32 High Street, Berwick?

[Phodgetts]

Hello, I am trying to find out where the Berwick School of Science and Art was.

The school was established in 1873 and closed circa 1912 after the death of the Headmaster James Wallace in January of 1911.

The school was originally in the Sandgate, but at the moment I have no idea which building was used, and in 1883 the school moved to "32 High Street".

My question for you all is this, is 32 High Street, the same as 32 Marygate?

Another named used for the school on "High Street" was Institute Buildings.
Is the coffee shop that occupies the building now, in Institute Buildings?

Looking forward to the discussion and hopefully some enlightenment

Philip

[AllanUK]

I've looked at OS maps for before and after 1883 and I can not see any street called High Street -- the maps show Castle Gate leading down to Marty Gate on the pre and post 1883 maps.

[AllanUK]

A bit weird this -- I have searched newspapers of pre and post 1883 and there are numerous adverts for shops etc all on 'High Street'

[AlanBoyd]

There is a Brewer’s Arms on Marygate, and that pub is there, in the same place, on the earliest OS map that I have seen at NLS.

When I search for ‘Brewer’s Arms’ at BNA, and limit Place to Berwick, the earliest hit is in 1859 and refers to ‘Brewer’s Arms, High Street’ as do many subsequent entries.

Conversely, when I search for ‘Brewer’s Arms Mary Gate’ the earliest hit is 1922.

[AlanBoyd]

There is an article and a related letter in The Berwick News 6th March 1923, unfortunately too long to post as an image in its entirety. It is quite amusing, but I think that a fair summary is that even in Berwick in 1923, no-one could agree what the street was called.

[AllanUK]

The 1871 Census shows 435 names living on High Street and 202 names living on Mary Gate. As Alan posted, it looks like the locals couldn't decide on the correct name.

[Phodgetts]

Thank you all for participating and sharing the things you have!

Late last night after posting the subject I found that Marygate was entered into the 1901 census as "High Street".

Interesting to see the debate about High Street or Marygate.

I had hoped to see mention of the Berwick School of Science and Art, but the addresses 32, 34 & 36 High Street were just mentioned as 'U'(ninhabited) on some census, and not mentioned at all on the 1901! I am now confident that the uninhabited building was the school. The large windows facing south would make the rooms nice and light for studying and creating art.

The history of the school is most interesting. The Headmaster was a relative of mine and the first children he and his wife had were born at my hometown of Blyth!

Philip

PS Just for interest, there are, I understand, paintings at the Berwick Museum of both James's work, father and son. Their home address was 22 Quay Walls.

[AlanBoyd]

Final word from me:

The tithe map of 1850 has Mary Gate labelled as High Street. However, starting at the Town Wall as it crosses the street in question, on the south side are plots recorded in the apportionment records (but not on the map) as, successively:

Bank Hill Yard
Bank Hill
Mary Gate
Mary Gate
Mary Gate
Grammar School
Golden Square

The three plots recorded as Mary Gate are all in the area across the road from the junction with the modern Walkergate, which is Walkergate Lane on the tithe map and also on  older OS maps.

[Phodgetts]

I have been lucky to purchase a small work of art by James Wallace.

My problem is I do not know if the work is by the father or the son James Wallace.
The painting is oil on canvas. It has no title and is dated 1896. The scene is of the River Tweed
looking upstream, the Artist sitting on the riverbank just below Coronation Park.

The painting was bought quite early after it was created, and has basically been hidden away in an attic ever since! The painting has not been varnished and was never framed. It is only now seeing the light of day again after being in storage for over 100 years. I have taken it to an Art Restorer in the hopes he can stabalise the painting, clean it and bring it back to its former glory.

The painting doesn't really have large monetary value. Thankfully the restoration costs though quite expensive are not unreasonable. I just hope the painting can be saved. It is absolutley filthy and of course without having been varnished, the dirt is ingrained into the paint and the canvas. Fingers crossed for a good outcome for this little gem.

All things considered I am thinking that James senior was the Artist. It seems like an older style and method to that used by James junior, but I do not know enough about art to be able to say more with any confidence. I have taken the painting to experts, but even they are a little perplexed.

I hope you enjoy seeing it any way. I am just thrilled to have a small piece of art that was created by a relative from my homeland.

Philip