Books, DVDs and Videos on Local History in and around Teesdale
Len Teasdale, and History on Your Doorstep, have recently featured in a number of local newspapers.
From the Northern Echo, first published Friday 13th Feb 2004.
New book assesses murder, acquittal and hanging
THE intriguing tale of the murder of a policeman in nineteenth century Butterknowle has been put together in book form to provide a chronological and fascinating account of the event.
The story has been compiled by Len Teasdale, who lives in the village. He has always been interested in local history and on taking early retirement joined the Gaunless Valley History Trust, which fired his interest further.
The slain policeman was Acting Sgt William Smith, who was killed at Diamond Bank on February 23, 1884. So horrendous were the injuries that led to his death that they caused outrage in Butterknowle and around the region, as word of the murder spread. Three men - Joseph Hodgson, William Siddle and Joseph Lowson - were arrested, purely on circumstantial evidence. One was acquitted, two were sentenced to death, but only one man went to the gallows.
Mr Teasdale asks whether he was the right man, whether the man acquitted was the culprit, or whether they were all equally responsible.
Was justice done? In his foreword, Mr Teasdale points out that the verdict caused consternation throughout the mining districts. Mass protests were held and the Home Office petitioned to try to gain a respite from execution, as it was felt the evidence did not justify the sentence.
Mr Teasdale has brought the incident vividly back to life using cuttings taken from the newspapers of the time, including the D&S Times. He has catalogued them in date order to give an accurate portrayal of the murder, the trial and the twists and turns of the aftermath.
The book, A Death on Diamond Bank, costs £5 and is available from Bainbridge's at Butterknowle, Blackett's at Woodland, Teesdale Mercury shops or by writing to Mr Teasdale at 22 Garden View, Butterknowle DL13 5PD.
From the Northern Echo
http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 2004
From the Northern Echo, first published Wednesday 3rd Mar 2004.
Historian offers solution to famous Dickens mystery
A BOOK due to be published later this year seems likely to start a new argument about one of Charles Dickens' most tragic characters, a boy called Smike.
He featured in the novel Nicholas Nickleby as one of the pupils badly treated by cruel headmaster Wackford Squeers in a story based on a real boarding school at Bowes, near
Dickens stayed in the
For many decades there has been controversy over whether Smike was based on one of those buried there, George Ashton Taylor, or on another former pupil buried nine miles away in the village churchyard at Lynesack.
Local historian Len Teasdale, who lives in Butterknowle near Lynesack, is finishing his book entitled Smike, in which he concludes that Bowes is the winner.
Mr Teasdale, a retired county council groundsman, said yesterday: "This will not please the people in my own area, but after studying all the records and evidence I am sure Smike is not buried in Lynesack."
But Million Makepeace, an ex-miner who is chairman of the Gaunless Valley History Trust, replied: "Whatever the book says I will go on believing that Smike is buried here.
"I don't suppose anyone will ever know for sure, but I'll stick with our version of the story."
Dickens' novel, which caused an outcry against boarding schools, told how Smike's suffering at
Mr Teasdale claims a letter from Dickens to a friend relates that the Smike character was based on Taylor, who died suddenly in April 1822, aged 19, while at the academy, and whose gravestone he saw in Bowes churchyard.
He says another pupil called Edward Smith ran away from the school and eventually settled in Lynesack, where a few people nicknamed him Smike because of his connection with the school. He died in 1884 at the age of 76.
Mr Teasdale added: "It was not until more than 40 years after his death that a small headstone was put up referring to him as 'Edward Smith (Smike)'. But there is nothing at all to suggest that Dickens even knew about him."
The headstone to
Mr Teasdale intends to publish the paperback book towards the end of this year. His previous book featured the murder of a Butterknowle policeman, William Smith, in 1884.
From the Northern Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 2004
From the Northern Echo, first published Tuesday 24th May 2005.
Tin church proves doubters wrong
EVENTS will be held to celebrate the centenary of a "tin church" that some people felt would not last more than a few decades.
Local volunteers dug the foundations before the corrugated iron building was put up on a site given by a colliery company at
It was called St Mary's
Local historian Len Teasdale said: "A number of other corrugated iron churches were put up around the same time, but most of them, including those in Cockfield, Hamsterley and Binchester, have long since gone. A lot of people felt this one would not last very long, but it has been well looked after and has served the community well."
The Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright, will preach at the centenary service at 3pm on Sunday, June 5, which will be followed by a tea in the village hall.
A concert will be given by Billingham Synthonia Male Voice Choir in the village hall at 7.15pm on Friday, June 3. The church will be open the following day from 10am to 4pm, for an exhibition of photographs of the building.
From the Northern Echo
http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
© Newsquest Media Group 2005