A NORTH PENNINE DYNASTY

The recent events leading up to the restoration and relocation of the JACOB WALTON memorial at Town Foot in Alston have prompted many people to ask who Jacob Walton was and what he did do to warrant a memorial. Even to the uninitiated it is apparent that this was a special man, particularly as the memorial was erected by his workers as a sign of respect and affection. Whilst Walton’s workers started the subscription list, such was the regard for this man within the general populace, that public subscriptions poured in, enabling a rather grandiose edifice to be erected. This is all the more remarkable as this was a period when industrial relations between worker and employer were not, in general, of a very high standard and exploitation and distrust were commonplace.

In view of the general level of interest generated by the recent ceremonials at the relocated monument, the Alston Historical Society hosted an illustrated talk entitled the ‘Walton Family’. The speaker for the evening was Alastair Robertson, who is not only the Archivist of the Society, but was also the main contributor and driving force during the 5 year working life of the committee dedicated to the rebuilding of the memorial on its present site. The project led Alastair to conduct considerable research into the man honoured by the memorial and the circumstances leading to this act of recognition. It was clear that Jacob was part of a complex family business evolution and not a man working independently. A fascinating story of the part the Walton family played in the development and growth of Alston Moor – and further afield – was uncovered. It is clear that the Walton family became very powerful and influential and controlled huge mining interests. The story begins in Annat Walls, Alston, the home of the ‘father’ of the family, William Walton, born 1728. His marriage to Elizabeth Friend produced a dynasty that was to shape the mining industry in the North Pennines for 200 years, until it finally collapsed. After the 1930’s, there is no record of any Walton involvement in mining.

Whilst the Jacob of the memorial (1809-1863) was undoubtedly the great entrepreneur and businessman of the family at the time when mining was at its peak, and was by far the most successful member of the family, he was only a member of a family business conducted over a period of many years. He had the acumen to capitalise on the experience and the work of previous family members and brought the empire to its pinnacle. He was in fact the second Jacob in the family – and was to be followed by a third. Jacob was acknowledged nationally as one of the leading authorities in mining and received many requests to provide consultancy services in other parts of the country, particularly Cornwall.

Dynasties of great families have made their mark in their community throughout the history of man and there is no doubt that here on Alston Moor the Walton family can be ranked in that category, having left an indelible mark on the life and development of the North Pennines.

The whole story is so fascinating that Alastair has a written book on the subject, entitled ‘The Walton Family’, and sub-titled ‘A Lead Mining Dynasty of the Northern Pennines’. Reading the book with its complex family trees listing the large families (typical of the time) and stories about the actual characters is the only way to fully appreciate what the family achieved – and what it cost them. There is comprehensive and detailed information of the mines worked in the area, indicating the far-reaching extent of the Walton influence in the industry. The book contains a wealth of information on individual mining operations and also personal details of family members which give an insight to the social conditions and hardships which prevailed during this period.

In his latter years, Jacob’s health suffered and restricted his activities. When he died in 1863, the general feeling was that his insatiable appetite for work and boundless energy and drive resulted in working himself to death.