Walk Around Alston

The first meeting of the year of the ALSTON MOOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY is traditionally held in March. The theory is that the weather in January and February can be uncertain and speakers are, understandably, reluctant to accept appointments for this period. This thinking, and all other plans, significantly backfired for our March meeting. The speaker originally expected was unable to come at a late stage and we were lucky enough to get a replacement at short notice. At this point the weather intervened and it was decided, a few hours before the meeting was due to commence, that it would not be wise for the speaker to attempt the journey to Alston. However, the committee was determined, with true Alstonian grit, that a meeting should take place. Within a few hours Alistair Robertson, our archivist, put together a talk and some photographic slides, which in the event proved to be very much appreciated by the good number of members who attended.

Alistair’s talk was inspired by the ‘Walk Around Alston’ leaflet which the Society will be releasing within the next two months. However, rather than a physical walk, Alistair showed a collection of old photographs of subjects featured in the leaflet and also others from around Alston Moor. These prompted a great deal of audience participation and debate in identifying places and people of yesteryear featured in the images. The pictures dated back to the 1860’s and gave a realistic idea of what life had been like in times past. For some these were clearly not the ‘good old days’ and life for many people must have been very hard indeed, living in squalid and unsanitary conditions. Following a survey in 1900 a number of properties were condemned by the Medical Officer. The hard and severe conditions endured in the main industry of mining were graphically illustrated but what also came through was the indominatable spirit of the population and the very strong community spirit that clearly existed. On the social side there were shows of all descriptions, brass bands, outings on the train from Alston, choirs, sports days, and a very strong practising Christian influence.

Some members brought old documents, newspaper cuttings and records of historical events which they donated to the archives of the Society. We were also able to examine an excellent copy of map of Alston dated 1775 – the year of the American War of Independence. The map was to be used as a reference document at a Parish Council Meeting later in the week.

The Chairman announced that the Society Archive would be open by popular request on the last Saturday of every month. The meeting closed with the re-introduction, after a number of years gap, of an important event in any meeting – a welcome cup of tea, especially on an evening when the outside temperature was sub-zero!

The next meeting will be at 7.30 in the Masonic Hall, Alston on Wednesday the 6 th April. The main item for the meeting will be the AGM of the Society but Andrew Nicholson will talk about recent developments relating to the South Tyne Trail.