish Alley
WHERE is Fish Alley in Gainford? It was one of two alleys leading from the Green to the river. One was
called Gashouse Alley, which very properly was near the old gas works and today marks the entrance to
Water's End.
Fish Alley was the gap from the Green to the river
which runs today at the side of the first new 1960's
house, and its name came from the fish and chip shop
which faced the green. The shop was run by the
Adamsons, Greenwoods and Millers, and the area was
a very old part of the village, and its proper name is
the Coulton, derived from the curtain which means a
plain wall of a fortified place, perhaps connecting two
towers.
When he moved to Gainford in 1950, Mike recalls
that much of that area was owned by a man called
Tommy Gaddas, but the prior owner was the Adamson
family and people renting properties there were
relatively poor, or just starting married life.
Gainford's Fish & Chip Restaurant Circa1960
The photograph is from the early 60's taken by
Bill Hannah, of Darlington, who had relatives in the house next to the fish and chip shop. Their names were
Wilson, and his great grandfather was a village character nicknamed Titty Betty Wilson. His real name was
Thomas Wilson, a journeyman saddler, and older residents may remember him walking to work in
Darlington. He would set off at 4.30 am, arriving at work at 6.30 am at Mr. Wright, whose saddler's shop was
in Tubwell Row.
Had Fish Alley and its nearby houses existed today, then the planners would never allow them to be
knocked down. No doubt they would have been turned into a quaint mews of some description, but now they
are lost to the village and live only in a few memories.
M.S.
PARISH NEWS APRIL 2001
Mike Stow again reaches into his history books to tell us more about Gainford:
Coronation Cafe
I love a bit of enterprise and this photograph of a cafe taken in the 1930's epitomises business adventure.
It is a photograph of
No. 1, Chapel Terrace,
Gainford, then known as
Coronation Cafe run by
Mrs. M.F. Wood. This
lady was the mother of
the late Gwenny
Robinson (nee Wood)
and mother in law of
Lenny Robinson, now of
10 Station Court who
this year enjoyed his
ninetieth birthday.
No. 1 Chapel Terrace
was built at the turn of
the century, quite soon
after the initial row of
houses which were built
Coronation Café, Gainford
to house the
schoolmasters of Bowmans Academy in the mid 1800's. The photograph is quite interesting with its delivery
van from the Savoy Bakery, a Darlington Quaker bakery in Commercial Street, delivering bread and cakes to
the cafe. A young man is striding by in his plus fours, while a father and son are crossing the road at Institute
Corner. It is said that this was Kendall Charge and his father?
There are certain changes to be noticed when you compare this photograph with today's scene. Firstly, the
upstairs bay window facing the main road has disappeared. It was notorious for it was regularly damaged by
passing lorries until it was eventually removed in the 1980's. Secondly, the road has been widened and the
wall on the left hand side of the road knocked down and re-built a few yards back into the garden of Gainford
House. Lastly, of course, the old Institute which was built in 1852 had to be demolished in order to widen the
road in May 1974.
The last owner of the house as a business selling bread, confectionery, sweets, ice-cream, groceries,
tobacco and papers was Florie Tailford. As a child coming into the village in 1950 I remember it was a
lovely shop to spend your pocket money. Florie Tailford died aged 79 in 1976, and it continued for a short
time afterwards being run by Florie's sister Sally Thurlbeck, who died aged 82 in 1978, when other relatives
took over for a short time. Since then it has always been a house with a smashing history.
M.S.
Gainford's Ties with Dressers
AN article in Northern Echo based on memories of the history and final closure of Dressers Stores on
High Row, Darlington, reminded me that there was a very significant Gainford connection.
William Dresser, founder of the store, began his business in High Row, Darlington, in 1858, when he was
only 22. But William Dresser had served his apprenticeship with a Quaker printer called Harrison Penney for
six years prior to that. Even more interesting, William Dresser spent his school years at Gainford Academy,
leaving when he was 16 years old.
Harrison Penney's shop in Darlington was across from High Row on the top corner of Priestgate (a
mobile phone shop is there today). Penney had been brought to Darlington as a young enthusiastic Quaker in
1849. The Pease family had brought this like-minded young Quaker and Liberal who they could trust to run a
printing business which also sold books and had been founded in 1809. Harrison Penny also lived in
Gainford and had no doubt known William Dresser as a schoolboy. In 1881 Harrison Penney lived in
Mansion House, High Row, Gainford. Even today in the early months of 2001, when the Dressers shops have
just closed, Mansion House, Gainford, is still owned by the Pease family, part of the famous Quaker dynasty.
Mike Stow
With the news that Gainford Garage may be sold, demolished and a new medical centre built in its
place, Mike Stow sent us this interesting short history.
Gainford Garages in The Past 50 Years
THE garage site was originally a stockyard owned before 1930 by John and Robert Harrison, who sold
the site to Mr. J.W.S. Forrest and Mr. C. Gibson, partners in the Gainford Engineering Company. Prior to the
building you see today, they had a garage and repair shop in a building rented by the Harrison family where
they made do and mended for three years, while planning and then
building their model garage.
Their aim was to build a garage and repair centre based on serving
the farming community of this district, and also to service the
increasing number of vehicles owned by the general public. It is
interesting to note that the garage would be 60 feet by 33 feet and
would be equipped to tackle all tasks from a puncture to a complete
overhaul and de-carbonisation. You have to remember that this was
fifty years ago when the number of cars belonging to people in
Gainford would probably be less than fifty! Charlie Gibson and his
partner were forward-thinking people for they were preparing for the
vast increase in the ownership of vehicles. They employed a local
builder and joiner, Mr. Harold Hodgson from Eden Crest, who
supervised the building of the garage which was stone-fronted to
blend in with the village.
The big day arrived with the Hon. John Vane opening the premises
in 1952 before a gathering of around 200 people despite the great
opposition of sections of the local community who feared vandalism
of the pumps and the spoiling of the entrance to our village. Mr. John
Hodgson of Hollin Hall Farm, Gainford, had the first petrol from the
pump, and the enterprise and initiative turned into a real success for
the owners and a great bonus for the village. Charlie Gibson,
who died in 1971, sold the premises to Mr. Brian Hare, whose
Bill from G. Young Petrol Stores, 1937
father owned the garage at High Coniscliffe, and he in turn sold
to Mr. A. J. Stevens, both owners having the business for only a couple of years.
The present owner, Mr. David Nesbitt, has run Gainford Garage since 1972 and it will be a great shame
and loss to the community to see its demise.
But this was not the first garage in our village, which was opened in 1949 and even in its heyday you
could still go to the Queen's Head for your petrol. In the 1920's you could buy Pratts Petroleum in cans from
a garage of sorts on the village green, where Jack Augier lives today. This garage was run first by Edward
Stackhouse, who also ran a bus service to Darlington around 1920, and then by Percy Hulme with a similar
service in the 1920's. In the 1930's the garage was on the site of the Cross Keys car park and run by G.
Young serving Power Petrol. This garage and Teesdale House (now the Spar shop) was taken over by
Tommy Gaddas, his son running the business until his death in 1950. It then stood derelict for a long time
and was eventually bought by Vaux who turned it into the site we have today.
M.S.
When Bobbies Lived On The Bank
THIS fine photograph shows why Bobby's Bank
obtained its name. It was all due to the fact that the
Police House was on the bank running to the west
side of Gainford Hall. Taken in 1918, the photograph
clearly shows the police sign above the front door
and the "Wanted" noticeboard on the stone wall to
the right of the house. There appears to be a lean-to
shed, and a garage is in its place today.
As you pass the Police House you come to the
old stable, hidden from view, now modernised and
converted, and following on down the road on the
right are the old almshouses which was home to two
old male or two old female pensioners in two selfcontained cottages. Next comes the entrance to
Bobby's Bank, Gainford – 1918
Gainford School and the pinfold garage where
people tell me the village church bier or coffin carrier was once kept. This is the same bier from which
Tommy Hunter sold his vegetable in the 1980s and 90s. He was a loveable old character from the past; he
died in 1999.
Adjacent to this garage, which is still owned by the Parish Council (as were the almshouses, which were
sold for around £l000) was the pinfold or pound, where stray animals were kept until claimed. The pinfold
was a stonewalled compound which jutted out into the road and over part of the School house garden. The
man who looked after the pound was called a pinder (this later became a surname). This pinfold was
demolished by the then Barnard Castle Rural District Council in the 1930s without the permission of our
local parish council.
Mike Stow
Back To 1895
THIS superb photograph, taken in 1895, shows
Gainford Ferry at Watergate around the Low Boat
Pool. The boat was called Annie after Harry
Davison's wife - Harry was, of course, the ferryman.
On the Yorkshire side of the river there was a
platform with wheels which could be used as a
staging to off-load passengers safely on to dry land.
A bell was used to call the ferryman and the charge
was 1d to cross, and a 1/2d for the return trip.
The photograph shows also the gasworks which
opened in 1864/5 and eventually closed in 1950.
Generally it was regarded as a second-class business
venture, and it hampered the introduction of mains
gas in Gainford until the 1990s.
Mike Stow
The Gainford Ferry at Watergate – 1895
PARISH NEWS OCTOBER 2002
The Queen’s Head through the Ages
The year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee marks the closure of Gainford’s popular public house,
The Queen’s Head, the third of three hostelries in Gainford to be built.
JOSEPH Tennick had
purchased a parcel of arable
land, in the township of
Gainford, from a Mr John
Clark Wetherall, on which
to build the Tennick
family’s Queen’s Head
Hotel. In l850 he then paid
£70 for a passage leading
from the village green to the
Back Lane (now known as
Main Road). This gave
villagers on the south side
access to the new hotel and
public house, and it has
since provided a short-cut to
the village post office and
the Green. In l85l Joseph
Tennick added stables. a
coach-house, a warehouse, a
brew-house (even though
there was already malt-house
Queen's Head 2002
in North Lane) and other
buildings onto the Queen's Head site. Joseph Tennick ran the pub for a total of 15 years – until March 1865,
when he died. Joseph and Elizabeth Tennick had had two children–Mary Tennick and John Joseph Tennick.
Both helped in the pub, along with a Mrs Jane Glasper, who had a job assisting with the washing of glasses.
John Joseph Tennick took over the family business as licensee in l876 and while he did not sell the pub, Mr
James Tennick (a relation to
the Tennick family,
somewhere along the line)
took over the running of it in
1879. A Mr John Shotton
had the Queen’s Head in
1890, and in 1894, Mr
George Frost ran the
business.
From 1902 onwards, Mr
Thomas Bell had the pub.
On Mondays and Saturdays
Bell's Brake ran to allow
villagers without their own
horse and cart to make a
weekly trip to Barnard
Castle or Darlington. At that
time, pubs used to open all
day. Workers would call
Queen's Head in 1920's
into the Queen's Head for a
quick drink before the morning shift began – and some would remain there all day!
In 1906, Joseph Ernest Tennick, one of six children of John Joseph and Elizabeth Tennick, became landlord
of the Queen’s Head, and in 1913, his elder brother, Percy Tennick, took over. But managing the hotel and
public house did not appeal to Percy so he sold his share to Mary Calvert, wife of George Calvert of Laurel
Cottage, Gainford. In 1914, Mr W Rutherford ran the Queen’s Head Hotel. but 1916 saw Joseph Ernest
Tennick sell his share to Mr. Hartley French. Four years after this purchase of a 1/6 share, he sold it to Mrs.
Isobel Mary Tennick of Yarm. Whether she was a relation of the original Tennick family, we do not know.
In the following year, the remaining shareholders, Florence Mary Cook, Ethel Holmes Tennick, Mary
Calvert, Isobel Mary Tennick and Elsie Tennick, all agreed to sell the pub to Mr. Thomas Wood, the money
being supplied by William Goldsborough, of the Turk's Head, Darlington, who bought the Queen’s Head for
the benefit of his daughter, Mrs Lillian Farminer and her husband, Mr Edward Farminer. In both 1934 and
1938, William Goldsborough was the listed licensee of the Queen’s Head, and his daughter, Elsie Naismith,
and her husband, Leslie Naismith, bought the hotel from her mother in November l943 for £1250, with an area
of 11,260 square yards. Additional houses had been built on both sides of the road and the barn-like structures
to the left of the pub gave way to garages, while the small lean-to out-house between the pub and Ivy Cottage
(now the fish and chip shop) was removed to provide easier access to the car park behind. In l949 a new petrol
pump was sited at the front of the building.
On June 1, 1966, the Queen’s Head estate expanded even further. James and Margaret Golightly sold Ivy
Cottage to Leslie Naismith for £10,000, including dwelling house, garden and coal-house. But after Leslie
Naismith's death in l976, Elsie sold Ivy Cottage to Clive and Ruth Hall, of l5 Academy Gardens and it was then
that Ivy Cottage was transformed into the fish and chip shop. Elsie died at Stoneleigh in l984. The Queen’s
Head Hotel then remained empty for a number of months and was then taken over by John Wain who moved
out when he bought the George Hotel in Piercebridge.
Merle and Jim Batty then bought the Queen's Head, which brings us up to date. Merle and Jim had been
running a boarding house in Whitby before they came here in l987. At that time Leah Batty was eight years
old, and Ross was only three months.
Under Merle and Jim's
ownership, the Queen's
Head has been a centrepoint of village life. Noted
for its excellent food, the
village pub has catered for
weddings and funerals, and
for village events. The
Queen's Head has not only
provided Merle and Jim
with many happy times, but
has also been a successful
business, thriving on its
popular folk nights and
quizzes. Over the years,
customers have been greeted
by the familiar, friendly
faces of its long-serving
members of staff. Carol
Bainbridge started working
Merle, Jim and staff
in the pub only a couple of
months before Merle became landlady. Carol, along with her husband Wilf, who passed away one and half
years ago and has been a great loss to the village, served customers and managed the bar for many years. Paul
Hutchinson, chef at the Queen's Head, has been working in the kitchen since he left school at l6, after starting
as dish-washer.
After l5 enjoyable years Merle and Jim have decided to call it a day. When asked about her future, Merle
answered: “it's all a bit uncertain at the moment as the future of the Queen's Head has yet to be finalised. I've
not been in the best of health lately, and we feel we need more time to ourselves”.
We all wish Merle, Jim and their family, and all at the Queen's Head, the very best for the future.
Anna Wignall, of North Rise, Gainford, volunteered to write for Parish News during her summer holiday,
after successfully taking her AS examinations at Barnard Castle School.
She has written this article and we are delighted to have her assistance, in between her work experience
with the Teesdale Mercury, and we much appreciate the work she has done for us.
A Look Back In History
IN "A Brief History of Gainford" by N. Deas reference is made to Miss Alice Raine who lived in the
White House on High Row (later occupied by the Dowager Lady Barnard and now home of Mrs. Eirinice
Gore-Booth). On March 25, 1845, Miss Raine is reported to have written to a Surrey friend exalting over the
forwardness of the Spring in the north:
"My garden is a blaze of beauty....aconites, snowdrops, crocuses, dog tooth violets, dafidils (sic),
primroses, hepaticas, anenomes, heaths, hose-in-hose etc. etc."
We understand that Alice Raine was a relation of Mr. Surtees Raine, who lived in School Lane, opposite
the school gates. Mrs. Calvert who lived in Gainford from 1885-1919 told the late Miss Eddelston that her
uncle, Mr. Clark of Barforth Hall, remembered Miss Raine going to church in a sedan!
The author of "A Brief History of Gainford", Mrs. Nancy Deas, lives at 10 High Green, and when
alterations were made to her home in 1956, plaster was removed from the walls and an inscription 16 HE 96
was uncovered. A beautiful doorway was revealed but is too low for many men of our day to enter without
stooping - suggesting that the average height in 1696 was a good deal shorter than today!
50 Years of Gainford Development
BOXING Day 1952 was "Boxing Day" for the Evans family. We were preparing to
move from Wheatsheaf Cottage, Ingleton 2 1/2 miles down the road to a brand new house
in Eden Crest, Gainford. On Saturday morning, 27th December, the removal van was
loaded up with all goods and chattels and 3 boys. Mother walked and pushed baby Linda
in her pram. Dad rode his motor scooter and we were on our way.
The new house, No. 33, was a new adventure to a 5 year old boy. Warm and cosy
with a Rayburn range cooker; an indoor flush w.c.; hot and cold water on tap and a
bathroom. Nothing like this at Wheatsheaf Cottage - earth closet 50 yards down the
garden and the only water tap, cold, of course, on the outer wall.
But what of the wonderful place we had moved to? Lots of shops, doctor's surgery on
Cliff Evans
High Row, three pubs, "Cree's College" (Gainford school), 2 banks, fish and chips,
butchers, churches, chapel, literary institute, village green and best of all, a river. It was in the Institute that
we all went to receive a coronation mug and chocolate bar for the Queen's coronation. From the back
windows of our new house we could watch the steam trains on their way to Barnard Castle and back to
Darlington.
However, after one year, phase 3 of the Council Estate was to start and instead of fields and the railway,
we were to have a building site at the bottom of our back garden. Were any more houses needed in Gainford
- after all, we were here! Start a petition. Write to the Council. Can the Parish Council do nothing? No! The
rest of the estate was going to be built come what may. And so 50 years in Gainford began.
More new houses, more new estates, new faces, new families. Where will it all end? How much bigger is
Gainford going to get? Complain to Parish Council, to Teesdale District Council. Start a petition. Stop any
more development.
But look how much better our village has become. The new houses in Davison's Yard, after so much
opposition, now almost completed. They look fantastic. Anyone not knowing would think they had always
been there. The new development in Eden Lane saw opposition once again. How much better for the people
of Eden Crest to have more houses and families instead of a noisy dusty factory at the bottom of their
gardens, and soon Walton's site will be cleared and new rented accommodation built.
What would Gainford have been without new housing? No school? No Post Office? No shops? No
doctors? No Churches? No Pubs? No Village Hall? Where would the Evans family be? Probably on a
housing estate in Darlington. And where would all the "Stop the Developer" people be? Certainly not in
Gainford.
Preserve the old village by all means but if people want to come to Gainford to live, build them a house
and let them come. I'm certainly glad that the former Barnard Castle Urban District Council built Eden Crest
so that the Evans family could move to Gainford.
Cliff Evans
Footnote: The new houses in Davison's Yard were developed by Mr. Topham and Mr. Cook who are
currently redeveloping the Queen's Head site
Local historian Mike Stow wrote this article after much research about Church Row, the old vicarage
and St. Mary's Church as they were 226 years ago, in 1778.
As You Used To Be!
THE first thing that strikes you as you look at the drawing is that St. Mary's looks completely different
from the church that we know today. You would be right, because this was nearly one hundred years before
Dr. Edleston renovated the church in 1863.
In 1778 the tower was
not nearly as high as it is
today while the clock,
which was in Latin figures,
was on the corner of the
church making it easier for
all the villagers to see. The
roof of the church was also
very different; it was
leaded and this lead paid
for much of the renovation
work! The roof was also
heightened to the eastern
wall so today it is pretty
much the same height from
east to west.
Renovation also took
Gainford 1778
place at the vicarage by
Rev. George Macfarlan and between 1824 and 1863 the castellated section was removed, a roof added and
the windows were brought in line to make it a much more symmetrical building. If you look carefully enough
at the western quarter of the old vicarage you will see the join even though it is partially hidden by a modern
ivy growing up the wall. As for the building to the east of the of the old vicarage, it must have been at this
period that the garage building and outhouses of today were built.
What I found particularly interesting was that the row of houses I used to know as Church Row, now Low
Green, had changed out of all recognition, and so I propose to deal with each property in turn starting with
the building nearest to the church. This was The old National School. Originally the forerunner of Gainford
School, built in 1857, it was a very early building going back to the sixteenth century. This building was
pulled down sometime around 1863 but the back section of the building was still there on an early
photograph of 1895. The old National School's site was inside the new walls, it lay inside the cemetery area
of today, adjoining the first house in Church Row which is No. 30 today.
This house has been renovated but the front is very similar to this picture of 1778. However the next four
properties have changed out of all recognition. Today, they are two storey cottages, but in 1778 they were
one storey thatched cottages. The sixth property was built in 1730 with the initials MIS on the date stone.
This is a two storey cottage and today the roof line from this property (No. 36) continues to the first property
nearest to the church.
There must have been quite an amount of building in the 1730's for today's Arncliffe House (No. 37) was
built in 1737 and looks pretty well the same as the 1778 sketch except for the addition today of bay windows
either side of the front door.
Following along from Arncliffe House today you will see the Methodist Chapel built in 1834, enlarged in
1851, and its schoolroom built in 1897 along with Mr. M. Allison's building. As you can see from the 1778
sketch these properties have replaced a house at least the size of Arncliffe House together with a number of
thatched single storey properties. It is said that a cottage belonging to a family named Firbank had stood on
the site of the chapel, and this was the subject of a drawing made in 1778 by the artist S. Crimm. He worked
for Dr. Kaye, Prebendary of Durham and Dean of Lincoln, whose mother, Lady Kaye, lived for a time in
Gainford House. This drawing is included in the Kaye Collection in the British Museum. It always amazes
me when you see the changes that have been made but this 1778 sketch is a real eye opener.
Mike Stow
Mike Stow, well-known local historian, recalls memories of St. Osmund's and the priests and people who
have worshipped there.
Looking Back 150 Years at St. Osmund’s
IT only seems like yesterday when I was present at St. Osmund's Centenary in 1955 when Father James
Cunningham was the parish priest. I was one of the altar boys along with my brother Derek and various other
young lads, including Cliff Evans and Richard Harrison, who both still live in Gainford. I can still visualise the
three tier cake on its silver stand, with Miss Edleston helping to cut it.
St. Osmund's Church in Gainford was designed by Thomas
Gibson of Newcastle, who was a leading church architect. The
foundation stone was laid on 24th August, 1854, and the church
was formally opened on 26th June 1855 by Bishop William
Hogarth, the first bishop of the diocese of Hexham, who had been a
chaplain at Cliffe Hall. The church was built in the gothic style and
remained in original state with few alterations until the 1960's,
when Father Stanley got rid of the spire on top of the tabernacle
canopy (which he had likened to cricket stumps). Once removed,
the beautiful stained glass windows were exposed. Father Stanley
was also responsible for the building of the Grotto of Our Lady of
Lourdes, which was opened on May 29th, 1960, and was almost
St. Osmund’s Centenary 1955, cutting
entirely built by Gainford stonemason, Mr. Harold Hodgson,
the cake with Mrs Evans, Mrs
whose wife was a parishioner of St. Osmund's.
Berrystone, Mrs Clarke, Father James
I also remember in the centenary year Fr. James Cunningham
Cunningham and Miss Alice Edleston.
and Miss Edleston opening a small Catholic School for 5-7 year
olds called St. Colette's. This was opened in February 1955 and was run until
1968 by Sisters Agatha and Winifride. The school was in the old doctors'
surgery, then South Terrace and later High Green. This school had an
excellent reputation and many ex-pupils still live in Gainford, including Dr.
Michael Neville, Dr. Ann Waldin, John Wilkinson and until recently, Tom
Peacock and Gerald Welch. The building is still owned by the Catholic
Church.
Miss Alice Edleston, a great benefactor of the village and her mother,
Hariet Edleston, wife of the vicar of Gainford, were received into the Catholic
Church by Fr. Rodgers in 1878. This always intrigued me as a young altar
boy for I always thought about the embarrassment this must have caused
in the village. However, Miss Edleston, who was called "the queen of
Drawing of St. Osmund’s Church
Gainford" was a marvellous benefactor to both churches and to many
by Julie Caton
people in the village, fully deserving this accolade. It was Miss Edleston
who raised funds for both churches through the famous Garden Fetes at her home, which began in 1926 and
continued until 1952 when at the age of 87 she felt she was too old to continue organising the event. I can
vividly remember Miss Edleston's funeral for I was an altar boy under Father Stanley when she died in 1956,
aged 91; she was buried in St. Mary's cemetery overlooking the River Tees. This grand old lady left a lot to
both churches and left the village people the Village Hall and Theatre in the form
of a mortgage which the village inherited and paid off.
As a young boy I served on the altar for Father James Dent who laid out St.
Osmund's gardens and who died in 1951, Fr. John Jacobs who left in 1954 and
died in 1967, Fr. James Cunningham, Father Peter Stanley, Fr. Vincent Duffy, Fr.
Vincent McLean who retired in 1987 and then various stand-in priests like Fr.
Kevin Nichols, Frs. Phillip and Martin O'Brian and Father Thomas Towers. When
I visit St. Osmund's Church and enter the church gate where the cemetery begins,
I look at the graves of the priests that I served under with great affection, all
buried on the left hand sides before you enter the porch - Father Duffy was also
the chaplain at St. Peter's Boys School, Gainford, where I lived and worked for
many years - he will be remembered by the St. Peter's lads who had their portraits
drawn by him as they left the school. He also helped the lads by looking after
their swimming pool in the River Tees behind the new surgery, and he taught
many of them to swim.
St. Osmund’s Grotto
The first baptism at St. Osmund's was Mary Eleanor Dobinson, born
September 5th, 1855, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Dobinson (nee Wood).
The first marriage was conducted by Fr. Rodgers between Patrick Brydon of
Hartlepool and Alice Snailham of Gainford in 1874, and the first burial was
that of John Charles Snailham who died 5th June, 1882, aged 15 months, son
of Christopher and Margaret Snailham, of Gainford. The Snailhams, who were
market gardeners at High Garden House, now Whispering Waters, are buried
on the right as you walk towards the church porch, while my memory of the
Snailhams was of Mrs. Hardy (nee Snailham) who lived at Carpe Diem on the
Main Road until she was 99 in 1982. She was born and bred in Gainford, and
lived here all her life.
Things have changed considerably in the last 50 years. Current liturgical
requirements have moved the altar forward, the pulpit has been removed, the
font is now at the front of the church and a new heating and lighting system
has been installed, and we have become much more ecumenical with
St. Osmund’s Church Porch
parishioners being more involved. In Father Stanley's time, a great believer in
social activity, the old stables were changed into a parish hall (now the play-school), cricket matches were
played between parishioners of St. Osmund's and St. Mary's, and even today, in 2005 there is a Fr. Stanley
Cup, an annual trophy for Junior Arts and Crafts at the Gainford Horticultural Show held in September every
year.
In more recent times, 1990 saw the temporary closure of St. Osmund's for renovations and for three months,
at the kind invitation of vicar Rev. Tim Ollier and the Parochial Church Council, Sunday Mass was said in St.
Mary's probably the first time a Catholic Mass has been celebrated there for some 400 years!
Lastly, I have a brother, mother and father buried at St. Osmund's Church. My mother was not a Catholic
and I am ever thankful that the feeling of togetherness, peace and harmony prevailed, allowing my mother to be
buried next to my father in her rightful place, for she was more of a Catholic than anyone else in her family.
Mike Stow
PARISH NEWS JULY 2005
Following the recent open day of the beautiful grounds of Snow Hall, local historian, Mike Stow, here
reflects on the history of Snow Hall.
The Story Behind Snow Hall
SNOW HALL was first mentioned in 1622, the owner being
Richard Raine. The Raines continued ownership for nearly 200
years. Very near to the hall was the old baronial place of execution
- the remains of Gainford Gallows lie in a field east of the hall. The
Lord of the Manor, held at that time, the power to judge thieves
captured on the manor or within its franchise, with the ultimate
power of death. There is a field near to Snow Hall called Gallows
Field, now part of White Cross Farm run by Peter and Richard
Stephenson, but little seems to have been preserved.
No-one seems to know how or why Snow Hall received its
Snow Hall 1917
name, but it stands in a very picturesque setting on a hill above and
overlooking the River Tees halfway between Gainford and Piercebridge. It is said that a racecourse ran through
the flat land below Snow Hall before the coming of the Forcett branch line of the new railway. When the
Barnard Castle railway was introduced the local landowners did not want the line passing their country homes,
and a beautiful picture of Snow Hall was shown in Parliament as part of their argument.
In 1758 Edward Raine died. He had owned a horse called Old Drummer, which was
wounded by a bullet at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1715, and which died in 1753 at the age
of 45. A plaque recording the horse's name was nailed to a tree in Snow Hall wood. It was
last seen in the 1950's but has now disappeared. Of the old Snow Hall, only the large and
well-preserved portion on the north side remains, most of the rest being late 19th century
design.
Edward Raine's successor, nephew Timothy Wright, bequeathed the property to Dr.
Richard Sherwood, surgeon and antiquary of Staindrop. After his suicide in the River Tees in
Tudor arch
1830 the estate passed on in that family until 1865 when most of it was sold to the Duke of
and window,
Cleveland. The remainder was sold to Rev. Dr. Edleston, vicar of Gainford; his son, Rupert,
Snow Hall
was the owner in 1944.
While Snow Hall belonged to the Duke of Cleveland, it was leased to various people, including Major
Sowerby, Mr. J. A. Pease, Mr. C. A. Backhouse and Mr. C. Emmott, and during this time various additions and
alterations were carried out, mainly by R and S. Adamson, Gainford building company based at Stobb Hill.
Glasshouses were constructed in 1887, a vinery and gunroom were added in 1891, new stables in 1899 and
the installation of a Trent turbine in 1897. Cottages were built in 1901-2, and a motor workshop, potting shed
and donkey house in 1909.
By the 1950's Major H. A. Jaffray owned Snow Hall with about 80 acres of land and it was run as a dairy
farm with a small herd of Friesians. By 1983 the Jaffrays had died and a niece inherited it. She selected Tarn
Bainbridge as auctioneer for the property and it was bought in 1983 by a Mr. Hughes and later on by current
owners Mr. and Mrs. Roland Harris, who had been farmers in Oxfordshire.
They opened the gardens for the first time in 2004, and again in late May this year. Proceeds were given to
St. Mary's Church.
Old Snow Hall as illustrated from an old painting
PARISH NEWS NOVEMBER 2005
St. Colettes School, Gainford
ST. COLETTES School was established in 1955 in the two rooms of the former doctors' surgery which
overlooked Gainford Village Green. Before this date, all Catholic children in the village attended the old
Victorian Catholic School of St. Mary's in Barnard Castle. Many parents, however, felt that the tortuous
journey was too much for 4-7 year olds. At that time, Mr. Burns was the headteacher, his wife was deputy
and Miss Henessy the class teacher.
An appeal went out to the newly appointed priest Fr. James Cunningham to try to acquire premises in
Gainford where two classrooms could be set up to accommodate the 4-7 year old pupils and also to provide
teachers.
Miss Edleston, a great
benefactor to the village,
then 90 years old, came to
the rescue and kindly
offered the two rooms
overlooking the Green.
Work began in 1954 to
create two classrooms
together with some
splendid nursery rhyme
murals created by
members of St. Osmund's
congregation.
The teachers came
from St. Peters School.
Both Sister Agatha and
Sister Winifrede were
retired, but both had
Pupils and staff of St Colettes; photo taken about 1961. Included are: Michelle
excellent skills and lots of
Doocey, Ann Neville, Therese Gledenning, Paula Lavender, Margaret Sanderson,
enthusiasm.
John McCrikard, Jane Blackburn, Bernadette Hackett, Susanne Charge, John
In 1955 St. Colettes
Wilkinson, Mark Griffin, Michael Neville, Pierce Fergus, Tom Peacock, Charles
School was officially
Harrison, Gerald Welsh, Sister Agatha and Father Stanley. (a number of names
opened by Alice
are missing, can you recognise them)
Edlestone with Fr. James
Cunningham presiding. Most of the fittings were made by parishioners and the sisters worked on a voluntary
basis. So began a superb and unique infant and primary school partnership which was so well run, that many
non-Catholic parents, realising its potential, were eager to enrol their children. Numbers attending St.
Colettes quickly rose and by 1957 increased from 6 to 22. Pupils included: James Gallagher, Patrick
Heffernan, Trevor Stow, Linda Evans, Mary Gartland, Mary Jo Fergus, Francis Hamson, Nigel Walton,
Vicky Brown, Elizabeth Heffernan, Ann Clare Gallagher and Janet McCrickard along with three of the
Hackett family. These were followed by John Wilson, Michael Allison, Julie Wilson, Jane Blackburn, Tom
Peacock and many more! Parents realised that small was wonderful (still is!) and that their children were
getting a wonderful education from two dedicated but non-paid teachers.
On July 7th, 1968 Fr. Vincent Duffy announced "Although Sister Agatha retired as a teacher 14 years
ago, she has been teaching at St. Colettes ever since, without pay. She 'is' St. Colettes! Her Rev. Mother
wishes her to retire when term ends in two weeks time". He then announced that the school would close at
the end of term and all the children would now attend St. Mary's in Barnard Castle as they had done before.
Today, St. Mary's pupils are housed in a more modern school where Liz Heffernan, a former St. Colettes
pupil is headteacher.
In the late 60's the little jewel of a school which was St. Colettes was changed into the doctors' surgery
which in turn, moved to new premises in 2003.
The building is still owned by the Catholic Church and was once part of the famous Gainford Academy.
It may or may not become a tea room. It seems it may still have a community role to play in the history of
Gainford!
With thanks to Mike Stow
Memories
MIKE STOW, our local historian has kindly reproduced this detail from a map of Gainford, circa 1850.
Apparently in 1926 the Pinfold was knocked down, without consultation by Barnard Castle Rural District
Council. The Parish Council were highly annoyed and suggested that the site should be preserved for use by the
Parish.
An area of Gainford circa 1850
A copy of an old picture of the Blacksmiths Shop at the corner of School Lane and Low Road, Gainford,
drawn by W.G. Tennick
Local historian, Mike Stow, delves into the past to uncover the story of Gainford Mill.
Gainford Mill.
THE original Gainford
Mill was much nearer to
the village being sited at
Neesham's Willows which
was just upstream from the
Barforth Bailey Bridge.
However the Rev.
Craddock who had
Gainford Hall built in the
early 1600s was disturbed
by the noise and traffic it
generated and had it moved
to a new position near
Snow Hall presumably in
the 1600s. It's position is
opposite Mitchell's Island
downstream about 400
metres from the Forcett
Old picture of Gainford Mill by G.W. Tennick
Railway Viaduct. Here
there is a large pool similar to the High Boat Pool in the village followed by quite strong rapids and a fairly
steep gradient in the river. The area we used to call the flat rocks had a natural weir and a mill race was
constructed to the mill to create a perfect natural site.
The mill was built of stone
and had a few acres of land for
the use of the miller. There are
still today a number of rights of
way leading to the mill from the
A67 notably from Morley Bank
to the main path leading from
Gainford to Piercebridge. Today
there is very little left of the mill.
You can still see some old walls
and the place where the
millwheel would have been
positioned but considering the
size of the old mill very little
remains today. You can also trace
the mill race and you can readily
come across large metal rods
which were used to dam back the
water. It was still operating in
1856 when John Hardy was the
miller and from 1856 when
Richard Blair was the miller. He
was still operating Gainford Mill
in 1876 aged 53 with his wife
Elizabeth also aged 53. By 1881
Robert Pase aged 69 a widower
and agricultural worker was at
the mill with his son James Pase
A sketch map showing the location of Gainford Mill,
25, a mason.
down stream from Forcett Railway viaduct.
When George W. Tennick,
the Gainford artist, drew it in the late 1890s the mill was a substantial building made of stone with a pantiled
roof. It must have ceased being a mill about the time of the First World War or just after, as Alwent Mill seems
to have been used after this time by Gainford farmers, while the original mill seems to have been left to rot and
decline.
Mike Stow
PARISH NEWS MAY 2006
High Boat Pool
GAINFORD in the past had two boat pools. The Low Boat Pool was at the bottom of Watergate, leading
from the Green to the River Tees where Gainford ferry took people to the Yorkshire side and High Boat Pool
the deep pool where people swim in summer time.
The High Boat Pool
had a private ferry
belonging to the Earl of
Harwood who owned the
land on the Yorkshire side
and in fact owned the Boat
House which used to stand
opposite Gainford ford or
wath. This Earl owned
Barforth Hall at one period
and his boat was tied up
by ring and chain to a
huge boulder, which is still
there, at the bottom of
some steps which led
along a narrow path to the
Boat House. You can still
make out the steps
especially if snow is on the
ground
I believe the Boat
House was still there in the
An old photo of the Gainford ferry boat moored on the south bank of the river
1960's and may have lasted
(Barforth side) showing the steps that led up to the Boat House
into the 1970's. People
who either lived in the
Boat House or used it were
Cec Peacock, Charles
Clements junior in 1890,
who was also a cow
keeper and the Hunts who
lived there in the 1950's.
Eventually the Boat House
was knocked down by
order of Mrs. Graham who
owned Barforth Hall for
fear of vandalism and
collapse. This property
was north facing and quite
damp. Although stone
built it had no electricity,
water or sewage.
Mike Stow
HIGH BOAT POOL (taken from an old map)
On reading the excellent pamphlet providing information on Gainford's forthcoming Heritage
Celebrations delivered with the latest Parish News, I was reminded that some years ago I had cause to
compile information on the history and development of the Academy and Montalbo buildings.
In view of the Heritage Project and the interest in local history that this event has promoted, it may be
of interest to readers of the Parish News.
The article, by Brian Blackburn, will be published in three instalments, the first of which, this month,
covers the period from 1818 - 1900.
A History Of The Academy And Montalbo Building
1818 - 1900
1818
1825
1848
1855
1873
1883
1893
1899
Rev. William Bowman (Congregational Minister) founded
the Academy School in two houses facing The Green (later
these houses would accommodate St. Colettes School and
then the Doctor's Surgery (Dr. W. Neville).
He sold the Hotel (Pub)
He bought back the Hotel for £415.
The publican at that time was Jeremiah Whitfield.
At the same time Charles Tennick (a man of many trades)
bought the alleyway through to Back Lane.
Rev. William Bowman died, he was succeeded by his son,
also named William and also a Minister.
He disposed of the Bay Horse Hotel.
Montalbo Rooms:
William Bowman reacquired the Bay Horse building
now Gainford Village Hall
which by this time was a private dwelling and thereupon
built the present Academy building on the site.
The school was now a very successful concern. It owned cottages in Chapel Terrace and Back Lane
where masters and other staff were housed. It also had over six acres of playing fields.
Famous pupils included - Stan Laurel (real name Stanley Jefferson), Lord Joicey, J.M. Dent
(Publisher), M.P's Joseph Dodds, and Thomas McKnight. Many pupils gained scholarships to
Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities.
Barnard Castle School opened and this brought about a
decline in enrolment at the Academy School, Gainford.
William Bowman (Junior) died.
PRINCIPALS:
Son Frederick Bowman moved the declining school to two
REV. W. BOWMAN,
houses in North Terrace (No. 13 & 14) where it functioned
J. SELKIRK CHARLES, B.A., LL.B. (LOND.).
until the First World War period.
SECOND MASTER:
MB. ALFRED G.,BOWMAN (University of Glasgow),
Charles Tennick (owner of the alleyway) purchased the
WITH AN EFFICIENT STAFF OF RESIDENT MASTERS.
vacated property - advertised the present hall as
The regular School Course provides instruction in ENGLISH,
Coronation Hall (Edward VII - 1901) seating 300 people
FRENCH, and LATIN LANGUAGES and LITERATURE; in
MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY, and BOTANY (or some other
for public assemblies.
branch of NATURAL SCIENCE); and in DRAWlNG.
GERMAN may be taken instead of Latin. GREEK is taught
only to those reading for the Universities.
Brian Blackburn
Part two of the history of The Academy and Montalbo Building
from 1905-1976 will be published next month in the July magazine.
In the case of boys who are backward, special arrangements are
made for them to devote all their time to English subjects alone ( if
desired).
Pupils intended for Business or for Agricultural Pursuits have
special lessons, the former in Book-keeping, the latter in Land
Surveying and kindred subjects.
The CLASS ROOMS. are five in number, all well-ventilated and
fitted with the latest improvements.
There are Cricket and Croquet Grounds. a Fives Court, a
Reading Club, a Library, and Bath Rooms.
TERMS FOR BOARD AND TUITION:
PREPARATORY SCHOOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UPPER SCHOOL
WASHING
30 Guineas per Annum
35 “
“
40
“
“
3
“
“
The above Terms are inclusive for Board and Tuition, the only
Extra being Instrumental Music .
A PROSPECTUS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SCHOOL
GAINFORD July 1868
Copy of an old poster dated 1868
promoting The Gainford Academy School
We continue with Brian Blackburn's excellent history of the Academy and Montalbo building with
details of the opening of St. Colettes School and the Village Hall as we know it today.
1905 - 1976
1905
1920
1950
1954
1955
1958
1956
1964
1965
1966
1968
1970
Thomas Golightly rented the front part of the property
looking on to The Green, advertised it as 'Spa Boarding
House' and ran it until 1910.
During the First World War soldiers were billeted in the
boarding house.
Robert Edleston bought the property and renamed the
main hall after his Honorary title - Montalbo Rooms. The
boarding house part of the building was made into three
self-contained flats.
Drama Club given leasehold of Academy Hall and took
the first steps to refurbish and create the theatre which
exists at the present time.
Alice Edleston gave the two rooms (later to become the
Doctor's Surgery) to the Catholic Church to enable it to set
up a school for 4 - 7 year old pupils.
St. Colettes was officially opened by Alice Edleston.
The three Academy Flats at that time were occupied by the
Miss Hall's - two retired servants of Miss Edleston,
Front Cover of the advertising
Mrs. Doocey - whose son had the Grocer's shop on The
brochure for the Spa Boarding House
Green,
and a young married couple called Blackburn.
Miss Alice Edleston died leaving in her will the Montalbo Rooms, Academy Hall and Flats to the
Village.
The property carried a mortgage of about £2,000 on it.
Executors of her estate were Eric Richard Hanby Holmes, and Bertram Stephen Liddon SurteesRaine.
The mortgage was paid off by public donations within two years.
The Honorary Treasurer of this project was Fred Peart (Station-master).
It was not until 1964 that Vesting Assent (Conveyance) of
the property was drawn up.
Trustees appointed :
John Stowell Kenyon, Jack Allison, Father Peter Vincent
Stanley.
A new fund was set up (Fred Peart again Hon. Treasurer) to
raise money to finance the renovation of the property.
The Declaration of Trust was drawn up and it became a
Registered Charity.
Montalbo Village Hall and Recreational Charity. No.
520799.
On the 7th May a Public Meeting chaired by Jack Allison
was held to appoint the Committee of Management in
accordance with the Declaration of Trust.
9th May the formal opening ceremony took place. The
drawing by Newman Smith
Chairman Mr. W.B. Tucker welcomed Mr. J.S. Kenyon
who opened the premises.
Brian Blackburn
Part three of the history of The Academy and Montalbo Building from 1976-2004 in September.
PARISH NEWS SEPTEMBER 2006
In the last part of Brian Blackburn's excellent history of the Academy and Montalbo building we trace
its development into the 21st Century.
1976 - 2004
1976
1983
1985
1988
1990
1992
1996
1998
2000
2004
Due to the demolition of the Men's Institute (opposite the Cross Keys car park) to enable the road to
be widened, the snooker club relocated to its present quarter behind the Academy Theatre. This
section of the building had previously accommodated the kitchen and scullery of the Academy
School. Then, more recently, part of it was a workshop used by Charlie Webb, Tinsmith, Plumber
and Heating Engineer. Charlie was the father of Arthur who lives in the village and also to Albert
and Robert, both deceased.
The Management Committee are Trustees of the Charity set up with the money (almost £6,000)
which Durham County Council paid for the Institute site. (Literary Institute Fund)
Monday, 21st November it was proposed and passed at a Trustees Meeting that the Academy Flats
(not including the theatre) be sold - leasehold.
A public meeting was held to approve the following resolution - 'In view of the extremely high cost
of maintaining the Academy Flats this meeting authorises the Village Hall Management Committee
on behalf of the Foundation to negotiate the sale of the said property'.
The property was bought by Teesdale Buildings Preservation Trust who renovated and converted
the premises to five flats. The Management Committee are lessors of the Academy Flats.
The cottage adjacent to the Village Hall kitchen was sold.
Ross Whittle, Chairman of the Management Committee contributed much time and effort during the
foregoing period.
Proceeds for the sale of the flats and cottage (approx. £21,000) were invested in Charinco Bonds the Montalbo Trust Fund.
Modifications to entrance hall, flat roof and toilets were carried out with grants from English
Heritage and Durham County Council.
The Montalbo Village Hall legally acquire the defunct tennis club property. The grass courts were
converted to an all weather surface and the pavilion renovated at a cost of approximately £21,000,
the bulk of this being provided by a grant from Foundation of Sport and Art.
Drama Club dressing rooms upgraded at a cost of approx. £8,000. Teesdale Village Halls
Consortium awarded a grant of £3,000 with the Drama Club providing the remainder.
Main hall refurbishment carried out and new furniture purchased at a combined cost of
approximately £13,000.
Grant awards covering the cost received from - Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, Rural
Development Commission, Durham County Council, Lloyds T.S.B., Gainford Parish Council.
Kitchen refurbishment to meet Luncheon Club requirements - £2,500. Grants received from
Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, Durham County Council Rural Development Areas (Small
Projects), Millennium Festival Grant.
A complete new gas fired central heating system was installed at a cost of almost £23,000. Funding
for this came from Durham County Council Supplementary Fund £4,524. and Gainford Parish
Charitable Trust £4,000. The shortfall being taken (permission being granted by the Charity
Commission) from the Montalbo Trust Fund.
Brian Blackburn
A Working Party Painting the outside of the Hall in 2004
PARISH NEWS OCTOBER 2006
Famous Musician visits Gainford
BRIAN Blackburn includes a postscript this month to his interesting series of articles about The Academy
and Montalbo Building.
During the period 1960 to 1968 a substantial sum of money (over £6000.00) was raised (present day
value ?) by the community to fund extensive alterations and renovation work to the hall and adjacent
property, leading up to the formal opening on the 9th May, 1970.
The main fund raising event being a Summer Evening Dance at Barforth Hall by kind permission of Mrs.
Graham. It raised for the fund £1039.18.2.
Top of the bill was - Acker Bilk Jazz Band at a cost of £350.00
Second on the bill - The Concords, a local group at £20.00
Formal Opening
Brian has also provided a copy of a photograph that was taken at the formal opening of the Village Hall.
It shows Mr Bowler Tucker (back row left), Mr Wilf McCrickard, a district councillor (back row right), Mrs
Avis Tucker (front row left) Next to her is Mr J.S. Kenyon, and on the far right is Mrs Kenyon.
The names of the two gentlemen in the centre of the picture are a mystery!
Opening of the Village Hall 9th May 1970
The Boat House
Mike Stow provides us with further information about the Boat House.
THE Boat House was situated on Boat Lane
on the old Yorkshire side of the river opposite
Gainford ford or wath. It was a stone built two
storey building which belonged to the owners of
the Barforth Estate and housed the private ferry
on the High Boat Pool. In 1919 when the Earl of
Harewood sold Barforth Hall Farm with 273
acres being occupied at the time by John
Herbert, the Boat House holding had 5,099 acres
of grass. The house contained a kitchen,
scullery, pantry and two bedrooms and it had
nearby, a cow house and a pigsty.
The cottage building and grassed area
surrounding the house was 3.206 acres. It's
garden of 0.668 acres enabled a family to be self
photo of the Boat House
sufficient, while the riverside acreage was 1.225
viewed from the Gainford side of the river
acres. In the past the house would have been a
calling point for the many travellers coming down Boat Lane to the Gainford Ferry with their produce. Also
many of the Gainford shops supplied goods via horse and cart across the Gainford ford, past the Boat House,
to Eppleby, Forcett and Stanwick. The house itself had running water via a field pipe but no sanitation or
electricity.
In the dim and distant past this route through Gainford ford from the north, to Eppleby and Aldbrough in
the south, was the main A1 prior to the Roman era and, of course, to the now deserted village of Barforth
which is up on the hill behind the Boat House. This village appears to have decayed in the 1500 - 1600's but
still has St. Lawrence's Chapel, a dovecote and an excellent Norman bridge to remind people that a village
existed. As far as I know the last two Gainford families to have lived in the Boat House were the Hunts,
before the second world war, and Gordon Yarrow and his wife between 1946 and 1956 approximately. It
appears that after this date it was left derelict until Mrs. Hannah Graham had it demolished which could have
been as late as the 1970's.
Mike Stow
When Gainford Had A Railway - Or Two!
THIS is a great year
for 150th anniversaries in
Gainford. The climax of
the Gainford Heritage
Project weekend at the
end of June rightly
celebrated one and a half
centuries of the Village
Primary School. But
another quite significant
date in Gainford's history
was 8 July 1856 - the
opening day of the
Darlington & Barnard
Castle Railway - no doubt
accompanied by the usual
Victorian razzmatazz of
tape cutting, local
dignitaries and brass
bands! As well as its day-to-day business, it was soon
The photo, provided by Mike Stow, shows a
bringing visitors to the boarding houses serving the local
Class G5 North Eastern Railway locomotive
Spa.
pulling a passenger train towards Barnard
Gainford station house and part of the passenger
Castle, passing over Forcett Bridge, one of
platform at the top of North Terrace still bear witness to
the two bridges over the River Tees west of
the local company's origin as a subsidiary of the famous
Gainford village, built to avoid the Selaby
Stockton & Darlington line. The link is a shield-shaped
estate.
plaque halfway up the wall bearing the initials 'S & DR'
These two bridges were the only major
and the serial number 'F5' which identified it in the
engineering works between Darlington and
register of the company's house properties. Other
Barnard Castle, as they ran through the
unmistakable relics include the fine bridge under the
undulating country
M.S.
bridle path at the top of Eden Lane and two sturdy
viaducts over the River Tees west of the village where the line crossed briefly to the Barforth side to avoid
traversing the Selaby estate on its way to Winston and Barnard Castle.
The local line was absorbed by its Stockton & Darlington parent company in 1858, which in turn merged
with the North Eastern Railway in 1863, the London & North Eastern Railway in the 1923 Grouping and
British Railways at Nationalisation in 1948, changing the colours of locomotives and carriages after each of
these events. Meanwhile the line has been extended beyond Barnard Castle on high embankments, deep
cuttings and spindly viaducts across Stainmore Summit reaching 1,370 feet, the highest point on any railway
in England. This line, the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway, was an important Trans-Pennine
main line between 1861 and 1962 to Kirkby Stephen, Tebay and Penrith, even with summer holiday trains to
Blackpool. A branch line, the Tees Valley Railway ran to Middleton-in-Teesdale from 1868 until 5 April
1965, when Gainford station closed under the infamous "Beeching Plan". Over the years its traffic had
drained away to competing buses, lorries and finally private cars. It had had a working life of just under 109
years and it's already been closed for 41 - how time flies!
Even then the closure of the main line wasn't quite the end of the railways in Gainford parish. A freightonly branch, the independent and once quite prosperous Forcett Railway, left the main line at Forcett
Junction (just north of Morley Bank) and ran under the A67 just beyond St. Peters (there's still a fine
archway over the footpath to Piercebridge) and over the Tees to Yorkshire on a high viaduct to serve the
Forcett and East Layton quarries. From these the railway carried limestone as a raw material for steelmaking
on Teesside from 1867 until 2 May 1966, after which lorries used a widened road from the remaining
quarries to the A66 to capture the trade. Today it's hard to imagine this enormous viaduct across the Tees (it
featured on the map in Mike Stow's article on Gainford Mill in April's "Parish News") but it survived until it
was spectacularly demolished in the early 1970s - just long enough for my daughters to have used it as a
short-cut to go strawberry picking at Elgey's farm on the Yorkshire side! Now only the stumps of the
approach embankments and a few white bricks from the viaduct remain on the riverbank to mark its location.
Brian Biddiscombe
PARISH NEWS JANUARY 2007
George Lockey - Murderer of Gainford
WHEN George Lockey was born into the world, a helpless infant, little did anyone know that one day he
would become a robber and a murderer. Mike Stowe relates the chilling tale of the life and death of George,
who was born in Gainford.
George Lockey was born in Gainford on March 3rd 1744. He was the son of George and Dorothy Lockey
(nee Coulson) - a Gainford woman.
As a boy, he played truant from school and ran wild around the village, creating mischief at every
opportunity. At the age of 14, it became important that he learned a trade and he became an apprentice
shoemaker. He served his time, but remained an unruly and unpredictable character.
Eventually George moved to Brompton-on-Swale in the Parish of Easby, about two miles from Catterick,
where he met and married a lovely girl. He may have lived happily ever after, as they say, but not George,
who had a roving eye and couldn't stay at home, preferring the village pub to domestic bliss! It was here that
he met a 'loose' woman called Nanny Call and it wasn't long before his wife found out. Her complaints were
met with a violent beating with a leather strap from George, the first of many, as their relationship took a
downward spiral and George spent more and more time in the pub or at Nanny Call's cottage.
George was an unreliable workman, being easily distracted from his tasks and sloping off to the nearest
cockfight, horse-race or shooting match, leaving his customers in the lurch. He was also fond of gambling
and was strongly suspected of robbing chicken sheds, pigeon dove cotes, and night poaching. It was
inevitable that one day his corrupt life-style would be the death of him.
He committed his first capital crime at the age of 40 on Saturday 14th September 1783. A respectable
farmer called Mr. William Harrison of Red Hall, near Catterick had attended the Rood Fair at Richmond, that
day. He was known to have a large sum of money about his person, which had attracted the attention of one
of his labourers. This labourer followed Mr. Harrison out of Richmond to a pub in Catterick. Here he fell into
conversation with George Lockey and Christopher Barker, no doubt informing them of Mr. Harrison's
wealth. Eventually, the labourer went home and Mr. Harrison called for his horse. Just after his departure,
Lockey and Barker were seen to abandon their pints and follow the hapless farmer.
The following day, Mr. Harrison was discovered badly beaten and bleeding having not returned home the
night before from the pub. He was unable to recall what had happened other than that his demise had
involved two men and he died six weeks later. Suspicion fell on Lockey and Barker and they were arrested
only to be released a short time later because there was insufficient evidence. It was said that suspicion also
fell on other local 'n'ere do wells' but they, according to an ancient custom, were prepared to touch the dead
man's body which was supposed to bleed under the hand of the assassin. When Lockey and Barker were
asked to do the same, they laughed, saying the custom was foolish.
Lockey and Barker evaded the law for five years, but Lockey became increasingly concerned that Barker
would spill the beans. With this in mind he decided to kill Christopher Barker, concealing the truth forever.
After several attempts he succeeded in luring Barker to a quiet spot near Easby Abbey on August 27th, 1788.
Here, after a heated argument, Lockey struck Barker violently on the head, with his shoemaker's hammer. He
then stabbed him in the back, by which time the cries of the dying man had caused a nearby bull to bellow
alerting local farmer Ralph Lax to run to the spot. Here he witnessed Lockey sitting on Barker and beating
his brains out against a stone and killing him.
The alarm was raised and Lockey was arrested. He pleaded that the killing was in self-defence following
an argument whilst gathering nuts. The shoemaker's hammer however was later found and established as the
murder weapon.
Lockey was imprisoned in York Castle, then tried and found guilty at the next assizes. He was executed
on March 23rd 1789 at Tyburn. His body, as was the custom, was sent to the County Hospital for dissection
and his skeleton was eventually displayed along with Barker's hat and the shoemaker's hammer for visitors to
York Castle.
Many said that Lockey maintained a sullen silence to the end. When questioned over Mr. Harrison's
murder he evidently became pale and confused, turning his face away and remaining silent.
M.S.

here - The History of Gainford

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