Al Kirtley

Submitted by alkirtley on Mon, 12/02/2019 - 13:00
Me with my parents 1943
Me with my parents 1943

My birth in 1942 was undoubtedly an accident. My dad was then 55 and my mum 45, and the only other child of their marriage was my brother Stanley (then a Spitfire pilot in the RAF), who was aged 21.

An ode to Theophania Blackett

Submitted by alkirtley on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 18:38

Theophania Blackett was grand,

when the locals walked over her land,

they made such a racket

that old Mrs.Blackett

thought "I know, I'll give them a hand".

 

"I'll build a new bridge 'cross the Tees.

If they don't go down on their knees,

and say thank you to me

for getting it free

I might just start charging them fees."

 

Written by Al Kirtley for the Sockburn Hall Project  2010

 

Mayland

Submitted by alkirtley on Mon, 11/25/2019 - 16:02

Mayland has been known by that name for many centuries, and is referred to as such in grants of land, dating back to before the 13th century, known as the Mayland Charters. [i]

It was described by Surtees as being a district in South Bedburn, consisting of farms known as Mayland, Mayland Hall, East Mayland and Mayland Lee, the latter being occupied in 1861 & 1871 by George Blackett, a farmer of 500 acres.

Bedburn and the Shipleys

Submitted by alkirtley on Mon, 11/25/2019 - 14:39

[i] South Bedburn, in the township of Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, is situated in a pleasant location on the north side of the Bedburn Beck (Beda’s Beck), from which the name of the township is possibly derived. Bedburn Hall today was built circa 1900, by Fogg Elliot. Also in the locality stands Old Bedburn Hall, a Georgian farmhouse of an earlier date. The exact location of the structure known as Bedburn Hall in the 17th century is not clear.

According to Surtees, Bedburn Hall was converted to the purpose of a saw mill and was the property of J. Fogg Elliot [ii]

Blackett convictions

Submitted by alkirtley on Mon, 11/25/2019 - 13:39

The following are some of the Blacketts convicted during the 18th/19th centuries:

1) William Blackett, born 1760, Buckinghamshire. Tried in Middlesex 1792 for stealing.
Verdict
Sentenced to 7yrs transportation; someone spoke favourably on his behalf and he was pardoned to serve as a soldier in the East India Company.

2) William Blackett, born 1793. Tried in Middlesex 1812 for assault.
Verdict
3 months imprisonment.

Blacketts mentioned in entries of the Court of Common Pleas 15/16th Centuries

Submitted by alkirtley on Mon, 11/25/2019 - 13:35

n Easter 1440 Elizabeth Blaket entered a plea against Agnes Andrewe of Blountesdon St. Andrew, Wilts. for the non-return of a book worth £40 and secured a distraint order against her.

In October 1450 John Blaket, yoman (sic) of Beverley, Yorks. was ordered to be arrested for taking by force of arms four horses worth 100 shillings found at Walkyngton and belonging to John Thyrske.