I needn’t apologise for the delay in blogging – it’s less than 2 minutes since I pressed “Publish” on the last one – and I can’t apologise for the white space in the last one as that is WordPress’ fault. (One of my pet hates is the computer voice on the train that apologises for the late running of this service. I want a human being to apologise, not a computer. How can a computer feel sorry for “any inconvenience caused?” End of rant).
I love driving through Netherwitton. Lovely old mill dating to 1787 – first cotton, then woollen, then saw, now apartments. No shop, one bus a day to Morpeth and back – but the church survives. St Giles, down a track at NZ102904, beside the River Font. Gorgeous. Beautiful trees shield the main door.
The font is thirteenth or fourteenth century.
This is a lovely photo. The Vicarage band at the turn of the last century:
Some nice tombs and effigies (the lady is fourteenth century), though the pain of the tablet to the child had me wiping away a tear. The Trevelyan family lived at the Hall, which has its own private gate into the church. More info on the Hall at www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-238370-netherwitton-hall-netherwitton – I wonder if they ever open it to the plebs? The sky really was that colour – yes, it is January.
Fantastic images of St Giles; my great great great grandfather was married in this church in 1825. Ralph Ridley married Jane Hall before they were transported to NSW in 1833 with their young family.They helped open up central west NSW and must have been one of the first husband and wife combinations to arrive at Carcoar, the second major town build west of the blue mountains (second to Bathurst 1815). They were assigned to Thomas Icely of Coombing Park before receiving their freedom in 1839. They followed the goldfields and Chinese diggers forming a store and butchery before buying land and farming off the profit. The cycle has returned, as my side of the Ridley family moved back closer to Coombing Park with my dad and his children all being born at Carcoar. My grandfather on my mothers side actually worked on Coombing Park as a farm hand. I have previously seen a photo of the Netherwitton church but was excited to see images from inside. I have to get over to England to visit my ‘birthplace’ really soon.
Gavin Ridley of Glenorie 2157 Sydney Australia 9652 2024
I loved seeing the photos of St. Giles. My family also has a connection here. They were George & Elizabeth young, and lived at Longshaws Mill for a period of time. My Gt Gt Grandfather George Young, (son of George & Elizabeth) left there sometime after the 1871 census and came to Australia. I am hoping to find some family that still live in the area.
Marlene Nowlad
Thank you for your interesting comments. May I point out that Netherwitton Mill has not been converted to apartments – the homes are in fact 3 story houses.
Thank you. I’m always pleased when blogs that are so old are still being read.
My family attended St Giles on a regular basis during the 1950s-1960s
We lived on the nearby Nunnykirk Estate, where my father, James Doull, was employed
by Sir Charles Orde, as Head Gardener.
Mother was employed as Sir Charles’s cook. Myself, (Edmund) and my sister (Ruby) took our first Holy Communion at St Giles in 1956. The incumbent vicar held our Confirmation classes in Nunnykirk Hall and we subsequently were Confirmed in a church in nearby Cambo.
Father died in October 1964, just a couple of months after I had joined the RAF, aged 20. Due to limited burial plot availability, his grave is sited in the Annexe graveyard which is sited to the North of the village (road to Forest Gate, Ritton, Rothbury, etc.
Mother (Sarah Jane Fenwick Doull) died in 1986 and her ashes were scattered on dads grave.
I attend the grave on a fairly frequent basis and need to find out who I need to speak to regarding maintenance of the plot.
If anyone can help please e-mail me to advise.
Many Thanks
Edmund Doull
Go on to http://www.newcastle.anglican.org/default.aspx, click on the “find a church” button, and search for “Netherwitton”, then congtact the churchwardens. That should work! Peter
Does anyone know the names of the musicians on the back of the door of St Giles Netherwitton
Yes, the back row, second from the left is my grandfather, George Dunn, and the second from the right back row is my uncle Edward who was George’s brother. There are quite a lot of Dunn as my family all hailed from Netherwitton.
Once again, thank you for your blog Revd Peter.
It is lovely to see the memories being recorded here.
My Footloose group have just completed a circular walk around Netherwitton on this cold but crisp and sunny day. I’ll be putting the report on my WordPress blog in due course.
Thanks Dave. If you ever want to put a link to my blogs of Northumberland churches, or use a photo, please do. Love to Carole.
Thank you Peter, I already have your WordPress address on my welcome page, but will have a look at including your church ones on my posts as well. Keep safe, and love to Julie.