THE collapse of a path in a Quaker graveyard has revealed an extremely rare burial chamber in which two of Darlington’s most influential people were laid to rest 175 years ago.
O Blackwell is a love some vill and Baydayle Bankes are bright, The Sabbath breeze the crystal Tees with wavelets has be dight. Its oaks and elms are cool and thick, its meadows should be green, But there are blades of deeper shades – a bloody red is seen.
“ONE of the foulest and most horrible murders that have ever darkened the criminal records of the county of Durham was committed on the outskirts of the colliery village of Butterknowle at about ten o’clock on Saturday night,” said The Northern Echo on February 25, 1884.
ELIZABETH Pearson of Gainford, William McHugh, of Barnard Castle and Michael Gilligan of Darlington were up at six on the morning of August 2, 1875.
AT 6am on August 2, 1875 – 150 years ago next summer – three convicted murders were roused from their cells in Durham jail and taken to meet their dreadful fate.
ON THE night of April 10, 1875, at least seven people were drinking whisky in an upstairs room in the crowded hovels of Barnard Castle’s notorious Bridgegate, down by the river.
