Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 2309 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: John Gosden archive: Elemore Hall
Covering Dates: 18th century
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Catalogue Description
John Douglas Gosden was born on 13 January 1937, in Essex. He attended Ilford County High School and went on to Reading University to read Geography. He took up rowing there and coxed for the University Eight. He trained as a teacher and taught in schools in Birmingham and Doncaster before moving to Durham in 1967 to join the Workers' Education Association as Tutor-Organiser for County DurhamHe organised WEA classes for the County and tutored Local History classes all over Durham and in Northumberland, including, among other places, Barnard Castle, Darlington, Hartlepool, Heighington, Hurworth, Sedgefield and Stockton. He revelled in the research involved, spending many hours in Durham County Record Office and other similar archives, and enjoyed the warm relationships that were established within his groups, many of which thrived for many years.
He took an active part in the organisation of the Northern WEA, taking over as District Secretary for 3 months when Mick Standen took a Sabbatical. He was also involved with Durham University Extra-Mural Department staff. He took early retirement in 1994.
When he arrived in Durham he continued his interest in rowing, quickly becoming a member of the Durham Regatta Committee and taking over as Regatta Entries Secretary in 1990. He continued in this post till 2002 and thoroughly enjoyed being a spectator for the first time in 2003.
He and his wife Margaret and sons Peter and Michael lived off Claypath in Durham City. Their house had a half-acre paddock attached, and this was used for the local Jubilee party in 1977 and subsequently for annual Bonfire parties and numerous barbeques. In between times he kept fit mowing the grass, keeping the hedges trimmed (he attended a hedge-laying course to this end) and organising the garden
He and Margaret moved to Nottingham in 2004 to be near Peter. They enjoyed their time there and were able to help in looking after their two eldest granddaughters. He died on 7th February 2021, at the age of 84.
Catalogue Contents
John Gosden archive (Ref: D/X 2309)Elemore Hall, George and Judith Baker (Ref: D/X 2309/1/1-6)Ref: D/X 2309/1/1
Judith Baker's recipe book, 15 February 1756 onwards
Includes her own recipes and those she has been given
(1 volume)
Ref: D/X 2309/1/2Recipes enclosed in Judith Baker's recipe book, 18th century
(4 papers)
Ref: D/X 2309/1/3Menu cards enclosed in Judith Baker's recipe book, 18th century
(17 papers)
Ref: D/X 2309/1/4Letters from George Dodds, Birkenside to Madam Baker, Elemore Hall, near Durham concerning his health and a 'gally pott' she has sent him as a cure; the colliery going ahead; a grand trial to be made by Mr Errington & Partners at Belldon burn in the manor of Newbiggin belonging to George's master; Robson's sheep being fed on turnips; the fact they have snow; and the hay modus for the Curate of Shotley, 17-25 January 1785
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 2309/1/5Account of moneys disbursed for building materials by George Baker Esquire since 7 October 1788, 6 April 1789
Originally enclosed in D/X 2309/1/1
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 2309/1/6Label attached to Judith Baker's recipe book with notes, n.d.
Judith was married to George Baker, painted by Joshua Reynolds
She was Judith Routh, daughter of Sir Cuthbert Routh, whose wife was a Milbanke of Halnaby, so Judith was a cousin of Sir Ralph Milbanke who changed Halnaby from a Tudor house to a Georgian house about 1750
George and Judith Baker changed Elemore Hall from Tudor to Georgian c1750 and it appears that the ceilings in both houses were done by the same craftsmen - the medallion in the library at Elemore of two children with a wreath is exactly the same as at Halnaby and both houses made the wide stone stair cases exactly the same proportions by taking out a sitting room
(1 paper)
