{"id":332,"date":"2025-07-25T08:45:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T08:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/?page_id=332"},"modified":"2025-12-05T13:36:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T13:36:37","slug":"washy-long-reads","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/?page_id=332","title":{"rendered":"Washy “Long Reads”: 1. Sports from Victorian Times Onward by Peter Welsh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

In this piece, local historian Peter Welsh summarises his extensive research into sports in the area, from Victorian times into the twentieth century. Some sports have continued their popularity, while others have disappeared into the realms of quaint historical curiosities. A fascinating read….
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n


Matthew Rogerson and Potshare Bowling<\/strong>

Matthew Rogerson (occasionally Rodgerson) was born in South Hylton in 1847\/8 to John, a miner and Isabella. By 1871 his widowed mother had moved into Fatfield Square and it was as a \u2018Fatfield\u2019 man that Matthew was first referred to in local newspaper coverage of \u2018potshare bowling\u2019 [image, courtesy of Tyne and Wear Archives, of a potshare bowl]. He had moved to Portobello, not far from the Board Inn, by 1881 and by 1901 had moved to Wood Row in Denton Burn. He\u2019d married Ann Maria Todd in 1879 (Gateshead District), a widow with two children and had three children by her. Ann Maria died in 1886 and Matthew married again, this time Margaret Jane O\u2019Hara, in Newcastle, in 1890. They had four children at Denton Burn and were living in Castle Ward, in 1913, when Matthew died.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

These family details have been included because Matthew is the man most-often mentioned from Fatfield (later Portobello or Birtley) in connection with potshare bowling. As we shall see, he played the game regularly, travelling to Newcastle Moor, Black Fell or Gateshead, all the while working as a coal miner and raising two families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a chronological list of events, with sources, in which he participated, the list giving some insight into the nature of the sport and its participants<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21\/3\/1863<\/strong> Illustrated Sporting News<\/strong> \u2013 Town Moor Newcastle, a match between Thomas Saint, Champion, of West Moor and Robert Smith of Wreckington (sic) with 25 oz bowls, 13\/4 miles round the race course. In the list of those men Saint had beaten – \u2018M Rogerson\u2019. This was the first of a significant number of mentions of Matthew Rogerson as a bowler<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

2\/11\/1870 Sporting Life <\/strong>\u2013 At Gateshead Borough Gardens \u2013 a bowling handicap, poor weather and attendance. Promoted by Thompson and Guthrie, \u00a37 prize, then \u00a32, then \u00a31. Two throws each. M Rogerson, Fatfield, won Heat 3. Seven heats; to be concluded later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/11\/1870<\/strong> Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 at Gateshead Borough Gardens, M Rogerson of Fatfield took part \u2013 probably the event listed above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20\/2\/1871<\/strong> Newcastle Journal <\/strong>– BOWLING MATCH ON THE TOWN MOOR – Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield and Robert Coulson of Shiney Row, who had agreed to bowl across the mile, Rogerson with 20oz bowl and Coulson with 25oz bowl for \u00a35 a side. Rogerson was made favourite, took the lead on the first \u2018thraw\u2019 and won by about 40 yards. The triggers were Septimus Cooper for Rogerson and Matthew Coulson for his brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Newcastle Town Moor – used as the potshare course after 1882<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13\/3\/1871 Newcastle Journal<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING ON THE TOWN MOOR – A bowling match between Jos Robson of Ouston and Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield, over the usual course across the mile, with 25oz bowls, for a stake of \u00a320. Robson led slightly on the first throw but was passed by Rogerson on the second heave and the latter maintained his lead until the last throw, when Robson threw past him and won a most exciting match by 5 yards. John Marley was the referee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12\/7\/1872 Bell\u2019s Life in London <\/strong>\u2013 At Newcastle Town Moor \u2013 M Rogerson of Fatfield  and J Young of Pelton, played for \u00a315 a side, the former using a 25oz bowl, and the latter one of 22oz. M Coulson trigged for Young and E Makepeace esquired the favourite, who, owing to the soft, bad state of the ground was very unfortunate. In the first heave Young had 13 yards the best of it and for the next three heaves maintained the advantage, but Rogerson then came with a grand one and came up almost level. Next time, however, the Fatfield man\u2019s bowl alighted in a sump hole and of course did not travel and Young took a good lead. Young won by 20 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/8\/1875 Newcastle Journal<\/strong> \u2013 5,000 present in fine weather for \u2018the pitman\u2019s favourite pastime.\u2019 The last event of the afternoon was a \u00a310 sweepstake between Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield, Thomas Hope of Wrekenton and R Armstrong of Lambton. At the sixth and last throw Rogerson threw over and won by 60 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18\/9\/1875 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> \u2013 M Rogerson of Fatfield and R Heron of Gosforth using 45oz bowls, Heron 60 yards ahead at fourth throw but on the last throw Rogerson bowled over the far gutter whilst Heron\u2019s bowl hit a post and stopped short, so Rogerson won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\/2\/1878 The Referee <\/strong>\u2013 BOWLING AT NEWCASTLE \u2013 About 1,000 spectators on a cold and bright day for the Beehive Inn\u2019s handicap with liberal prizes. In the second round M Rogerson came second, using 17oz bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\/3\/1878 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> – BOWLING ON NEWCASTLE MOOR \u2013 There was a lot of interest in the meeting between Sep Cooper of Newcastle and Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield, who played with two 40oz bowls, for \u00a310 a side. The evergreen Sep had to give away a lot in years, being almost twice the age of Rogerson, who is a powerful young fellow. The result of the match, which proved an easy thing for old Sep, showed that he is still a dangerous customer, notwithstanding his advanced years, with \u2018forties\u2019. In the opening bowl Cooper led by 10 yards, increased his lead to 15 at the second, and won with ridiculous ease in the twelfth. Andy Best triggered for the winner and Thomas Hope for the loser. Lance Mordue was the referee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14\/9\/1881 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 Matthew Rogerson of Birtley refereed a match on the Moor between Richard Bell of Windy Nook and Peter Reay of Low Fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30\/10\/1882 Newcastle Journal<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING ON TOWN MOOR \u2013 James Ritchie of Hebburn v Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield with 30oz bowls for \u00a310. Ritchie won after 13th throw, Joseph Curley trigged for Rogerson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/11\/1882 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> – BOWLING ON THE TOWN MOOR \u2013 Moderate attendance \u2013 bowling track soft and spongy. Matthew Rogerson v James Richey of Hebburn, with 30oz bowls, for \u00a310 a side. Rogerson won at the thirteenth heave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

27\/1\/1883 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> – BOWLING ON THE TOWN MOOR \u2013 Edward Winter of Chester Moor (father and son 51 and 22, living at Chester Moor in 1881 Census) and Matthew Rogerson, of Fatfield, contended with a couple of \u2018twenty eights\u2019 for \u00a310 a side. Winter led at the first, then Rogerson, but eventually Winter won at the thirteenth by six yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\/4\/1883 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> \u2013 Newcastle Moor \u2013 Edward Winter of Chester Moor v Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield with 30oz bowls for \u00a310 a-side.. Winter won by 50 yards at the tenth throw. John Cowell of Fatfield trigged for Rogerson and Robert Stewart of Chester Moor for Winter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17\/11\/1883 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING ON THE TOWN MOOR \u2013 excellent attendance to watch Matthew Rogerson and Jos Curley of Chester Moor with 35oz bowls for \u00a320. Rogerson won on the tenth shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/4\/1884 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> – BOWLING ON NEWCASTLE MOOR \u2013 Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield and John York, Pelton Fell, matched with 30oz bowls for \u00a310 a side. York was favourite but Rogerson led after the first throw by 16 yards and eventually won at the ninth throw by 60 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13\/2\/1886 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> – BOWLING AT THE TOWN MOOR \u2013 Bowling Handicap on the new track, Matthew Rogerson being one of nine in the second heat and Rogerson was last at the time of the report being filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8\/10\/1886 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 CHALLENGES \u2013 I, Robert Innes will bowl Matthew Rogerson, I at 26oz and Rogerson at 30oz across the new track. Meet at David Marley\u2019s Turf Hotel Back Bar on Saturday 1st between 5 and 7 o\u2019clock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26\/2\/87 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield and George Handy of Washington tried conclusions on the Town Moor, on the new track, for \u00a35 a side. Rogerson won by 36 yards on seventh throw. (Shields Gazette 22\/9\/1888 – Washington Man Missing George Handy, aged about 22 has been missing since Wednesday; he had gone to Newcastle on business with his brother. It was at first assumed he had missed the train back to Usworth but it is now stated that he had about \u00a360 with him and it is feared some disaster has befallen him. He is about 5ft 2, of stoutish build, fair complexion and a light moustache. On the 26th it was reported that two women had been arrested but both were released after \u2018sharp examination.\u2019 No further details\u2026.however, George Handy was taking part in bowls at Black Fell in September 1891.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\/5\/1888 Sporting Life<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING AT BLACK FELL \u2013 Matthew Rogerson won his heat but came third in the final \u2013 promoted by John Dalton, Coach and Horses, Leybourne Hold, Birtley, in the presence of an excellent muster of the followers of potshare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/6\/1888 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING – OXCLOSE YESTERDAY A bowling match for \u00a36 a-side was decided yesterday over the old wagonway at Oxclose between William Savage of North Side, Black Fell and Thomas Hall of Fatfield, both using 20oz bowls. Business was rife with 5 to 4 on Savage. James Smith of High Washington trigged for Savage and William McMann of Fatfield for Hall. Matthew Rogerson of Portobello was referee and stakeholder. Hall was so far behind after the fifth shot that he \u2018picked up\u2019 ie conceded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15\/6\/1888 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 At Newcastle Moor \u2013 Joseph Curley of Fatfield took on John Patterson of Waldridge Fell with Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield as referee and stakeholder. Patterson won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25\/6\/1888 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 BLACK FELL \u2013 At Mr John Galley\u2019s Bird Inn, New Washington, a further deposit was posted for a bowling match between Joseph Laws of Washington Staiths and Matthew Rogerson of Portobello at Black Fell, with 13oz bowls for \u00a35 a-side. Final deposits to be handed in Friday with Mr Ritson, of Washington, stakeholder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6\/7\/1888 Durham Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 At the house of William Bush (Half Moon, Oxclose) the sum of \u00a31 has been posted to bind a match over the old track, Newcastle, in a month\u2019s time between Joseph Laws of North Biddick and Matthew Rogerson of Portobello, with 13oz bowls for \u00a310 a-side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11\/8\/1890 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 TOWN MOOR Matthew Rogerson of Fatfield against William Thompson of New Herrington; by the fifth heave Rogerson was 80 yards behind and \u2018picked up\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19\/11\/1890 Sporting Life<\/strong> \u2013 BOWLING ON NEWCASTLE MOOR \u2013 Fine weather, large company to watch George Taylor and Joseph Matthews (both of Birtley) with 25oz bowls for \u00a310 a-side, refereed by Mr Rogerson. Taylor won at ninth shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16\/9\/1891 Sporting Life<\/strong> \u2013 Matthew Rogerson of Birtley refereed the match between Richard Bell of Windy Nook and Peter Reay of Low Fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12\/10\/1891 Newcastle Chronicle<\/strong> \u2013 Matthew Rogerson of Birtley acted as stakeholder and referee in a match on a wet and miserable Town Moor, between Peter Reay and Henry Wardle of Pelton Fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/10\/1894 \u2013 Newcastle Chronicle <\/strong>\u2013 Bowling at Black Fell, promoted by John Watson at the Black Fell Bowling track. M Rogerson came third in Heat 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10\/4\/1899 Newcastle Chronicle <\/strong>\u2013 NEWCASTLE MOOR \u2013 John Willis (there were two in Fatfield in 1901, both early 30s, one in Long Row and one at Nicholson\u2019s Buildings) and George Taylor (27, single, boarder at Cotia), both of Fatfield, with 10oz bowls for \u00a310 a side. Taylor retired at the seventh. Rogerson trigged for Taylor, J Mason of Fatfield stakeholder and referee. This is the last mention of Matthew Rogerson re potshare bowling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given that this research has been done mostly through the newspaper archive, rather than through personal or official records, and is therefore probably somewhat sketchy in terms of following the career of one \u2018hardy knight\u2019, (the algorithm does not always pick out the entered name) we can only say that Matthew\u2019s contests, as reported, amounted, in financial terms, to \u00a340 of winnings and \u00a345 of losses. On some occasions the amounts staked were not included and it\u2019s by no means certain that all his competitions and activities were included in the local newspapers. The modern equivalent of \u00a340 is around \u00a36,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of the bowls that he used, he either possessed, or accessed, bowls of 10, 17, 20, 25, 28, 30, 35, 40 and 45 ounces. His career having started, as far as can be determined, in 1863 or slightly earlier, he had apparently earned the reputation of being a man who could be trusted to referee, hold stakes or trig for other boolers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1902-3 and 1904 \u2018M Rogerson\u2019 was playing lawn bowls for Castle Leazes Club \u2013 ah, was it the same, \u2018our\u2019, M Rogerson? Had the \u2018powerful young fellow\u2019 become an older, less powerful, but still enthusiastic, participant in a less strenuous activity \u2013 the knocking of wood on wood, having replaced the clack of stone on stone, the cries of \u2018canny bool, Matty\u2019 still music to his ears. There being no extant records of Castle Leazes Bowling Club, we shall never know but if you pass Leazes Park bowling green, now a picnic area, pause and listen for a moment\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the first newspaper reports of potshare bowling can be found from the 1820s and they describe large gatherings on the Town Moor but, also, on the \u2018highways\u2019, the problems arising from the fact that \u2018hardy knights of the black diamond\u2019 were not always keen to interrupt their games to allow travellers to pass and trouble, arrests and fines often ensued. Other popular locations during the second half of the nineteenth century were Newbiggin Moor, Blyth Sands and Black Fell. Early heroes and stars of the game were Davy Bell of Benton, Harry Brown of Gateshead and Thomas Saint, of West Moor. Originally the matches were mostly challenges with two participants but later the number of handicaps increased. The development of the sport went hand in hand with reduced hours for miners (and working men in general) and the spare time that then needed to be filled, and times of economic depression saw the number of matches decline and then rise again, when better times returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what was potshare bowling and how was it played? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

This, from the Newcastle Chronicle of August 1884, looking back on fifty years of \u2018booling\u2019. \u2018The game consisted in throwing a stone bowl, [and shouting a warning \u2018ware the bool!\u2019] weighing from 25-30 ounces [even up to 50 ounces], a given distance in the least number of throws. The bowl itself was formed out of a piece of whinstone. [White Brick was sometimes used but it had to be agreed in advance or disqualification would occur and potshare, the crucible which glass is melted in was another possible material for the bowl.] Many hours of labour were required to chip at it with a small hammer and the edge of an old file before it assumed the perfect sphere [with an indentation for the thumb]. An aspiring bowler would devote his leisure evenings for weeks together in making his bowl and consequently it was an article much valued by him [they must have had a stable of bowls of different weights]. When a match was played the competitors, one or the other, threw [the action could be described as a \u2018thraw\u2019, a \u2018hough\u2019, or a \u2018hoy\u2019] their bowl from a starting line drawn across the road. If the bowler overstepped the line with both feet when he delivered his bowl, he was called back by the umpire\/referee and had to renew his throw. From the spot where the bowl lay after being \u2018spent,\u2019 it had to be thrown the next time, whether that spot was in the road or the ditch [or in a sump hole]. However inconvenient, even when ankle-deep in water, from that spot or within a yard from either side, it had to be thrown. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The bowler had a \u2018trigger\u2019, a man in advance who indicated the spot desired for the bowl to fall after delivery, thus the trigger \u2018showed him the reet way\u2019. The throws were continued in succession until they reached the goal,[often one lap of the mile course on the Moor, actually about 900 yards] when the player who had succeeded in the least number of throws was declared the winner. Muscular power was the principal factor to make an expert in this game but luck sometimes overcame physical strength. [A later article suggested the men could take a run at the bowling action. If a match was a \u2018chooser\u2019 it seems as if one or both contestants were allowed to choose their own weight of bowl.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone thought it a wise way for miners to spend their time \u2013 in June 1865 The Miner and Workman\u2019s Advocate argued that \u2018Now you all know what bowling matches are. Those fools do not only fool away their own time and money, but they fool away the time and money of scores of other \u2018cuddies\u2019 too.\u2019 In 1880 bowling was banned on the Town Moor. In January the Morpeth Herald, under the headline \u2018BOWLING ON NEWCASTLE MOOR – POLICE PROCEEDINGS\u2019 carried this piece – \u2018The first police proceedings under the new bye-law prohibiting <\/a>bowling on the Town Moor, were instituted on Friday the 13th, at Newcastle Police Court, before the sitting magistrates, Mr CH Young and Mr Henry Watson. The defendants were James Ritchie, miner, of Silksworth and James Wilson, miner, of Wardley Colliery, Durham. They were charged on separate summonses, that each on the 31st ult., \u2018unlawfully played bowling on the Town Moor, in such a manner as was likely to endanger person being on the same, and use in such game certain bowls of a hard and dangerous nature.\u2019 The defendants were fined 5shillings. Meetings of protest, such as the one at the Adelaide Hotel in Newgate St, were quickly arranged when word of the banning leaked out and the council came under pressure not only from bowlers and their fans but, also, the business people of Newcastle who quickly recognised the effect it was having on the city, as pitmen, and their wives, (who often came to Newcastle for shopping) took their spending power to Newbiggin or Blyth instead. And so\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22\/4\/1882 Morpeth Herald<\/strong> \u2013 \u2018NEWCASTLE FREEMEN AND THE BOWLERS At the Easter Guild of the Newcastle Freemen, held at the Guildhall, on Monday, the Vice-Chairman of the Stewards\u2019 Committee, Mr William Wilson, stated, with reference to their petition against the Town Improvement Bill, that the Freemen had decided to withdraw their opposition after the proposal which had been made to them by the Town Clerk and which to a great extent met their requirements. To sum up – the Mayor had done his best to get the bowling question settled amicably and that in re-arranging the 35 acres of the park and recreation ground they would provide a proper and safe bowling ground on the site, which would be acceptable to all parties.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what was the point of it all? Well, the competitive urge burns brightly, there was obviously  a social aspect to spending time in the open air with your \u2018marras\u2019 after 50 hours in the dark, the heat and the danger of late nineteenth century collieries, and the opportunity to gamble and drink beer were, for many, strong pull factors. Behind it all were an army of publicans, bookmakers, backers and \u2018sporting men\u2019, with newspapers being avid reporters of the \u2019doings\u2019 at the various meetings and sports grounds. Some, shall we say, were more \u2018sporting\u2019 than others and, where money, gambling and shifting odds are involved, there can sharp practice and exploitation be found. In December, 1867, the Newcastle Journal opined, \u2018Few men are better losers than the miners; they certainly display an amount of feeling during a match but if they suffer vanquishment, they endure it as such and at once forget the factious prompting which the excitement of the contest occasioned. This truism is perhaps more remarkable with the pitman than any other class of sporting men.\u2019 Well, possibly\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018When a match was played the competitors, one or the other, threw their bowl from a starting line drawn across the road. If the bowler overstepped the line with both feet when he delivered his bowl, he was called back by the umpire and had to renew his throw. From the spot where the bowl lay after being \u2018spent,\u2019 it had to be thrown the next time, whether that spot was in the road or the ditch. However inconvenient, even when ankle-deep in water, from that spot or within a yard from either side, it had to be thrown. The bowler had a \u2018trigger\u2019, a man in advance who indicated the spot desired for the bowl to fall after delivery \u2018showed him the reet way\u2019. The throws were continued in succession until they reached the goal, when the player who had succeeded in the least number of throws was declared the winner. Muscular power was the principal factor to make an expert in this game but luck sometimes overcame physical strength.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potshare bowling went on into the twentieth century but the watching, and playing, of  football saw it decline in popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources \u2013         Newspaper Archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lynne Pearson – Played in Tyne and Wear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WD Lawson – Tyneside Celebrities (1873)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWA \u2013 for access to a replica potshare bowl<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article – by Alan Metcalf (now of Dept of Kinesiology at Ontario Uni.) sourced through Julian Harrop at Beamish Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, to finish, another \u2018Washington\u2019 (really Springwell) man \u2013 Jack Cordner playing James Nicholson in 1906:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/3\/1906 Newcastle Daily Chronicle<\/strong> – GREAT MATCH AT NEWCASTLE MOOR. The bowling match between James Nicholson, Burradon, and Jack Cordner of The Mount [Springwell] decided over the Newcastle mile on Saturday afternoon, created immense interest among bowlers all over the district. The attendance of spectators was a large one and there would not be less than 4000 people present, amongst the assemblage being many old veterans of the game who had not been seen on the Newcastle Moor for many a day. On all sides a great struggle was anticipated and the more knowing ones predicted that the younger man, Cordner, would give the famous bowler, Nicholson, a hard match, if he did not even prove the victor. The weather was fine and summer-like in character and the stiffish breeze which blew onto the bowling arm did not impede the contestants in the slightest. Bert Clough, Springwell, was referee; Roger Wright Burradon, trigged for Nicholson and Jacky Watson reckon performed a like office for Cordner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 A lot of time was cut to waste in the preliminary trials, and it was exactly 3 o\u2019clock when the champion made the breakaway. For fully an hour previously speculation was indulged in, the closing price being 11 to 8 on Nicholson. The champion drove his ball away with great force. It got a fairly good first beat but the second beat was a bad one. Yet the bowl ran along splendidly, the throw being a satisfactory one. Cordner  got a flying beat, the bowl sped along very fast and true. It stopped almost in touch with the champion\u2019s, the referee\u2019s verdict being only 2 inches in favour of Nicholson. The excitement now was at a great height. Cordner, by being behind, went on for the second try and got in a really fine effort but was recalled. Going on again, he put on another lengthy bowl but the trigger fetched him back once more. The next time of asking Cordner passed the trigger all right and made a wonderful throw, sending the ball fully 10 yards further than either of the two recall throws, and it also lay in a capital position. Nicholson lay four feet behind his rival but had to come back. He again had his ball recalled and this time it was for him a lucky one, as he was lying at least 20 yards in the rear. Albeit Nicholson appeared to slip when next he did away, the bowl was propelled with immense force and it got to within a yard of where Cordner\u2019s bowl rested. It had taken an hour, all but five minutes to perform the two opening throws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicholson, for the third end sent his ball along with great force but, unluckily, it received a bad stop at the second beat which caused it to rise up in the air. It was, however, a fine effort. Cordner, who was performing in masterly style did away, amidst loud cheering, and his ball stopped very close to the champion\u2019s. Cordner, however, had to come back and go on again. This time he managed grandly, the bowl running swiftly and to the delight of his supporters, went exactly 10 yards to the front. At the fourth end, Nicholson was brought back three times but finally got in a capital one. Cordner, who continued to bowl in wonderful style, delivered a beauty and it did not stop running until it passed the champion\u2019s by exactly twenty two yards. Loud cheering greeted this great performance. Nicholson, whose style of running into the trig and delivery was much admired, at the fifth go put in a fine one but Cordner, who has also an attractive style, likewise made a wonderful effort. From the time of reaching the ground until stopping his ball never rose more than eighteen inches from the surface and it did not come to a halt until it had gone some 35 yards in front. His backers were at this point on good terms with themselves and cheered loudly. At the sixth attempt Nicholson was fetched back once and ultimately lost fully twenty yards by next making a worse effort. He left-handed it past the sitter-on and the majority of the crowd now considered his chance a hopeless on. Cordner, on the other hand, made no mistakes, getting in yet another admirable delivery, and his bowl ran on its course with surprising swiftness, stopping exactly forty seven yards further ahead than Nicholson\u2019s. Cordner was within 30 yards of hail, and there was still another throw, but Nicholson, seeing his chance hopeless, accepted a monetary consideration and left Cordner a splendid winner, loud cheers being given at his success. The match concluded at half past five o\u2019clock \u2013 so it didn\u2019t last quite as long as this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Famous Fives players, Northern version, starring William Bush of the Half Moon Inn, Oxclose (and some world champions)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"1922<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you enter \u201cFives\u201d into Wikipedia it starts with, \u201cFives is generally considered to have originated from early forms of the French ‘Jeu de paume’. Games were most often played against the walls of the north ends of churchyards, or against the walls of belltowers. This often damaged window glazing, so many churches adapted their exteriors to protect against the game. This often came in the form of shutters and pintles inserted into walls, as well as latticework over the windows themselves.\u201d The article goes on to discuss its banning by churches but, then, its existence in Wales and Somerset. It then quotes the Badminton Library, \u2018The number of those who continue as Fives players after the age of twenty-five is very small; and, for obvious reasons, these veterans are usually schoolmasters. Again, Fives is entirely a game for amateurs. It has no professors who make their living and their renown as its teachers or exponents. It has no matches to be reported in newspapers with a minuteness of detail suitable to events of international importance. No Fives player, as such, has ever had his portrait published in an illustrated journal, or has had the meanest article of dress in the hosiers’ shops named after him. Indeed, the game is not one that tends to exalt the individual player.\u2019 The Wiki article finishes with a description of regional variants and the development of the game in public schools like Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester and Sherborne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

Nowhere in the article is there any mention of the game thriving among coal miners in the North East, County Durham in particular. Insofar as Northumberland was concerned, the local press mentioned Ball Alleys or Fives Courts at New Hartley, Walker, Seaton Delaval and Choppington. No doubt there were others but the game seems not to have attracted large numbers of players in the way it did in County Durham.  A trawl through local newspapers shows that Fives was played regularly in Ball Alleys, often attached to public houses, for substantial amounts of money. The typical match was for \u201c\u00a310 a-side\u201d \u2013 which in modern day terms is around \u00a31,500 and some of the bigger games were for \u201c\u00a350 a-side\u201d ie \u00a37,500, giving the lie to the idea that there were no professionals. As with quoiting, rowing, pedestrianism and boxing, \u2018trainers\u2019 took  men away from their families to prepare for big matches and looked after them, often in public houses, for two or three weeks so that their diet, physical fitness and skills could be improved. There may even have been discussions about how they would win\u2026.or lose.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"image
Framwellgate Moor Hand Ball (Fives) Alley<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What then, of Fives in County Durham? Well, in 1817, the Durham County Advertiser reported that, \u2018At Windlestone, to the disgrace of that neighbourhood, several hardly contested matches at Fives were played by young men from there and Merrington. The former beat the latter so there is a great probability of fresh exertions and to offer further insult to the Sabbath.\u2019 There had also been games at Stranton and Greatham. The main concern appears to have been the fact that the lads played on a Sunday but other concerns were that, as with Quoits or Potshare Bowling, the public highways were blocked and players weren\u2019t always keen to suspend the games to let travellers pass. As \u2018Viator\u2019 complained in a letter to the Stockton Times, \u2018the authorities should do something about Fives on the public highway, you cannot pass the Blue Coat School without running the risk of being struck by a ball\u2019 and if you complain, \u2018you are assailed with a volley of filthy and abusive language.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Image
Ball (Fives) Alley, Langley Park<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

By mid-century the game was sufficiently recognized and acceptable that it was a regular feature of the Stockton Whitsuntide sports and interest and participation grew as the years went by. Thus, in 1869, the Newcastle Journal carried the headline \u2018MATCH AT FIVES FOR \u00a3100 (\u00a315,000!) AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP\u2019 and went on to say, \u2018At Victoria Ball Alley, Willington, Mr John Rutherford (manager\/owner), James Kelley, of Tow Law, contested with John Southeron, of Wingate. Southeron had beaten Kelley for \u00a325 about eight weeks previously and his supporters were not happy, so another home and away match, for \u00a350 a-side, was arranged. The men met at Wingate a fortnight ago, and in front of several thousand spectators Southeron won by 31 chalks to Kelley\u2019s 26. About 4,000 turned up for the second half of the match. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Each man had an innings or two without scoring but Kelley began to score heavily and led 45 to 34, then 50-38 and it finished 62-40. Willington High St was very animated on Saturday evening.\u2019 Given the size of the crowd and the gambling, which all acknowledged was enthusiastic and heavy, it was no surprise that Willington was \u2018animated.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, Kelley went on to beat Thomas Barker, of Coxhoe, and then lost to him, in matches at Spennymoor and at Shincliffe in 1869 and 1871, the latter match attracting a crowd of 4,000. In 1872 two new names appeared in a match for the Championship and \u00a350 \u2013 William Walker of Chester (or possibly Ushaw) Moor and Aaron Grafton of Willington; and in 1876 Thomas Barker beat Walker at Tudhoe. In July 1884 The Northern Echo reported that Pompey King, of Trimdon, and the then Champion, William Scott, played their much-talked-of match for the Championship of the World, a Fives Challenge Cup (provided by the tradesmen of Spennymoor), and \u00a380, 33 chalks up, the conditions specifying a \u2018home and home game\u2019 \u2013 the first at Tudhoe and the second at Shildon, a fortnight later. Scott led 33-32 after the first game. In the second match Scott won 33-14. Jack Bessford, of Cassop, was another whose name often carried the distinction of \u2018Champion\u2019 and his career lasted from the mid-1880s until at least 1908, at which date there was discussion in the Newcastle Chronicle as to whether he or Jack Mordue, of Sacriston, was entitled to be called World Champion. (More of Mordue later). Pompey King, of Trimdon, was another well-known name in the area\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the question arises from the previously quoted headline; Champion of what, or where? As Arthur Greenwell, of Sacriston, pointed out in a letter, much later, in 1912, the difficulty was that there was no organized body to lay down rules or criteria. As in Quoits or Potshare Bowling, a man could issue a challenge (no doubt weighted towards his own particular skill-set) and if no one accepted the challenge he could pronounce himself World or English Champion and once the title had been (self) awarded it seems as if newspapers were happy to use the title, without any clear evidence of it actually being the case. Typical is this in Sporting Life, in 1892 \u2013 \u2018I, John Bessford challenge Lewis of Pontypridd, or any man in the world, home and home, at Fives, 31 points up. Anyone wishing to take up the challenge should deposit \u00a310 with Sporting Life.\u2019 In 1896 Sporting Life \u2013 \u2018For the first time for several years the Fives Championship of England was competed for at Tudhoe, the stakes being \u00a3100 and the challenge cup. John Bessford, of Cassop, who has held it for eleven years, contested with Joe Dolphin, of Coundon, for 33 chalks.\u2019 Bessford won 33-31. In the return match at Tudhoe in June, for \u00a3100 and the cup, Dolphin won 33-24. 3,000 watched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are few entries in the newspapers in terms of international matches apart from this, in the Sporting Life in June 1897\u2026.. \u2018in answer to John Bessford\u2019s challenge I (Josse French) will match James Fitzgerald to play him, or any other man in England for the sum of \u00a3100 or \u00a3200 a-side, home and home, the first in England for 41 chalks and then 41 chalks in Killarney. Aggregate score to decide. Winner to take all the gate money. Sporting Life to be stakeholder; an Irish and an English referee. The first portion with the English ball and the second with the Irish ball. Both games to be played in accordance with the rules of that ball court. Each man to deposit a sample ball.\u2019 He (French) enclosed a cheque for \u00a325. Sporting Life confirmed that. I can find no evidence that this match ever took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026\u2026And this, in the Empire News, in September 1887 \u2026\u2019William Scott, the ex-Champion Fives player, who was defeated by Bessford, at Spennymoor, suddenly made up his mind to go to America on Tuesday and left with a party of miners. He intends to try his luck in the Far West. Good Old William!\u2019 The same newspaper, on the same day, carried this cautionary tale, \u201cOur English athletes think they only have to set foot on western shores in order that the pavement may turn to gold. But hold on! The day before came a cablegram to mater as follows \u2018Cable me a draft of \u00a350, immediately, or I can\u2019t get back.\u2019 Mater to son -\u2018Swim.\u2019\u201d In 1889, the Durham County Advertiser noted that Scott had \u2018returned from USA where, in a few months, he achieved several victories in his favourite game.\u2019 No further details could be found. Fives obviously was played in America but how often and under what conditions isn\u2019t known\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026\u2026.And then, up popped an article from the Sporting Life, in 1890, under the heading \u2018Handball \u2013 seeing that Alderman Philip Casey of Brooklyn USA, the champion handball player of America, has arrived in this country, Arthur Pitt of Market Inn, Barnsley, will match John Bestford of Cassop to play him in a match of 41 chalks with a 21\/2 oz ball on August 30th for \u00a3100 a-side. To play at Tudhoe. A match can be made with A Pitt or S Heads, publican Spennymoor.\u2019 Casey, who had been born in Ireland and returned with a number of other \u2018Irish- Americans\u2019 was on his way to Ireland for a tour of handball clubs. There is no record of his having accepted Mr Pitt\u2019s challenge. Nor of his having taken on, again at handball, the  Australian Champion, Farrell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 1880s a lot of new Ball-Alleys were opened, often attached, as previously mentioned, to public houses. Though names varied, making identification more difficult, at least 56 can be identified in County Durham. In 1896, \u2018George Graham at the Nimmo Hotel has added 6 feet to his wall making it one of the finest in East Durham. The Wheatley Hill fives alley is now 110 feet high and is plastered with good concrete cement, enclosed by a wood paling with an enclosure to seat 1000.\u2019 Proof reading fails again \u2013 110 feet high? Nor would it have been 110 feet wide but, clearly, George wanted to provide a top class facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Another of the 56 was the Oxclose Ball Alley, attached to the Half Moon Inn. At Oxclose there was only a farm and the pub and there was obviously space for both Quoits and Fives. The Oxclose Ball Alley was established in, it would seem, late 1886. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle, in November 1886, reported that, at the Half Moon Inn Ball Alley, J Bennison played a Fives match against James and John Query (or McQuery). The Querys won 21-17 and it seems like it may have been the first at the new alley, certainly one of the first.  John McQuery\/Query was involved in another match , in 1890, at Oxclose, when he took on the Josephs, Ball and Goulbourne of Usworth Colliery \u2013 they being tied together to add a little novelty to the contest. It was for 31 chalks and \u00a310 a side.

What then, of William Bush, our local hero, the innovative publican at the Half Moon? There were regular matches there, following on from Bennison versus the Querys, for not insubstantial amounts of money. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Men outside the Half Moon at Oxclose<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The 1881 Census records William Bush as a coal miner, living at Speculation Place with his wife and five children, one of them being Isabella Smith Bush, born 1877. In 1889, Mr Bush was found guilty of allowing men to be drunk on his premises. Two policemen testified to his guilt and he was fined 40sh and costs. He said he\u2019d had a license for twelve years and had never been charged with any breach thereof. The 1891 Census noted that William Bush was the publican (and coal miner) of the Half Moon Inn, at 3, Oxclose. He was 45, born in Felling, married to Jane 35. They had eight children – Martin 18, William Mills 16, Sarah J 12, Margaret 10, John 8, Elizabeth 5, Andrew 3 and Mary 1. By 1901, William was living at Cottages, Mid Row, a coal miner, now a widower, with five of his children, Anne having been added to the family in 1893. It\u2019s not obvious exactly when he gave up as a publican but in 1896 the Durham County Advertiser noted, in a report of the proceedings of Chester-le-Street UDC, that the Medical Officer of Health reported that the owners of the Half Moon had agreed to provide additional outhouses in accordance with the Council\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January, 1902, the Sunderland Echo reported that \u2018a daughter of William Bush, caretaker, Washington, for a great many years landlord of the Half Moon Inn, Oxclose, died yesterday from injuries sustained Friday evening last, through being knocked down by a hawker\u2019s rolley at New Washington. Deceased, who was deaf and dumb, was 25 years old and highly esteemed in the locality.\u2019 This must have been Isabella Smith Bush born 1877 who is recorded as having died in the first quarter of 1902. In 1911, William  was living at 2, West View and he was employed as the caretaker for Usworth Miners\u2019 Institute. In 1921, aged 77, he was still listed as the caretaker of Washington Lodge, Durham Miners\u2019 Association. His son, Andrew, was still living with him, as was a married daughter, Anne Thomson, and her husband and child; William had a house keeper, a Mrs Ellison. William Bush died in 1925.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have no idea what caused Mr Bush to change career and leave the ranks of publicans but, in 1898, the Newcastle Journal reported that Richard Cole had applied to the Gateshead Magistrates to cancel his license for the Half Moon in order to move to the (Black) Bush in Washington. Mr R Duncombe Shaftoe owned the Half Moon and JW Cameron & Sons the (Black) Bush. Cole stated that there was only a farm and a pub in the area so he didn\u2019t need the license. The license having been ended it seems likely that that was the start of the decline of the Oxclose Ball Alley, though a game was played there, in front of a large company, in August 1908, between J Nutt, T Bolton and T Slowther, who played T Cole and Wm Marsden, all of Fatfield, for \u00a35 a-side. Bolton and partners won 33-31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were several other Washington publicans who were, more or less, involved in the Fives \u2018boom\u2019 of the late nineteenth century. Often it was as recipients of the deposits which seemed to be an essential part of the process leading up to a match. Two or three deposits seems to have been normal and failure to lodge the deposit at the specified time and place would cause the non-payer to forfeit the match and any deposits already paid. Thus William Gascoine, (whose license at the Stile Inn lasted from August 1889 until his death in 1900) was a regular recipient of deposits and then his wife took over the license. Other pubs involved included The New Inn, The Bird Inn, The Miner\u2019s Rest, The Victoria Bridge Hotel and The Guide Post. Whether there was any \u2018agent\u2019 payment to the publican from the Ball Alley isn\u2019t known but it may have been that publicans were glad to be involved, in that men paying deposits would turn up with supporters and it was no doubt thirsty work, depositing, you know\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of local, ie Washington players, there were games featuring Thos Charlton and Thos Hall of Fatfield; Robt Wood and Wm Robinson of Washington Staithes; William Ingleby of Usworth and Huddart and McLeary of Washington; Ball and Engleby of Usworth, Richard Geddes and Ryles of North Biddick; William Engleby and Joseph Taylor of Usworth; Joseph Taylor of New Washington and William Shaw of Usworth, against Joseph Ball of Usworth and M Goulbourn of N Biddick;  William Shaw and Joseph Boggle of Usworth against WJ Goulbourne of N Biddick and Robt Wood of Wardley; George Smith of Usworth and Michael Kegg of North Biddick; Joseph Ball and Frank Aisbett of Usworth; Geo Smith and E McDermott to oppose J McQuery, Thomas Glover and R Huddart, all of Washington; Edward McDermott of Usworth Colliery to play Michael Queen of N Biddick; doubles match between brothers John and Andrew Willis of Fatfield and Robert Ridley and John Lemon of N Biddick; George Edgar and Robert Ellwood to play Thom Glover and John McQuerry \u2013 all of Washington; Robert Ellwood to play L Lemon of N Biddick; C Bush of New York and Thomas Glover, of Washington, against John Cook and Alex Baillie of New York (that\u2019s a hamlet near Usworth); Joseph Ball of Usworth Colliery and Harry Dunn of Washington Colliery; A Willis of Oxclose and William Ingleby of Usworth Colliery; Harry Kegg and Joseph Aisley v brothers J and R Soulsby; Charles Docherty v Joseph Ball of Usworth; William Ingleby and Thomas Soulsby; P Reynolds  and J Daglish, both Usworth;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R Fitzpatrick of Biddick v John Query of Washington; Thomas Wilkinson of Washington and Richard Fitzpatrick of N Biddick; Marsden of Fatfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As to the matches themselves they could be singles, doubles, two versus three, a man playing with his weaker hand, a weaker player given a start of say 5 or 10 chalks but, typically, they would be for 33 chalks and for money ranging from \u00a310 to \u00a340 a-side. (Repeat: \u00a310 in 1880 was worth about \u00a31,500 today.) Matches took anything from two to three hours and, given the amounts involved, were keenly contested with partisan, and no doubt well-lubricated, support, from several hundred spectators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rules? Well they aren\u2019t ever described in the match reports and when they are they remain as impenetrable as the Schleswig Holstein question, of which Lord Palmerston famously said, \u2018The Schleswig-Holstein question is so complicated, only three men in Europe have ever understood it. One was Prince Albert, who is dead. The second was a German professor who became mad. I am the third and I have forgotten all about it.\u2019 The Sporting Life of 27\/8\/1883, in describing the match played between Scott and King at Tudhoe, \u2013 \u201cKing, who had won the toss, commenced with some strong play. Scott, however, made a splendid try at the line, but, getting low, allowed King to score. Scott then played one out of the boundary, giving King another chalk; the latter however, failing to reach a well-shot ball by Scott was compelled to retire. Some exciting play now took place but Scott, seeming to tire at the end of the \u2018check\u2019, let King in, who succeeded in scoring another chalk before letting the Champion in again, who took advantage of his possession and scored for the first time. With only one to his credit Scott had to retire, but his opponent was unsuccessful. The Champion then added another to his score but failed at a hard shot made a long way off the line, and King, however, failed to score and Scott, getting in again, added a couple; but, playing his next ball over-high, he let his opponent in. King, after his first delivery, failed to reach the return by Scott, who after scoring one, knocked the ball out of the ground, letting King in again, who, before he retired, added a couple and left the Champion in possession, who failed to score. The game was now 5-all and some give and take play was the order, but King putting in a lot of good work, in which he kept Scott pretty busy for a short time, augmented his score with an additional three and retired. The Champion followed with a barren innings and afterwards, knocking the ball over the top line, allowed King to chalk twice before he had another chance. Scott now showed some capital form and before having to give up possession of the rubber he succeeded in scoring four. King played a barren innings but the Champion kept on scoring, showing the game in its true form, and had increased his score to thirteen against King\u2019s nine when he had to again retire. King once more was unable to increase his score and at this point of the game a great deal of the interest attached to it seemed to be gone, but after the Champion had added another three, King had a turn, adding four to his total, but playing a ball over the top was compelled to retire. Upon Scott again gaining possession King seemed to play very loose as he knocked several balls out of the boundary, while the Champion took every advantage, never throwing the slightest chance away and before he was compelled to hand the ball back to King he had raised his score from 15 to 20. King then added a single and gave place to Scott who scored a couple. After a single by both men, King showed some of his best form and succeeded in keeping the Champion out till he had put on half a dozen, the score then being Scott 23, King 21. The play on both sides now was of a cautious nature, both men putting in all they knew, but scoring was slow. Scott, however, showed too, if anything, the best advantage at the \u2018line\u2019 shots and this in fives is an important feature and one to which Scott no doubt owes his present victory. While the score stood Scott 32, King 26, with the former in possession, the Champion, on leaving his chair to deliver his ball received quite an ovation and this was increased tenfold when King played the ball over the boundary and lost the match, the scores being Scott 33, King 26. Two hours twenty five minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Got that? You may feel that \u2018Schleswig Holstein\u2019 is looking more straightforward all the time. I imagine that an innings may have been a number of serves and that on the front wall there were high and low lines and, perhaps the boundaries spoken of? In squash there is a high line on the side walls and this may have been the same in Fives \u2013 if there was a side wall. The type and weight of the ball might well be one of the specified arrangements \u2013 thus in the proposed  match, 1887, between \u2018William Scott of Kelloe, Champion and John Bessford of Cassop, ex- Champion, who agree to play with sixpenny blob ball, stamped hole, not to be under 21\/4 oz or above 21\/2 oz in weight, half minute time allowed between each check, all lines to stand as usual. The editor of Sporting Life is appointed Stakeholder and Richard Robinson, of Tudhoe Colliery, is appointed referee. His decision to be final. No appeal to law. Four balls each. If a ball is lost or burst it must be replaced in three minutes. Either party failing to comply with these articles forfeits all money down. Signed by Scott and Bessford and witnessed Robert Richley.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While on the subject of John Bessford\/Bestford\/Besford of Cassop it appears that he was born, in 1864 at Pittington, to Ralph born 1839, died 1913 and Elizabeth (nee Stephenson) born 1838, died 1918. The 1871 Census locates the family  at Thornley and then, in 1881 at Haswell Moor – with Ralph and Elizabeth, John 16, Ralph 14, and son William Stephenson. In 1891, aged 27, John was living in Front Street, Cassop, with his parents, Ralph and Elizabeth. I can\u2019t locate him in the 1901 Census (though his parents, Ralph and Elizabeth were still in Cassop at New Cross St, with a grandson Ralph, 12, but by 1911 he was living at Coxhoe Rd, Cassop Colliery. His nephew, Ralph, aged 22,  (killed in 1916 and buried at Dartmoor cemetery, brother of W Bestford of Iron St, Cassop) was the Head of the House and John\u2019s parents, Ralph (died 1913) and Elizabeth (died 1918), now in their 70s, were also there. John Bestford died 4th December, 1918 and was buried in Cassop, St Paul\u2019s graveyard on 8th December. I couldn\u2019t find any mention of his death in newspapers other than this on 4\/12\/19 in the North Star \u2018Bestford.- In loving memory of our dear Uncle, John Bestford of Cassop Colliery, late champion ball player who died Dec 4th 1918. In the bloom of his life God claimed him, In the pride of his manhood days, None knew him but to love him, None mentioned his name without praise. Ever remembered by his loving niece Janet Carter and nephew, William Bestford.\u2019 I spent a couple of hours wandering (and falling down in) Quarrington Hill Cemetery, the no-longer-used part, in search of Jack\u2019s grave but could not find a marker of any kind. Perhaps there never was one, perhaps his money had disappeared and the family had not the means to afford one\u2026who knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving into the twentieth century the game (and references to it) was dominated by the aforementioned public schools, with their slightly different versions of Fives. However, deep in Sacriston, a family called Mordue was coming to the attention of Fives fans\u2026. and others. Jackie Mordue, born Edmondsley, 1887 fifth son of Thomas and Elizabeth had brothers called Thomas born 1871, Joseph born 1875, James born 1882 and Michael born 1884. Jack(ie) was a good footballer, played for Spennymoor and joined Barnsley in 1906. He was sold to Arsenal for \u00a3450 and played 28 games for them, and was then transferred to Sunderland, for \u00a3750, in May, 1908. Famously (and, some think, diabolically) he scored in the 9-1 Sunderland win at St James\u2019 Park in 1908 and was part of the Championship-winning team in 1913. In the same year, Sunderland lost in the FA Cup to Aston Villa, 1-0. Jackie played twice for England, once with his Sunderland team-mates, Charlie Buchan and Frank Cuggy. He played 294 games for Sunderland, scoring 80 goals. In the Great War he served in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Post-war, Jack was sold to Middlesbrough, in 1920, where he played for three years. He died in 1938 and Bobby Gurney and Raich Carter were among the pallbearers. As with Jack Bestford, though we know that he was buried (in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery) there is no marker at the (known) site of his burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extended family Mordue were a power in Fives, as well as providing a number of professional footballers. In 1897, in the Blyth News \u2013 \u2018Fives at Jarrow Ball Alley, Harold, Walton and Burns v Mordue brothers of Sacriston for \u00a350, 33 chalks.\u2019 In May 1906, the Newcastle Chronicle \u2018Challenge \u2013 Michael [later killed in the Dardanelles] and Jacky Mordue will play any couple in the world for \u00a325, at Colliery Inn Ball Alley.\u2019 In August 1908 the Newcastle Chronicle reported, \u2018Jack (English Champion), and Jim Mordue v Lloyd and McKenna at Tudhoe for \u00a325\u2019 \u2013 the Mordues lost 28-33. August 1911, the Sunderland Echo \u2013 \u2018At New Herrington WMC, John Mordue (Champion of the World) and Greenwell v Hall and Westgarth for \u00a3100.\u2019 The Newcastle Chronicle, January 1912 \u2013 a letter from Arthur Greenwell of Sacriston asserted that \u2018Bessford is not the Champion Fives player but Jack Mordue is. Morally, because there is no Championship to play for, no governing body and no authorised rules. Since 1907 Jack Mordue has challenged the world, even offering 20 chalks start in 41 chalks and the offer is still open\u2026but no one has taken it.\u2019 (It is, perhaps, worth knowing that Arthur had once played a doubles match with Jack Mordue and so may not have been entirely unbiased.) The Sheffield Daily Telegraph stated that Jack was Champion until 1922-3 (actually 1921). There were 2,000 at the Robin Hood Ball Alley at Sacriston (and they paid 1\/3d entrance plus an extra 6d for a seat) when he lost to Tucker Wilson\/Gill, of Bishop Auckland. In fact, Tucker Wilson\/Gill won, and then twice defended, the Championship of the World; and each of his opponents was a Mordue \u2013 ie Jack, Tucker and Bill. In 1933, Tucker Mordue defeated Tucker Gill at Horden Working Men\u2019s Club. In July, 1916, the Sporting Chronicle stated that Jackie Mordue had held the English Championship for five years but was not challenged in 1914.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Draughts in Fatfield through the medium of John Goyne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Goyne was born in 1853 at St Agnes, Truro, Cornwall to John 46, a copper miner, and his wife Elizabeth. John\u2019s siblings were Lydia born 1852 and Thomas born 1855. In 1871 the same five people were living at the same address with John and Thomas both, now, tin miners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John married Dorothy Ann (nee Dumble, aged 22, born in Sunderland) in Sunderland, in 1875 and by 1881 they were living at 5, Cross Row, Shadforth, County Durham, with their children – Emily 4, John Robert 2, and Isabella 3months (born Ryhope, Ryhope and Shadforth, respectively. Joseph was born 1884 in Sherburn, and Frederick 1887 in Fatfield, and Helen b 1890 Fatfield, Arthur born 1892 Fatfield, Margaretta b 1896 Fatfield and William born 1894 Fatfield. They\u2019d had 11 children of whom eight were alive in 1911. )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Census of 1891 shows them at 10, Low Row, Harraton with the addition of Joseph 7, born in Sherburn. John was a coal miner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Low Chapel Row, where John Goyne lived<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So far, so ordinary. John had presumably moved for work, though there might have been a thousand other reasons and circumstances, but from tin mining in Cornwall to coal mining in County Durham seems unexceptional, apart from the distance involved. At what point John became a draughts fiend isn\u2019t known\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Draughts Fiend, you say? A little context might be in order\u2026and who better to provide it than the IDF \u2013 International Draughts Federation. \u201cDraughts, as we know it, probably began as a game called Alquerque, or Quirkat. Alquerque boards and pieces have been found in archaeological digs dating as far back as 600 BCE, and images of Alquerque have been found carved into temple walls dating as far back as 1400 BCE. It was played throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin. It was enjoyed by the Ancient Egyptians, mentioned by both Plato and Homer, and even made its way into India.\u201d As Frank Eley, of Fatfield Draughts Club pointed out, after a match at Mr Gregg\u2019s North Shields Cocoa Rooms, in 1888, \u2018Plato had used draughts for philosophical illustration, Frederick the Great spent many hours over it, Lincoln and Garibaldi prized it highly and General Grant used it to \u2018clean out the boys\u2019 at West Point.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ancient game, then, and it had a resurgence in the nineteenth century. In 1828 you could buy from a show at the Queen\u2019s Head, Durham, if you were a \u2018Connoisseurs of Taste and Elegance\u2019, presumably with some spare cash, \u2018East India Productions including Chess and Draughts Men, elaborately carved. And in 1840 you could have watched a match, for \u00a350, between Andrew Anderson, of Carluke, and Mr Wyllie the famous \u2018Herd Laddie\u2019, of Edinburgh, played at the Clydesdale Inn, Lanark. (Anderson won by seven games to five\u2026.which didn\u2019t prevent Wyllie challenging the world in 1845!) The Newcastle Billiards Rooms in Market St had a special room where men could play draughts and in 1862 Chester le Street, just along the road from what was not yet John Goyne\u2019s home, was putting aside a room in the Mechanics\u2019 Institute. As the old saying goes \u2013 \u2018Where Chester le Street leads, Harraton follows\u2026.\u2019 but not necessarily immediately\u2026rather, when John Goyne arrives\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Late
The Glen building on the left of the picture was the Fatfield Reading Rooms where the draughts club met<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

In 1886, at which point he must have only recently set foot in Fatfield\/Harraton, John participated in a draughts handicap at the Pelton Colliery Hotel. He didn\u2019t win but, without being too fanciful over his part in all of this, things started to happen. February 1886, the West Lothian Courier included ‘match solution to Problem 141 by John Goyne of Fatfield.’ In May, Blyth News reported that, ‘Ten of Fatfield played ten of South Shields at Fatfield Reading Rooms. They had a break for tea and the Shilds men had travelled by brake. Fatfield won 19 games to 15 and a return match was planned. In the same month Blyth News printed that the winner of the Chester le Street Draughts Tournament, at the Liberal Club, was ….. John Goyne. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where Harraton follows\u2026.sometimes it overtakes….. Fatfield Draughts Club was established in 1886, with Joyn Goyne as secretary and the pastime was heading for a ‘crown’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

In March 1891, Henry Christie won the English Championship at the Polytechnic Institution, London. A month later he turned out for Fatfield against Mickley and, a month after that, appeared for Fatfield against South Shields in the Durham Cup final ….. but failed to win either of his games. Drafting in the English Champion may seem to be pushing the rules a touch but competition was competition and in the same match Fatfield claimed a game from Board 3 because Mr Bell was late from work and Mr Bawn didn’t turn up, which forfeited four games, Mr John Saxon, of Fatfield declining to play a substitute. ‘This was the first time the time rule had been implemented,’ noted the Sunderland Echo, sniffily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Christie (having won the English Championship in 1891) refused to go back to London to defend it (his letter in Newcastle Courant of June 4th 1892 said he was being expected to pay his own expenses and lose work and signed himself \u2018The Only English Champion Draughts Player) and suggested that anyone who wanted to play him could come to Sunderland. Nor was he interested in attending the Chicago World\u2019s Fair Draughts Congress and Tournament, in 1893, even though there was prize money of $3000 . He was, however, prepared to travel to London in 1894 as part of the English team to play Scotland. And, much later, he was the best scorer in the team that lost to the USA in New York in 1927. He may have been (mostly) content to make his living in local handicaps and tournaments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Image
Henry Christie – English draughts champion, played some matches for Fatfield<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Competitions were established for the Durham County Cup and the South Durham and Yorkshire Cup, representatives of clubs from Durham, Hartlepool, Fatfield, Darlington, South Shields and Framwellgate Moor, having met in 1891 at Shakespeare Cocoa Rooms in Durham. John Goyne as Secretary pro tem \u2013 and was instrumental in drawing up appropriate rules.

As clubs were formed and competitions began, \u2018Places of Draughts Resort\u2019, like those listed below, advertised their existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

So, this in the Newcastle Courant, in August 1895 \u2013 Bellingham Reading Room, Fatfield Reading Rooms, Hetton Downs, Croft Spa, Leeds Temperance Hotel, Mickley Commercial Inn, Newcastle Working Men\u2019s Club in Nelson St, North Shields Lockhart\u2019s Cocoa Rooms New Quay, South Shields Brown\u2019s Cocoa Rooms and West Hartlepool Liberal Club.

Pubs, of course, were keen to attract \u2018enthusiasts for the silent game\u2019 and their money and were keen to sponsor matches and handicaps and be the venue of choice for local teams. The Bird in Hand, at New Penshaw became, by 1894, the home of Fatfield Draughts Club, several of whose players were actually from Herrington but other Fatfield home matches took place at the Ferry Boat Inn, as well as the Reading Rooms. In 1897 Fatfield Draughts Club changed its name to New Herrington and District Draughts Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
The Bird in Hand, which became the HQ of Fatfield Draughts Club<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Image
Lockhart’s Cocoa Rooms at South Shields, where Fatfield played South Shields<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Champions toured, at home and abroad. In 1886 James Smith, champion of England, visited Fatfield Reading Room \u2013 he won 25 and drew  4, losing only to John Goyne. In the same year John also played Robert Dover, the Northumberland Champion, but lost. In 1890 William Campbell of Glasgow, the champion blindfold player, fulfilled his engagement at Fatfield. The main attraction was four blindfold games, played simultaneously, in which he took on Goyne, Miller, Boll and McKinley, \u2018the local cracks.\u2019 Campbell won 31 games, drew eight and lost only 1, to Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Newcastle Chronicle of 4th November 1895: \u2018Mr John Goyne, (our agent) newsagent of Fatfield, died (of asthma and chronic bronchitis). His business was extensive and covered Fatfield, Brown\u2019s Buildings, Harraton and New Penshaw.. He had been secretary of the Miners\u2019 Permanent Relief Fund, honorary secretary to the Durham County Draughts Association and secretary to Fatfield Draughts Club. He leaves a sorrowing widow and seven children. He was born in Cornwall.\u2019 John was buried in St George\u2019s Churchyard, Harraton on 5\/11\/95, grave 598.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 1896, South Shields Draughts Club promoted an open handicap in memory of John Goyne and to raise money for his widow. Eight good prizes were offered. Entries were: South Shields 64, Fatfield 48, Stanley 32 and Hartlepool 32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Christie died in 1929 and is buried in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026..And where there was working class draughts in Washington and elsewhere\u2026.there was likely to be middle class chess, in Washington and elsewhere. Wiki tells us that the first modern chess tournament was held in London, in 1851 held in London, in 1851<\/a>. The winner was Adolf Anderssen<\/a>, a German. Other early \u2018stars\u2019 were Paul Morphy and Wilhelm Steinitz; the match between Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort<\/a>, in 1886, being regarded as the first official World Chess Championship<\/a>. Steinitz lost his crown in 1894 to a much younger, also German, mathematician, Emanuel Lasker<\/a>, who maintained this title for 27 years, the longest tenure of all World Champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What then of Washington and the wider district? The first meeting of Northumberland and Durham Chess Association was held in April 1866, at the Central Exchange Hotel, in Newcastle, and lasted two days \u2013 President: Lord Ravensworth. His Lordship had been unable to attend the meeting but, according to the Illustrated London News, there were \u2018 a large number of amateurs attending\u2019 and they played several tournaments and then drew up a list of  rules and appointed a committee of nineteen. The next meeting was scheduled for North Shields at Easter 1867; it took place at the Commercial Hotel and four tournaments were played. In 1868, the AGM was at the Golden Lion, South Shields. I was unable to find further references to the Northumberland and Durham Association until the death of Lord Ravensworth, in 1878, at which point the Newcastle Courant stated that \u2018when the Counties\u2019 Chess Association met a few years ago\u2019 \u2026 perhaps the game was more about the local clubs, or individuals, and their matches. The growth of chess in the 1880s saw the foundation of new clubs such as Washington, Durham, Gateshead, Boldon, Tynemouth, Spennymoor, Middlesbrough , Stockton, West Hartlepool, South Shields, Jarrow, North Shields, Beal and Hexham \u2013 or at least players from those towns participating in the tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Northumberland and Durham Chess Association<\/strong> was, apparently, re-formed in October 1891, the Newcastle Chronicle printing letters from Mr Wallbank (Washington) and Henry S Wallace (Newcastle Art Gallery Chess Club), suggesting that a Northumberland and Durham Association be formed in the hours leading up to the Chess Fete of 24th October. The preferred venue seems to have been Newcastle, presumably because of the ability of the two clubs in that city to attract larger numbers of players, and the likes of JH Blackburne, British Champion in 1868, and in the world\u2019s top five from 1871-1889, who played exhibition matches there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington Chess Club seems to have been formed in the late 1880s, the first mention of it I can find being in the Newcastle Chronicle, of January 1888, when the paper reported on a \u2018Chess Tournament at Washington Village, between Durham and Washington and District, at Mr Bainbridge\u2019s Cross Keys.\u2019 Mr Foggin of Biddick 2, Mr Walbank of Usworth 2, Mr Lee of Washington 2, Mr Nance of Usworth 2 \u2013 score 8-0. A great start. Other games were played at the New Inn. In December of the same year, Washington played the newly-founded Boldon Club and won by 101\/2 \u2013 31\/2 and, in January of 1889, Washington visited the Mechanics\u2019 Institute at Gateshead and beat Gateshead 10-6. Messrs William Foggin, Henry Watkinson Walbank, Robert Lee, Dr Nance, Rev Michael Maud(e) Simpson, Frank Threlkeld, S Gray, Joseph Percy Gray, Cook JJ, T Proud, JJ Hall, T Coates, Miller, Whittle, Dr (David) Wilson, F Snowdon, JS Turnbull, Dr Alexander McCune, Dr Charles Mann and Dr James Clark Gardner played in some or all of these games and in later matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Headstone
Headstone of Henry Watkinson Walbank – best chess player in Usworth<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The identity of some of these men isn\u2019t known but, of those tracked down in the Census and other documents, five were medical men, either doctors or surgeons, one was a clergyman and four were teachers. Henry Wat(d)kinson Walbank was born in Bingley in 1852, his mother \u2018Binns\u2019, trained as a teacher at Lord Mayor\u2019s Walk Training College, in York, married Ann Lee (born in York in 1849), in Chester Le Street in 1874 and, by 1881, was employed at Usworth  Board School as an elementary teacher. Henry and Ann had two children, Annie and John, and a female elementary teacher was living with them as a boarder, in 1881. By 1891 Henry had been appointed Headmaster and they had added Irene (5) to their family and another daughter, Lilian Elizabeth, had been born and died, aged 1. The 1901 Census listed the family at Number 3, School House, with Annie, now an assistant teacher and Irene a monitress. William Jordison, attendance officer, lived, handily, next door. Henry died in 1916 and was buried in Usworth Churchyard. In 1878 he had produced for the North of England School Furnishing Company \u2018A Penny Geography of County Durham.\u2019

Henry was, apparently, the best of the Washington and District chess players, managing a draw against Joseph Henry Blackburne when that champion played seventeen simultaneous matches, at Newcastle in 1891. Known as \u2018Rio\u2019, Henry was top, by 14 clear points, of the Newcastle Chronicle \u2018chess solutions table\u2019 in July 1892. In Washington\u2019s matches against other clubs Mr Walbank would normally win his two games and, on occasion, would turn out for Felling Church Institute in their matches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another star in the local chess firmament had visited Washington in 1890 when, \u2018At the invitation of members Mr Louis Zollner, born in Denmark but, in 1891, living in Newcastle, a merchant in Icelandic produce and Danish Consul, paid a visit to Washington and District Chess Club on Saturday evening, when he played all-comers simultaneously. There was a contingent from Gateshead Club. Eighteen games were contested, of which Mr Zollner won 14 and lost to Dr Nance, while two were drawn by Mr Wallbank and Mr Thompson of Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, back to the subject of teachers: Frank Threlkeld was another who sometimes played chess. He\u2019d been born in Bradford in 1863, was married with a child and taught at an elementary school in Washington. He\u2019d studied at  the British and Foreign School\u2019s Society, London, and lived at New Rd, Washington. In 1891 he was \u2018Master of Elementary School\u2019. By 1899 he\u2019d moved to Manchester, as a Headmaster but, by 1921, he was a patient in Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital, at Cheadle. He died, in 1922, at that hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

Frank Threlkeld died, apparently insane, in 1922, but, eight years before that, one of his colleagues in the teaching profession had met a more gruesome fate, at Washington Station. John Sewell Turnbull, born in Shildon in 1864 and married to Margaret (Bell Garthwaite from 1896, Margaret was a Head teacher at a Council School by 1911), was an elementary schoolmaster, according to the Census of 1911, and had become Head Teacher of Biddick Council School by 1911, living at School House, close to the Victoria Inn. He and George Arthur Patterson (57) a rate collector of 47, Station Rd, had gone to the station on 17th December to await the arrival of the 7.17 pm train; a Masonic meeting, at Penshaw, beckoned. As the train approached, Turnbull, standing with his back to the line, turned, appeared to stumble and, as Patterson grasped him, they both fell on to the line. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Image
The River Wear at the location of the Victoria Inn (see the shadow of the Victoria Viaduct)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The driver had no chance to stop. They were found under the first carriage, Turnbull\u2019s legs having been amputated and Patterson having sustained severe head and arm injuries. Both were taken to Newcastle Infirmary, Turnbull dying on the way and Patterson soon after arrival. Robert Tower was the witness at the inquest, held at the Infirmary, and the jury recorded a verdict of \u2018accidental death\u2019.

Robert Lee, born 1856, was another chess-playing teacher and, by 1871, he was already Head of a Washington School. His brother, Henry, was also a pupil teacher, perhaps at the same school. In 1881 Robert\u2019s address was given as National School House. By 1891 his daughter, Ada, had become a pupil teacher and, by 1901, another daughter, Annie, had qualified as a Certificated Schoolmistress. Robert had retired by the time of the 1911 Census; he lived until 1932 and on 23rd October 1933 the Sunderland Echo reported that a stained glass window had been erected in the south transept of Holy Trinity, Washington, by Alfred Lee to his father, Robert (died 1932), and his (Robert\u2019s) mother, Mary. The paper noted that Robert had been an ex-student of Bede College and then Parish Clerk and organist, at Holy Trinity from 1868 \u2013 1924, fifty six years. The service was carried out by Canon Lomax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Image
Glebe House, where chess-playing doctors Mann and Gardner lived at various times<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Of the medical men we can dispose of, so to speak, Dr Nance, very quickly. Though present at the Usworth Pit Disaster of 1885 and at various other inquests and accidents, and a leading light in the provision of a Reading Room in the Peareth Room at Usworth Institute in 1890, I am unable to track him down in any documents. Moving on: Dr Mann, was listed in the 1897 Electoral Roll as living at Glebe House and in the 1901 Census as Charles Mann. (36), born Scotland, a medical practitioner, with his wife, Ella (34) born Scotland, with Arthurina McKenzie (35) on her own means, born Scotland, as a visitor and William McLean (31) visitor, an iron monger born Scotland\u2026 and a servant. A book detailing the alumni of Aberdeen Univesity states \u2018Charles Francis Grant Mann, MB, CM, son of Alexander Mann, was born at Nairn, 4\/3\/65, and died at Washington 29\/5\/1904.\u2019 Charles had earlier (1881) been a medical practitioner in Medomsley, living as a lodger with a coal miner at Dene Bank. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019d graduated from the University of Aberdeen. On 29\/9\/1893 the Consett Guardian noted his marriage to Ella, second daughter of Roderick McLean Esq, late Factor at Ardross, the wedding taking place at Grantown on Spey. Charles Mann (39) was listed in the Ross-shire Journal of 3rd June, 1904, as having died at Craig-Lutha, Dulnain Bridge, Strath on 29th May \u2013 Charles Francis Grant Mann, MB, CM of Washington, County Durham, youngest son of the late Alexander Mann (JP for Nairn and lessee of a salmon fishery employing 16 people) of Nairn and Ballintomb and the Sheffield Telegraph noted his will of \u00a32,173. He was buried in Cromdale Churchyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another chess-playing medical man was James Clark Gardner, listed by the 1891 Census at Glebe House. He was 39, a surgeon,  born Benwell, and he was living with Henry Waddington (29), a surgeon\u2019s assistant, born in Yorkshire and Ann Gawman (35) a servant. James was the son of Cuthbert Gardner, contractor, of Winlaton, and had been in Washington some 10 years. The Census does not mention James\u2019 wife but he had married Kathleen Elizabeth Morgan at Islington in 1890 and she had a son in 1894, in Hastings, but her husband\u2019s address was given as Washington. Dr Gardner died November 1893, at Glebe House, aged 40. The report of his death noted that he was a Lieutenant in 4th Volunteer Battalion, DLI, and that he had died of injuries sustained in a carriage accident on 28th October, near the Springwell Inn, at Wrekenton, thrown from his trap on the turnpike, on the way back from Newcastle. The horse had taken fright and bolted. On the Sunday he was attended by Drs Galloway, Davis, Wilson and (the untraceable) Dr Nance. The coachman was called Hamilton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 25th March 1896 The Globe noted the marriage of Edward Craig Hall to Kathleen, daughter of Captain RW Morgan of Mountain Ash, Ore, Sussex, the widow of James Clark Gardner of Washington, County Durham. Kathleen and Edward were  living in Hove in 1901, he a timber merchant, with their two young children and his stepson, James Clark Gardner, aged 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander McCune, who played chess and died young, died at his mother-in-law\u2019s at Blackpool, on 19th January, 1909. Alexander was Scottish. He was in practice in Washington (and Dr Jacques sent a wreath) and died at his mother in law\u2019s. Alexander was 42, born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire and had qualified in Edinburgh. (In 1890 he was listed as having a triple qualification at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.) In 1891 he was described as a surgeon and was living as a lodger at Pegswood, with the family of a coal miner. By the time of the 1901 Census he had moved to 45 Speculation Place, Washington, and was lodging there with William Blenkinsop (56) a coachman, with wife, Catherine (both born Scotland) and  Alex McCune, widower, no occupation (72) born Scotland, Alex McCune (34) being described as a boarder, single, surgeon, and Matt O\u2019Halloran (39) boarder, surgeon, born Ireland was also present. Alex was a Vice President of Washington Cricket Club, played tennis in the Washington Hall tournament that was raising money for Dame Margaret\u2019s, in 1894, and helped \u2018christen\u2019 the billiards table at the newly refurbished St Joseph\u2019s Institute for Young Men, in 1899.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex, of New Washington, had married Dinah Ogden (23) in Fylde, in 1908. The marriage certificate stated that his father, by then deceased, was a missionary, and the marriage was witnessed by Wm McCune, probably a brother. Dinah\u2019s father was a caretaker. Alexander, who had been in declining health, left \u00a3430. Dinah, if it\u2019s the same woman, appears to have been a talented singer appearing in various musical events in the Blackpool area in the first decade of the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last of the medical \u2018chessmen\u2019 was Dr David Wilson, a surgeon, born 1852 in Scotland who, in 1891 was at Harpsdale House (two addresses away from the Red Lion) Birtley. David was a son of Bailie David Wilson, a draper and town councillor at Irvine. He was described as a General Medical Practitioner and was married to Elizabeth McGregor Wilson, born Irvine, Scotland. Their children were  Elizabeth M (11), David (8), Agnes K (6) and in the same house were Jessie Holman (38) a Professor of Singing, a visitor born Aberdeen, Robert C Cruickshank (31), a medical assistant and student, born Torquay, and two servants. Dr Wilson and family, in 1901, were living at Brookside House, Birtley. Their servant was from a Mr Man story, Lily Tickle. In 1911, David Wilson and his wife were living in the same house but with a different servant. Lily had gone elsewhere to tickle or be tickled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David\u2019s medical career included the following: appointed as Public Vaccinator for the Chester le Street Board of Guardians from 1886 and then appointed briefly, in 1888, to the Board of Guardians (a problem arose because his brother, R.K.Wilson, was a member of the Board but it seems to have been overcome). He had qualified as a doctor at Glasgow in 1877, and then took over the practice of Dr McLish in Washington, before buying Dr Bain\u2019s practice at Birtley. He kept both practices going until the one in Washington was bought by Dr Jacques. In 1908 he became Compensation Surgeon to Birtley Ironworks and Pelaw Main Colliery. He was also Chief Surgeon to the local ambulance division. Dr Wilson, \u2018The Little Doctor\u2019 died at Brookside House, in April 1915, and was buried in Birtley; his obituary pointed out that he had played football, refereed significant matches in the North but had also had a great interest in cricket and other sports \u2013 neglecting to mention chess! He used a \u2018machine\u2019 to get to some of his appointments and fell off it in 1894, breaking several ribs, while returning from Kibblesworth. A bicycle rather than a motor bike? At the time of his death his son and his daughter, Elizabeth, were both in Australia, while Agnes had married Captain Newton of the Army Veterinary Corps, who was then serving in France. Elizabeth, his wife, moved to Syson House, Tynemouth, to be cared for by Agnes and she died in June 1919. A cortege brought her body for burial in Birtley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story doesn\u2019t quite end with their deaths because after his demise a memorial fund had been set up under a committee led by Philip Kirkup (manager of Craghead Colliery and Commander of 8th DLI during the Great War) and, what with one thing and a war, they found it difficult to decide what should be done with the \u00a3115 raised. A letter to the Chester-le-Street Chronicle, from \u2018a subscriber\u2019, asked about it in 1919. A drinking fountain was the suggestion but who would be expected to pay for the water \u2013 the Parish Council or the Water Company? In 1923 \u2018a subscriber\u2019, perhaps the same one, suggested the money ought to be returned. Finally, on 18th October 1928, a Reading Room was opened at the Joseph Hopper Aged Miners\u2019 Homes, Leybourn Hold, Birtley, by Dr Wilson\u2019s niece, Mrs BM Johnson of Hamilton. Philip Kirkup, as Chair of the Fund, was thanked for putting in \u00a394.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teachers, medical men and a Vicar\u2026..The Reverend Michael Maud(e) Simpson (32) was listed as Rector of Usworth in the 1881 Census, living at the Rectory with his sister, Ellen G Simpson (28), his brother Basil C (18) and a servant girl, Margaret Potts. He had been born in Lincolnshire, son of the curate of Barton on Humber, later Thornley and then Tow Law, County Durham, completed his studies at Oriel College, Oxford, in 1874, and came to Usworth in 1879. He and his father were two of the very many clergymen who were invited to dine at Durham Castle when Bishop Lightfoot was enthroned in May 1879 \u2013 but no menu appears in the report of the event. Michael married Francis Elizabeth Lever, widow of Thomas Goldie Scott, in Edinburgh Cathedral, in August 1883 and was awarded an MA by Oxford, in 1885. In 1891, Michael was living at the Rectory with two servants, his wife not mentioned. Michael died at Ilkley, in January 1904, and left \u00a3964 gross. I can find neither he nor his wife in the 1901 census. Frances Elizabeth Simpson died 12th  September 1904, in Edinburgh, and her funeral took place at Balmaclellan, New Galloway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having covered the medical men, the churchman and the teachers, all fairly easily identifiable, we can move on to the others. John Frederick Snowdon (son of John M Snowdon) was a farmer, at High Washington, as was Samuel Gray. The other names are so common in the Washington area that it\u2019s problematic to offer details. JJ Cook (JP) may well have been Joseph Cook, the ironfounder, of North Biddick Hall, or indeed his son, (but on one occasion the newspaper called him John J Cook, so perhaps not, or did both men play?), William Foggin was a colliery engineer who lived, for a time, at Washington Villa, next door to Dame Margaret\u2019s Hall. There was a James Percy Gray\/Grey, a signalman at Usworth Junction whose two daughters went on to be pupil teachers \u2013 correct class? Who knows. About Messrs Proud, Hall, Coates and Whittle it would be merely guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check\u2026..and out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Rowing in and around Washington to 1903<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regattas in the North East are like buses \u2013 none for a while and then three come along at once \u2013 the three being Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle (there had been an Ascension Day regatta on the Tyne in 1830), in that order, all in the summer of 1834. According to Wiki, the first-ever regatta was at Chester, on the Dee, in 1819, and then Durham was the second, in 1834, but the definition of what was a regatta may vary because there were regattas on Keswick Lake in the 1780s and in Portsmouth in 1786, to name but two. Anyway, the North East regattas seem to have been pretty similar in character with prizes offered for a variety of craft. Sunderland regatta differed slightly from the river regattas at Durham and Newcastle, in that on the first day the action took place in the sea, rather than on the river, though the second day\u2019s events were held between Deptford and Claxheugh Rock. Here\u2019s how the Durham Chronicle described it \u2013 \u2018BOAT REGATTA AT SUNDERLAND. On Monday and Tuesday last, a boat regatta was plied in Sunderland Roads on the river Wear, near that town, which, being previously announced, and the weather proving very favourable, an immense concourse of spectators of all classes attended on the occasion, many of whom were visitors from distant parts of the country. The regatta was got up by several gentlemen of Sunderland and the officers of the Eighth Depot, stationed in the town, on whom the arrangements and proceedings of this rational amusement and display physical exertion reflect the highest credit. It was also patronised by a number of ladies of the neighbourhood of Sunderland, who distributed metals to the winners of several boat races.  On the first day the races were rowed a distance of about 3 miles, in cobles by three men each, viz from Sunderland Pier End round a boat stationed at anchor about a mile and a half in the Roads, and back to the pier end, for the different prizes. The scene presented numbers of boats, cobles, gigs, steam vessels, et cetera, all crowded with passengers, and the pier and the banks on each side of the harbour thronged with spectators.  On Tuesday the races were with gigs of four and six oars from Deptford to Claxheugh Rock and back, a distance of about 3 miles. The banks of the river, as on the preceding day, were thronged with spectators, including nearly all the beauty and fashion in the neighbourhood, to whom the days\u2019 sports game gave very great satisfaction; and we are glad to observe the not a single accident occurred to interrupt the pleasure of the assembled multitude.\u2019 There were races for cobles, sailing cobles, four-oared boats and two-oared boats, some for amateurs and some for professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Newcastle Courant suggested that \u2018as the Tyne Regatta had gone so well it is probable that it will become an annual event.\u2019 Indeed it did and some superstars became famous for their participation and success \u2013 Bob Chambers (Champion World Sculler in 1863), Harry Clasper (part of the Four-oared World Championship crew in 1845) and James Renforth (World Sculling Champion in 1868). Durham and Newcastle continued with annual regattas but for Sunderland there was a gap. Indeed, when a regatta was held in 1856 the Essex Standard reported on it as shown \u2013 \u2018SUNDERLAND REGATTA \u2013 the first regatta at Sunderland came off on Wednesday last. For some weeks the inhabitants of this populous port have been looking forward to the event with considerable interest. Upwards of 8,000 persons were present. The sports passed off remarkably well. The first prize was a splendid gold cup, value 80 guineas, which was won by the \u2018Amazon\u2019, London, AJ Young Esq. The second prize, a 30 guinea silver cup, was not sailed for as the race was not filled up. Third prize \u2013 a silver cup value 15 guineas, was won by the Allies of Hartlepool, 17 tons, William Gray Esq. Fourth prize, for life-boats, \u00a325, won by the Sailors\u2019 Sunderland Life-Boat and \u00a35 for the second boat was given, being won by the Whitburn Life-Boat. Forty pounds was after given to coble races, steamboats and other minor sorts, which greatly added to the amusement of the large company present. In the evening there was a splendid display of fireworks which passed off happily, without accident. The Amazon was remarkably well handled by her crew composed of real Colchester natives (smacksmen); Captain Joseph Hazell was her pilot.\u2019 You\u2019ll notice that they thought it was the first of such regattas and, one assumes, the reason they covered it was because of Captain Hazell\u2019s success. Surprisingly, there was no report in the Sunderland Echo. There was then another gap until 1876 and then the event was held intermittently until the end of the century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not to say that there wasn\u2019t boat-racing on the Wear, just that the organisers of the regatta, gentlemen one and all, didn\u2019t choose, for whatever reasons, to organise the events on an annual basis. Which was a pity\u2026..since the report in the Echo, of the event in 1880, suggests a great time was had by all. July 1880 Sunderland Echo \u2013 \u2018SUNDERLAND REGATTA the Sunderland Amateur Rowing Club Regatta was held yesterday over the Spa Well Course on the Wear, at Cox Green. For some years this event has had an intermittent existence, the last having been held in 1878, but not withstanding this the stewards were able to show a good entry list and their efforts to secure a good day\u2019s sport were pleasantly aided by charming weather. Despite St Swithin and all the alarming prognostications of the weather prophets, there was not the faintest suspicion of rain all day, and by river, road and rail, Sunderland went pouring out to the scene of action, more we imagine to enjoy a day\u2019s outing than as keen critics of aquatic sports. The bank of the Wear between Hylton and Cox Green are pleasant under any circumstances, but we never remember seeing them look more beautiful than yesterday. The  woods were freshly green after the recent rains, and the winding walks by the riverside, albeit somewhat soft, were shady and attractive. The stewards and subscribers were conveyed by two steamers to the low end of the course, and from thence made their way to the enclosure. This year the enclosure was on the south side of the river, a decided improvement. In former years those who patronised it were unable to see the races for more than a third of the way, but yesterday they were perched on a rising ground, commanding a splendid view of the course, and splendid view also of the country roundabout. The scene from the enclosure was a remarkably lively one. The river was alive with steam launches and pleasure boats of every description, some of portly proportions and some so fragile that spectators of timorous disposition grew decidedly uncomfortable when they looked at them. Thousands of spectators lined the bank strolling about or perched in good positions for sightseeing, and many a family party might be detected, up the slopes, doing equal damage to the pasture and the provisions. Now and again the strains of the police band, under the leadership of Mr Lax, were borne faintly upon the ears, but more frequently the hum of laughter and holiday talk from the crowd of onlookers, or the sharp report that told that some scullers were dispatched on their way. Altogether the stewards are to be congratulated on having had a pleasant and successful meeting, and we hope that next year will not be allowed to lapse without another of the same.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Image
Part of the rowing course from Cox Green to Brown’s Boathouse (The Ferryboat Inn)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Image
The Ferry Boat Inn<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What then of more casual races and challenges? Well, let\u2019s start with the \u2018Champion of the Wear,\u2019 Alexander Hogarth. Alex seems to have begun his rowing career in 1861, at the age of eighteen, but the first mention of him in newspapers is in 1863, when he took part in a handicap with nineteen other Sunderland rowers. In 1864 he won \u00a31 by defeating William Stallard over 2 miles, from \u2018Simpson\u2019s, Pallion to Barron\u2019s Quay\u2019 and, a month later, he beat Thomas Hardy for \u00a325. Being an employee of Wilson\u2019s Saw Mills, he became known, if briefly, as the \u2018Saw Mills Lad\u2019; in 1867 he defeated George Young, \u2018aquatic champion of the Wear,\u2019 for \u00a320 and the title of \u2018Champion of the Wear.\u2019 His career continued until around 1880 with successes at regattas on the Tyne and the Wear, at both Durham and Sunderland. He also raced at Leeds, Talkin Tarn, Manchester and Nottingham. Not only was he a great rower but he also saved several lives of those who might otherwise have drowned in the Wear. He was sufficiently well-known to feature, 1873, in the weekly conundrums produced for advertising purposes by AB Joseph, of 12 Grey St, Newcastle \u2013 \u201cWhy is Alexander Hogarth like AB Joseph\u2019s suits. Because they have never been beaten for \u2018Wear.\u2019\u201d He was invited, as a celebrated rower, to Harry Clasper\u2019s funeral in 1870, the procession being watched by an estimated 130,000. In later years Alex was a referee of rowing challenges, a trainer and someone who had a pleasure steamer built to carry cruises up the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex died in March, 1896. \u2018Death of a Wear Sculler \u2013 The death took place on Monday morning, at Sunderland, of Mr Alexander Hogarth, a famous oarsman, who for many years was champion sculler of the Wear. He was the son of a South Shields hotel-keeper, and in his 53rd year. His wife died about three years ago, and there are no children.\u2019 And, from a different paper, \u2018He was of a most genial disposition and his death will be regretted by a large circle of friends. Last September Mr Hogarth was out shooting in Cumberland and got drenched to the skin and had to be for some hours in his wet clothes. This seems to have sown the seeds of his fatal illness for he has frequently been ailing since and his death was due to consumption.\u2019 Joe Wilson wrote a song about him in his heyday \u2013 here\u2019s the \u2018forst vorse\u2019 and \u2018Korus\u2019,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

There were, of course, plenty of other strong lads who fancied their chances on the Tyne, the Wear and the Thames but let\u2019s stick to the Wear. The regatta of the late 1870s were held on the Spa Well course, that\u2019s to say ending at Cox Green but there were also races  to the west of that from the Victoria Viaduct to the Ferry Boat Inn, or Brown\u2019s Boat House as it was sometimes known. In 1872 the Newcastle Journal reported that Emerson Ridley (a single mason living as a lodger in CLS in 1871) was to take on Curry, for \u00a330, who had had the assistance of Mr Brown of Fatfield Boat House in his training. Curry rowed in the \u2018Renforth\u2019 and Ridley in the \u2018Robert Chambers\u2019. Curry won, the course \u00be mile from the Rifle Butts to Lumley Ferry landing immediately in front of the Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018ALECK HOGARTH \u2013 CHAMPEIN OF THE WEAR.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sunderland let\u2019s sing,
What shud myek the whole hoose ring,
It\u2019s a sang that\u2019s sartin the lads te cheer,
For it gladdens ivry toon,
When thor natives gain renoon
An\u2019 aw\u2019ll sing ov one that\u2019s deun se on the Wear<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Korus<\/span>
An\u2019oh, me lads, it myeks me heart se glad
Te sing ye a sang te please ye here
Then, give a hearty cheer
For the Champein of the Wear,
Ay, a hearty cheer for Aleck on the Wear.\u2019<\/em>

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Headstone
Headstone for Alec Hogarth, “Champein o’ the Wear”<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the same year, Bell\u2019s Life noted that \u2018J Earle and R [possibly David] Shields, men who hail from N Biddick and Fatfield, respectively, and who are old opponents, contended over the mile course between the Victoria  Bridge and Fatfield boathouse, on the Wear for a stake of \u00a320, Shields receiving five lengths. Mr T Humphrey acted as referee. A level start was effected by report of pistol but after rowing a few strokes, Shields went in front and before they had covered a quarter of a mile had obtained a good lead and eventually won a most interesting race by 10 lengths.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11\/8\/1876 Durham Advertiser \u2013 James Curry\u2019s Open Boat Handicap at Chester le Street. Mr Curry of Lumley Boat House \u2013 22 entries, handicapping done by Mr Curry and Silver cup awarded by him. D Shields of Fatfield beat H Carr and then J Hall, Shields being among the best on the Wear. Shields then beat A Kell of Chester le Street. In the fourth heat Shields beat Dickinson and won the quickest race of the meeting by a couple of lengths. The final fell between D Shields and W Young. Shields was favourite and never left the issue in doubt as, after half the course had been rowed, he ran into Young who had taken his water and won by the foul. After the races everyone adjourned to Mr Thornton\u2019s Hotel where the host gave out the prizes \u2013 Silver Cup to Shields and Gold Medal to Young<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31\/8\/1885 Sunderland Echo \u2013 BOAT RACE ON THE WEAR \u2013 Between three and four thousand people witnessed a race in open boats between H Davison, a cartman who works for Messrs Short, shipbuilders, and F Patterson of Washington Staiths. The race took place over the old regatta course near the Spa Well, the stake being \u00a320. Patterson won the toss and took the north station but after a dozen strokes Patterson was in the lead and steadily drew away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29\/9\/1885 The Sportsman \u2013 section about rowing, J Dobson of N Hylton will row D Shields of Fatfield, one mile in 24 ft boats for \u00a310 a side. A match can be made at the Earl of Durham, North Hylton, on Saturday night between 7 and 9 o\u2019clock. David (Angus) Shields was a coal miner, born in Hetton le Hole in 1851, son of Joseph and Ann and living at Patchett\u2019s House, Nova Scotia in 1871. By 1881 he was at Wood Houses, Penshaw, with his wife Margaret and daughter Jane Ann, 6. By 1891 he had moved to Witton Gilbert but his children, then aged 4,7,10 and 16 had been born by the Wear. In 1901 he was at Run Head, Ryton, in 1911 at Cuthbert St, Marley Hill and in 1921 at 110 Victoria Rd, Gateshead. He died in Gateshead in 1928. His son, also David Angus, had been born in Leeds in 1904 and died in 1970 in Gateshead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/10\/1886 Sunderland Echo \u2013 Aquatics \u2013 On Saturday afternoon an open boat race for \u00a310 took place on the Wear from the Chalky Banks, Middle Barmston, to the crane at Coxgreen, the competitors being Timothy Self of Hylton and James Allan of Coxgreen. Self started badly and Allan, improving the advantage he obtained, kept in front all the way, and won easily by three lengths<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15\/11\/1886 Sunderland Echo \u2013 Open boat race at Spa Well, John Allan of Coxgreen v W Adamson of Low Lambton for \u00a35. Large number of spectators, Allan won by a length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14\/7\/1887 Newcastle Chronicle \u2013 MATCH FOR \u00a320 ON THE WEAR \u2013 At Mrs Hunter\u2019s Victoria Bridge Hotel \u00a31 has been deposited in the hands of Thomas Hunter to bind a skiff race between David Shields of Washington Staiths and John Grieveson of Pallion on the Victoria mile course. Second deposits of \u00a33 due this Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/9\/1887 Newcastle Chronicle \u2013 KEELBOAT HANDICAP ON THE WEAR \u2013 Promoted by Mr Hunter of Washington Staiths and John Rivett of Royal William Coxgreen, numerous spectators, Mr Todd referee and Mr Thomas Raffle pistol-firer. Eleven heats were rowed over Victoria Bridge course of a quarter mile and at the end George Garthorpe and John Garthorpe (sons of the Station Master at Coxgreen) and Thomas Robson agreed to share the prize, having already rowed three times to get to the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5\/9\/1887 Newcastle Chronicle – \u00a31 a-side has been placed in the hands of Thomas Raffle to bind a match, in Broad\u2019s open boats, between John Dixon of Coxgreen and Patrick Coonan of Low Barmston to row over the Victoria Bridge Course on the Wear for \u00a310 a-side. Second deposit will be taken at the Oddfellow\u2019s Arms, Mr George Hume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12\/9\/1887 Sunderland Echo \u2013 SHAW and ALLEN on the Wear. At George Hume\u2019s Oddfellows Arms, Coxgreen a further deposit was made for the match between Thomas Shaw of Hylton and John Allen of Coxgreen who row over the Spa Well Course on the Wear, in Broad\u2019s boats, distance three quarters of a mile on Saturday 24th. The final deposit takes place on the day of the match, which is for \u00a310.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28\/11\/1887 Sunderland Echo \u2013 BOAT RACE ON THE WEAR \u2013 On Saturday a race in keel boats was rowed on the Wear between J Allan of Coxgreen and Thomas Robson of South Hylton. The course was half a mile, just below Coxgreen and the stake was \u00a310 a-side. Both men are well-known in the district and have taken part in previous matches. The betting ruled at 6 to 4 on Robson. Allan soon went to the front and maintained a length lead until within a hundred yards of the end of the course. He failed, however, to keep up the pace and Robson then went on and won by a length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judging by the lack of mentions in the press, local and national, there was a decline in boat-racing activity on the Wear, from the late 1880s, the only Sunderland regattas taking place in 1890 and 1891. This may well have had to do with the banning of all professionals, from their events, by the Southern-based Amateur Rowing Association. By the end of the century, according to Lynn Pearson, professionals were left with one main event, the Christmas Handicap, on the Tyne. There was a Sunderland regatta for the Coronation in 1902 but it didn\u2019t include individual sculling and was more of \u2018water carnival\u2019 than a regatta, as indeed the event of 1903 was described. Both events drew large crowds, perhaps as a day out rather than as a particular interest in rowing. Durham Regatta, however, continued and is still an annual event and a small-scale South Hylton regatta became an annual event from 1897. Indeed it went on until 1977 and was revived in 1989.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cricket in Washington<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n

As Sir Henry Newbolt put it: –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s a breathless hush in the Close (Harraton) to-night \u2014
Ten to make and the match to win \u2014
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,
But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote
“Play up! play up! and play the game!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Play the game\u2019, indeed. Cricket. As CLR James, Trinidadian writer and Marxist philosopher, expressed it, \u2018What do they know of (Harraton) cricket who only (Harraton) cricket know?\u2019 I set out to write about cricket in Harraton and Fatfield but seem to have gone a bit further, partly to set events in context and partly because there is a limited amount of local written material available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have some pieces of a cricket jigsaw \u2013 there don\u2019t appear to be any written histories of Fatfield or Harraton Colliery Welfare cricket clubs, so we are restricted to newspaper reports and, as neither club was of great significance or repute in local cricket, there is no abundance of them. Where were the grounds, and where are  the scorebooks and records?\u2026.if there are any. I can say that the cricket pavilion \u2018near the Colliery\u2019 was used in May 1903 for a meeting of the Harraton Colliery Miners\u2019 Lodge; the meeting was about the construction of a Miners\u2019 Hall and Union Offices, the pavilion not being large enough. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Image
Cricket Catalogue, Wisden, 19th Century<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>
\n
\n
\"An
Harraton Cricket Welfare Ground as it once was, with the pavilion to the left of the photo<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Image
Harraton Cricket Ground as it now is<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>
\n
\n

So; there was a pavilion and, there was a ground (the ground was used for outdoor meetings during the Harraton miners\u2019 strike of 1908) and the ground was near the Colliery – it seems very likely that the ground was located where Washington CC play today ie in Rickleton. I have been supplied with a photograph of John George Lake, in full cricket gear, standing outside a house in Office Row, looking as if he was about to pop over to the ground to open the batting \u2013 the photo probably taken in the 1920s. Sadly, and coincidentally, his brother Jim was killed when his motor bike crashed into a car, outside that same ground, in 1930.

Where Fatfield played is, as yet, a mystery. In 1913 the Recreation Ground was opened by the river at Chatershaugh but, despite there being a bowling green, none of the regulations or parish minutes mention that cricket was played there.

Washington CW\u2019s ground was, at various times, at Shafto Terrace (which was \u2018laid out\u2019 in 1895), perhaps on the field next to the Welfare Hall. Ex-players have told me that, after World War Two, Washington also played on the Grammar School Field, and on the field behind the Westwood Club. It\u2019s also possible there was a ground for Washington Ironworks and we know the Chemical Works had a recreation area which was used for cricket. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Photograph
John G Lake waiting to cross to Harraton Cricket Welfare Ground<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As early as 1860 Washington Chemical Works CC played Washington Colliery Welfare CC at the annual Chemical Works picnic. The match lasted 5 hours with the Chemical Works notching 42 and 30 and thus defeating, by 12 notches, the Colliery Welfare who managed only 33 and 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, the first reference to a cricket match involving a team from Fatfield came on 14th September 1850, when the Newcastle Guardian reported, briefly, on a match between Fatfield and Birtley Iron Works, played at Fatfield on August 31st. Fatfield won by three runs, having notched 52 and 20, against Birtley\u2019s 25 and 44. No names were given, nor any indication of the exact location of the ground. Jack Chapman, in \u2018Cream Teas and Nutty Slack,\u2019 notes that there was a Sunderland Cricket Club in 1801, though there had been plenty of games in County Durham before that, including the first recorded one at Raby Castle in 1751, and there is, in the Lambton Archive, a scorebook, dated 1812-13, for the Lambton Cricket Club, founded by John George, later the First Earl of Durham. Playing alongside JG was Joseph Bonomi, the architect, who helped rebuild parts of the castle, William Beckwith (a Captain Henry Beckwith was Chair of Houghton le Spring Highways Board when Fatfield Bridge was opened in January 1891) and some estate workers whose names only appear as Robert, Charles and Ralph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ah, but where there are single-named sons of toil, there are other sons of toil who hear about what they\u2019ve been doing and think, \u2018I\u2019ll have some of that sporting action, let\u2019s set up a club, bonny lads.\u2019 In October 1868, Birtley played  Nova Scotia and Fatfield \u2018on the Fatfield ground\u2019. Birtley scored 32  with J Roscamp out for a duck. Novia Scotia and Fatfield scored 93, their \u2018sons of toil\u2019 being G(eorge) Hall, T(homas) Mawson, M(atthew) Spoors, T Brown, A(dam) Robinson (top scorer with 23), R(alph) Crow, A(ndrew) Alexander, T Hall, W Stoves, W Miller and H Blacklock, extras 12. Birtley started their second innings but time ran out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1862 it was reported in the Durham Chronicle that local schools attended Lambton Park for tea and sports – specifically cricket, football and skipping. There were three cheers for the Second Earl, his wife, and those of their noble children who joined the throng, but probably not many threes for the batters. In 1868, Penshaw scored 83 and 95, at home, against Fatfield\u2019s 56 and 31 and, a year earlier, at Lumley Castle, for the combined Lumley and Harraton Flower Show, part of the day\u2019s entertainment had seen Lumley play Harraton, though no scores were given. One assumes scores were made. There was, however, good fielding in the evening in Lumley Castle when \u2018a ball was held.\u2019 Or perhaps it was a different kind of ball\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A later Lord Durham (John George, the Third Earl) presided at the second annual dinner of Durham CCC in Sunderland Co-op Assembly Rooms, Green St, in 1890. He was asked to persuade I Zingari, a famous travelling team, for whom his brother Claud occasionally played, to play a two day game at Norton and he presented gold medals to Philadelphia CC who won the Durham Challenge Cup. He made remarks about how cricket was organised and how there was a shortage of grounds and how MCC should organise a way for counties to become first class. He also said he\u2019d been bowled first ball, was a left handed bowler but had once bowled 5 wides in an over and on another occasion had taken a hat trick\u2026.He\u2019d probably had a good dinner\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the middle of the nineteenth century the game was developing  some momentum.  The development of railways made it possible for more distant fixtures to be arranged and fulfilled and the gradual reduction in working hours meant working men had some time for sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overarm bowling was legislated for in 1864, an England team, which included Julius Caesar (really) and John Wisden, toured the United States in 1859 but the first international match had taken place 15 years earlier, when Canada beat the USA by 23 runs in New York. It was not only the first international cricket match, but the first international match in any sport. In 1869, at Sunderland, an All England XI played Sunderland, England including Tom Hayward and no less than Alfred Shaw who, eight years later, bowled the first ball in Test Match cricket, to Charles Bannerman, an Australian, at the MCG. All England beat Sunderland by 91 runs. Australia beat England by 45 runs with Bannerman scoring 165. In 1873, a certain William Gilbert Grace played for the United South of England at Darlington, scoring only seven on the first evening of a three day game and causing the Shields Gazette to note that the size of the crowd on the second day was probably affected by that. In 1878 Australia played Eighteen of Sunderland\u2026..and lost! Headline: SUNDERLAND (WITH SOME RINGERS) BEAT AUSTRALIA!! Sadly, local people did not get a chance to see Fred Spofforth, \u2018the Demon Bowler\u2019 because it was the last game of an arduous tour and he was exhausted. The Aussies attended a banquet at the Queen\u2019s Hotel in High Street and there were toasts all round. They set off home from Liverpool the next day and played some games in North America on their way home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When what Kipling later called \u2018the flannelled fools at the wicket\u2019 needed cricket equipment, they could buy Duke\u2019s cricket balls (still used today) for 5\/6d at Marshall\u2019s of Saddler St, Durham, while John Wisden (yes, him of the Yellow Cricket \u2018Bible\u2019) ran his cricket equipment business from Leicester Square. George Angus and Co., sold gutta percha balls at St Nicholas Square, Newcastle. J&H Harrison of Grey St sold Cane Handle bats from 9shillings, wickets, leg guards, batting and long stop gloves as well as long stop nets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018All the gear but no idea?\u2019 Well, scores were not high, but it was probably more to do with the \u2018wickets\u2019 on which they played and the length of the grass surrounding those wickets. When Fatfield played Wearmouth Colliery, at Fatfield in 1875, the highest score in four completed innings was 51 and the four innings together added up to 156, Wearmouth coming out on top. In 1892 the Newcastle Chronicle reported that Harraton II beat Washington II 69-8, at Harraton\u2026and I\u2019m guessing three of them were byes\u2026..there were always byes and sometimes \u2018byes\u2019 was top scorer and there were specialist long-stops to prevent even more of the damned things. In 1876 when Fatfield played Harraton and Chester le Street, \u2018the ground being hard and the bowling swift the united efforts of two long stops did not prevent 21 byes in Fatfield\u2019s first innings, a third of their score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wickets cost money to prepare and a field was a field, whether it was flat or sloping, like the one in England Their England, where the village blacksmith, \u2018having taken another reef in his belt, shaken out another inch in his braces and grasped the ball in his colossal palm, set off, breasting the slope like a mettlesome combination of Vulcan and Venus Anadyomene, to deliver a ball of such appalling velocity that a watching professor of ballistics began doing calculations\u2019\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 1883 the Sunderland Echo referred to the  Millfield v Fatfield match as \u2018the opening one of the season for these clubs.\u2019 Ah, cricket seasons. Middleton, Carr and Davison played well for the losers, Millfield scoring 51 and Fatfield 44. In March the same year (but with an entirely different class of players) the Lambton Castle Club, was mentioned in the Consett Guardian; \u2018The members met at the house (pub) of Thomas Brown (Fatfield) and presented their late captain, Mr WH Chatt, with a splendid diamond pin and sleeve links as tokens of esteem and regard for the faithful and upright manner in which he had discharged his duties in connection with the club for several years. The articles were purchased from Mr Caris, of Gateshead, and were much admired.\u2019 The Chatts lived at Bowes House and played cricket at Burnmoor CC and tennis at Houghton le Spring. When Burnmoor (Patron, the Third Earl of Durham) re-opened after refurbishment, in 1898, Mr Chatt\u2019s XI played the first match, against the home team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cricket regularly took its place among the activities that constituted a good day out and a chance to get away from the household grind or the thin seam, even if the quicker bowlers were not yet known as \u2018seamers\u2019. Thus, in 1881, both the Shotley Bridge Grand Gala (at Shotley) and the Chester le Street Church Temperance Society\u2019s Day (at Lambton Park) featured cricket, or bowling at stumps, as a contest. Ladies at country houses played the game and there were a variety of novelty matches \u2013 Married v Single, One Armed v One Legged, Ladies v Gentlemen Who Bat With Broomsticks And Field Left-Handed, Smokers v Non-Smokers; cricket was played on the frozen-over Wear at Durham in 1878; there were also troupes of clown cricketers whose job it was to perform athletic stunts while playing. The Sunderland Echo carried an advert, in 1889, from such a troupe, based at Ann Street. Typically they dressed in motley and appeared at money raising events. Even the British Army in India had a clown cricket match at a gymkhana in Dinapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1891 Fatfield (White Star) had their fixtures (actually only three of them and they were for 16-19 year old players) printed in the Sunderland Echo and it was not unusual to see club secretaries asking for fixtures, since leagues were not thought acceptable. Leagues, it was thought, would (and, oh, did they ever?) lead to over competitiveness, not to say cheating and controversy\u2026..but were somehow inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

League structures began in the 1890s, the Durham County Senior League being the fifth to be formed in England, following Birmingham, Bolton, North Staffordshire and Lancashire. In 1892 Harraton II\u2019s played Washington II \u2018at the ground of the former\u2019 and at their AGM in 1896 Harraton were able to reflect on having played 15 games, with Southerns (John the father, and son, Joseph Chambers Southern, managers of Harraton Colliery) as President and Secretary. John Roscamp (the Birtley duck-maker from 1868?) was the batting  star with an average of 16.9. The members agreed to join North East Durham League, just about to be formed in Sunderland at the Minerva Hotel. (At the meeting Harraton were joined by Barmston, Silksworth Colliery, Penshaw Church, Ryhope Colliery, Monkwearmouth, New Seaham Mechanics Institute and Murton Colliery. Mr Southeran\/Southern of Harraton was elected treasurer. By 1898 Hendon, East Rainton and Lumley Thicks had joined the league.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S(amuel) Scott (son of John) and T Bell were elected as Captain and Vice-Captain of Harraton CW in 1892 with R Mauxwell and John Scott as Captain and Vice, respectively, of the Second XI. In 1898 Joseph Scott (son of Samuel), 16, a putter, was killed and the papers described him as \u2018a prominent member at Harraton CC\u2019 and wreaths were sent from club when he was buried in St George\u2019s Churchyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, in January, 1898 the Sunderland Echo reported on a meeting at the Commercial Hotel, Stanley, of clubs from Burnhope, Burnopfield, Birtley, Craghead, Medomsley, Malton, Stanley and District, South Tanfield, South Moor, Tanfield, Whickham and Washington and these clubs decided to join the league already formed by Hetton Lyons, South Hetton, Littletown, Felling Temperance and Chilton Moor. Another meeting, for further discussion, was arranged for the Lambton Arms, Chester le Street, on January 31st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1902 it was the typesetter\u2019s nightmare cricket match \u2013 Harraton v Harton St Peter\u2019s at Harraton, the two places being easily confused, despite there being plenty distance and a \u2018ra\u2019 between them. The scores weren\u2019t included\u2026perhaps because the typesetter had taken an extra day\u2019s holiday?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1908 Harraton was one of eight teams in the Chester Le Street and District Cricket League, the others being Perkinsville Temperance, Heworth SS, Springwell, Gateshead Fell II, Usworth, Pelton Church, Barmston and Birtley II. On June 19th, 1908 Harraton (47) lost at Usworth (63). Harraton\u2019s players were J Carr, J Brown, J Dixon, J Cumpson, T Snowball, T Hall, J Miller, T Davison, J Steel, E Jackson and G Forster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll end with a take on Francis Thompson\u2019s poem, \u2018At Lord\u2019s\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is little I repair to the matches of the Southron folk, (did he mis-spell the Southerns of Harraton CW?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the field is full of shades as I near the shadowy coast,
And a ghostly batsman plays to the bowling of a ghost,
And I look through my tears on a soundless-clapping host
As the run-stealers flicker to and fro,
To and fro: –
O my Cumpson and my Roscamp long ago!\u201d (sorry, Hornby, sorry Barlow, you\u2019re out)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Pedestrianism and James Stewart<\/strong> (not the most unusual name but all the below seem to be the same man \u2013 apologies if incorrect) with a dash of Deerfoot, a Seneca Indian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In following the pattern of previous articles, I\u2019ve chosen to follow the career of a local man. Not all sporting heroes are necessarily good men and there are some aspects of James Stewart of Usworth\u2019s life that were far from wonderful (Stop that, now!)\u2026\u2026.well, you\u2019ll see\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Stewart\u2019s first appearance in the local press was not as a sportsman but, at Houghton le Spring Petty Sessions, in August 1860, as the \u2018putative father of the illegitimate child of Jane Coxon of West Rainton.\u2019 He was described as a pitman who lived at Usworth and the magistrates appear to have been convinced because an order was made for him to pay 2\/6d per week to support the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later the Newcastle Daily Chronicle noted that, at the Victoria Running Grounds, \u2018two men who have gained some renown in the pedestrian arena,\u2019 James Stewart and Michael Mains, both of Usworth (wonder if this may have been Michael Minns of Easington Lane, see below) were to run 120 yards for a stake of \u00a350. \u2018A deal of mathematical calculation went into squaring the starting mark and then each party seemed to get reconciled and brought their pets to the scratch and after a little dodging Mains started with a long lead. Mains passed the handkerchief two yards in advance. So, although it was the  first mention in the papers of James Stewart as an athlete, or \u2018pedestrian\u2019, he had clearly been involved in other races, which resulted in his having earned some kind of reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Image
The site of the Victoria Running Grounds<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

[Victoria Grounds had opened in Low Elswick, very close to the current site of the Metro Arena, in 1858; it was a 444 yard track, with a grandstand for spectators. Sporting Life in January 1861, praised Mr Scott\u2019s \u2018speculative spirit\u2019 in opening the grounds, by which he had, thereby, \u2018obviated the nuisance of having to travel to the Three Mile Bridge, Wallsend, Benwell Rd, Boldon, Birtley or Lambton Park Gates\u2019 in order to stage their races on public roads and the paper hoped sportsmen \u2018would duly appreciate it.\u2019 The Vic did not last long, the ground being bought by the North Eastern Railway Company and so Fenham Park Grounds was laid out, on Barrack Rd, opened in the Spring of 1862, and, by September 1863, Fenham Park, \u2018now enjoys the sole patronage of pedestrian contests.\u2019 The proprietor of the Victoria Grounds was James Scott, described in the 1861 Census as \u2018formerly a corn miller\u2019 of 4 Riddle Court, East Elswick Terrace, married to Jane, two children and 33 years old.]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can assume James Stewart was undaunted by his loss to Mains because he contacted the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, in September 1861, to state that he, \u2018thinks it useless for Younger of Shields to challenge him level when he knows Wildboar\/Wildbore, (of Sunderland, it may have been a pseudonym since I can find no Census record for him at the time), wants to give him five yards in 120; but if Younger means business and not bouncing, Stewart will take six yards in 120 for \u00a325 a side. An answer through the Chronicle will be attended to.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 1861, Stewart took on Michael Minns of Easington Lane, over 120 yards for \u00a350, scratch (ie the start) being slated for 1pm (starts were often delayed because of shenanigans by runners prior to the pistol being fired) and admission for this and three other races was to be 3d, with an extra 3d for those who chose the \u2018comfort\u2019, of the grandstand. For  November 2nd, four races were advertised, including James Stewart, of Usworth, against Bart Dodd, of  Coxhoe, for \u00a330, over 150 yards. We don\u2019t always get a full set of results of these races but, whatever the result, James was sufficiently confident to put out a rather pert set of challenges in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle on the 27th November. \u2018Jas Stewart of Usworth will run any of the following men: Thackeray of Walker, Bowman of Jarrow, Minns of Easington Lane, Scaife of Birtley, or Bertram of Sacriston \u2013 120 yards level; or Bart Dodds of Coxhoe, if he will allow one yard in 100 or two yards in 130; or he will take two yards in 120 of Storey of Dudley, two in 120 yards of Hunter of Shields, or he will give Cole of Low Fell two yards in 150. A month from the first deposit for not less than \u00a325 a side. Above matches can be made at the Forester\u2019s Arms, Washington between 7pm-10pm on Nov 30th. First come first served. \u201cIf you think you\u2019re big enough, or quick enough\u2026\u2026.money, mouth\u2019 – I made that up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James\u2019 next opponents, in the Spring of 1862, were Peter Hart of South Shields, over 120 yards, for \u00a330. John Scott of Willington Quay over 150 yards, for \u00a330, Thomas Scaife, of Birtley over 120 yards for \u00a325 a side and, again, Minns of Easington Lane, over 120 yards, for \u00a330. The \u2018Usworth pet\u2019, as one of the papers referred to him, beat Scott and Scaife \u2013 other results not found. In the midst of this, in March 1862, the Victoria Grounds hosted a handicap to raise funds for the Hartley Pit Disaster, in which 204 men and children had been killed (in March 1862 the public subscription had reached \u00a370,000). Entrance to the handicap was a shilling, acceptance was 1\/6d and Mr Henry Wardle, Rose Inn, Pudding Chare, Newcastle, a local sportsman and regular promoter of all kinds of sporting events (an edition of The Newcastle Journal, in 1869, named him as a \u2018leading bookmaker\u2019) had delayed his handicap for this. In fact, Mr Wardle, was more than just a promoter and bookie, he was a participant as well (also in potshare bowling, greyhound racing and pigeon shooting) and was a very big man. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle noted, cheerily, that \u2018his proportions were large enough to turn the scale against any two of his opponents, the greatest difficulty was in getting boots suitable; at last a pair were provided, said to belong to a 22 stone man and, by appearance, had been made from the last of a well-known scavenger. Burnup ran well for half the distance but it proved too far for him; in the meantime Harry was steaming away at high pressure and after he had run about 200 yards the expansion of his proportions was so much that he had to use the greatest exertions to persuade his running toggery to hold on for a few seconds. Towards the end of his heat he was leading by four yards but was obliged to resign and take \u2018the proper restoratives, supplied by his Grainger Street friend.\u2019 [Mr Wardle appears in the Censuses of 1861 and 1871 \u2013 in the latter as a victualler, confined at the time of the Census to the Newcastle Infirmary and in the former, also as a victualler, living at 103-105 Percy St, Newcastle with his wife, Mary, and sons Robert, John and George. Henry had been born in Willington and was 32 in 1861. His visit to the infirmary may have been a sign of his impending death because, though I cannot find his death listed, he is suddenly absent from the newspapers of the 1870s whereas in the 1860s he appears on several occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"Image
An example pedestrian: James Rowan (The Gateshead Flash)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Illustration
An example pedestrian: Jack White, the Gateshead Clipper and his cup<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Painting
Famous pedestrian: Joseph Stephenson Ridley, the English Mile Champion<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Joseph
Famous pedestrian Joseph Stephenson Ridley’s gravestone.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After that \u2018detour lap\u2019 let\u2019s get back to James Stewart of Usworth. Challenges issued by him in the Spring and early Summer of 1862 were as follows: \u2018Jas Stewart of Usworth will run any of the following conditions for \u00a315 or \u00a320 a side: Storey of Dudley 100 yards level, or Dodds of Coxhoe 120 yards level or Westgarth of Hetton, or Simpson of Crook, if they will allow five yards start in 120\u2019 and \u2018Jas Stewart of Usworth will run any of the following: Bell of Murton 200 yards, Dodds of Coxhoe 120 yards, Welsh of Trimdon 300 or 400 yards, Craigs of South Shields 150 yards level; or he will give Minns of Easington one yard in 140 for \u00a315 or \u00a320 a side.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready for another excursion? This time it\u2019s on the subject of Deerfoot\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August of 1862, at Fenham Park, Deerfoot, a Seneca Indian, described by one newspaper as \u2018tawney, not black\u2019, took on Jackson (the American Deer), Brighton, Mower and Andrews over 4 miles. The organisers were Messrs Emmerson and Stirling and they hosted a crowd of 3,000; the band of the Newcastle Rifles entertained, there was a ball-gathering-into-a-sack contest and there was a sack race for added amusement. The Illustrated Sporting News noted that, \u2018The Newcastle people seemed to be well pleased with the Seneca hero and repeatedly cheered him with \u2018gan on Deerfoot,\u2019 and \u2018had awa\u2019 Deerfoot,\u2019 as the race was proceeding.\u2019 He won by about 20 yards in 20 minutes 33 seconds. There was then a pole- leaping competition and the day ended with a mile race for amateurs. A day later the same events took place at Blue House, Cricket Ground, Hendon, Sunderland where the good folk were, according to Sporting News, \u2018universally of the opinion that it was a \u2018made-up thing\u2019 who should be the winner.\u2019 The circus moved on to Edinburgh where 10,000 turned out to watch at Bonnington Park. Sunderland folk, and others, may have been cynical about whether the results were fixed but the crowds, and money, rolled in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 According to Wiki, Deerfoot\u2013Red Jacket, or Hut-goh-so-do-neh in his native tongue, was born into the Seneca tribe<\/a> on the Cattaraugus Reservation<\/a> in about the year 1828. Other sources claim his birth year was either 1830, 1826, or 1825. Deerfoot, also known as Lewis Bennett, was first recognized for his racing talent in 1856 when he won a five-mile race in Fredonia<\/a>, at the Chautauqua County Fair, by running it in 25 minutes, cashing in on a $50 purse. Deerfoot sometimes raced under his fondly dealt nickname Red Jacket, a title that both referenced a celebrated Seneca chief and cited his colourful and often revealing racing outfits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a race in New York City, Deerfoot gained attention while running against the English national team, coached by his future manager, George Martin. He went to England in 1861, under Martin, to embark on a 20-month running tour, and was matched against the best long-distance runners in the world, defeating nearly all of them. In 87 weeks he ran 130 races and won the vast majority. He was a crowd pleaser for his running talent and also for his \u2018otherness\u2019. He, allegedly, maintained a rowdy nightlife off the track to back up his “exotic” persona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Morning Post reported, \u2018Deerfoot is a fine made fellow of light brown complexion, stands 5\u201810\u201c, weighs about 11 stone 6lb, and is 29 years of age. When he made his entree on the ground he was attended by McDonald and others of his friends. His appearance created much interest. As on the previous occasion, the Indian was dressed in native costume and had a small red band trimmed with gold round his head. in which was a feather. He would not, so McDonald informed us, run in the regular running shoes, which he treated with contempt, but preferred his moccasins; nor could he be induced to rest on a bed, preferring to wrap himself in his bear skin and lie upon the bare boards.\u2019 On one occasion he was supposed to have asked McDonald, his trainer, if he could be painted red and black. How much of this came from Deerfoot and how much was salesmanship by his entourage is hard to decipher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After our digression re \u2018several things Seneca\u2019 let\u2019s get back to Mr Stewart of Usworth. Given discrepancies in various documents relating to his family and background this seems like a reasonable, but perhaps not definitive, account of him \u2026Born in 1833 in East Boldon to an Irish father and a Durham lass, the 1851 Census found him living as a lodger at Dog Bank Row, in South Shields, and working as a coal miner. By 1861 he had moved to Usworth but was still a lodger, living at Inkerman. He married<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellen\/Eleanor\/Ellenor Walton, of Plawsworth, in Newcastle in 1862 and, by 1871, was at Railway Terrace, Usworth with his three children, all stated to have been born in County Down(!). In 1881 he was 48, living at 2 Railway Terrace, Usworth, with Ellen and, now six children (now listed as all being born in Usworth!). In 1901 the family were at Old Rows, Usworth, with three children, none of whose names appear in the earlier Censuses. Eleanor died in 1909 but James was listed in 1911, with two sons, one aged 9 (which seems a touch unlikely, possibly a grandson). A James Stewart died in 1917 in the Chester-le-Street area. This may have been him\u2026.(10a 599).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are the bare bones of his life \u2013 let\u2019s get back to his pedestrianism. Before the end of 1862 Stewart had also taken on \u2018Unknown\u2019 for a lap of 440 yards, for \u00a340, and W Brown of South Shields, over 300 yards, for \u00a330. He was then advertised to take on George Hutchinson of Gateshead, over 440 yards, Stewart off two yards, for \u00a340, and then James Drummond, Blue (House) Quarries, to run 50 yards, for \u00a320, at Victoria Grounds.  Admission was 3d and Stewart won by a yard, adding to his lustre and reputation as \u2018one of the most successful runners that ever appeared in these grounds, and seems qualified for long or short distances.\u2019 In January 1863, he took on James Percy of Newcastle – one lap around the Victoria Grounds for \u00a350, off three yards, and it was estimated that 1,300 attended. For whatever reason, Stewart pulled up after about 400 yards and Percy did the distance in 56 seconds, timed by one of Mr Young\u2019s improved lever stopwatches. (Helpfully, an advert for the watches appeared in the paper just underneath the adverts for Fenham Park events.) In the summer of 1863 he beat Bell of Murton over 130 yards for \u00a340, Emsley of Fawdon for \u00a320 over 130 yards and, described as one of \u2018two great guns of the day\u2019, he lost to Robert Storey of Dudley, over 100 yards, for \u00a340. \u2018After a few no- goes they were off and Storey won by a yard; pigeons were despatched to local villages.\u2019 The Daily Chronicle noted that, such was his reputation, he was able to find \u2018plenty of backers among the knights of the black diamond.\u2019 Aall reet Jackie, wot fettle, me bonny knight of the black diamonds, like?\u2019 \u2018Canny, man, Canny.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Autumn of 1863, described now as, \u2018evergreen\u2019, Stewart beat William Jackson of Newcastle, for \u00a340, over 120 yards. The Illustrated Sporting News, in November 1863, noted that, at Fenham Park, \u2018possibly the largest assembly ever on these grounds (arrived) for six matches, the first being Stewart of Usworth v J Younger of South Shields, over 200 yards, for \u00a340, with Stewart off 3 yards.\u2019 Both arrived late, had a preliminary canter and a good deal of rubbing and then toed their marks, the reporter finding the dodging a little tedious. Never mind, the race was given full and detailed coverage. Stewart led all the way until five yards out, at which point he turned his head  to see how far Younger was behind and this error, described as being, \u2018ridiculed by the spectators and mocked at by his backers\u2019, led to the referee adjudging a dead heat, and the opposition, \u2018giggling over their happy deliverance out of the jaws of what at one period resembled inevitable defeat.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1864, and the first eleven months of 1865, were quiet for James Stewart, as far as running was concerned but his name was still to be found in the newspapers, just not in a good way. This, from the Teesdale Mercury, of April 1864, \u2018Criminal Assault \u2013 At Gateshead police-court James Stewart, a young married man, a pitman, was charged with criminally assaulting Elizabeth Kay, a married woman of 20 years, on Sunday 3rd ult., on the road leading to Usworth. The prisoner, who is a well-known pedestrian, was remanded from last week as the prosecutrix was too ill to appear. He pleaded not guilty. Elizabeth said she\u2019d been proceeding along the Usworth and Sunderland road to Washington Row when she\u2019d been overtaken by the prisoner and two other men. The other two went away and he made improper overtures, which she repelled. He then seized her and after a struggle threw her to the ground to effect his purpose. Elizabeth reached her friend in Washington Row, very exhausted and informed the police. He was then apprehended and identified by Mrs Kay. The offence being fully proved he was sentenced to six months\u2019 imprisonment.\u2019 The Newcastle Guardian noted, more bluntly, that the offence was rape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the mores and standards of the time allowed James Stewart to return to running action in November 1865, with, as far as can be ascertained, no loss of reputation, or at least no reference to it in the newspapers. He beat Bell, of Felling, over 80 yards for \u00a320 and then, though his running career would not be over for another seven years, he took a sideways move \u2013 first into refereeing and, later, his name was mentioned as a trainer. In what appears to have been another sideways move at that time, 1866, he had started potshare bowling; thus in January 1866 he was due to run G Laws of Choppington over 80 yards for \u00a340 but, \u2018owing to  a private dispute between Stewart and James Wardle the latter appeared on Fenham Park and expressed his intention of stopping the race. Laws and Stewart retired, after a disturbance and drew the stakes.\u2019 Illustrated Sporting News stated that it was \u2018a bowler named Graham Wardle who climbed the palings and demanded 22\/6d. A fight ensued and broken heads and bruised physogs were soon the order of the day \u2013 the runners skedaddled to the dressing rooms and the gate money went to the next race \u2013 a dog race.\u2019 In the Sportsman they stated that the \u2018men who interfered with the race were beaten down in a merciless manner.\u2019 Wonder if Mr James\/Graham Wardle was connected to Henry Wardle, bookmaker and sportsman? It would not be a surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1866 Stewart beat Todd, of Anfield Plain. Bell\u2019s Life describing Stewart as \u2018an old stager\u2019, noting that he had appeared 28 times winning 22 and losing six. Todd was only 19. He followed up with victories over W Hunter of Shields, over 80 yards, for \u00a320 and then<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J Archbold of Seaton Burn, over 105 yards, for \u00a340. In June of the same year Stewart, as Bell\u2019s Life tactfully put it, \u2018now on the down-hill of life as a pedestrian but brought to scratch in splendid condition\u2019 lost to J Lennon, of Usworth, over 100 yards, for \u00a310 a side. Perhaps some measure of his perceived decline was that in the Sterling and Emmerson sponsored<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All England 150 yards Handicap of June 23rd and 25th, H Wardle (Newcastle, the Champion) started from  scratch and Stewart off 17 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another handicap, November 1866, again sponsored by Sterling and Emmerson, the 37 entries were placed into ten heats. Stewart won his but in the second round, \u2018having showed so much temper that he had been put back two yards\u2019 he came third and Archbold won the final. A couple of weeks later he beat Archbold over 100 yards for \u00a340. Revenge? Or possibly a fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1867 was a blank year for James Stewart \u2013 injury, loss of interest, we are unlikely to ever know, but his next appearance was, again, before the magistrates. At the County Petty sessions, at Sunderland, John Smith, John Bell and James Stewart, all of Usworth, were summoned for trespassing at Barmston and using a ferret for poaching. The other two said they\u2019d gone along the track with Stewart, a professional pedestrian, to assist him in training and knew nothing about the dead rabbit. Smith had been fined (just the) twelve times at Sunderland and Gateshead and Bell (just the) 15 times. Stewart was fined 20s and costs and the others 40s and costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though what might be called a veteran, Stewart went on running (though there are no entries for 1869) until 1870. He beat A Stewart of Hylton over 80 yards for \u00a320, and Laws of Choppington, over 50 yards, for \u00a340, half an hour\u2019s false starts being a tedious way to start the second of those races. He defeated Laverick of Hetton, over 100 yards, for \u00a320 and lost to Barnfather of Easington Lane, over 80 yards, for \u00a320. That was in December 1870 and is the last record, but one, of his pedestrianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then James Stewart, ran off into the distance (after a number of false starts) to kill Liberty Valance with his Winchester 73. (I\u2019ve warned you about this!) What he actually did was spend more time with his potshare bowls \u2013 for which there are half a dozen entries\u2026.up to 1872. His comeback in pedestrianism was in 1887, when he was persuaded to come out of retirement to run 50 yards against Coxford of Pensher (ex- Dudley), at the (new) Victoria Grounds, for \u00a310 a side, stakes having been lodged with Mr Gascoine at the Stile Inn, Washington. Old runners never fade away \u2013 they take on other old runners in competition that might be foolish \u2013 there was a Coxford running back in 1866 but we\u2019re unlikely to find out whether it was the same man. In any case they may not have run, there is no mention of it in the newspapers of 1887, other than the challenge. Perhaps someone had a word with them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Copyright Peter Welsh, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These family details have been included because Matthew is the man most-often mentioned from Fatfield (later Portobello or Birtley) in connection with potshare bowling. As we shall see, he played the game regularly, travelling to Newcastle Moor, Black Fell or Gateshead, all the while working as a coal miner and raising two families. Here’s a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-332","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=332"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":617,"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/332\/revisions\/617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/washingtonheritagepartnership.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}