Friends of Historic Dilston: 2007 Member Past Events Page

Saturday 24th February 2007
LAUNCH OF THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC DILSTON
Official Press Release
Saturday 24th February marked an exciting new chapter for Historic Dilston, with the launch of the Friends of Historic Dilston – an organisation set up to support the North Pennines Heritage Trust in the maintaining, promoting and preserving of this important ancient site, close to Corbridge...
2pm Saturday 24th March 2007
IN SEARCH OF THE THUNDERING EARL
Talk by Tony Liddell
Rocking cradles strange presences, moving keys and faces in the window. Archaeologist and
paranormal investigator Tony Liddell describes modern research into ghosts and hauntings at Dilston, tracing one of Northumberland’s oldest ghost stories.
2pm Saturday 28th April 2007
VOLUNTEERS DAY
A social afternoon for Friends wishing to learn more about Dilston and the running of the site before it opens to the public for the summer season. This will include a guided tour around the castle, chapel and other historic features - of particular interest to anyone who has volunteered to act as a guide. Friends will be able to share ideas for fund-raising activities and ways of promoting awareness of the site. Everyone welcome.
2pm Saturday 5th May 2007
LAW AND DISORDER IN THE MEDIEVAL NORTH-EAST: THE CLAXTON FAMILY AND THE BARONY OF DILSTON, 1373 - 1441
Talk by Dr. Brian Barker
The story of the Claxton Family (the builders of the tower house – Dilston Castle) and their struggle for undisputed control of the barony of Dilston and the landed estates of the Tyndale Family. After the talk Friends will be taken on a guided tour of the tower house and shown the architectural features of the original structure, discovered during the archaeological work of 2002-3. This includes evidence of an oratory in the upper chamber, a squint used by a resident priest to view the altar table in the solar and ogee lintels from doorways and windows of the earlier medieval hall of the Dyvelston and Tyndale Families that once stood alongside.
1-4pm Sunday 27th May 2007
THE TWO COUNTESSES
Historical Re-enactment Day - open to the public
Two vignettes written by John Sadler and performed at intervals throughout the day by the Times Bandits Re-enactment Group. The vignettes are based on the traditional story of Lady Derwentwater’s fan and the actual take-over of Dilston Castle, in 1868, by Amelia, the self-styled Countess of Derwentwater.
May-July 2007
"FANTASIES AND FAIRYTALES" AT DILSTON CASTLE
During the months of May, June and July 2007, Dilston Castle and Chapel became the setting for ‘a day of enchantment and story telling’ during a programme of workshops for Primary School Children, run by the Education Service of the North Pennines Heritage Trust. Gazebos were set up in the grounds as a base for the activities, which centred round helping Jack, the baker’s son, to discover the magic spell, which would lead him to the treasure so that he could marry the beautiful Princess Isabella. The event proved to be so popular (30 schools booked-in over 6 weeks with many groups numbering between 50 to 100 children per session), that the workshops are being held again in 2008.
Saturday 2nd June 2007
BAFM NORTH EAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The committee is grateful to all Friends who helped on site during this conference.
2pm Sunday 17th June 2007
"TRACKING A LEGEND"
Talk by Frances Dickinson
An illustrated talk in which Frances unravels the fact and folklore associated with James Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater and his brother Charles, recalling the places she visited whilst tracking the Derwentwater Legend and mapping the Northumbrian Jacobite Trail.
7.30pm Friday 29th June 2007
ANNIVERSARY EVENING AT FROSTERLEY
This event marks the fourth anniversary of the opening of Historic Dilston in 2003, which took place on 28th June - the birthday of James Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater. For the occasion, Friends are invited to attend an evening meal at The Black Bull Inn, Frosterley, hosted by the Proprietor and Hon. Member of the Friends Duncan Davis. Duncan, who has been involved with Historic Dilston for many years, is particularly known for his photographic work, which includes the Radcliffe portraits and Derwentwater relics featured in our publications and exhibitions. Depending on numbers and interest, the evening’s celebrations may be linked with a steam train ride – The Black Bull Inn being opposite Frosterley Station.
June through to August 2007
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SUMMER SCHOOL
North Pennines Heritage Trust archaeologist Frank Giecco with a team of summer school volunteers will be investigating the remains of the Jacobean service block of the demolished Dilston Hall. Friends are invited to take part or come along to observe the work in progress, some of which will be taking place on the site of one of Dilston’s so-called underground passages. This passage (see picture opposite) is believed to run underneath the pasture field and into the vault of Dilston Castle. From here, it is claimed that some underground steps lead down to the Devil’s Water, where some curious apertures can be seen high up in the rock face.
2pm Saturday 4th August 2007
"JOSEPHINE BUTLER AND VICTORIAN PROSTITUTION"
Talk by Dr. Jane Jordan
The life and work of the 19th-century social reformer who grew up at Dilston in the house that is now Dilston College.
Saturday 11th August 2007
BAFM ARTS GROUP VISIT TO HISTORIC DILSTON
The committee is grateful to any Friends who helped on site during this visit.
2pm Saturday 13th October 2007
"THE RADCLIFFES OF DILSTON IN THE LONG SEVENTEENTH CENTURY"
Talk by Leo Gooch, MA, PhD, FRHistS
Dr Gooch, who has published widely on the history of northern England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and is author of The Desperate Faction? –The Jacobites of North East England, reveals his latest research.

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