Sunderland: a history of the town, port, trade and commerce

Preface

. 1 X the present Avork thc intention of the ivriter is / principally to relate what has come under his oivn knowledge and experience, Avhilst, at the same time, drawing information from such sources as may be necessary to compare then and now. The earlier History of Sunderland has been told by onr oavii local historians, Avhose Avorks are out of print and rarely to be bought. Garbutt's History of Sunderland was published in 1819, and Burnett's in 1S30 ; but of the latter there ivas only a limited issue, consisting of 200 or 300 copies. Summers' History was published in serial form in 185S, but the work was never completed ; one volume has been published, but owing to the unfortunate circumstance of being overtaken by blindness Mr. Summers ivas unable to continue his researches. All these authors treat the History of Sunderland in different AA'ays and from different points of vieAV.

The object of the Avork noAv put before the reader is to treat more fully of the trade and commerce of the toAvn, and of the rise, progress, and decay of its varied industries. TAYLOK POTTS. Sunderland, June, 1S92. CONTEXTS. r u;E CHAlTEU 1— Sunderland in 1S20, and tbe Low Street 1-24 2— The High Street and Coronation Street— Customs of the Inhabitants 25-52 3__Our River, known to tbe Romans— remains found of their possession 53*61 4— Our River in 1820-25 65-71 5— Tbe Monks and Monastery of Monkwearmouth, aud Bede 72-77 6— Salmon Fisheries 78-86 7— Ship-building and Shipbuilders during the last century 87-111 S— Do. do. up to 1860 112-126 9 — Trade and Commerce 127-174 10-Colliers 175-204 11— Custom Houses and Timber Duties 205-216 12— Primage Dues— Pilotage 217-23:; 13— Sunderland Town Moor 234-253 14— The Piers 254-275 15— The Bridge— Wearmouth Colliery 276-282 16 -The Docks 2S3-306 17 — Parliamentary Representation and our First Election... 307-318 18— Banks 319-324

Appendix

. Grant de Novo 325-326

Chapter I

fUNDERLAND, in the year 1820, was composed of five different Townships or Parishes, viz. :— Sunderland, Bishopwearmouth, Bishopwearmouthranns, Monk wearmouth, and Monkwearmouth- Shore. Each Parish h.id its own Overseers, and each was separatel y rated to the poor. . At that period it was said to be a very compact town, and contained 30,887 inhabitants. It was rather under one mile in length from East to West, and under half-a-mile in its then extreme breadth from North to South. There were three principal streets, viz. : — High Street, Low Street, and Coron.ation Street, (called the "Back Lonnin' ). The communications or roads between the High Street and Low Street were called by tho names of lanes, stairs, passages and banks ; and between the High (Street and Coronation Street and the Moor, by the names of streets, lanes and alleys.

The High Street ran the full length of the town, starting from the Loav Roav, then up a steep bank betiveen the Church and the Rectory, and after passing a sharp narroiv turning at the west of Crowtree Road, ran almost straight from ivest to east, till you came to a steep bank at the east end of the Fishermen's Cottages, Avhere, at the left, tAvo flights of stone steps led down to the Pier, Avhilst the road, turning .sharp to the right, led down to the sands. The Low Street really began at the Hailing House, at the Avest end of thc Pier, crossing the bridge at the high coble slipivay OA'er Thornhill's Wharf, and from Hardcastle Quay ran up to the foot of Beggars' Bank or Russell Street ; entering Panns it then ran up to the public house known as thc " Green Dragon," and, turning sharp to the south east, joined what is iioav called West Wear Street ; there ivas also a continuation of the road by the side of the bank up to the Bridge, crossing the Bridge Road to Pan Lane, which was the old road to the Panns.

Coronation Street ivent ivest from Sunderland Church to the back of Norfolk Street, ivhich formed almost the southern boundary of thc town. There ivere also Zion Street, and a feAv houses in Nicholson's Square, the Avest side of Sans Street, Villiers Street, and Nile Street crossing it towards the south. Sunderland Town Moor and the Church Walk, up to Church Street, formed the southern boundary at the east end. Coxon's Fields stretched from Hendon Road to Sans Street ; they ivere enclosed by a thorn hedge on the north, running from thc soundly in Coronation Street to Sans Street, on the ivest by Sans Street, oh the south by "Cutty Throat Lonnin," and on the east by Nicholson Street School and the farm buildings adjoining Hendon Road. From Norfolk Street to Waterloo Place Avas all gardens and fields, and from Sunniside a row of houses faced thc High Street up to Union Street ; from Waterloo Place and Union Street another stretch of green fields extended up to CroAvtree Road, the whole being bounded on the south by what is iioav called the Borough Road.

At the south-east corner of CroAvtree Road Avere the high trees on Avhich the croAvs used to build their nests, and to the north three or four tAvo-storied houses, looking as though they Avere nestling under their shade. From Maritime Place to South Street ran a thorn hedge. South Street, as its name denotes, ivas the most southern street in BishopAvearmouth, and Middle Street is betiveen it and High Street. West of Croii-tree Road ivere Mr. Robert Fenwick's house and Mr. Nicholson's house, Avith a high stone wall running nearly thc full length of thc road, turning up in Vine Place, almost to Avhat Avas said to be the oldest house in BishopAvearmouth. It Avas a "tee-fall'' house, Avith the stairs inside going from one story to another, or from one room to the next ; the gardens and vineries were enclosed hy the Avail as Aiell as a clump of trees at the side of Vine Place — both houses faced thc Green.

Then there ivere the Green, Green Terrace, Loav Roav, and, at the east of the Church — Church Lane, Gibson's Alms Houses, and Littlegate. On thc north side of the High Street, from Lambton Street westward, the Panns Fields stretched up to Bridge Street. Thc three-storied houses at the east side of Lambton Street looked upon green fields. There ivas no West Wear Street, Pratts Buildings, nor Bedford Street. Bridge Stieet Avas not then built ; there Avere two or three three-storied houses next the High Street, and a two-storied house on each side next the Bridge. The Register Buildings at the north side* of the High Stieet occupy the site Avhere Chapman's gardens and vineries used to be. Hutchinson 's Buildings now occupy the site of Dr. Clanny's gardens ; the house Avhere the Doctor lived still stands facing Bridge Street.

Pemberton's Buildings in Matlock Street Avere not then built, being erected as houses for the pitmen Avhen the colliery Avas opened. There Avas also the open garth running betAveen Cumber land Street and Queen Street from the back of the High Street to the north end of the streets. Messrs. Mounsey aftenvards built their neiv furrier's factory at the south end, now occupied by E. C. Robson & Sons as a flour mill. West of Castle Street or Hopper Street Avere green fields Avhich ran further north than the street itself. A Avail separated these fields from the Rector's park, which ran Avest up to the gill, and stretched from the road at the north end up to the rectory gardens on the south ; a Avail separating the gill from the park and gardens. West of the rectory and garden AA'all Avas a long strip of ground, rather narrow, sloping from thc Avail towards thc open burn on the Avest.

This parcel of ground was cultivated as a garden by the late Henry Gibson, Avho lived in a house or cottage facing the garden — the shop faced tho High Street. On the rectory wall the small fern Wall Rue— or Ruta Muraria — grew and the Common Bracken greiv in the gill. At the west of the burn, the road noAi* called SilksAvorth Row, ivent to the Keelmen's Lonnin ; all the ground to the ivest of this road Aias fields. The late Barnabas Sharp built a house up the bank to the Avest, almost facing Avhat is now called Hind's Bridge ; the garden in front ran down to the road. POPULATION. In the year 1719 Sunderland Avas made a separate Parish fiom Bishopwearmouth and covered about 220 acres of ground. Thc new parish, commencing at thc sea beach, PORT OF SUNDERLaVND. 1801. 1811. 1821. Sunderland 12,412 12,289 14,725 Bishopwearmouth 6,126 7,060 9,477 Bishopwearmouth-Panns 564 476 483 Monkwearmouth . ... 1,103 1,091 1,278 Monkwearmouth-Shore 4,239 4,264 4,924 O ut-ToAvnships 2,067 2,423 3,024 Totals 26,511 27,610 33,911 went south of the Hendon water course and cart road through the Octagon Cottage up to Hendon Lodge, into the grounds of ivhich it passed ; at the north end of this there Avas a stone Avail which ran straight up to Coronation Street.

At the south-east of this Avail a gate Avas fixed, sometimes locked and sometimes kept on the latch, and there Avas also an opening or stile in the Avail for foot passengers ; the east side of this Avail was Sunderland Parish and the Avest side was BishopAvearmouth Parish. In Coronation Street the boundary ran straight up to Sans Street — the north side AA'as Sunderland Parish and the south side BishopAvearmouth Parish. The boundary then ran down Sans Street North, across the High Street, down Beggar's Bank, across the Loav Street to the river, then, turning east, went to the sea. The east of Sans Street Avas Sunderland Parish and the west Bishopwearmouth Parish. After the cutting off of Sunderland Parish from Bishop- Avearmouth there still remained to the latter all the distance south to the boundaries of Seaham Parish, and Avest to the boundaries of Houghton-le-Spring.

On the formation of the Parish — with its 6,000 inhabitants — in 1719, there does not appear to be any record of hoAv far Avest the inhabitants Avere located, the supposition is that PeAvterer's Lane ivould then be to the Avest of the habitable portion of the ground. In PeAvterer's Lane the houses are freehold. The ground Avest Avould be garths and gardens, the names being handed down to our day as Spring Garden Lane and Covent Garden Lane. The ground deed of the three-storied house facing Flag Lane and Coronation Street is of the Bishop's Manor of Houghton, and recites that the ground Avas taken from, and AA'as part of, the mill garden ; therefore there must have been a mill there at that period. The promoters of the Act of 1719, no doubt, thought that by extending the boundaries of the township ivest, even to Sans Street, they Avould provide ample space for thc increase of buildings and the multiplication of the population.

In 1719 the population of the parish Avas stated to be about 6,000. In 1S21, Avhen the census ivas taken, the population was H,725 ; shewing the increase in the population in 100 years to be 8,-725, or an increase in the century of 145 per cent, in the population of the parish. Since 1820 several large open spaces, both east and ivpst of PeAvterer's Lane, have been built OA'er, as Moorgate Street, Thomas Street, south-east part of Silver Street, Nesham Square, The Minorca, New Grey Street, and East Sans Street. In 1851 the population of the parish AA'as nearly 19,000. " In the year 1809 an Act of. Parliament was obtained for paving, lighting, cleansing, and otherwise improving the town of Sunderland ; for removing the market ; building a market house and a town hall, and for establishing a river watch.

By this Act Commissioners were appointed, who were vested with powers to levy au assessment for carrying the purposes of the said Act into execution ; for removing nuisances, paving, lighting, and otherwise improving the town. After the Act was obtained its beneficial results soon became apparent — many nuisances were removed ; a watch was established in the town and upou the river ; a more regular police established ; the towu was lighted, and its general appearauce visibly improved. "In 1826 another Act was obtained, wherein the powers of the Commissioners were more fully explaiued and enlarged, aud wherein the Commissioners were authorised to levy a higher contribution to carry the purposes of this Act into execution. The Commissioners are follow ing up the powers granted them by this Act— they have flagged the footpaths from one end of the town to the other ; they have lighted the town brilliantly with gas ; they have arranged to build a new market ; they have established a cattle market, held ouce-a-fortnight ; a half yearly hiring for servants is appointed, and many other useful regulations are adopted which bad not existed previous to the passing of the Sundcrlaud Improvement Acts."— Burnett, page 45.

Unfortunately, Burnett does not inform us as to the appearance of the town in his younger days, before the passing of the Act of 1809. AVhat the state of the town was before these considerable improvements as to lighting, watching, &c., had been made by the Town Commissioners, we are left to conjecture. We write as Ave found the state of the town under the Act of 1809 (in our early days). As to LIGHTING, The streets AA'ere lighted by oil lamps hung on an iron crane fastened to the wall or the corner of the house at the end of the street or lane. The lamp Avas hung in a socket at the end of the crane ; the glass Avas round, hanging deep, also round or saucer-shaped at the bottom ; the lamp Avithin hung from a cross-bar at the top to nearly the bottom of the glass casing, so that it could be taken out and trimmed, and easily lighted ; a perforated top on an hinge covered the Avhole.

Each of these lamps had to be trimmed every morning — ■ a fresh supply of oil, the Avicks put in order, and the glass cleaned Avhen recpiired ; the supply of oil Avas so arranged that tho lamps generally died out before daylight the next morning. When lighting the lamp?, the man carried his lighted torch — with the handle containing the oil — grasped in his hand, the torch being carried upside down, lighting the road as he ran along ; after climbing the ladder and removing the lid of the lamp, the flaming torch being put therein lit the two Avicks. On a Avindy night it ivas no uncommon thing to be Avithout the lamp lights altogether, the gusts of ivind often blowing out his torch, and if he succeeded in getting to the lamp the lights were sometimes bloAvn out betore the lid could be replaced, and, in despair, the lamp left unlit.

The lighting of thc houses was by candles, there AA'ere three sorts —the common talloAV candles, mould candles and rush lights, the latter Avere only used as night lights. The butchers' shops and the stalls in the market ivere lighted ivith oil lamps and cotton Ai'icks, and, if a very windy night, lanterns and candles had to suffice. The churches and chapels ivere all lighted ivith candles, the large chandeliers hanging by a rope or chain from the ceiling, whilst brackets ivith tAvo or more candles, and sometimes small chandeliers, Avere lit under the galleries. During the service, generally Avhilst singing a hymn, also during a long sermon (the sermon often lasting an hour or longer) the chapel-keeper or some other person would stand up on the seat of the pew, and, taking the snuffers from the chandelier Avhere they used to hang, snuff the candles.

Twirling the chandelier round in a hurry it often happened, much to the amusement of us youngsters, that a lot of the candles were snuffed out, then a candle had to be taken to re-light those which had been extinguished. The pulpit had tivo candles on each side which also had to be attended to, the chapel-keeper going up to the pulpit Avhile the minister ivas delivering his sermon, and often in his trepidation Avould snuff them out. The Precentor or Clerk had a candle on each side of his desk to enable him to read the hymns or psalms, as they Avere given out two lines at a times. In 1820, at the coronation of George IV., the whole of the windows in the toivn were illuminated. Each pane had a candle behind it, and many were the devices employed to get them fixed, especially amongst the middle and lower classes, ivho fixed them in pipe clay, or pieces of tin fastened to the sash.

In my early days feAv females Avere found bold or hardy enough to A-enture out of the house on a dark night Avithout having a lantern in her hand to light the path. The dim lights from tho street lamps — wliich were placed at long distances from each other — and the candles and the oil lamps in the shop windows, only seemed to make tho darkness more complete.* There were no lucifer matches in those days, every house- AA-ife had to see to her tinder box, flint and steel. Tinder had to be made before the flint and steel could be of any use. Thus — mother would take a piece of linen or linen rag, hold it Avith the tongs before the fire until it Avas perfectly dry and scorched ; the tinder box being ready, the rag Avas lighted at the bottom, and, before the flames had altogether died aAvay, was dropped into the tinder box, after ivhich the lid Avas put on and held tight doAvn until the flame Ava. extinguished aud the embers put out.

The matches had to be made or bought, they were tipped Avith brimstone and called brimstone matches. To get your light the tinder box must be opened, and the flint struck by the steel just OA'er it to produce a spark of fire, which, falling on the tinder, set it on fire, then you applied the match, together with a gentle bloiving on the tinder to keep the fire alive till you succeeded in lighting it. WATCHING. The town at nights was patrolled by watchmen, generally staid or oldish men, nick-named '• Old Charlies." In winter the ivatch boxes used to be brought out and set up in certain places, generally close to or under one of the oil lamps ; if the night Avas Avet or cold they used to take shelter in the ivatch box during the interval of their rounds. It Avas no uncommon thing to see thc Avatchman and box upset in a street toav or for a lark.

The watchmen went their rounds every half-hour, and their voices could be * Very often the paving stones on the footpath were loose or holes were left, into which the ladies' pattens often stuck. There were no flagged footpaths then. B heard calling the time night and morning, and telling whether it was fine, rainy, cloudy, or frosty, thus : — he Avould call " past one o'clock, fine morning, all's well ; " the last hour called Avas five in the morning. They used to call running fitters, keelmen, or any other person that needed to be called for the tides or any other purpose. As the Avatchman had to make his rounds twice in the hour you could ahvays sleep sound, depending on the call. There were only tiA'O Constables for Sunderland. The cages or lock-ups then Avere, and noAv are, in Coronation Street, close to the side entrance to the Assembly Rooms, opposite the present Market and Avest of the Church ; the old iron doors arc still there, an iron shutter to the AvindoAv of one and an iron grating to the other.

I have seen the friends of the prisoners passing spirits to them through a tube from the outside through thc grating. Although there were only two Constables, yet, upon any emergency, the Magistrates swore in a batch of Special Constables to assist in keeping thc peace. They were each supplied with a staff from 10 to 12 inches long, with a crown painted on, and ''G.R." underneath it. The staff was retained by the Special to be ready ivhen called for. Taking the tOAvn in its transitional state, before and after the passing of the Act of 1826, and beginning Avith the LOAV STREET, avc find it to be a busy hiA'e of industry from end to end. AA'ATER SUPPLY. The principal AA'ater supply for the tOAvn and for all the shipping frequenting the port was from the Loav Street. Close to the foot of Water Lane, in the Loav Street, there Avere three wells and three pumps ; the principal pump Avas next to Water Lane, and Avas kept by Barbara Salmon, which is noiv boarded up, yet thc pump is there.

There was another pump in a small opening a little to the west of Mrs. Salmon's ; the third Avas at the other side of the Loav Street, doAvn a narrow passage AA'hich led to the river, now called Chisman's Entry.* These pumps supplied nearly all the lower part ofthe town ivith Avater. The last named pump Avas principally used for supplying Avater to the colliers, a long hose pipe leading from the pump to the Avater boat in the river. In my early days nearly all the water had to be carried home from the pumps, principally on the head in skeels or pans, three items being necessary, viz. : — the skeel, the Avease to fit on the head on Avhich to rest the skeel, and a small boAvl or float, AA'hich floated on the Avater and acted as a steadiment from a shake or unsteadiness, Avhen the Avater might splash over.

"When the household Avork AA'as OA'er, the females, tid3'ing themselves, would go to the pump for Ai-ater. All had to pay for it— some AA'ere customers and paid monthly or quarterly, others had to pay as they got it. In the evenings Mrs. Salmons yard Avas sometimes croAvded Avith Avomen and girls Avaiting for their turn at the pump. Many a skeel have I seen gently tipped from behind by a friend, thus compelling her to go back again to the pump. It iras noted that thc girls in Sunderland Avalked the most erect of any girls in the north, and this Avas attributed partly to the upright steady Avalk ivith such an unstable article on the head. There Avas also BodleAvell pump, known all over the toAvn, but not quite so famed as Mrs. Salmon's, that is if the number of customers be any criterion of popularity.

The customers at BodleAvell Avere supplied as they stood in the street. The nosel of the pump still sheAvs through the Avail. *A Metal Pump still stands over thc AVell, There Avere also supplies of AA'ater in other parts of the town, viz. : — George Street, 1 pump ; Horn's Lane, 1 ; Queen Street, 2; Zion Street, 1 ; Butchers' Slaughter houses, 1 ; Church Street, i or 5 ■ AVorkhouse, 1 ; Barracks, 3 ; Tottery, 2, as well as some others. After wards carts came round and supplied Avater at a half-penny per skeelful. A few years later, ivhen the first AVater Company got into full operation, they erected pants in different localities amongst the poor population and charged a farthing per skeel. There Avere several pumps and springs in BishopAvearmouth, viz. : — in the Rectory grounds, on thc Green, and elsewhere.

BREWERIES. The principal breweries in the town Avere located in the Low Street, and close to the river. Each breAvery had its oavii well, from ivhich they drew their supplies for the purposes of their trade ; they had also to supply their collier customers ivith water. The brewers had their large boats to seek up thc ale and beer barrels from the colliers, and take them back again when filled ; they also had their AA'ater boats Avith tAvo or three large casks open at the top, AA'hich Avere filled from thc breAvery pump, and the water was hoisted on board the ships with buckets to fill up the water casks.* Horn & Scott's breAi-ery (afterwards Scurfield & Co.) faced Noble's Quay, ivith an entrance from the High Street • the place is now occupied by Mr. Lamb and others. The Mark Quay brewery, for many years in the occupation of the late Alderman Thomas Reed, still carries on the trade.

Fenwick's brewery has been in the occupation of the family for at least three generations, if not four ; it has been all re-built and extensively enlarged. The Subscription *At that period neither tea nor coffee were supplied to sailors, the provisions of the ordinary collier not extending beyond beef, biscuits, anel beer. Brewery, Avhich paid all the shareholders their dividends in ale and beer, was closed, and AVylaras wharf now occupies the site. The Panns brewery, standing on the Panns Quay next to the river, was pulled down many years ago in order to give place to AV. & A. Adamson's slipway, now occupied by S. P. Austin & Son as an iron shipyard. Hindmarch thc brewer afterwards built a new brewery at the east end of the town, in High Street and Bank Street. In other parts of the town there Avere Horn's Lane brewery, once in the occupation of Mr. Taylor, father of the late Tom Tayor, novelist and humorist, and Queen Street brewery, since pulled down and enlarged, noiv occupied by St. John and Annison ; these last two breiveries had their own Avells.

Out of the five breweries at one time in full operation in the Loav Street only two of them at the present time remain and carry on their business. It must not be thought that since the water supply has gone into the hands of the AA'ater Company the quality of the water ivhich they supply is superior or eA'en ecpial to to the quality Ave received from oui* local wells. The water in former days ivas soft, sparkling, clear, and did not leave that thick deposit of lime in the kettles that Ave find in our present supply. As a proof of this, the two breweries in the Loav Street prefer and use the old supply. The then OAvner of the Mark Quay brewery told the Avriter some time ago that they had tried the water supplied by the Company, but they preferred their old well water, ivhich ivas clear and softer, and that they got far better returns in their brewings.

Some years ago, ivhen Messrs. Fenwick re-built and enlarged their premises, they found that the old well required extensii-e repairs. On inspection, the shaft was found to be so defectii'e and difficult to repair, and likely to be expensive, that they determined to sink a iicav shaft or well, Avhich they did, sinking it deeper than the old one ; this Avould, I believe, drain the old BodleAvell dry. This soft, sparkling, clear, pure AA'ater, they continue to use up to the present time. Following the Brewers, avc come to the Licensed A'ictuallers or PUBLIC HOUSES. In the Low Street, from Thornhill's Avharf on the east, to the Green Dragon at Panns Ferry on the Avest, there were *11 public houses ; 20 ivere situate between the Low Street and the river, and 21 on the south side of the street — several of these ivere night or tidal houses, as noticed here after.

Such a number of houses seem to be large for one street, especially when ive consider that on the north side, next to the river, Avhere not more than one-third of the street was occupied as dwelling houses, and the number of public houses seems out of all due proportion to the number of residential inhabitants. Thus, iu Bishopwearmouth Panns — according to thc census — the residential inhabitants, in 1821, ivere 483 ; Avhilst of public houses there Avere six, making the average number of inhabitants to the number of public houses S0'5, including Avomen and children. The remaining portion of the street in Sunderland Parish, as to the number of resi dential inhabitants, Avould be nearly in the same proportion, viz. : 80J. The custom or trade of these houses depended only in a degree to the residential inhabitants.

The principal thoroughfare for thc trade on the river Avas the Low Street, and these houses Avere first-of-call for sailors, keelmen, and castors, and the last-of-call in going oft" to ships or keels. Out of these the separate Avharves had their own public houses for labourers, corn porters, and others. AA'ylam's Avharf has its public house at the present time. Holmes' Avharf and Thornhill's Avharf public houses are closed. * The Public House kept by Mr. Thurlbeck, in the row of houses between tbe hailing house and Joe Humble's shop, is not counted in. At the gates of the shipyards thc carpenters Avcrc accommodated, a foreman in the yard being sometimes landlord, the Avife attending to the business. The Glassmen were also specially provided for ; the different landlords of these houses, as licensed victuallers, catered for the necessities of their customers.

These classes are not now to be provided for, and the Avhole volume of trade has been lost to the locality. In September, 1888, there Avere only 12 public houses and 2 beer houses open to the trade, instead of 41 public houses as in 1821, a reduction of 29, or two-thirds. Some of the licensed victuallers in the Low Street Avere very respectable people ; taking the trade as a Avhole they Avere respectable, Ave will name a feAv of them : — Mrs. Scott kept the "Lynn Arms,"* in front of Hardcastle's quay, at the foot of the Long Bank, she was an old lady indeed in all things ; Robert Goivland and Roger Watson, both fitters, married daughters of Mrs. Scott ; the late AVilliam Briggs married Miss Hedley, a grand-daughter of Mrs. Scott; Robert Scott Briggs bears his grandmother's name. "Joe" Parkin, Avho Ai'as a little dapper bod}', kept a public house on the Loav Quay, next to the narroAv passage from the Quay to the Low Street, he ivas running-fitter to the late Robert Scurfield ; "Bob " Nesbitt married his daughter, Avho Avas the mother of Mrs. St. John.