Have You a Piece of the Jigsaw ?

On Friday 4th November at 7 pm, the Friends of Berwick and District Museum and Archives are holding an open meeting in Berwick Parish Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1DF, England. Map.

Following the success of their August meeting, 'A History of Berwick in 10 Objects', when Anne Moore, the Museum’s Curator, and Linda Bankier, the Archivist, highlighted particular aspects of the Berwick and North Northumberland district’s history from objects in both collections, members of the public are being invited to bring items of interest to the Parish Centre on the 4th November, to add pieces to the jigsaw of the history of the district.

This is not an 'Antiques Roadshow', and valuations will not be given.

What the Friends are looking for are items which add to their knowledge of life and work experienced by previous generations – it could be an old wage packet showing how much was earned for a particular job before the last war, a household item no longer used, a timetable for a rail or steamer service which no longer exists, or something unearthed while digging the garden.

Among items already offered are:

• a kiln tile from the brewery
• clay pipes from Tweedmouth
• a notebook containing an inventory of furnishings at Middleton Hall
• an old sampler from Belford

If you think you have something which could add to their knowledge, please ring Linda Bankier, on 01289 301865 by 31st October, and bring the item to the Parish Centre by 6.30 pm on 4th November, to allow time for them all to be set out and the experts to examine them before the meeting starts at 7 pm.

Even if you don't have an item to take, it's worth going along and seeing what turns up.

All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Bygone Borderlands at Berwick - Programme of Talks

As reported in our previous blogs, Bygone Borderlands - Family and Local History Weekend and Bygone Borderlands - Flodden 500 Projects, the unmissable event this coming weekend (14th and 15th May) is Bygone Borderlands at the Guildhall, in Berwick Upon Tweed, England, TD15 1BN.

The programme of talks was published today, and it looks very interesting.


Saturday 14th May 2011

• 11.00    Tracing my Family History – Celtic Origins and what price DNA? A 'rare' surname & a few costly mistakes ! : Donald McIllhagga
• 12.00    Brewing in Ford in the 18th century : Peter Maule
• 1.00    Murky Mires – an investigation of Spades Mire and the medieval defensive ditches of Berwick : Jim Herbert
• 2.00    Detective Research – the Heritage Hub and its resources for Scottish Borders Local and Family History : Rachel Hosker
• 3.00    The Bondagers – What did they wear ? : Dinah Iredale

Sunday 15th May 2011

• 11.00    Flodden 500 – meeting of those interested in researching Flodden : led by Chris Burgess and Chris Bowles
• 12.00    Eleanor Weatherley’s Diary – a recently discovered diary written by a Belford farmer’s daughter, giving a glimpse into everyday life in North Northumberland in 1804 : Joan Wright
• 1.00    Flodden – a brief archaeological history : Chris Burgess
• 2.00    Following in Henry’s Footsteps ( Dr Henry Richardson in Australia) : Jane Bowen
• 3.00    The Trials and Tribulations of Berwick as a Border Poor Law Union : Linda Bankier

We have a stall there, both days, with a variety of members present.
We'll be glad to help you with your family history problems and queries.

See you there !

Bygone Borderlands

The latest information from Chris Bowles the Scottish Borders Archaeology Officer about Bygone Borderland (see 04/04/11):

Bygone Borderlands: Berwick Town Hall - Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2011

This will include various displays and talks on the subject of history and heritage in the borders area.

I would also like to invite you to attend (or send a representative) to a meeting/discussion during Bygone Borderlands on the various aspects of the History Projects surrounding the Flodden 500 project and how your members might get involved. This meeting will be held in the council chamber on:

Sunday 15th May - 11am - we will be discussing

· The Flodden 500 Archaeology Project

· The Flodden 500 History Project

· The potential for a related Scottish Borders focussed history project looking at which Borderers went to battle, where they came from and if they ever came back

· The potential for a related archaeology project aimed at locating camps, muster points and the movements of the Scottish army after the battle in 1513

Sunday 15th May - 1pm - we will also be giving a short review of the archaeological results to date.

Both Saturday and Sunday there will also be a standing display including artefacts recovered from the site.

Chris Bowles the Scottish Borders Council Archaeology Officer circulated this note this morning.

The Bygone Berwick weekend will take place between the 14th and 15th of May, and as part of this the Heritage and Research group of the Flodden 500 project will be presenting an exciting opportunity to help us gain a full understanding of one of this region's key historical events: the Battle of Flodden. As many of you know, 2013 marks the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden. Archaeological investigation and historical research is on-going in Northumberland as part of the Flodden 500 project, and we are hoping to bring to life a similar project in the Scottish Borders region.

At Bygone Berwick, we will be discussing, and hopefully encouraging some of you to take part in:

• The Flodden 500 Archaeology Project
• The Flodden 500 History Project
• The potential for a related Scottish Borders focussed history project looking at which Borderers went to battle, where they came from and if they ever came back
• The potential for a related archaeology project aimed at locating camps, muster points and the movements of the Scottish army after the battle in 1513

If you are interested, simply turn up on the 15 May from 11 - 12 at the Guildhall in Berwick (Council Chambers) for a discussion of the on-going research and our hopes for a Scottish project.

Bygone Borderlands - Family and Local History Weekend

Bygone Borderlands - Family and Local History Weekend will take place on Saturday 14th May (10am to 4pm) and Sunday 15th May (11am to 4pm)  at The Guildhall, Berwick Upon Tweed, England, TD15 1BN.


This is a free event for anyone interested in finding out more about their family history and the local area. Several local history societies will be putting on displays about their village or town and there will be volunteers available to assist with family history queries. There will also be bookstalls and talks on the subjects.

Don’t think this event is just for adults ! Activities for children are also planned !

The last time a similar event was held a record number of visitors attended. Please don’t miss this great opportunity!

Borders Family History Society will be there, though if there's anything you especially want to see, please contact Mary Thomson on our Contacts page using the contact type Order for Publications.
For further information contact Linda Bankier, Archivist, Berwick Record Office