Mayor: Heritage, History & Traditions

Fair Day weekend and my first busy weekend as mayor. Morpeth is clearly a special place, but what makes it so special?

Obviously there’s an awful lot of history – so much that there seems to be a special anniversary on every year. So, as well as being the 100^th anniversary of World War I, and the 30^th anniversary of Morpeth Town Council – it is also the 300^th anniversary of the original Town Hall, designed by Vanbrugh. The Town Hall anniversary was the focus of the Morpeth Antiquarian Society exhibition over the two days of the weekend: it was also featured at the Morpeth Gathering – and will be celebrated at the Picnic in the Park in July and the Heritage Open Days in September. The Antiquarian Society are guardians of the town’s history but have to keep their collections in storerooms at the back of Newbiggin Library. We really should have a proper town museum or heritage centre. Our history shapes us, as Bob Marley sang: “If you knew your history, then you’ll know where you are coming from”

The garden fete on Saturday (7^th) was a great showcase for the Millennium Green, which if you don’t know (shame on you!) is off Old Bakehouse Yard on the west side of Newgate St. It was set up in 2001 and has been expanded and developed almost continuously since winning several awards in the process – much to the credit of the hardworking committee. Although relatively recent, it is clearly part of Morpeth’s heritage of greenery, woodland and water in the centre of the town (inter silvas at flumina habitans?). Look out for ‘Music on the Green’ in August and ‘Carols on the Green’ in December – or just pop in there at any time in daylight hours for a spot of peace and quiet.

Fair Day may not be part of the town’s history or heritage yet – but it is definitely a town tradition and part of generations of childhood memories. Despite the absence of the parade, motorbikes and classic cars for a second year due to the flood works on the High Stanners (they’ll be back next year) – the Fair was a success again this year, at least as far as videos posted on Morpeth News TV and elsewhere suggest, with the rides being particularly popular. Of course the weather helped, including the downpour at 5pm which led to the quickest clearing up process on record.

The Chamber of Trade deserve tremendous credit for organising Fair Day year after year – and arguably Alderman John Beynon, the austere and dignified master of ceremonies at every Fair Day is shaping up well to succeed Alex Swailes as the Morpeth Gadgey.

And finally – here’s an idea: Fair Day is always on the 2^nd Sunday in June (what do you mean you hadn’t noticed?) so it will always fall in the week following the feast day (7^th June) of Morpeth’s very own saint - St Robert of Newminster – so why not rename it “St Robert’s Fair”?

Some things to watch out for...

With the flood recovery activity, the Dransfield development and Castle Morpeth BC desperately trying to get things done before it disappears, there's a whole load of starts, completions and re-openings to look out for over the next couple of months.

Here are some, according to me best sources of information:

within the next fortnight: work on fixing 'anchor points' in the Market Place - these will allow market stalls etc to be fixed to the paving slabs, making them more wind-resistant

end of January: Riverside Leisure Centre re-opens

16th Feb: New Bus Station opens. I'm told that the bus operators are getting a site visit 1-2 weeks beforehand 'to see if their buses will fit'

mid-end of March: The Chantry re-opens

end of March: Morpeth Library re-opens

end of March: Phase 2 work starts at the Town Hall (depending on planning permission). This should include installation of a lift, clearance of the Butter Market (and new toilets being fitted), renewal of heating pipework and overhaul of electrics

Town Hall Scaffolding - Update

Despite rumours and reports to the contrary - the 'Phase 1' work on the Town Hall was always planned to take six months (rather than six weeks) - and the scaffolding should be down by midAugust.

Meantime - there's a change in artwork on the hoardings. The Town Council's 'children's maps of Morpeth' have come down - and we're getting for images of famous people linked with Morpeth from the GMDT, that's: Willian Turner (happy birthday!), Vanburgh (who designed the Town Hall front), Admiral Lord Collingwood (who the flats on Dark Lane are named after) and Emily Davison (see the newly refurbished grave) - for some reason Jim Rudd has not be included. Watch out for these pictures coming out on mugs, keyrings and T-shirts soon...

The actual work on the Town Hall includes cleaning and restoring the stonework, replacing the mortar and repointing - and fitting a lightening conductor for the first time (which is rather worrying - but badge it up as part of the climate change action plan).

It is also intended to remove the 1960's style formica-work toilets in the Buttermarket and replace them with new toilets elsewhere in the building, and perhaps fit a lift in somewhere.

I'm assured that any work in the Buttermarket can be planned to miss farmers' markets weekends (July 6th, Aug 3rd) - watch this space...

Roof falls in on Council

Well OK - the Town Hall ceiling collapsed on 16th August.

That is to say, an area of plaster fell from the ceiling on the first floor hall way which gives access to the Mayor’s Parlour, Chamber and Kitchen. As a result of the partial collapse, other areas have been further damaged and are at risk of falling.

Repair work began this week (w/b 27th Aug). Meanwhile the whole of the first floor of the Town Hall is now closed until at least Monday 24th September, though if repair and cleaning work go well - it may be possible to re-open earlier.

Events downstairs in the Town Hall (eg the farmers' market on Sun 2nd Sept) are unaffected and will go ahead as normal.

Any link between this event and the plans for a single unitary for Northumberland is coincidence not augury.