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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: River Tyne Lass on Monday 29 March 21 08:23 BST (UK)
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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-shields-townhouse-hidden-secrets-20258739
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/estate-agents/agent/R-A-Jackson-and-Son/North-Shields-24395.html
This is just to let people know about an exciting recent discovery in an old Georgian townhouse building in North Shields. Apparently, centuries old maps have been discovered there in almost perfectly preserved servants quarters.
This building is very near to the local studies in North Shields library.
What a marvellous discovery relating to our Tyneside past and such an exciting find for our area! :D
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What a fantastic discovery, thanks for sharing.
Michael
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Very exciting.... the maps can go to a museum or library of course, but I hope the servant's rooms can be preserved for people to experience.
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You are welcome, Michael - I agree .. a fantastic discovery indeed!
Yes, I agree with what you say Mowsehowse, I hope steps are taken to preserve these old servants quarters and that people will be allowed to have supervised visits to get a glimpse of the past. I would love to be allowed to look around inside. :D
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Wow.....wouldn't you just love to have a close look at those :o Thanks for sharing RTL.
Carol
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I do hope we'll be allowed to have a tour. We pass there quite often. There are some lovely houses around there.
Thanks for linking.
Add - looking at the map in more detail, I see it's not far from our solicitors :D
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This is amazing. :o
I agree that the servant's quarters should be preserved rather than "renovated".
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Perhaps it could be opened for the Heritage Days in Sept, (if they happen this year).
Might be worth dropping a few pebbles here and there to try and achieve that?
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Not wanting to be the one to burst bubbles, but...
Judging by some of the filing trays and old office furniture visible around the edges, the rooms have not been sealed off for as long as the article suggests...perhaps since the seventies or eighties? which of course begs the question why the old maps etc weren't recovered previously...
I suppose it really doesn't matter that much, except it does prove that Estate Agents do like to drag things out for an inordinate amount of time! ;D
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I think this would be a great idea to for these servants' rooms to be accessed as part of the Heritage Opening Day events. I would imagine this sounds well possible, if these events do go ahead again this year. Totally agree with your idea of dropping a few pebbles to try to achieve this, Mowsehowse.
The article just seems to suggest that this hasn't been accessed for 'many years'. I think you could well be right, Dave, judging by the old office items that this might have been as recent as the 1980s. Perhaps whoever had access then had no appreciation of history and didn't understand the value and importance of the maps or the quarters.
And what is that on the mantlepiece? I think there is an old book on the left hand corner.
I wonder if there will make reproductions of the maps soon. I would imagine the originals will go to Tyne and Wear Archives.
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On the 1861 census Northumberland Place went up to No. 5, the next properties were known as Northumberland Square, where a distant relative of mine resided at No. 18 Northumberland Square. She was recorded as a widow by the name of Sarah Wilson Ffrance. She was also known by her maiden name of Sarah Aiston, but I have not found any evidence of a marriage. Sarah's father John was a Waterman at North Shields.
Her "husband" - Robert Wilson Ffrance, a barrister, late of Rawcliffe Hall in Lancashire, 18 Northumberland Square, North Shields and Ballochmorie House, Ayrshire died on 21 October 1859 at Woods Hotel, Furnival's Inn, London. His Will and 2 Codicils made sure Sarah and son Robert John Barton Aiston/Ffrance were well provided for
On the 1861 census she is living with her son Robert and brother William Aiston. A Sarah Symon aged 15 from Scotland was visiting. There were also servants - John Slater Batensby - coachman; Ann Scott - cook; Margaret Cummings - nursery governess and Elizabeth Paste - housemaid.
I hope this information adds some more interest to the house. As to the history of this family, it makes for fascinating reading, son Robert inheriting Rawcliffe Hall and being known as the 'Mad Squire'
No. 18 would certainly make an interesting "House through time" project discovering who else lived there.
Knotin
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Thank you very much for this post Knotin, it is very interesting to hear about some of the people who once occupied this house. Undoubtedly, this would certainly make for a fascinating 'house through time' project. :)
When thinking about the history of North Shields it is strange to think how the rich and poor lived in quite close vicinity to each other. The well to do living in this Square were once only a couple of minutes walk from the Tynemouth Workhouse, beside Christ Church.
I daresay all the houses in this Square, will have interesting stories behind them. I know one which is very close to the library has two blue plaques (7 Nothumberland Square) .. sadly, two sons of the family, Edwin Brown and his brother were both killed on the same day serving in WW1. His photo is up on the Local Heritage Trail board which is in the Square and is also on this website:
http://northumbriaworldwarone.co.uk/northumbria-ww1-project-database/
and this one:
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11853
I tend to think that if they create another history board in the future 18 Northumberland Square will surely feature on it. :)
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An update - I have come across a slim reference volume entitled 'My Life and Times' by J. W. Munby at North Shields Local Studies. Apparently, he had been born in this house on Thursday, 20 January 1920.
This looks like a fascinating read and he describes the rooms of his childhood home quite vividly and in great detail.
This might be of interest to anyone wanting to know more on the background of this distinguished town house.
Added: Yikes, actually I think I have made a mistake and J. W. Munby was born at 16 Northumberland Square not 18. :-[ Still a fascinating read though regarding his detailed recall of his home.
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Just to let you all know, there is going to be a free Open House Event for a couple of these townhouses (11-12 Northumberland Square, North Shields) on 12 August between 1 pm and 3pm.
All are welcome to drop in to view the completed restoration of these houses which were built between 1810 and 1816.
This may be the last opportunity to view as these are to go on the market soon.