Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 822 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: William Neal Davis of West Auckland, teacher and local politician
Covering Dates: 1915-1977
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- Miscellaneous documents
- Papers of William Neal Davis (Ref: D/X 822/1-16)
- Certificates and citations (Ref: D/X 822/1-7)
- Correspondence (Ref: D/X 822/8-13)
- Newspaper cuttings (Ref: D/X 822/14-16)
- Papers of Mrs Florence Margaret Davis (nee Evans) (Ref: D/X 822/17-22)
- Certificates (Ref: D/X 822/17-18)
- Correspondence (Ref: D/X 822/19-22)
Catalogue Description
Records deposited on long-term loan, 10 February 1987(Acc: 1718(D))
William Neal Davis was the eldest son of a miner, David Davis. He was one of six children and the only one whom the family could afford to allow to go on to further education. He was trained as a teacher at Dundee Training College between 1913 and 1915. In May 1918 he was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in an infantry regiment and was admitted as a member of the Royal Society of Teachers in 1920.
In the 1930s he opened his house, the Manor House at West Auckland, to refugees from Hitler's Germany, including Sir Ludwig Guttman.
He was a friend of Hugh Dalton, member of parliament for the Bishop Auckland constituency from 1929 to 1931 and from 1935 to 1959. Dalton described William Neal in his autobiography thus: 'This fine little man carries great local responsibilities. He holds the Labour Party in my constituency - and much else - together. He is part of the salt of the earth!'
He was vice-chairman of the Newton Aycliffe Development Corporation under Lord Beveridge and cut the first sod of the new town.
William Davis was a member of Bishop Auckland Urban District Council from 1926, and secretary of the Bishop Auckland Divisional Labour Party. He taught at Old Shildon Council School from 1909 to 1913, Princess Street School, South Bank, Yorkshire from 1915 to 1920, Russell Street Council School, Bishop Auckland, from 1920 to 1932 and Etherley Lane Council School from 1932 to 1945. In 1945 he became Chief of Personnel and Public Relations at West Auckland Clothing Factory.
Catalogue Contents
Papers of William Neal Davis (Ref: D/X 822/1-16)Certificates and citations (Ref: D/X 822/1-7)Ref: D/X 822/1 (1-6)
Report on, and reference for, William Neal Davis on his completing his training as a teacher at the Training College, Dundee, 23 April 1915 and 25 June 1915
(6 papers)
Ref: D/X 822/2Commission for William Neal Davis as temporary second lieutenant in an infantry regiment, 15 May 1918
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/3 (1-4)Certificate of registration of William Neal Davis as a teacher and member of the Royal Society of Teachers and accompanying correspondence, September 1920 and 15 April 1931
(4 papers)
Ref: D/X 822/4Certificate issued to accompany the award to William Davis of a medal to be worn in commemoration of the coronation of George VI, 12 May 1937
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/5Certificate signed by Queen Elizabeth (consort of George VI) thanking those who extended hospitality to strangers in the early years of the second world war, n.d. [c. 1945]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/6Certificate creating William Davis an additional officer of the Order of the British Empire, 13 June 1946
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/7Letter from the Registrar of the Order of the British Empire, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St. James's Palace, London, SW1 to William Davis enclosing the warrant creating the latter an officer of the Order, 30 October 1947
(1 paper, typescript)
Correspondence (Ref: D/X 822/8-13)Ref: D/X 822/8Letter from Lewis Silkin, 32, St. James's Square, London, S.W.1., to W.N. Davis, Manor House, St Helen's Auckland, thanking the latter for his hospitality, 16 November 1949
(1 paper, typescript)
Ref: D/X 822/9Letter from Hugh Dalton, West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire to W.N. Davis, Ormeston, West Green, Heighington, referring to an invitation for the former to speak at a trade union demonstration and making arrangements for his arrival in County Durham, 15 September 1959
[Hugh Dalton, Labour politician (1887-1962) was M.P. for Bishop Auckland, 1929-31 and 1935-59]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/10Letter from Mrs Hugh Dalton, 185A, Ashley Gardens, London, S.W.1., to W.N. Davis, referring to Hugh Dalton's health and subterfuges adopted to protect it, 9 July 1959
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/11Photograph of W.N. Davis in army uniform, 1918
(1 photograph, sepia, 10.5 cm x 15.5 cm)
Ref: D/X 822/12Photograph of W.N. Davis, his wife, Florence, and an unidentified couple, n.d. [1920s]
(1 photograph, black and white, 10 cm x 16 cm)
Ref: D/X 822/13Photograph of W.N. Davis with a group of African journalists visiting Newton Aycliffe, September 1959
(1 photograph, black and white, 16.5 cm x 21.5 cm)
Newspaper cuttings (Ref: D/X 822/14-16)Ref: D/X 822/14Newspaper cutting reporting the appointment of W.N. Davis as headmaster of Etherley Lane Council School, n.d.
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: D/X 822/15Newspaper cutting reporting the award of O.B.E. to W.N. Davis and outlining his career, 24 June 1946
(1 paper, printed)
Ref: D/X 822/16Newspaper obituary of Hugh Dalton in local newspaper, 1962
(1 paper, printed)
Papers of Mrs Florence Margaret Davis (nee Evans) (Ref: D/X 822/17-22)Certificates (Ref: D/X 822/17-18)Ref: D/X 822/17Certificate issued by the Provincial Training College, Edinburgh to Miss F.M. Evans on her completion of a two years' course in pianoforte tuition, July 1915
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/18Certificate of registration of Mrs Florence Margaret Davis as a teacher and member of the Royal Society of Teachers and accompanying correspondence, September 1920 and 15 April 1931
(4 papers)
Correspondence (Ref: D/X 822/19-22)Ref: D/X 822/19Letter from R. Stafford Cripps, 3 Elm Court, Temple, E.C. 4 to Mrs F.E. Davis, thanking her for her hospitality, 15 June 1932
[Sir Richard Stafford Cripps, Labour statesman and lawyer (1889-1952)]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/20Letter from Lord Beveridge, Tuggal Hall, Chathill, Northumberland, to Mrs F.E. Davis, thanking her for her hospitality, 5 February 1948
[William Henry Beveridge, Baron Beveridge (1879-1963), social reformer and economist, was Chairman of Newton Aycliffe Development Corporation from 1947 to 1952]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/21Letter from Hugh Dalton, House of Commons, London, S.W.1., to Mrs F.E. Davis, The Manor House, St. Helen's Auckland referring to the former's indisposition and arrangements for visiting County Durham, 27 January 1958
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 822/22Letter from John Peart-Binns, Heuriger, 17 Filley Royd, Clackheaton, Yorkshire, to Mrs F.E. Davis, 'Ormeston', 11, West Green, Heighington, thanking her for the use of letters from Hugh Dalton, 14 February 1977
(1 paper)
