A Couple of Toon Recommendations

I know I've mentioned this website before, but it's been a long time since I first brought it to everyone's attention so I thought I'd give it another airing. 

Those of you with an interest in Newcastle's past should check out the 'Newcastle Stuff' website at https://newcastlestuff.co.uk/ - a splendid effort, and one of the few places on the internet dedicated to the history of the city. As far as I can tell, it is still being updated from time to time, so do keep tabs on it.

Those of us looking for a bit of old footage of Newcastle (or anywhere, for that matter) turn, of course, first of all to YouTube. But don't forget the British Film Institute, where what looks like the majority of their film clips are available for free. For example, those relating to Newcastle can be found here. I'm not sure what a subscription brings you, but you may wish to have a browse of the free stuff when you've next got a hour or two to spare.

Remember: if you've got any recommendations to pass on regarding the history of Newcastle, or anywhere else in the North-East of England, then do let me know at

micksouthwick @ blueyonder.co.uk (without the gaps!)

A Strange Marriage Ceremony

From The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore & Legend of June 1891:

1891, April 25th - A strange marriage ceremony took place at South Shields. A circus curiosity, a little woman 32 inches high, was joined in matrimony to a man who stood upwards of six feet in his stockings! Another ‘‘monstrosity,” who had to sign the register by holding the pen between his teeth, he having no arms, gave the bride away. Accompanying the party was an ‘‘American giantess” weighing 44 stones, as also a couple of men measuring 7 feet 10 inches and 29 & 1/2 inches in height, respectively. The bride and bridegroom and their friends were connected with a travelling menagerie and circus.

Such a shame that no names are mentioned. Such were the insensitivities of the day, I don't suppose such details were considered as important as the graphic descriptions of their respective physical peculiarities. At least they put the word 'monstrosity' in inverted comas.

Anyway, I dug a little deeper, and found the following, similar account in The Mercury newspaper, of Hobart, Tasmania (11th June 1891):

A wedding of an extraordinary character took place at the Registrar's Office at South Shields recently, the bridal pair being a little lady mite, who is only 32in. high, and Professor Hedley, solo euphonium player, who is 6ft. 1in. in height. The gentleman who gave the lady away was Monsieur Hubert, a man without arms, who signed the marriage certificate as a witness with a pen between his teeth, and the bridesmaids were Nina, an American giantess, who is 44 stone in weight, and Setonella, the "Fire Queen". The best man was Captain Dallas, who is 7ft. 10in. high; and General Metelene, who is 29 1/2 in. in height, formed one of the party, all of whom are connected with a menagerie and circus which is travelling the country.

Though this (and other identical newspaper reports) give the name of the groom as 'Professor Hedley', I can find no trace of such a chap getting hitched in South Shields at that time - so not his real name, I suspect. And still no name for the bride!

If anyone can offer any further details then please do comment below!

Random Recommendations & a History Lesson

For all of my adult life I have been interested in the history of the North-East of England. As many of you know, I have written many articles on all sorts of topics, and published them here, there and everywhere. I have had odd pieces published in local newspapers and magazines, but I have mainly just published them myself on blogs and self-published magazines and books.

I am no academic, and simply enjoy the process of passing on - in an amateurish, populist way - little snippets that I have picked up on my travels through both the landscape and my book collection. I like to be able to pass on the occasional nugget of historical knowledge to my family, too, on our travels - even if no one seems to be that interested!

In my more smug moments I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert. Until, that is, I come across some topic or other of which I have absolutely no knowledge, and which holds me transfixed for an hour or two on YouTube, or wherever. I then realise that I know almost nothing of my 'specialist subject', and am forced to conclude that I will never 'know it all'.

When, for example, I find myself looking over the seemingly empty expanse of the Durham Moors and the Pennines beyond, I stand there thinking to myself, well, there's not much to see here, then. An isolated ruin on a hillside, a faint track through the heather, or the skeletal remains of a mangled piece of ironwork: none of it can mean very much, can it?

Whilst out walking the other day I fell upon - totally unexpectedly - the mighty Hownsgill Viaduct, near Consett. My wife and I had pulled up at another previously unvisited spot, the delightful Allensford Country Park, where we walked westwards towards the Wharnley Burn Waterfall, then fell upon (in the other direction) the following 'Heritage Trail' information panel:

(click to enlarge)

So, off we went, following the path (not easily done, I would add, so take your OS map/app!) and eventually fell upon the immense structure. I knew a bit about Consett and its old iron & steel works, of course, but the viaduct was an unknown entity. 

Then, coincidentally, a few days later I fell upon mention of the same patch of ground on the always excellent North-East Heritage Library's website . The young man behind the NEHL, Kieran Carter, recently wandered these parts on foot and a great deal of information on the area can be found on his Twitter/X feed - and an excellent article can be found on Kieran's website concerning the related Stanhope & Tyne Railway. All great stuff, and new to me.

Then I came across a new-ish YouTube channel called 'Rails & Revolutions'. And though it only has a few videos up and running, I found the quality of the same quite excellent and most informative. And, again, yes, it made me feel quite inadequate when it came to historical knowledge of the seemingly empty, open fells of County Durham. If you enjoy the local history of the North-East, then I would urge you to have a look. It'll certainly fill in a few gaps for you on the historical map of the region!

Boy, I've still got a lot to learn....

P.S. If anyone out there has any other websites or YouTube channels to recommend, then do get in touch.