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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Phodgetts on Monday 22 November 10 00:53 GMT (UK)
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I have been looking through some of the older and completed subjects for Blyth and Cowpen and there is one for Hodgson's Mill that interests me greatly. I have got an old 1853 plan of the area which shows Buck's Hill Mill and Hodgson's Mill close by Cowpen Square, long before development of the harbour destroyed Buck's Hill and the old Cowpen Quay. The mills are shown as small circles. Hodgson's Mill was very close by the bend in the modern day Hodgson's Road set within the square of streets made up by Crawford Street, Ann's Row and the no longer extant Ferry Street.
Hope you folks of Blyth and Cowpen enjoy seeing the old plan.
Philip
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Good one!
I'm sure you've got maps for all occasions, Philip ;D
Christine
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Hi c-side, I do try my best. ;D Where others have the local life experience and knowledge of the old town I try and find as much as I can in the way of maps, images and books. Not easy, but I do my best. Hopefully we all make a great team pooling resources.
I also have two images of Hodgson's Mill! No date and no name of artist which is disappointing, however the first image (a) is older than the second (b), but from what I can gather they are both well over 100 years old! A very lucky find indeed and the way they have been stored they are as crisp as the day they were done. Just a shame that I had to sell my mother-in-law into slavery to be able to afford them :o ::). I only just got them three weeks ago in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Enjoy
Philip
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Fabulous - I particularly like the first one and wonder whether it was done by the same man who did the drawing of Bishop's Quay just over the river.
It's in a book in Blyth library, dated 1834 (the drawing, not the book) but I can't remember the artist's name now
Christine
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Is this image you are referring to? Circa 1840.
Philip
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The very one! The single large white building to the forefront of the group is the original Seven Stars, then there's 'the little cross house' and the row of cottages slightly futher back. I'm particularly fond of this one because quite a few of my family lived in those cottages up till about 1850-60.
Christine
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I have seen an old map in the last few months which showed Hodgson's Road, as an old waggon way. I think on the map it was shown as Hodgson's Way or Waggonway. Presumably it was for taking coal down to the river, from the Cowpen Colliery (?) and possibly the Bebside colliery (?). I think it was the same map which showed Cowpen Estate as all open fields, but with a large dwelling shown as Red House. Could that be where the pub on Cowpen Estate got its name ? (Now called the Percy Arms).
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PYfB,
Loads on the internet about north-eastern colliery waggonways.
To see Bedlington/Cowpen/Blyth "old" waggonways, waggonways and railways
(all horse-drawn) see these online maps.
The first two also show Red House farm, in isolation.
http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/007179FS/htm ( Fryers map of 1820)
006972FS ( Greenwoods of 1828)
004890FS ( 1860 Ordnance Survey map 6")
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Cowpen Colliery "B" Pit (also called North Pit- Bates to us lot) used to get its coal to the river near Hodgsons Mill, then later took it to river near the Flanker.
Cowpen Colliery "A" Pit ( also referred to as the South Pit- maybe just known to us as Cowpen Colliery) took it's coal straight eastwards to the harbour.
The third Cowpen Colliery pit, the Isabella, got its coal to water at South harbour, as did the fourth Cowpen Colliery pit, Crofton or Mill Pit.
Bebside Colliery was sunk in 1850s, adjacent to an already established goods and passenger steam railway line- so no need to use any waggonway.
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Back to Mills.
Philip,
I could see one circle for one mill, but I couldn't see circle for Hodgson's Mill !.
Trivia Moment ( from Newcastle Courant, 11th Dec 1868)
" BIRTH IN A FERRY BOAT AT BLYTH.
On Sunday night a woman belonging to to "Bogie" High Pans, North Blyth, came from Shields to Blyth by the 8.20 train. On reaching the lime kilns, Cowpen Square, she complained of being unwell, but was able to get into the ferry boat with a number of other passengers.
While crossing the river she gave birth to a fine healthy child ( a boy). The boat was put back and on reaching the shore, she was taken to the Golden Fleece, where every attention was paid to her by the kind landlady and the servants. She is doing as well as expected. " ( I have been refreshed many times in the Golden Fleece- in late 1950s- great jukebox ! )
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Michael
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Hi Michael, fascinating story about the birth on the high ferry. :o
I have marked the 'circle' of Hodgson's Mill for everyone to see with the red diamond.
Philip
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Thank you Philip. All clear now. Am I right in thinking that the Golden Fleece pub was very close to the mill ?
The Courant also had an interesting account of how the first Presbyterian preaching in the area, took place in Cowpen Square* in 1700s. And how Richard Hodgson gave/lent accommodation in Cowpen Square to the Presbyterians for their base; the first in the Blyth area.
* Cowpen Square. Although it is obviously a square of houses within the "township" of Cowpen ( with the notorious "ash pits" in the middle), it seems from articles in newspapers of the day, that the wider area around Cowpen Square, was also referred to as Cowpen Square.
Michael
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Hi Michael, it is difficult to say how close the Golden Fleece and the Mill might have been in relation to each other. The earliest plan I have is dated 1813 and it is not to scale. I am not even sure that the Golden Fleece and the Mill co-habited for any length of time. The pub was not there on the 1813, 1853, 1860, 1866 or 1872 plans, but it is there on the 1897 map.
When the Mill was finally removed from the site I have no idea, hence my doubts about the two buildings co-habiting on that patch of land. However, if they did, the 1897 map shows that the distance from the Golden Fleece to the sharp corner of Hodgson's Lane / Road was less than 400 feet. On the basis of that I guess-timate that the distance between the two buildings would have been approximately 300 feet. Interestingly the area was known as Crofton Mills by 1860
I hope that clears the mud a bit......... No! Oh well, I will have to look deeper into the info I have to hand.
I wonder what significance (if any) there might have been to the opening of the Golden Fleece and the first vehicular ferry entering service in 1890? A second temptation to the workers leaving North Blyth on the ferry who had managed to get passed the Ridley!
The attached plan is dated 1860.
Philip
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Thanks for posting your 1853 map showing Cowpen Square, and an aerial photo showing the Square. One of my ancestor's was brought up there, hence my interest.
Could you tell me when the photo was taken, and who developed the Square itself? It seems such an unusual development.
I'd be grateful for any info you can provide.
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Hi Kappm
Welcome to rootschat.
Does your ancestor have a name and approximately when did he/she live there? I too had family in the Square at one point.
Christine
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Could you tell me when the photo was taken, and who developed the Square itself? It seems such an unusual development.
Hi Kappm, firstly the aerial photo was taken after 1934. I am not sure when the Square was demolished, but it was gone before construction of the power stations was completed.
I have no information at all on who it was that began to develop that area and in-particular the Square itself. All I know is that development began in 1794 with the construction of Cowpen Quay. I would imagine that the Square arrived after the building of the quay. Hopefully some of the locals like Michael Dixon will be able to enlighten us. It is a shame that what looks to be a pleasant little development of small buildings and the windmill was completely lost as the harbour and Bates site developed. All in the name of progress eh :-\
Philip
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In the 1870s the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle published a series of articles under the heading " Our Colliery Villages" a sort of travelogue on colliery life, history, housing, sanitation etc.
On 4th Oct 1873, the reporter covered Cowpen.
Some extracts mentioning Cowpen Square and its environs .....
" We last week attempted to show what Cowpen had been like as a colliery village in it's early days; this week we desire to present it to our readers as it is to be seen at present. "
"Previous to the year 1864 Cowpen was but a a small village with little prospect of enlargement: but in that year an Act of Parliament was passed, which by setting free the land on the Thornto or Crofton estates, gave a mighty impetus to the enterprise of the district. It was then that Cowprn Quay was built, and what had previously been a vast waste of mud when the tide was low, or a broad expanse of shallow water when the tide was high, ( such as Jarrow Slake is now) was reclaimed by degrees from its useless state to become the site of a flourishing town. "
Reporter writes of the condition of cottages on Kneelman's Row ( today Regent St of Blyth)..
" They were built at a time when sanitary arrangements were never dreamt of, and as a consequence we find at the back of the gardens behind the houses the usual offensive ash heaps."
" From hence we walk towards the Square, where we find everything in a state of confusion. AA revolution is going on amongst the old house which we last week described. nThey are falling before the pick of the labourer and in their are rising up modest mansions of dun-coloured brick with slated roofs, which put to utter confusion the antiquated shams which, with drooping chimneys and tottering walls, tremblingly await their gradual extinction"
" The ramshackle erections which used to fill up the centre of Cowpen Square have disappeared for ever: but the ugly open ashpits still remain, and it is to be hoped the hand of improvement will not be stayed till they also have disappeared to be replaced by the sanitary reforms of modern civilisation. "
" Outside the square is Cowpen Mill, its giant arms whirling round merrily to the piping of a stiff westerly gale"
"Long years ago there was another mill known as Buckshill Mill. which stood upon the centre of what is now known as Monkey's Island. Not a vestige of it now remains but our venerable guide points to some stepping stones left bare by the receding tide which foot passengers used to cross when they went to the mill."
" Near the square is the ferry boat landing for the convenience of the good people of Cambois who depend on it as a means of communication with Blyth . A bridge across the river here would be of infinite service : and Monkey's Island offer an elligible foundation of one end of it; but the owner refuses to give up an inch of the land for such a purpose"
" .... we wend our way towards the North Pit, across the field over which the skirmishers of the 93rd, under the leadership of the late Lord Clyde ( who was then Colonel Campbell) spread themselves when they made their bloodless assault upon the square "
Then reporter makes his way to the "A" pit ( also called South Pit, site now at "top" of Waterloo Rd) then to Isabella Pit.
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Old maps showing Cowpen Square...
Fryer's 1820 map
http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/007179FS.htm
Square only three-sided
Greenwood's 1828 map
http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/006972FS.htm
Square just south of Buckshill Mill.
1860 Ordnance 6" version
http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/004890FS.htm
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On the 1841 census Cowpen Square follows on from "North Pit Houses" and Buck Hill Mill, page refs, from 821/4a 23-2 to 821/4a 31-18. Many of the residents are coal miners, and would likely have worked at the North Pit/ " A " pit ( later to become Bates Pit)
Michael
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The Durham C.C. GIS mapping website which allows sight of areas at different stages in their history...
Cowpen Square is there at the start of historical sequence i.e. 18565-1865, then up to 1951-59, but is not on map of 1960-69.
Michael
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I am related to the Hodgson’s who Hodgson’s Lane is named after.
I have traced them back to the early 1700’s when the family was based in and around Stannington Bridge and Plessey.
Richard Hodgson who was involved in the management of the pits at Plessey took out a lease with others for the development of the Cowpen Colliery in 1797, sometime shortly afterwards he bought land from the Croft Estate and built “Hodgson’s Mill” and house for him and his family. He evidently also owned the Buckshill Mill, though that is not confirmed.
Hodgsons Mill was further developed by his son Joseph Hodgson who inherited the site in 1830. He built the quay wall you can see in the second drawing.
Joseph tried to rent the mills out in 1838 but was not successful.
In the 1850's he advertised a butchers shop and blacksmiths shop as being available for rent in the mills
Joseph’s 3rd son also a Joseph Hodgson founded the Shipyard in about 1860 with Rodger Soulsby. Their firm Hodgson & Soulsby occupied the Crofton Mills site until they moved in 1863 to what had been the Bowmen and Drummond yard further down the river at Cowpen Quay.
Joseph senior's eldest son another Richard Hodgson inherited the mills in 1858, though he ran it before then as he advertised for a miller to work at the mill in 1855.
Richard Hodgson continued to run the mill and act as a flour dealer until 1868 when he tried to sell the mill and all it's contents along with his farm at Cowpen North.
The mill lay abandoned for many years and was finally taken down in 1890.
The land and the quay were eventually sold by JC Hodgson, Richard's only son to the Blyth Harbour Commissioners in 1898 for £10,500.
I have gleaned most of this information from the History of the Port of Blyth by CE Baldwin, where the plans posted by PHodgetts come from, cuttings from the Newcastle Courant obtained from the Gale site and Volume 9 of the History of Northumberland. J.C. Hodgson was on the writing committee and I suspect he stuck as much as he could about his family in there.
The map is from the history of Northumberland - no date given
Hope this is all interesting
Gavin
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Many thanks for all the info about Cowpen Square. I really appreciate it.
My [possible] ancestors who lived there were called Robert & Grace Davison, according to 1851 census. I'm still verifying the link to my definite ancestor - so I'm not yet certain I've a connection.
Despite this, thanks again for your help.
Marco
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Hi. All.
I was born in Cowpen Quay and reading these posts (great bytheway) I realised how little I know about the area of my birth.
You probably know about Dave Edwards artwork, but just in case anyone is interested he has some wonderful examples of his work ( including Hodgson's Mill) at
http://blythart.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the info.
Bill.
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Here's an overlay map of Hodgson's Lane area. Get in touch if you want any other area doing.
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Wonderful!! Great information - my GGrandmother's address on her birth cert was Hogson's Mill - Philip has helped me before with information - but this now is more than I could ever have dreamed of - thanks!!!
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I am very pleased that you have found the information so useful. It is joy to discover these things especially when it relates to families from the past.
If you would like a picture of the mill or indeed copies of both the images I posted right at the beginning of this thread in REPLY 2, send me a private message with your email address and I will gladly send you a digital image that will print off nicely onto A4 paper. The image will make a nice addition to your family history archive, you could also use it as a computer background image.
Philip
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Information for Gmac101.
Ebay has an old book that was used by Hodgsons in Blyth re the Lloyds Register for ships dated 1877. Thought it would be of interest given that it was probably handled by his relative. I'd love the book myself but can't stretch to it!
P
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The maps and images are really interesting. I too have a connection to Hodgson's Mill. A few weeks ago I was looking for information on the birth of my 3x great-grandfather, Samuel Carlisle, and Angelfish pointed me to an article in the Newcastle Courant of Feb 1848 announcing his death and it stated that he had worked at the mill for 35 years. Most of his children were born around there although he was born in North Yorkshire and married in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham. Samuel's son, John, was also a miller there in the 1851 and 1861 censuses but my 1871 was an 'engine driver at flour works'. Another son, Matthew, was also a miller and emigrated to Canada in the 1850s.
Can I download the images etc and add them to my A****ry tree as I have other members of the Carlisle family connected to it?
Pauline
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Yes Pauline, download the images. They will make great additions to your family tree / history.
P
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Thank you.
Pauline
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Thanks for the tip Phil - But £500 or more would blow my family history budget for the next 5 years.
It was probably owned or used by my 3rd Great Grand Uncle Joseph Hodgson He was the 3rd Son of Joseph Hodgson Sen. (died 1858) he actually started the expansion of Hodgsons Mill. I'm descended from Joseph Sen. 4th Son Thomas who was "just" a master Mariner.
Joseph Hodgson Jun. was involved in the managment of Shipbuilders Hodgson & Soulsby and it's Sucessors, though to date I don't have a record for him as a Lloyds agent, though his father definately was
Gavin
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As ever , a wonderful trip through the history of my Homeland ,
thanks to you all. Dolly x