Durham's most handsome man

[skingers2]

Hi there
I'd just like to know if anyone can help me find out about my gggranddad Richard Cunningham - he was a hawker of earthenware and was once winner of a competition held we think by a local paper to find Durham's most handsome man and woman. People referred to him as "Bonny Dick" and I believe he had his portrait painted. He lived in Durham where he married my gggma Jane Ann Appleby in 1872. They lived in Bishopwearmouth, Bishop Auckland and he was born in 1853 in Darlington we think and died in Sedgefield in 1907. Any ideas where we could find the portrait? details of the competition? We have tried the National Portrait Gallery in London but had no luck.
Thanks
Ros

[Jolly Roger]

Well how about a local newspaper for a start, The Northern Echo, or an Durham weekly one

JR

[skingers2]

Thanks for that - tried some (Newcastle Courant, Northern Echo)already but with no success.
Would really be interested in finding the portrait !!!
Ros

[pudden]

not sure if you are local but Durham University has copies of 19th century Durham newspapers and may be worth a visit.

Good luck!

http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/heritage/local/

[Michael Dixon]

 Ros,


 Be aware that Northern Echo started in 1870. The Sunderland Echo started in 1873.

 Although Richard was born in Darlington (area) it seems he hardly ever lived there. 1861 Sunderland, 71 Hetton le Hole, 81 Sunderland, 91 Bishop Auckland (area), 1901 Durham City.

I don't know what papers were read in Bishop in 1890s !


A broad search of national newspapers , including the Newcastle Courant, for "Bonny Dick" ( via my membership of Newcastle City Library) does through up several mentions in late 1880s, but all are for Bonny Dick, a coursing greyhound.

Don't spend too much time on this search... I have the "T" Shirt, in fact more than one.

Good Hunting
MichaeL Dixon

[Jolly Roger]

Well the Durham Advertiser series was published from 1840's if my memory serves me well.

But there were other papers published in Darlington before Echo one been The Darlington and Stockton times which was first published 1847 in Barnard Castle before moving to Darlington in 1848 from where it has been published weekly ever since.

JR

[skingers2]

Well thank you all.
I'm not local and can only work through the net or when on holiday I do sometimes get to the National Archives. My mum was quite sure that his portrait had been painted and must be hanging somewhere local but I don't know. It was just another of those family stories that I felt might be interesting to follow up.
Thanks anyway
Ros