North East Vernacular Architecture Group. NEWSLETTER No 75 Winter 2014

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.. Martin Roberts Monday 9 July 2013 Ravensworth Mill Recording Day Sawmill Cottage Mill Top, mill on right.

Not that you would be aware of it, tuck away as it is off a narrow and quiet country lane.

1 North East Vernacular Architecture Group NEWSLETTER No 75 Winter 2014 A heavily clipped intro, as we have extra houses to see this year, just agreed with owners. So, as usual a review of past meetings then the programme for the first half of 2014 is set out. Read on... Martin Roberts Monday 9 July 2013 Ravensworth Mill Recording Day Sawmill Cottage Mill Top, mill on right. Bottom, internal elevations An omission from our last newsletter was this day spent at the mill at Sawmill Cottage, Ravensworth, Gateshead, not far from the busy A1 western bypass in Gateshead. Not that you would be aware of it, tuck away as it is off a narrow and quiet country lane. The mill is to be incorporated into an adjacent Mill house and at the request of Tyne and Wear Archaeologist David Heslop, NEVAG plus (via Sue Ward s links) other friends from associated NE societies, recorded the Mill s plan, external and internal elevations prior to conversion work beginning. The mill does not contain extensive machinery which otherwise may have prevented conversion and the owners are very sympathetic to the need to retain all evidence of its former milling function. Saturday 5 October 2013 Cleadon Recording Day NEVAG joined with Penny Middleton of Northern Archaeological Associates on this recording day. Penny was organising a community archaeology programme with the residents of Cleadon and our target was the allegedly medieval Cleadon Tower. The joint NEVAG-Cleadon team surveyed all floors and two elevations, as well as making a detailed record of the fine early C17 (?) fireplace. The report is in preparation. The house is clearly old probably C16 at least though there is a lot of C19 and early C20 reworking. Curiously there are references to a demolished solar-type tower E of the house, though the current tower is an interesting amalgam of a C19 mock upper tower sitting on the thick walled base of a much older structure, albeit one only big enough ever to have been a stair tower, in the angle between the two ranges. Does that mean there may have been a proper tower up to the C19, that disappeared, at which time they fortified the stair tower with crenellations just to keep the name? We shall endeavour to find out. All in all an enjoyable day, made even better by welcoming owners. 1

into the night. An excellent evening for all, for which we thank our very welcoming hosts. Delighted to announce John and Rosy are very happy to receive us again in 2014.

.. Saturday 1 March Tudhoe Hall and Byers Green Hall, near Spennymoor, County Durham Cleadon Tower fireplace Saturday 2 November 2013 Beamish Members Day The morning was taken up with members

(Streatlam Castle, nr Barnard Castle) and Margaret Maddison (Free Gardeners and associated buildings).

2 into the night. An excellent evening for all, for which we thank our very welcoming hosts. Delighted to announce John and Rosy are very happy to receive us again in Now news of this year s programme... Saturday 1 March Tudhoe Hall and Byers Green Hall, near Spennymoor, County Durham Cleadon Tower fireplace Saturday 2 November 2013 Beamish Members Day The morning was taken up with members contributions as usual a mixed bag again this year with talks by Colin Rees (St Fagan s Folk Museum, South Wales), Dick Graham (The Tay Bridge Disaster - a metallurgist s view), Martin Roberts (Streatlam Castle, nr Barnard Castle) and Margaret Maddison (Free Gardeners and associated buildings). To conclude Peter Kempsey spoke on the recent NE cultural exchange with Romania on Limeburning, illustrated by a film on their experiences. After lunch NEVAG s good friend Jim Rees (Assistant Director Developments) spoke on Beamish developments, then took us on a guided tour of the recently re-erected Eston Church. Our thanks to Jim and all at Beamish for a warm welcome and an enjoyable day. Friday 13 December Christmas Party Long-standing members of NEVAG had a pretty good idea what to expect from our Christmas party as guests of John and Rosy Gall at their magnificent C17 Lanchester farmhouse, The Old Hall, Hollinside Farm. Or at least they knew from John and Rosy s past welcomes at Beamish Home Farm, over many years, that they would be getting an enjoyable evening, with good food and drink, in historic surroundings. About members achieved the usual miracle of bringing along just the right mix of food and drink to supply the evening. We toured the house, marvelled at the collections of fine furniture, and talked long Tudhoe Hall (top) and Byers Green Hall (bottom) Dr Adrian Green is one of the region s most distinguished architectural and social historians, whose wide architectural interests include the North East s vernacular buildings. Adrian wrote about two of these in an important Vernacular Architecture paper in 1998 (VA, Vol 29, 33-42). We are very fortunate to be able to reunite him with those two buildings - Tudhoe Hall and Byers Green Hall as he guides us around them, noting the way the houses, rebuilt during the C17 and early C18, reflect the social change amongst yeoman and gentry families of the period. We start at Tudhoe Hall, Tudhoe Village, near Spennymoor, (NZ258357) at 11.00am note later time than usual. The house is on the left as you travel along the village green. We shall be visiting the western half of the Hall as the guests of the Stanley family. After a quick 2

stroll around the village green to work up an appetite and catch one or two other buildings of interest, lunch (own arrangements, but plenty of good pubs around) is followed by a visit to Byers Green

.. the village s most famous resident Thomas Wright, and perhaps see where his house and garden stood.

viewing from the village stret only). If you plan to come please return a slip to, or email, Martin Roberts - as March meeting details. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk.

3 stroll around the village green to work up an appetite and catch one or two other buildings of interest, lunch (own arrangements, but plenty of good pubs around) is followed by a visit to Byers Green Hall at 2.00pm, home of the Cassie family. After the Hall visit, we shall contemplate...we can do little else... the village s most famous resident Thomas Wright, and perhaps see where his house and garden stood. To finish off, a short drive to see the C17 hearth-passage Newfield Farmhouse close by once a larger house that fell into disrepair in the mid C20, but now what remains has been restored (external viewing from the village stret only). If you plan to come please return a slip to, or , Martin Roberts - as March meeting details. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk. Those on will receive the site notes, with spares brought to the meeting. worthy cause, in return for which we will not only get the gardens, but also a cup of tea! Finally (stop press item!), Westholme Hall, a fine house of 1606 with contempoary plasterwork. Thanks to Mr and Mrs McBain for access. Should be a great day! Saturday 5 April Recording County Durham - Weardale As with all recording visits this year, properties have yet to be finalised so if you are interested, please register your interests with Martin Roberts at Old Fleece House, 20B Front Street, West Auckland DL14 9HW martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk Saturday 3 May Ramshaw Hall, Bedburn Hall and Westholme Hall,, Teesdale Following earlier succesful joint outings with the Northumbria Gardens Trust, we are visiting three of SW Durham s most interesting houses, each with similarly good gardens. Ramshaw Hall is a part C16, part C17 manor house with strong Quaker links. Its small registered garden, of stepped terraces, has been cleverly replanted with architectural greenery by its owner Raf Fulcher a landscape designer/artist noted for his work at the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival. Bedburn Hall, nr Hamsterley (NZ102313) the home of Mr I. and Mrs K. Bonas, is a very interesting Arts and Crafts house, designed by the eminent architect W.A.S. Benson (exterior viewed only). Benson also designed the gardens, although local rumours persist that Gertrude Jeykll had a hand in them. Mr and Mrs Bonas are raising funds for the Otjikondo School Trust (Music Fund) in Namibia, a registered UK charity, and we intend to levy a charge per head to support this From top, Ramshaw, Bedburn and Westholme Halls Please meet at Ramshaw Hall at 10.00am (NZ154265). It lies 1m N of Evenwood, 2m W of West Auckland. We would urge car sharing to keep parking problems to a minimum - West Auckland has two car parks on its village green which might allow for cars to be parked for the 3

day, if you are sharing with others.) Please bring a picnic lunch.

It is important that those coming pre-book, as we may have to limit numbers. Return a slip to, or email, Martin Roberts - as March meeting details. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk.

Saturday 7 June Recording Tees Valley As with all recording visits this year, properties have yet to be finalised so if you are interested, please register your interests with Martin.

4 day, if you are sharing with others.) Please bring a picnic lunch. The cost of the day is still being finalised, bearing in mind the extra third house currently about 7 per head + Westholme, to be agreed. But less than 10 - a good price for three houses and gardens. It is important that those coming pre-book, as we may have to limit numbers. Return a slip to, or , Martin Roberts - as March meeting details. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk. Those on will receive the site notes, with spares brought to the meeting. Saturday 7 June Recording Tees Valley As with all recording visits this year, properties have yet to be finalised so if you are interested, please register your interests with Martin. Saturday 12 July AGM and Durham Walk Saturday 4 October Recording - Tyne and Wear Saturday 1 November Members Morning Friday 12 December Christmas Party, Old Hall, Hollinside Farm, Lanchester And finally... A confession! Coming out is usually a phrase applied to sexual liberation, but our own Dick Graham has now felt emboldened to confess to a fascination for...drain covers. In this he finds support from none other than Michael Palin, so he keeps the best of company. Dick spotted the cover below on our Richmond visit. Old Durham Gardens Meet at Alington House, North Bailey, Durham at 10.00am for coffee and AGM at After which Martin Roberts will lead a guided walk out of the City Centre along Old Elvet and out to the C17 Old Durham Gardens (Google for details), then back across the river to Shincliffe village and back to the City Centre about 3-4 miles round trip. Return a slip to, or , Martin Roberts - as March meeting. martin@fleece.wanadoo.co.uk. Those on will receive the site notes, with spares brought to the meeting programme Remaining events Second 2014 newsletter will be sent out in the summer, but these are the planned events. Saturday 2 August Recording - Northumberland Saturday 6 September Cleadon village walk with Penny Middleton If Dick ever felt worried about his interest, he should have attended the VAG winter conference in Leicester this year to see more extreme cases than his own. One speaker, showing a succession of internal door drawings confessed, This one I recorded between courses in a restaurant...my wife wasn t very happy. Enough said! 4

5 Attendance slips please your intentions to: or detach and return as necessary to the Meetings Secretary: Martin Roberts, Old Fleece House, 20B Front Street, West Auckland, DL14 9HW Recording Days 2014 I/we would like to be kept informed of all recording days planned in 2014 Contact phone number/ ... Signed Saturday, 1 st March Tudhoe and Byers Green Halls (11.00am start) Saturday, 5 th April Weardale Recording Day Saturday, 3 rd May Ramshaw, Bedburn and Westholme Halls (10.00am start) Saturday 7 th June Tees Valley Recording Day Saturday, 12 th July Durham Walk and AGM (10.00am start) SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE 1st APRIL If you do not pay by standing order please send the following details with your cheque. I enclose a cheque in for my/our membership subscription for , of 7.00 per person or per family, made out to North East Vernacular Architecture Group. Name(s): Address: Postcode: Tel: (I agree to communications by ): Please send to: Margaret Maddison (NEVAG Treasurer), 189 Wingrove Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9DA 5

North East Vernacular Architecture Group. NEWSLETTER No 72 Summer 2012

North East Vernacular Architecture Group NEWSLETTER No 72 Summer 2012 This delayed newsletter is an indication that NEVAG is trying to fill a large gap, left following the resignation of Neil Weightman