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The Ivy that has been growing on the Masonic Hall in Prudhoe St has had to have been removed as it was becoming dangerous to pedestrians and damaging the structure of the building. As you can see these hidden windows were exposed and they are possibly the windows from the original Sunday School. You can … Continue reading Ivy on Masonic Hall

On Ash Wednesday, 17th February 1836 an ancient ash tree in St Michael’s Churchyard was blown down. It was known as the Boome Tree, perhaps after Middle Low German bōm (“tree”). It was supposed to have been planted in the Reign of Henry IV (1399 to 1413). Although it looked sound, there were no roots … Continue reading Boome Tree

Ann Richardson, widow, Alnwick, was summoned at the instance of the Local Board Health for unlawfully obstructing the execution of an order made by the justices of the peace requiring her son to be removed to a hospital for infectious diseases at Alnwick. Mr. Robert Middlemas, solicitor, Clerk to the Local Board, represented that body … Continue reading The local board and their fever hospital

We all know the lane that runs between the North-East corner of the Marketplace and Bondgate Within. But what is it called? “Market Passage” has a long pedigree, and support from distinguished authorities. But it’s not the only possibility. Writing in the 1860s George Tate tells us that in 1770 this was called “Pye’s Lane” … Continue reading Also known as…

We were asked about the history of Hulne Park Wall. We thought it would be a straightforward question, but it wasn’t. The story is complex, and there are inconsistencies between different accounts. Royal Forest Today a forest is an area of dense woodland, but in the medieval world a forest was an area used for … Continue reading Hulne Park Wall