My Books ... For Christmas, Maybe?

As you no doubt know, since I retired from the world of 'proper' work back in December 2020 I have been rather busy with this writing lark. I have concentrated, in the main, on local history stuff, but have also turned out a couple of other efforts - one on football and another on genealogy.

All nine are handily available via Amazon as both paperbacks and ebooks - and direct links to them can be found around and about the columns of this blog. They are, essentially:

3 volumes in a series of books entitled Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Fragments of the Past

3 volumes in a series of books entitled The Great North-East: An English History Tour

A one-off volume entitled Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Tales from the Suburbs

A collection of essays on a subject close to my heart entitled Genealogy: Glitches, Gremlins & Bugbears

A biography of Cuthbert Ottaway, England's First Football Captain

Other than the last one, none of the above can be classed as in the slightest bit academic. They are full of fun facts and stories, and written in a 'popularist' manner. They are meant to be enjoyed rather than endured, and can be 'dipped into' whenever the fancy takes you.

And as you know the profits from most of them are donated to the Great North Children's Hospital, which is based here in Newcastle but takes in youngsters from all over the region. A worthy cause, I'm sure you'll agree. The profits from the Ottaway and Genealogy books are kept by me, though (just so you know - though the takings don't amount to much!).

It occurs to me that now is as good a time as any to post this message, as you may be looking for ideas for Christmas pressies - or even to treat yourself.

As well as all the links on this blog, you can also find more info at https://linktr.ee/historymick or at my really boring bio page at https://historymick.weebly.com/ 

There's another book of mine, too, which you may enjoy called In the News: the 1970s. (don't be frightened of the Lulu website, as it's free to register and there are no catches).

If you've made it all the way down to here, then well done. Thanks to all of you who have already bought any of my stuff (do leave a rating/review on Amazon), and thanks, too, for any support you can offer both now and in the future!

Oh, and, er, Happy Christmas! (in advance) 🎄🎅🎄🎅

Some Personal Newcastle Memorabilia!

(click to enlarge)

As today is my 60th birthday I do hope you will excuse a little self-indulgence and allow me to show you an image of the commemorative ‘birthday plaque’ which was ordered by my parents several decades ago.

The ‘plate’ is around 6” in diameter and was issued by the famous Delft Pottery in the Netherlands. The company produced these special plates on demand for several decades from the mid-twentieth century, and though the original factory no longer turns these out I understand a related company still produces them to order. 

As you can see, it shows my name, date & time of birth, birth-place (Newcastle!) and my weight (8lb 1oz). I cannot vouch for the illustrated mode of delivery, which seems somewhat questionable....

Does anyone else out there have something similar?

Newcastle's First Bishop

Ernest Roland Wilberforce, Bishop of Newcastle, 1882-96

As the Industrial Revolution swept Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the top of the pecking order, population-wise, in the North-East of England, it soon became clear that the separation of the town and its vicinity from the ancient diocese of Durham was inevitable. The rapidly-growing urban population of Newcastle and its suburbs demanded the constant creation of new parishes to meet the spiritual needs of the people to such an extent that it was finally decided in 1878 to push through an Act of Parliament to facilitate the administrative and ecclesiastical change. 

Tight financial restrictions meant that it took four years for the authorities to get round to actually appointing the new diocese's first bishop. Then, during late May and early June 1882, the final boxes were ticked and the UK's newest diocese was brought into being. Newcastle was finally granted city status on 3rd June 1882*, and moves were then made to appoint it's first bishop. That man was Ernest Roland Wilberforce, who was consecrated on 25th July 1882 (in Durham Cathedral, actually). He was the country's youngest diocesan bishop at the time of his appointment.

The new diocese included Newcastle, and the whole of Northumberland, with St.Nicholas' Church upgraded to a cathedral. The Church of England, though, were, at the time fighting what seemed like a losing battle. The 1881 Census had revealed that only around 4% of England's population regularly attended Anglican services, and that nonconformist churches and chapels had largely replaced the C of E as the dominant Christian force in industrialised areas. Something had to be done to redress the balance.

Ernest was born in 1840, being the third son of another bishop, Samuel, and his wife, Emily. He was also the grandson of the uber-famous William Wilberforce (of slave trade abolishment fame). Educated at Harrow and Oxford, he showed little in the way of academic ability, preferring sporting pursuits. Riding on the shirt-tails of his father, he progressed through several ministerial posts, until he became a canon at Winchester in 1878. After a brief missionary trip to Quebec during 1881-82, he was then, somewhat out of the blue, offered the brand-spanking new see of Newcastle by prime minister William Gladstone. He was happy to accept and made the trip north - well outside of his geographical comfort zone!

Whilst he settled into his new official residence at Benwell Towers (gifted to the diocese by Quaker banker John William Pease), Wilberforce set about the renaissance of the C of E's fortunes north of the Tyne. He basically set about fundraising - to the tune of £250,000 in his first five years as bishop, all of which allowed for the building of eleven new churches and seven new vicarages, as well as the taking on of 28 new clergy, over the first few years of his tenure. He travelled widely across Northumberland, too - with many nonconformists being won over by his tactful approach.

His health suffered as a result of his efforts, and he eventually transferred to the post of Bishop of Chichester in January 1896. He was active in many other areas (most notably in the temperance movement), and died on the Isle of Wight in 1907 (which, coincidentally, was where he'd been born).

Ernest married twice: to Frances Anderson (d.1870) and Emily Connor, and had a total of six children with the latter.

* There is some uncertainty as to exact date of Newcastle's transference from a 'town' to a 'city'. The official 'royal charter' constituting Newcastle as a city was not received by the mayor until 5th July 1882, which some claim as the official termination date of 'town' status. If anyone has any observations on this point, please comment below!