North East Vernacular Architecture Group. NEWSLETTER No 79 Winter 2016

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Basil had not been to recent meetings, but older members will recall him as a frequent attender of meetings and a valued recorder of buildings.

1 North East Vernacular Architecture Group NEWSLETTER No 79 Winter 2016 Introductions should, perhaps, be positive and uplifting, but we start this newsletter with sad news. Basil Butcher, a long standing NEVAG member, and husband of our treasurer, Margaret Maddison, has died, aged 95, after a short illness. Basil had not been to recent meetings, but older members will recall him as a frequent attender of meetings and a valued recorder of buildings. It is the pattern of NEVAG meetings that we are drawn together for a few hours every month by our common love of buildings, all from different careers and life journeys, personal territories that generally remain private and unexplored. Background isn t needed; we enjoyed the buildings and each other s company, and that was sufficient. It was only at his passing that I learnt from Margaret what a rich and full life Basil had led. He was a keen mountaineer and a founder of the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club, used his engineering skills (he had been Works Engineer for Formica) to help restore Heatherslaw Mill, and in retirement worked with Stafford Linsley s Project Groups surveying Northumberland mills and researching the Ford Estate. It was a long and wonderful life and he will be much missed by his NEVAG friends. We send our sincere condolences to Margaret. Sad news with a happier ending has been the sudden illness of the eternally youthful Ian Forbes. By the kind of good fortune which makes you ask what if? Ian was taken ill (just after his successful book launch) within spitting distance of Newcastle s RVI and Freemens Hospitals. Ian is now making an excellent recovery and we send him, Pam and their family all good wishes. Martin Roberts Now reports on past meetings. Saturday 3 rd October Houghton-le-Spring: church, Old Rectory and Rectory Park joint meeting with Northumbria Gardens Trust We shared our joint visit with Houghton feast weekend, which made for a few problems but it was great to see the whole town en fete. Early C17 double-pile Haughton Hall, with later roof and parapet 1

But its shell may be medieval, all revamped after the Restoration by Rector George Davenport, Bishop Cosin s chaplain, then major late C18 alterations.

2 First to the Rectory, to view its exterior only, as Health and Safety issues prevented an internal inspection. Perhaps that was no great loss because, much of this palatial-sized rectory s history is concealed beneath plaster, suspended ceilings and the dead-hand of municipalisation. But its shell may be medieval, all revamped after the Restoration by Rector George Davenport, Bishop Cosin s chaplain, then major late C18 alterations. Davenport also made extensive changes to his large garden, rebuilding the boundary walls, only for a later C18 rector to take down some of them to view the wider rural landscape. Thanks to Fiona Green and Martin Roberts for guiding us. Friday 11 th December Christmas Party, Old Hall, Hollinside If we report that the 2015 Christmas party was pretty much like last year s, that may not make for a very interesting newsletter. Well, tough! But it is an accurate account thoroughly enjoyable, good food and drink, and the warmest of welcomes from John and Rosy Gall. Was there nothing new to report? Actually, yes, and pretty unforgettable it was too. Tucked away behind the house, where you and I might have a garden shed retreat, John has a rather large farm building in which he has been re-assembling the biggest country house kitchen fireplace any of us had ever seen.. From the demolished kitchens at Lowther Castle, Cumbria, it s capable of cooking four sides of beef and a side of mutton at the same time. So should you be lucky to get an invitation to a Gall barbeque this summer, we suggest you accept. Now for news of our 2016 programme. Please note that start times vary from meeting to meeting. Late C17 Davenport Almshouses We moved on to the church, the C17 Davenport Almshouses, Kepier Grammar School and finally the early C17 double-pile Haughton Hall, its roofline later flattened and neatly edged. Saturday 19 th March (10.30am start) Durham Cathedral a joint visit with the Friends of Killhope Perhaps an unusual topic for a vernacular architecture group, but we have proved ourselves to be a broad church over the years, visiting all sorts of buildings, so why ignore the region s greatest. Saturday 7 th November North Shields and AGM Finally to North Shields for our deferred AGM. Our venue was the Low Lights Heritage Centre, newly opened after restoration in It sits in the middle of the C17 Clifford s Fort, at the mouth of the Tyne. The Fort was once vulnerable, half-concealed behind ugly garages and sheds, now well-presented and conserved. Of course, that s good, even if the old sense of discovery is muted. After our AGM, a talk about the building then a talk about the area conducted on a wet day from the warmth of the first floor exhibition area. Then fish and chips to finish off. Feretory Screen one of the Cathderal unknowns 2

3 This meeting is Ian Forbes idea a sort of dialogue between noted geologist and cathedral guide, Brian Young, and our secretary, Martin Roberts. By way of an introduction we shall walk part of the Riverbanks in the morning, starting at 10.30am (meet at the North Porch of the Cathedral), take lunch, then reconvene for the Cathedral tour at 2.00pm (meet at the font at the West end of the nave). The precise form of the dialogue will evolve on the day, but Brian s knowledge of the cathedral and its building stones will be invaluable, while Martin has a range of questions about things he doesn t understand about the cathedral s building and its contents things that need exploration and answers. This is best done looking at the building. Should be an interesting day. There is a tight limit on numbers for each group, only twelve members each, so this will be first come, first served. If oversubscribed we may repeat the event later this year or next. Please ensure you provide or telephone numbers. There will be a Cathedral group charge of 5.00 ( 4.50 concessions). Saturday 2 April (10.00am start) Weardale Recording Our longstanding commitment to recording the miner-farmer buildings of Weardale has been put on hold in the past couple of years and we need to re-engage. We will probably select a building in the Westgate area, where there is a particular concentration of abandoned farmsteads. Our problem may simply be finding one that is safe to survey, many are in a dangerous condition. If you wish to join us, please complete the form and you will be informed by or phone of the building or venue where we ll meet. Saturday 7 th May (10.30am) Wooler and AGM We are remiss in not venturing into deepest Northumberland often enough, so following a suggestion at our 2015 AGM, we are heading for Wooler to look at the town. We will start a little later than usual at 10.30am given Wooler s distance from most members. We meet at the Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Place. Assuming most of you will be coming from the south, off the A697, take the first town centre (left) sign after crossing the river (after the Riverside Caravan Park entrance). Follow the shops at the top of the Peth along the High Street until the road forks. Take the left fork and then turn immediately left into the Padgepool Place Car Park. The Centre is at the southern end of Padgepool Place. After the AGM, we will have an illustarated talk by the noted arachaeologist and author on Wooler, Roger Miket. After lunch, we shall walk around the town. Saturday 4 th June (10.00am start) Friarside Chapel and a house full of clocks The ruined medieval chapel at Friarside, near Burnopfield (NZ ) has recently undergone extensive conservation work. We have the opportunity to visit and see this work, learn something of the chapel s history and take in its surrounding area. The easiest way to find the chapel is to follow signs for Gibside. The entrance to Low Friarside Farm is right opposite the Gibside entrance. Take the farm track for about 600m, under the Derwent Walk to the Farm, where we shall assemble at 10.00am. After we hope to examine some more of the surrounding landscape, then break for lunch (own arrangements). In the afternoon, something completely different! As many members will know, longstanding NEVAG member, Eric Morton, is well, let s be blunt mad on clocks. Eric and Lyn have kindly invited us to visit their home at nearby Burnopfield to see his collection, so some of Eric s enthusiasm can rub off on us all. Their house is at 1 Highfriarside, Burnopfield, NE16 6AN. This is at the W end of Burnopfield, on S side of the main B6310 3

road, just W of St James Church. (NZ16495681) We plan to meet there at 2pm. Saturday 2 nd July (10.

The gatehouse of Kepier Hospital is one of the city s most painted, sketched and photographed buildings, a showy early C14 façade to the important pilgrim s hostel and hospital.

4 road, just W of St James Church. (NZ ) We plan to meet there at 2pm. Saturday 2 nd July (10.00am start) Kepier Hospital Recording Day A rare opportunity to undertake a survey on perhaps the oldest building we have tackled. The gatehouse of Kepier Hospital is one of the city s most painted, sketched and photographed buildings, a showy early C14 façade to the important pilgrim s hostel and hospital. Thanks to owner Mrs Ruth Watson we will have access not only to the exterior but also to the interior of the two flats there as well as basement rooms. Other parts of the building the gatehouse roofs and the range to the N have been recorded in past decades, so this work will complete the work on this important building. We will start at 10.00am. ther will eb chance over lunch to walk the whole site. Please let Martin know by if you would wish to be included. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk Saturday 3 rd September Recording or visit day (TBA) Venue still be fixed Saturday 1 st October Kiplin Hall, North Yorkshire. (Joint meeting with Northumbria Gardens Trust) Kiplin Hall, North Yorkshire We will meet at 11.00am to see the house, but café is open from 10.00am. House in morning, gardens in afternoon. Charge will be 8.65 ( 7.80 concessions). Lunch can be had at the hall. Full details in summer newsletter, but an indication of attendance would be helpful at this stage - martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk. The riverside elevation of the Kepier gatehouse. The details of the programme after the summer holidays will be provided in the summer newsletter, but here are the headlines and dates Saturday 5 th November Members Morning Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne (Planned venue subject to confirmation) Friday 9 th December (provisional date only) Christmas Party 4

Attendance slips please email your intentions to: martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.

5 Attendance slips please your intentions to: or detach and return as necessary to the Secretary: Martin Roberts, Old Fleece House, 20B Front Street, West Auckland, DL14 9HW Saturday, 19 th March (10.30am) Durham Cathedral Saturday, 2 nd April (10.00am) Weardale Recording Saturday 7 th May (10.30am) Wooler and AGM Saturday, 4 th June (10.00am) Friarside and Clocks Saturday 2 nd July (10.00am) Kepier Gatehouse recording (shown below in late C18) 5

North East Vernacular Architecture Group. NEWSLETTER No 78 Summer 2015

North East Vernacular Architecture Group NEWSLETTER No 78 Summer 2015 The Bricks and Brickwork of Northumberland and Durham 1650-1850 First things first. Neil Weightman s book on the region s bricks and