Charlton Heston's Geordie Roots

Overhearing a conversation the other day between my wife and a friend, I heard Angie re-iterate (for the umpteenth time) that her favourite film was Ben-Hur, the 1959 effort starring Charlton Heston. My better half loves this movie, and, I think, fancied the lead actor no end. Her friend then recalled that she'd seen the American star perform at Newcastle's Theatre Royal back in 1988 as Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons. Angie was suddenly overcome with barely-concealed envy.

Her jealousy soon, though, turned to anguish as her friend checked the fine detail on the internet, only to find that the great man had actually called into St.Thomas More School in her home town of Blaydon during the same visit. She had no idea that she'd come so close to her idol!

Heston, it turns out, was in the North East to appear in the famous play on the theatre's opening night following the building's 20-month closure and refurb. The grand occasion took place on 11th January 1988. He is understood to have had a bit of a soft spot for the Toon, claiming that he loved the place due to it having 'so much history'. I am starting to warm to the man myself now.

He was well aware of his ancestral links to the city, too. Heston said during a Press conference at the Theatre Royal: “My grandfather [John Carter] came from the Newcastle area. He worked in the mines as a boy of eight or nine around 1890 to 1895. He emigrated to America soon after with his mother. I believe Carter is not an uncommon name in Newcastle, although I don’t know of any relatives who might still be living here.”

And it wasn't the first time he'd called in to the region. As detailed in this revealing ChronicleLive article, he had a holiday here in the late 1970s, during which time he hiked along Hadrian's Wall and did a little family history research in Jesmond! He also popped into Newcastle for a stage appointment in 1952 ... and yet another visit, in 1968, included this televised interview.

Well, who'd have thought it? Not my wife, Angie, for one.

Bucks' Panorama of Newcastle, 1745

I was recently, and somewhat reluctantly, dragged into a charity shop in Blaydon by my wife in search of God-knows-what, when I spotted the following for sale for £8:

(click on image to enlarge)

Here's a little zoom-in:

As us sad, mad map-keen enthusiasts know, this is the 1745 panorama of the town of Newcastle as drawn by those prolific topographical engravers/draughtsmen, Samuel & Nathaniel Buck. Well, I couldn't resist, could I? So under the disapproving gaze of my better half, I quickly snaffled it and made my way triumphantly to the car. She's not spoken to me since.

Anyway, here are the brothers in question:

If you want a better image of the Newcastle pic in question (and, perhaps, a close-up of the accompanying text) then the two websites here and here are the places to head. Very nice.

And as for the brothers' backstory - and, indeed, the tale of their Newcastle panorama in particular - I turned to that most excellent of tomes, Newcastle upon Tyne: Mapping the City (see my dedicated blog post). Here's their take on on the subject on pages 53-56. As ever, click on the images to enlarge:

I'm sure the lads who put this superb book together won't mind me reproducing the text, for it is an excellent effort, and essential reading for those interested in the history of this part of the world. It is widely available online if you want to get yourself a copy. Go on, treat yourself.

The question remains, though: what the heck am I going to do with my oversized purchase? I think my wife might have a suggestion....

Relics of Blaydon & Winlaton

As I've already told you, I am in the process of moving house up to Morpeth. This represents quite a wrench for me, as I've always lived and worked within spitting distance of the Tyne and my beloved hometown of Newcastle. For a good couple of decades I lived in the city's west end, then moved over to Winlaton (my wife's native patch), where I spent the next 35 years. Morpeth will be new ground for me, and I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, I'm stuck between houses in my son's pad in Hazlerigg.

Winlaton and neighbouring Blaydon, then, have had quite a hold on me these past few decades. Whenever I was asked where I lived I always had to reference The Blaydon Races, which usually did the trick. Winlaton, though, is the older of the two settlements, even if it does play second fiddle to its younger brother these days.

From time to time, of course, I would call in at Blaydon Library to see if anything new, history-wise, was lurking. Their stock item of interest in this regard was the head of the statue of Garibaldi, thus:

I'm not sure if you'll be able to read this, but click on the image to improve your chances:

Anyway, the last time I wandered in there I found the little side room open - the first time I'd seen it on open access. So I wandered in for a gander, and found the following strewn around the room, which I think are self-explanatory. Again, click on the images to enlarge them (though I apologise for the poor quality of the 'Garibaldi's legs' image):

I'm not sure why these little treasures are stashed away in a side room, out of normal sight. But I suppose if you want access to them you may simply have to ask at reception. The room in question is a 'community space', so you might find yourself surrounded by schoolchildren or a Pilates class, or whatever, but it's worth the effort for getting sight of a few rare fragments of Tyneside history.