Author: Peter

Wood’s 1827 map of Alnwick shows a Carrier Warehouse belonging to Mr Graham, just north of Bondgate Tower. In 1827 William Graham was making two trips a week to Newcastle: one on Monday, returning on Wednesday, and one on Thursday returning on Saturday. At the time there were more than forty carriers serving nearly thirty … Continue reading Carrier warehouse

The world’s first large iron bridge was erected across the River Severn in 1779. The second, across the River Wear at Sunderland was opened in 1796. By 1812, when this cast-iron bridge in Hulne Park was constructed, cast iron was generally considered a suitable material for bridges. Thomas Telford had built four bridges in cast … Continue reading Iron Bridge

In 1925 Fred Wilcox acquired the old Militia Mess Rooms, in Bondgate Without from the Duke of Northumberland and commissioned architects J. Oswald and Sons, of Newcastle, to design a theatre and picture house which would accommodate 1,200 people. The King’s Hall Theatre, in Nag’s Head Yard, had beeen run by generations of his family … Continue reading Messrs J. Oswald and Sons

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