The FBDMA Autumn Lecture will take place on Friday 1st November 2024 at 7.00pm in the Parish Centre, Berwick.  Margaret Fox will speak on “A Death on the Sloop Juno: the story of Captain Robert Bruce and Joseph Ockton”.

On Monday 19th February 1855 a trial commenced at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. In the dock was Robert Bruce, ‘master of the sloop Juno of Berwick-on-Tweed’, awaiting trial for culpable homicide (manslaughter in England). Who do he kill? His ship’s mate, Joseph Ockton from Spittal. Why did he kill him? Because his tea wasn’t ready for him when he...

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Among many events offered in this year’s Berwick Literary Festival, “The Remembered Dead: Poetry, Memory and the First World War” (on Saturday 12th October, 10.00-11.30am in the Parish Centre) will feature academic authors Sally Minogue and Andrew Palmer discussing poetry’s responses to the grief of WW1. Archivist Linda Bankier will add observations on Thomas Grey, the Tweedmouth poet, and there will be an exhibition relating to Berwick and the First World War presented in the Parish Centre.

Mediaeval manuscripts will be the focus of another event on Sunday 13th October, 12.30-1.30pm, also in the Parish...

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During June 2024 there are three events taking place which relate to the Manorial Documents project. To reserve places at any of these events, send an email to berwickarchives@northumberland.gov.uk .  There is no charge.

Firstly, two practical workshops are being held at the Cheviot Centre in Wooler:

Saturday 15th June, 10.00am-12.30pm. Introduction to Manors and Manorial Documents.  Discover the main uses of these documents and how to locate key information.

Saturday 22nd June, 10.00am-12.30pm. Manorial Documents and how to read them.  Learn to read documents from as early as the 17th century.

Then, on...

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On Wednesday 20 March 2024, Berwick History Society will host a talk on “The History of Berwick’s Old Bridge over the past 400 years”.  It will be given by Linda Bankier in the Parish Centre, Berwick, starting at 7.30pm.  Members free; visitors £3.

Posted in Local History

The Annual General Meeting of The Friends will take place on Friday 15th March 2024 at 7.00pm in the Parish Centre, Berwick.  It will be followed by a talk by the Archivist Linda Bankier on “Thirty years work of The Friends”, marking the anniversary of the foundation of FBDMA in 1994.

All welcome.  Light refreshments will be provided.  And a raffle will be held.

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