Three North East locations have been shortlisted for a national award linked to September’s Heritage Open Days event.
A public vote will choose the winner of the Everyday History Heroes award, organised through a partnership between Heritage Open Days and Findmypast. The deadline for voting is Monday (August 31).
The regional contenders are Cragend Farm near Rothbury, Jesmond Old Cemetery and its volunteer-run Friends group in Newcastle and Northumberland Archives’ Berwick Record Office.
The national competition celebrates organisations, places and people who are keeping local history alive.
You can vote here.
Cragend Farm was part of industrialist and inventor Lord Armstrong’s Cragside estate and was acquired 15 years ago by Shaun Renwick and wife Lou.
It is a working farm and visitor attraction which includes holiday accommodation, and reflects Armstrong’s aim to show how water hydroelectric power could be used for agricultural purposes.
It includes a Grade II* listed silo, turbines and giant hydraulic hoist, and a museum collection of historic objects found on the farm and surrounding land.
Volunteer researchers have uncovered stories of families linked to the farm and Rothbury area.
Together, the research on show at the farm paints a picture of everyday life in rural Northumberland over more than two centuries.
The farm takes part in Heritage Open Days but its opening on September 17 is sold out, although another date, Sunday, September 20, has been added with tickets available here.
The 11-acre Jesmond Old Cemetery opened in 1834 and 25,000 people who helped fashion Victorian Newcastle and the wider region are buried there.
The cemetery’s volunteer Friends organisation helps maintain and conserve the site and is researching and compiling stories of the lives of those buried there.
They include leading North East architect John Dobson, who is buried in the cemetery he designed alongside his wife, son and daughter.
Also researched are architects John and Benjamin Green, whose work includes The Lit and Phil, Theatre Royal and Grey’s Monument; Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge, founder of the department store; brewer Robert Deuchar, who owned 40 licensed premises; John James Fenwick, who opened his shop in Northumberland Street in 1882; wine merchant and arts patron Alexander Laing; tennis player Muriel Robb from Jesmond, who won the 1902 Wimbledon title; miners’ leader Thomas Burt, who was the first working-class MP (for Morpeth); and naturalist John Hancock.
Berwick Record Office has been shortlisted for its work in bringing local history to life and celebrating the stories of ordinary people through archives and community events.
Senior archivist Linda Bankier said: “Berwick Record Office is passionate about helping people find out about their family history. Our walks and many other events we run throughout Heritage Open Days bring the everyday stories of people to life.
“People make history. Through our archives, exhibitions and events, we are proud to help people discover the everyday stories that have shaped Berwick and its heritage.
Heritage Open Days runs from September 11-20 and includes locations, venues and attractions all over the North East.
Cragend Farm has Henry Watson valves and he is buried in Jesmond cemetery. Berwick Records Office holds so much information about our county and is where you can find out about travelling families who stayed at Cragend Farm in the past. We overla and are all fascinating North East regional shortlisters for our research into the social and community history of our great county for Heritage Open Days. Thank you for making more people aware. Please vote 🙏