Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1879-01-11 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

LOCAL EVENTS: COMPILED FROII WORKS OF VARIOUS A 17711018, BY WILLIAM LEE, HAYDON BRIDGE.  1854, Jan. 3.—One of the most severe frosts that has occurred in this district within living memory was experienced at this time. The Tyne at Haydon Bridge was frozen over to a great thickness, and numbers of people enjoyed skating and sliding exercise. A few days ago several young men belonging the village were playing a match at clubs upon the ice, when one of them unfortunately broke in at Kate's Hole, and had a narrow escape from drowning. He clung to the ice several minutes before being rescued.  1854, Feb. 17.—Died on this day at the Isle of Man, John Martin, K.L., the great historical painter and a native of Haydon Bridge, aged 55 years. For memoir of the above see Historical Notes of Haydon Bridge and District.  1854, Feb. 18.—By order of the Queen in Council the burial grounds connected with the various churches of Newcastle were ordered to be immediately • closed. By subsequent orders the churchyards at North and South Shields, Sun.. derland, Alnwick, and other towns were also closed. Churchyards first consecrated in the year 317, admitted into cities 742; churches first began to be built in England in Norfolk 638; fifty new ones ordered by Parliament to be built 1711. Churchwardens and overseers instituted 1127, Parochial Registers first appointed 1530. Tithes first collectesl in England 750. 1854, March 31.—Her Majesty's proclamation of war against Russia was received by the Mayor of Newcastle, and was published in the usual manner. 1854, April. Tuesday—A man named Lionel Johnson committed suicide at Haltwhistle by drowning himself in the river Tyne. Deceased bad been in a depressed state of mind for some time.  1854, June 11, Sunday.—Died on this day at Threepwood Hall, near Hayden Bridge, aged 37, Mr John Turnbull, solicitor, greatly beloved and deeply lamented,. and who left a wife and one child to mourn his lose. 1854, June. 20.—The Newcastle Races corn mencett on this day. The Northumberland Plate was won by Limit-Cot. Bigge's Grapeshot, beat) ing Kingston and fourteen others. Tke gold cup was won by Mr Morris's Kingston. 1854, Oct 6.—An awful fire occurred in Newcastle and Gateshead at an early hour this morning. The public sympathy for the numerous \poor families, who were rendered destitute by this terrible catastrophe, was displayed in the most marked manner throughout the kingdom. Upwards of £ll,OOO were subscribed for their relief. No less than eight hundred families applied for assistance from the funds, and, altogether, £4,640 were paid for the loss of furniture. 1854, Oct:—A man named John Graham was accidentally killed upon Mr Wm. Makepeace's waggon-way, near Chesterholme, Bardon Mill,  , ...... .. , by a waggon passing over his body. 1854, Nov. 22, Wednesday.—Snow fell in Haydon Bridge and neighbourhood to the depth of several inches.  1854, Nov. 25.—The foundation stone of the Prudhoe Tower, at Alnwick Castle, was laid by the Duchess, and was completed in January 1856, as indicated by an inscribed stone on the Flagstaff Tower, which states that" Eleanor, Duchess of Northumberland, ascended this tower, January 7th, 1856.' In the wall of the ale cellars at Alnwick Castle is placed a sculptured stone with the inscription, "These cellars were first filled, with ale, May 26th, 1859—George Alderson, house steward ; Thompson and Davison, brewers." Alnwick Castlr was built in the year 1147. 1854.—Daring the formation of the sewers this year in Carlisle, Samian ware, coins, and various bronze articles were found in great quantities. A Judtea Capta of Vespasian was found. A large jar full of Roman coins was found at a Roman station, near Walton House, Brampton, in 1826. The coins were of a late date, extending from the time of Denim to that of Florianus. 1854. A mile castle, tjear Steel-rig-gap was freed this year from its encumbering rubbish by Mr Clayton, of the Cl:waters. The walls which are seven feet thick, are in excellent preservation, having six courses of stone standing. The castle measures 50 feet from east to west, and 62 from north to south, inside measurement. A mile castle at a distance of two furlongs from Housesteads measures, on the inside, 57 feet 7 inches from west to east, and 49 feet 7 inches from north south. The thickness of the east and west walls of the castle is 9 feet. The thickness of the wall at the north gateway is 10 feet, and when the writer passed that way in August, 1877, it was standing 9i feet high and is the finest specimen remaining on the whole line, having 14 courses of stone Ptanding. The Roman Wall, near Carvoran, was standing fifteen feet in height when Camden passed that way in 1559.  Tlll ARCHBISHOP OP Yoe ir