Lord Londonderry & his coalmine - Rainton

[Wearsider]

I can remember a Councillor Ernie Thompson living in Fence Houses, he was a member of Houghton Urban District Council and he worked at Lambton D Pit. 

Wearsider.

[Patsy Beech]

Thank You Wearsider for the name of the pit in which Uncle Ernie worked. It all helps to add to the family storey. I expect the pit closed long ago along with so many others!

Still looking for any Thompson relies in the North East - are you out there?

Best Wishes,
Patsy

[mockil]

Hi there

I can't remember where I read it but Lord Londonderry brought in workers from outside the area to work in the pits when his workforce went on strike. I believe he evicted striking miners from their house so as to locate his new workers. The incoming workers had no idea they were going to be strike breakers.

this site will give a bit of back ground on Lord Londonderry for you I hope.
My g g grandma's sister was cook for Lord Londonderry.

http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PResults?readform&FT=londonderry

bye

[cloggers child]

This a letter written to Mr Corbett the Mine Manager at Rainton Collieries


"Lord Londonderry And The Rainton Colliery
Lord Londonderry has addressed the following letter to his chief mining agent :—


"Londonderry House, Park-lane, W., April 27. 1896

Dear Mr. Corbett,

I note in your letter of the 22nd your remarks as to the cottages (460 in number) that I have rented from various owners while I have been working Rainton Colliery, and which cottages I am bound by agreement to hand over empty to their various owners on May 13, or, in default, continue to pay rent for them.

I feel that the very serious losses I have sustained by working Rainton Colliery solely for the benefit of the workmen, that I am really not in a position to incur additional expense by continuing to pay rents for cottages which are absolutely useless to me, inasmuch as the colliery in connexion with which I rented these cottages is closed.

Under these circumstances I had hoped to have heard from you that arrangements had been arrived at between the owners of these cottages and the workmen who occupied them, that, by the occupiers paying rent for them as I have done, they could continue in occupation. It grieves me to hear from you that the men utterly decline to take this course. I fully realize their disinclination to pay rent for cottages that have hitherto always been rent free, and which, had I been able to continue the working of Rainton Colliery, would so have remained, and gladly, were I in a position to do so, would I continue to pay the rents. But this cannot be. I have severely crippled myself so far as Rainton is concerned, for, as my previous statement has shown, it is the workmen, and the workmen only, who have benefited by the working of Rainton during the past few years, and it is, consequently, hardly fair to ask me to incur any further loss.

Under these circumstances, What is my position ? As far as I understand it, it means that to carry out my agreement with the owner of the cottages it is my duty to hand over the cottages empty on May 13.

I have seen from reports in the local papers that at their meeting the occupiers have decided to pay no rent, but to remain in their cottages until they are evicted. If this be so, you well know how repugnant it would be to me to be forced to adopt such a course, and, in order to avert it, I will incur still further loss by the following proposal, which I trust they will accept.

If they will become the tenants of the owners of the cottages I will guarantee to the owners of the cottages two months' rent, on the distinct understanding that at the expiration of that period they (the occupiers) either continue to pay such rent as they may arrange with the owners or hand over the houses empty to them.

I think it is hard on me, after the losses I have sustained in working the colliery, that I should be put to still further expense ; But so anxious am I to do all in my power to meet the wishes of my late employйs (many of whom I am glad to think have found fresh employment in the neighbourhood), that I authorize you to make this proposal on my behalf.

Believe me, very truly yours,

Londonderry."

 

[Patsy Beech]

Thank you Rootschatters for the information about Rainton & Lord Londonderry. He certainly does not sound like a man you would mess with!

I am still looking for my Thompson's who I now know still live in the area, as Ernie Thompson's descendents have recently made all the arrangement for Aunty Jenny's funeral in Houghton-le-Spring. Fingers crossed they contact me sometime.

Thanks again for your continued help.
Best Wishes,
Patsy

[clazey]

In researching the clazey connection to Lord Londonderry, and property owned by John Oswald Clazey in Forfarshire, Angus...Lord Londonderry seems to have been perceived as a German sympathizer during World War I and I suspect that the views did not change up to the prelude to World War II.  The property in Forfarshire, is now a correctional facility.  According to local legend, as the place was more a "hunting lodge" or place in the country...folks objected to the "German Eagles" set on pedestals at the entrance to the estate and stormed the place.  There has been no evidence to support that according to an employee at Forfarshire who did quite a bit of research for me.

Lord Londonderry was more than likely a product of the times...educated at elite schools and completely isolated from the lot of the common people except when it threatened his pocketbook.   The schools were his charity...and it probably increased his production. 

Sharon