Dilston Castle and Hall

The meeting opened with the AGM at which officers for next season were appointed – largely unchanged. An illustrated talk was then given by Mr Harry James of the North Pennines Heritage Trust and featured the on-going work of restoration and preservation at Dilston Castle and Hall. Built c.1417 when Border warfare and raiding was a constant threat, the Castle is a fortified tower house but later incorporated into Dilston Hall, a palatial mansion owned by James Radcliffe, 3 rd Earl of Derwentwater. The Chapel was built c.1616 with money allegedly raised for financing the Gunpowder Plot. James took up arms in support of his cousin, Prince James Stuart, in the ill-fated Jacobite Rising of 1715. The Earl was found guilty of high treason and beheaded on Tower Hill the following year. Mr James highlighted the links between the Gunpowder Plot (Guy Fawkes was probably a visitor to the Hall) and the rise of the mining industry on Alston Moor.

As a result of the demise of the Earl his estates were confiscated and given to the Greenwich Hospital Trust who in turn leased the land to the London Lead Company for mining development. In the meantime the Castle fell into ruin. Recent interest was sparked by two books, ‘Devil Water’ by Anya Seton which inspired Frances Dickinson to write ‘Tracking the Legend’. Frances is the leading authority on Dilston and is involved in the current project. A £500,000 grant has enabled the work to be undertaken including a full archeological survey of the site. Many interesting finds have been made, including 6 graves from in the crypt from the 1600’s. The site is now open to the public after the official opening last year.

Mr James also spoke of the continuing work at Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre which continues to progress and attract visitors. There are plans for many more exciting projects at the site.

Mr James suggested that the Society might enjoy an outing to Dilston and this idea will be considered at the next monthly meeting. Mr Richard Turner closed the meeting with a vote of thanks to Mr. James for a highly interesting and relevant talk

JACOB MEMORIAL

 Provisional notice was given of the opening ceremony on 6 th July following the relocation of this monument to Townfoot, Alston. Further details to be announced later.

NEXT MEETING

 The next meeting will be in the Masonic Hall at 7.30 pm on the 5 th May. Mr Duncan Hutt will give a talk on Water Power.