On Sunday 4th July 2010 the Blacketts were represented at Sockburn Hall on the occasion of the launch of “Tapestry of Time – Twelve Centuries at Sockburn”. The publication of this highly informative and beautifully illustrated book, which includes a 60 page section by David Francis on Sockburn during its ownership by the Blacketts, coincided with the centenary of Bertha Clegg’s “The Sockburn Book of Contributions & A Sketch of the History of the Parish of Sockburn”, originally published in 1910 and reprinted as a companion volume.
Due to parking and other restrictions attendance was by invitation only but the three Blacketteers, Pat Longbottom, Martin Blackett and Al Kirtley and members of their families, plus intrepid Blackett researchers Linda Rickford, Liz Jackson, Margaret Bainbridge and Gloria Norman, were lucky enough to be on the list.
The day included site walks led by Dave Went of English Heritage and Jesse Meredith of Durham Biodiversity Partnership plus a talk by Professor Rosemary Cramp of Durham University. Also on site was Professor Mick Aston, one of the presenters of Channel 4’s Time Team.
The heavy rain that had been forecast managed to stay west of the Pennines but a fresh breeze was blowing as the Blacketteers set about erecting trestle tables and chairs, together with display boards showing Martin’s photos of Blackett properties in Weardale, inside a gazebo kindly brought along by Geoff Blackett. Internet access was available over the mobile phone network through a Dongle stick (remember them?) plugged into Al’s laptop.
Blackett T-shirts, tastefully modelled by the three Blacketteers, plus postcards of an artist’s impression of the ancient Blackett home of Woodcroft as it would have appeared around 1901, were laid out on display and soon all was ready.
In between minding the stall there was time for photos to be taken, introductions to be made and long-lost relatives to become reacquainted with one another. (Geoff and Ann Blackett, first cousins, had not met each other for more than 40 years and neither of them had ever met their other first cousins 1xremoved, including Al.
During the afternoon, however, the wind grew progressively stronger until it threatened to blow the gazebo away over the Tees and into Yorkshire like some outsize Mary Poppins umbrella. The Blacketts “travailled en esperance” but when the the frame of the gazebo started to buckle it was time to admit defeat and retreat into the safety of the main marquee. The wind did not, however, prevent more photos being taken, nor the enjoyment of a great day at Sockburn, for which we are grateful to Laura Geary and her family.
After the close of proceedings sixteen of the more thirsty Blacketts drove to Staindrop for drinks and toasties at The Wheatsheaf, the landlord of which in the early years of the 20th century was Robert William Blackett, Al’s grandfather.
Photos courtesy of Geoff Blackett, Linda Rickford, Margaret Bainbridge, Thomas Longbottom and Martin Blackett.