Trivia Investigation Team

[NewcastleFalcon]

Back to the Bricks, and our Ulrick Alexander Ritson of Calf Hall Muggleswick, owners of South Pontop and Burnhope Collieries County Durham and Preston Colliery North Shields.

Came across these on my travels

http://www.mining-memorabilia.co.uk/Rit ... llions.htm
The Colliery Medallions of U. A. Ritson & Sons Ltd. of Co. Durham and Northumberland (1917/18)

The examples illustrated have both been produced from the same die and measure 26 mm diameter. The first, engraved on the reverse to "P. Lee" of Preston Colliery (North Shields), appears to be of gilt base metal while the second, engraved "M. Dobbs" of Burnhope Colliery (County Durham), is of hallmarked (Birmingham, 1917) silver. Both bear the signature of the makers Vaughton & Sons of Birmingham, in small embossed letters on their obverse.



The website discusses possible reasons for the medals without coming to a definitive conclusion.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Without further ado, in fair Muggleswick where we lay our scene enter stage left the Bishop of Durham, triple H, the controversial Herbert Hensley Henson, enter stage right the Ritsons of Calf Hall and of Burnhope brick notoriety led by Ulrick Alexander Ritson (Snr). Hensley Henson maintained a comprehensive Journal which is available now digitally for the period 1900 to 1939, which also covered his time firstly as Dean and then as Bishop Of Durham from 1920 to 1939 available in full here https://www.hensonjournals.org/ It includes accounts of several visits to Muggleswick and the hospitality offered at Calf Hall by our Ulrick Alexander Ritson and his family.

The Henson Journals-12 Mentions

Here is a selected snippet. In 1916 I don't suppose a lot of folk on the North Durham Moors would have a car but the Ritson's did.

Friday, September 29th, 1916.
I finished preparing a sermon for Sunday, and wrote to Ernest. After lunch Ella and I went to Muggleswick. The train carried us as far as Shotley Bridge, and there Mr Ritson met us with the car, and took is to his house on the moors, 850 feet above sea level, hard by the little church of Muggleswick. Here I preached at the Harvest Thanksgiving, repeating the sermon which I had already preached at Haughton–le–Skerne and Beamish. The little church was fairly filled, a congregation of about 70 persons sufficed for the purpose. As this parish adjoins Stanhope, there was a special fitness about the references to Bishop Butler , which my discourse contained. The parson, A. H. Smith , is a rather pompous little man, with a very clerical manner, but he appears to work hard, and to have plenty to do. His small population (362) is scattered over a large area, and served by two churches. The endowment, about £350 net, arises mainly from glebe.

Another motoring tale, a wintery one, with a little bit of "car trouble", but still made it through the snow up to the high Durham Moors and back, in their 1917 motor car and "Town and Country" tyres and "gritters" yet to be invented!

Tuesday, January 9th, 1917.
Colonel & Mrs Ritson called for us in their motor at 10.30 a.m., and carried us to Muggleswick, where we arrived in good time for the service in the little parish church. There was much snow on the high ground, and the roads were bad travelling. About half–a–mile from the house, the motor refused to ascend a rising road, & we got out & walked. I dedicated the organ, choir stalls, and pulpit of carved oak, and gave a short address. These had been presented by the Ritson children in thanksgiving for their parents' 'golden wedding' commemoration. After the function, an address was presented to the old people by the parishioners. Then followed lunch, after which I proposed the health of Mr & Mrs Ritson: and Mr R. responded. We had some difficulty in surmounting the reluctance of the car to start homewards, but then accomplished the journey (through a heavy snow–storm) without mishap, arriving in the Deanery about 4.30 p.m.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This physical record in All Saint Church Muggleswick confirms the Bishop's Journal entry for Tuesday 9th January 1917!

NF Wednesday 8th March 2023

The organ, was made by the Positive Organ Co. Ltd, famous for their compact pipe organs ideal for small Churches.

NF Wednesday 8th March 2023

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will call this little roundup the originals, direct from the original Falcon shutter clicks, picking up on earlier bits of the thread.

No 1

Utrick Alexander Ritson (1843- Nov 1932) was a local mine owner, and was High Sheriff of Durham in 1899, and he and his family lived at Calf Hall, Muggleswick, Consett, Co. Durham.

This is Calf Hall

From the field next to All Saints Church

Entrance gate

Across from the footpath

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will call this little roundup the originals, direct from the original Falcon shutter clicks, picking up on earlier bits of the thread.

No 2 The Lych Gate

This Lych gate is at the south end of the churchyard of All Saints Church in Muggleswick was was constructed in 1933 from timbers salvaged from the HMS Powerful. It was built in memory of a local coal owner, Mr Utrick Ritson and his wife Annie, who had a country house nearby at Calf Hall.

This is the Lych Gate

Lych Gate and the field between Calf Hall and All Saints Church Muggleswick

Initials of the Ritson's Sons and Daughters, others added on the other upright.

Dedication to Ulrick Alexander Ritson and His Wife Annie

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will call this little roundup the originals, direct from the original Falcon shutter clicks, picking up on earlier bits of the thread.

No 3 The Sneep

This personal trivia trail pausing as it has in Muggleswick, has also produced an interesting little personal gem, not found before, the rediscovery of "The Sneep",

This is the Sneep

Beyond the fence the sort of drop where you wouldn't stop until you hit the bottom!
River Derwent snaking around the bottom of the Gorge in many loops.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will call this little roundup the originals, direct from the original Falcon shutter clicks, picking up on earlier bits of the thread.

No 4 Herbert Hensley Henson's Journal of his trip with his wife Ella visit Muggleswick and the Ritsons

Friday, September 29th, 1916.
... After lunch Ella and I went to Muggleswick. The train carried us as far as Shotley Bridge, and there Mr Ritson met us with the car, and took is to his house on the moors, 850 feet above sea level, hard by the little church of Muggleswick.

From Shotley Bridge to Calf Hall

The line is now forms part of a fantastic network of Old Railway Paths

Shotley Bridge Station Platform through the bridge

Shotley Bridge Station House

Over on Disused stations there is a nice colourisation by Joe Mallon of an image of Shotley Bridge Station at circa 1910 ish, and this is what it would very much have looked like when the then Dean of Durham subsequently to become Bishop Hensley Henson and his Wife would alighted from the train to be picked up by Ulrick Alexander Riston for the 6 mile drive up to the moors Muggleswick and Calf Hall in 1916.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/shotley_bridge/


and the destination Calf Hall Muggleswick

Journey's end Calf Hall, This would be where the Ritsons 1916 Car would have turned into with the Hensley's on board.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I will call this little roundup the originals, direct from the original Falcon shutter clicks, picking up on earlier bits of the thread.

No 5 Herbert Hensley Henson's Journal of his trip to Muggleswick to perform a celebration of The occasion of the Golden Wedding of Ulrick Alexander Ritson and Annie Ritson

Tuesday, January 9th, 1917.
Colonel & Mrs Ritson called for us in their motor at 10.30 a.m., and carried us to Muggleswick, where we arrived in good time for the service in the little parish church. There was much snow on the high ground, and the roads were bad travelling. About half–a–mile from the house, the motor refused to ascend a rising road, & we got out & walked. I dedicated the organ, choir stalls, and pulpit of carved oak, and gave a short address. These had been presented by the Ritson children in thanksgiving for their parents' 'golden wedding' commemoration.

Another view of the Organ, and the setting of the "little parish church"

Neil

[myglaren]

Tempted to have a nosy around there, not today though.
Used to spend a lot of time at the Derwent reservoir, kids loved it.

More recently I worked with a chap who's father was the civil engineer in charge or building the dam for the reservoir.
An unusual name considering his ethnicity.

[NewcastleFalcon]

If you do Steve the White Monk in Blanchland is a good place for coffee and cake, very friendly and for an old building in the ecclesiastical style, surprisingly cosy

Neil

[CitroJim]

This has been a great one Most enjoyed, especially the photos that accompany

[NewcastleFalcon]

Finished the day off with the flask at Stamfordham and a sky on fire. I thought to myself, everyone goes on about the northern lights, but a firey sunset takes a lot of beating for colour.

staight out of the tin, no enhancements and if anything more firey (and in focus!) to the naked eye than the camera sensor.

Neil

[myglaren]

If you do Steve the White Monk in Blanchland is a good place for coffee and cake, very friendly and for an old building in the ecclesiastical style, surprisingly cosy

Thanks Neil but I'll give that a miss. I have developed a bit of a phobia for pubs, restaurants and cafés.

[NewcastleFalcon]

The end of the old the start of the new

thread punctuation mark

On to the next one...
Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Start of the new....but is it all told in this montage...what on earth are those codes!

Neil