Catalogue

Book belonging to Miss V.D. Hildyard of Horsley Hall, Eastgate, c. 1882 - 1886 Contains: a 'History of Broody written by her mistress and other stories begun 1882'; Chapters I and II deal with stories about Broody her pet chicken/hen and include pen drawings; the next chapters are 'My Cats', Chapters I and II, dealing with stories about Cherry, Tortoise, Beauty, Rufus and Dick and the local family Smith; followed by 'Dogs I am acquainted with'; these include the retrievers Nero and Drake kept as sporting dogs by her father and the two collie dogs that saved Mr. E. in the snow. Next donkeys, including the story of Balaam, the talking biblical donkey. Pages 37 to 42 are now missing. The book then takes the form of a diary. Starts with Tynemouth 1883. Miss V.D. Hildyard lodged at 4 Percy Gardens. She describes the lighthouse and Old Priory. Accounts of the salmon boats and artillery practice. Photographs, captioned: 'View from windows of the drawing room at 4 Percy Gardens, Tynemouth'; 'The Tide halfway'; 'Photograph represents the long sands on a full excursion day. On universal holidays the crowd is double, likewise the square'; the photograph shows bathing machines belonging to the Linklaters, the diary makes references to that family's activities, including the seaside donkeys, and Mr. J. Linklater's aid for swimmers. An account of the drowning of a man from Durham, despite the efforts of the local lifeboat. The written descriptions are interspersed with drawings including donkeys and a portrait of Bill Linklater. The diary then begins on 1 October 1883 and ends on 6 September 1886. Included are visits to places in the locality of Horsley Hall including Billing Shields, Eastgate, Stanhope, Skelton Castle and Wolsingham. She describes, with illustrations, her walks where she sketches wildlife and picks mushrooms, sometimes travelling in various coaches. Interesting drawing of prize-giving at the girls' school at Eastgate; accounts with daily totals of the hunting activities, including grouse shooting, of the gentlemen. She also has descriptions of visits to parties at Castle Eden, at the house of the Burdons, and to Blanchland and the seaside

Small watercolour sketch of a man lying next to a small sailing boat on its side, possibly drawn when the artist, possibly V.D. H[ildyard] was on holiday in Tynemouth, Northumberland, n.d. c.1883 See also D/X 1522/1

The Birthday Scripture Text Book, belonging to E.C.P. Ringrose, 1866 Includes: births, marriages and deaths, mainly concerning the Ringrose, Jackson, Knowles and Dugdale families, covering the period 1798 - 1875

An advertising card for Linklater's prize donkeys and bathing machines, with the names of the donkeys, Tynemouth, Northumberland, n.d. probably 1880s Originally held in D/X 1522/1

Photograph showing the frontage of Horsley Hall, Eastgate, home of the Hildyard family, with a parked Rolls Royce car, a gardener is working on flower beds, n.d. possibly 1920s

Photograph showing the frontage of Horsley Hall, Eastgate, home of the Hildyard family, with a parked Rolls Royce car, n.d. possibly 1920s

Photograph of a sitting room in Horsley Hall, Eastgate, looking towards the fireplace, n.d. possibly 1920s

Photograph of a sitting room (same room as in D/X 1522/7) in Horsley Hall, Eastgate, looking towards a window, n.d. possibly 1920s

Newspaper article from the Northern Echo , entitled 'Ceiling for sale - with beautiful mansion attached', describing, with photographs, the renovation by businessman Dereck Parnaby of Horsley Hall, Eastgate, 17 July 1981

Newspaper advertisement for the opening of The Horsley Arms , Eastgate, 14 January n.y.

Card for Horsley Hall, Eastgate, director J.R. Smith, n.d.

Advertising leaflet for Horsley Hall, Eastgate, including description of the premises with sketches, facilities on offer and a map, n.d.