Sunderland

Antiquarian Society

Newsletter Jan/Feb 2012

The new promenade with concrete seating at Seaburn c.1922

Antiquarian News

The Society’s membership continues to grow, locally, nationally and overseas. The research mornings at the Minster are very well attended so do please come along – assistance and guidance is always at hand. The monthly evening talks are also being well attended. The society’s website goes from strength to strength and can be accessed at:

www.sunderland-antiquarians.org The site has a ‘Members Only’ area which current members can log in to with their password. Non-members do not have access to this part of the site. Any members who have not yet received their password should simply send an email to the Secretary of the society at P11cur@aol.com and a password will duly be issued. New articles, photos and features are being uploaded into this area on a weekly basis so do keep accessing this part of the website.

Forthcoming Lectures Our monthly talks continue this year on the second Tuesday evening of each month (with March being the exception – see below) Please do come along and support the society.

14th February The Old Pubs of Bishopwearmouth by Ron Lawson **20th March The History of Roker and Seaburn by Phil Curtis** 10th April AGM/Edwardian Sunderland from the archives *****Would members please note the date of the March meeting – it is the third Tuesday of March as the Minster is being used by the University on our normal evening. ****** All our illustrated talks are held in the Vestry commencing 7.45pm and last approx one hour (doors open 7.30pm with coffee being served, if required). Non-members are always very welcome.

Fortnightly Research Mornings The Society’s archives at The Minster continue to be open for research fortnightly on Saturday mornings 10a.m.-noon on the following dates: 4th and 18th Feb; 3rd 17th and 31st March; 14th and 28th April. Non-members are most welcome.

Echoes of the Filth and Poison in Sunderland

In the 21st century we have much to be thankful for when it comes to our health.

Children particularly enjoy the best of attention when it comes to spots, sniffles and

the other malaises that see them queuing up three deep in the doctor‟s waiting

room. In an age when, thankfully, we have a cure for almost every childhood

condition, it is worth casting one‟s mind back to the days when the poor bairns of

Sunderland were lucky to survive a trip outside of their front doors.

Long before Knocky nine doors, itchy dabbers and mounta-kitty were popular

pastimes enjoyed by those now in their golden years, the poorer youngsters of

Sunderland had little to keep them occupied other than what was going on around

them and their natural inquisitiveness often led to rather dire consequences.

In the 1840s, Low Row (pictured) was home to a scholarly institute known as the

National School. Sited opposite to St. Michael‟s Church, the school backed on to a

graveyard, the shortage of space in which was to cause lessons to be interrupted

with alarming regularity.

Under the school were a

number of burial vaults in

which dearly departed

locals were piled one on top

of the other, there to

decompose in peace – or at

least until the next family

member passed away.

Shortly before a funeral, the

vault would be opened and

left, with the rotting corpses

in full view until the latest

body was balanced on top of

the pile; only then could the

vault be closed.

The stench from this

practice, especially in

summer months, was enough for lessons to be abandoned and the youngsters to be

sent home gasping for air. Kids being kids, few could resist taking a peek at the

reposing corpses en route home.

The more adventurous would

venture inside for a lesson in

human anatomy – a lesson that

would often end in tragedy.

And if the bodies didn‟t get the

bairns, a long culvert filled with

stagnant water that lay within the

cemetery certainly would!

In February 1871, Sunderland

found itself in the terrifying grip of

a smallpox epidemic. Defective or

nonexistent sewage pipes, along

with the general filth in the town

were major causes. At that time a group of children in New Hendon had chanced

upon a discarded old mattress at Noble‟s Bank, (Noble‟s Bank Road pictured below)

and thinking this an excellent play-thing, set about using it as trampoline, tent and

whatever else came into their mischievous young minds. When, shortly after, all of

the youngsters fell seriously ill from the smallpox, enquiries were made to find out

the cause.

The mattress it seems

had been the last resting

place of an old woman

who died of smallpox,

and had been duly

thrown out by her family.

The children‟s play thing

had brought about their

tragic demise.

One of the greatest

amusements to

youngsters in those days

was the slaughter houses

and butcher‟s shops, of

which Sunderland had many. It was a common sight to see an angry bull being

dragged from the hunger house, through the streets to Sans Street or Portobello

Lane, or wherever the butcher was based. The poor creatures would be knocked

down and killed in the open, often with a dozen or so cheering kids watching

proceedings with great interest. Many would be knocked to the ground and

seriously injured by the infuriated animals. At a time long before the compensation

culture descended, a kid could be crippled for life with little more than a “Sorry,

youngin!”

A few years into the 20th century, Sunderland was hit by another epidemic, this time

it was tuberculosis. By that time vaccination was common place, and those who had

just been put to the needle often found themselves with painful swellings on their

arms. In order to alert others to the fact that the unfortunate youngster was suffering

and needed a wide berth – a red handkerchief was tied around the bairn‟s arm. The

term, red rag to a bull has never been truer, and the local bullies would deliver

gratuitous digs to the suffering limb, adding to the unfortunate child‟s pains.

We are indeed fortunate that such epidemics, particularly those caused by filth and

ignorance are a thing of the past. With Health Service cuts around the corner,

perhaps its just as well!

Children getting fresh

air outside of the

Children‟s hospital on

Durham Road.

Galvanic the rat catcher

Just along from Fulwell railway crossing lay a huddle of old cottages owned by the

Abbs family – who for generations were major landowners in Monkwearmouth

Parish. During the 1930s and 40s, the end cottage was home to one of Wearside‟s

most colourful characters, Galvanic, the Rat Catcher.

On a summers evening, the old chap would take the air with his missus, chatting

with his neighbours and those who rode the LNER line past his tiny abode. During

the day however, Galvanic would make his way to the docks or the riverside or the

crumbling old mansions of town in order to rid the borough of the very vermin that

had many centuries earlier brought the plague to Sunderland. In fact rats had been

a major nuisance ever since.

„Galvanic‟ or Tom Newton to give him his proper name, had acquired his strange

nickname down at the old market, where one of the showmen had installed an

electric galvanic machine. Punters, encouraged by their mates, paid their ha‟penny

and grabbed the metal handles not knowing what to expect. What they got for their

coppers was a couple of hundred volts that just about rattled their bones clean out

their skin. Tom Newton, unable to let loose his grip as the current flowed through his

body, almost wrenched the machine from its mountings in order to escape. There

must have been a fair crowd watching that day, as along with his embarrassment, he

acquired a nickname that would stay

with him for the rest of his life. „Galvanic

the rat Catcher‟ was born.

Often seen in the East End, clad in

brown overalls, the Rat Catcher would

be accompanied by his Jack Russell,

and often a couple of canine

apprentices too. Over his shoulder

would be slung a wriggling sack of live

rats, and kids would eagerly follow their

hero on his rounds, down onto the town

moor, waiting for the big event to

unfold.

Watched by the open mouthed bairns,

Tom would dip his hand into the furry

mass and one by one, pull out the rats,

throwing them down and letting them

make a dash for freedom. The poor

creatures didn‟t get far, because the

Jack Russells would be off like a flash,

their strong jaws making short work of

the fleeing rodents.

Locals could never understand how

Tom could dip his hand into the sack

and never get bitten. His theory was

both simple and cunning. A sackful of

rats, upon seeing the hand approach,

would just close their eyes and hope that it was the next chap who was about to get

his come-uppance. It was only when there was but one rodent left that Tom‟s

approach changed. The sole occupant would know that its day of reckoning had

come and would be waiting with extremely sharp teeth to take off a few fingers –

that‟s why Tom always turned over the sack and emptied the last one out onto the

ground – no missing fingers for him!

Back home at Abbs Cottages, Tom would train the young Jack Russells by giving

them a rather unfair advantage. Having already knocked the rats teeth out by

tapping them with a penny, the young dogs could carry out their apprenticeship

without fear of getting bitten. Many a prized dog would be produced using what

would be considered these days to be a rather dubious practice.

Another strange quirk of Galvanic the Rat Catcher, was his love of snails. These he

would collect from the railway embankment near to his home, where months of

munching on the fine plants that grew there would ensure that they were as fat and

juicy as any our French cousins found on their dinner plates. Suitable boiled and

seasoned, the rat catcher would enjoy his well earned – and rather slimy supper

after a hard days graft.

And make no mistake – Galvanic knew all about hard graft! Tom Downey in his

book about the East End in the thirties tells how the rat catcher would snare up to

2000 rats a year. Without a doubt this wonderful character had earned his snail suppers - and a couple of pints to wash them down

Photo: Tom Newton outside of Abbs cottages in the 1940s.

****In July 1665, a merchant ship entered the Sunderland harbour carrying

a very deadly cargo. Sailor Jeremy Reed staggered from the ship suffering

from bubonic plague, a disease carried by rats. Within days Jeremy had

died with black swellings under his armpits and blood frothing from his

lungs. The plague raged for three months taking with it thirty townsfolk. For

many centuries rats became objects of hatred and rat catchers were

employed in a skilful and often dangerous occupation.

****In Victorian times, the Green Dragon pub on Panns Bank had a pit hewn from

limestone in its cellar. Here, local sporting men would test their terrier dogs against rats

– both the town rats and the huge ships rats that infested the docks and quayside. Many

a dog lost its life in these savage battles and many a gambling man went home with

empty pockets.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Born and Bred in Sunderland - ALF WIGHT aka JAMES HERRIOT

Alf Wight, who was better known to his worldwide audience as James Herriot, was born

in Brandling Street, only yards from the Roker Park football ground on 3rd

October

1916. The birth was recorded in the Sunderland Echo the following day. (see above).

Three weeks after the birth the family moved to Glasgow for his father’s work.

Alf attended the Veterinary School in Glasgow, eventually taking up a post as a vet in

the Yorkshire Dales a job that was to inspire his books such as All Creatures Great and

Births

WIGHT – At “Fashoda” Brandling Street, Roker on Oct 3rd

to Mr and Mrs James

Wight (nee Hannah Bell) of Glasgow, a son

Small and It Shouldn’t Happen To a Vet. These went on to be made

into films and a popular television series.

Alf was a great supporter of Sunderland AFC, eventually

becoming the club’s honorary life president. He said: “Looking

back over my life I can see that there was no way I could have

avoided being a Sunderland fanatic unless somebody had got to me

before the age of three as my father had brain-washed me long before

that. He never taught me nursery rhymes but instead taught me to

recite the great teams he had watched over the years at Roker Park.

My childish brain swam with the names of Buchan, Holley, Mordue,

Cuggy and countless others….I don’t know how many times I heard about the time when

Sunderland defeated Newcastle 9-1 at St James Park.”

Alf passed away on 23rd

February 1995. The veterinary surgery where he worked in

Thirsk is now a museum.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

THE MARINA

The 1930s saw the building of five new cinemas in Sunderland and, following the Ritz, Regal

Regent and Plaza came the Marina, the first of the modern suburban halls.

Built by the Hinge Circuit in Sea Road, the residents of Fulwell, even today, almost fifty

years after it closed, often recall with a great deal of nostalgia, nights spent at the Marina.

It was opened to the public on 31st July 1935 by Alderman E.H. Brown and the first film

shown was Things Are Looking Up starring Cecily Courtneidge.

The height of its popularity came during the forties and fifties, especially among the

younger cinemagoers who would form long queues for the Sunday evening performances

with some being lucky enough to occupy the double seats provided for courting couples.

The Marina closed down on 27th

July 1963 with the film We Joined The Navy starring

Kenneth More and the site turned into a supermarket.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

From the archives……………………

Looking up Newcastle Road towards Fulwell Mill 1902

Remember the society’s archives are packed with documents, maps and

photographs that may be of assistance to members in their family or subject

research. Where we are able, we will provide help and assistance for

research. Contact our map archivist, Norman Kirtlan, email:

oldsunderland@yahoo.co.uk or our Chairman, Douglas Smith, email:

douglassmith2007@aol.com

The Society is keen to add to its growing collection of copies of Wearside

family trees and would be delighted to accept any details for our files. These

may be handed in on any research Saturday or emailed to our President,

Douglas Smith, at the above email address.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership subs are paid annually - £15 for an adult and £25 for husband and wife. If your subs are due then please do forward the same to the Treasurer, Mr R. Hope, 25 St Gabriel’s Avenue, Sunderland, SR4 7TF. This entitles you to a 6 bi-monthly newsletters per annum; free admission to the archives which are open Saturday mornings (fortnightly) 10.00 – noon at The Minster and fee admission to the month talks which are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month. The monthly talks held in The Minster Vestry are also free (details on page 1) There is also access to the Members Only area of the Society’s website with an

exclusive password being issued to all members.

Go to www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

NEW MEMBERS ARE MOST WELCOME and should send subs to the Treasurer

(address below) who will arrange for a welcome pack to be sent. Alternatively

you can join through the website (PayPal)

Officers of the Society 2011-12 President: Mr D.W. Smith, 7 Crow Lane, Middle Herrington, Sunderland, SR3 3TE Tel: 5220517 Vice President: Mr F. Lowes Hon Vice-Presidents: Mr R. Lawson, Mrs C. Davison Secretary/Web Editor: Mr P. Curtis, 14 Park Parade, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 9LU Email: P11cur@aol.com Tel: 01915101923 Treasurer: Mr R. Hope, 25 St Gabriel’s Avenue, Sunderland. Image Archivists: Mr R. Lawson, Map Archivist: Mr N. Kirtlan email: forensicart@yahoo.co.uk Librarian: Mrs C. Davison Ms E.Tinker Donations Sec: Mr G. Prince, 15 St Nicholas Avenue, Sunderland, SR3 1YG Tel: 5287307 Membership Secretary: Mr R. Davison, 17 Marion Street, Sunderland SR2 8RG Council Members: Mr J. Cheesebrough, Mr D. Bridge, Mr W. Hawkins, Mr C. Metcalf

The Recreation Park, Seaburn – note sheaves of corn

Wheatsheaf early 1950s with Venerable Bede Church in background

Notarianni’s early 1950s

Roker Avenue early 1920s