museum 1
Alnwick, Fenkle Street, Viscount Grey re-elected, 1900
A throng of people in Fenkle Street, upon the re-election of the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency MP, Edward Grey (Viscount Grey of Fallodon).
A decent politician, Grey held the seat for an impressive length of 31 years, from 1885 (when this new Berwick constituency was formed) until 1916.
Britain's Foreign Secretary in 1914, his main failing had been to clearly state to Germany that action against Belgium would definitely lead to war. If he had been more thorough in pushing this point, is it just possible that the past may have been slightly different ?
Grey famously stated that, "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time".
In 1900, Fenkle Street was still a major shopping and trading street in Alnwick town.
Note the archway and the adjoining building to the left of this photo -- the old "Drill Hall", often mistakenly thought to date from the 1860s, this was actually built circa 1834.
Although commonly said to have been constructed by the Northumberland & Durham District banking Company, it may indeed have included facilities for a subscription library, possibly provided by local philanthropists.
The provision of a library of this sort would have been popular in this street, with printers such as Graham, Smith, Davison and Hunter Blair all being at one time or another within a stone's throw of this site.
Note that the balconies used above the shop have been removed, but even today the new stonework put in place is obvious.
The old "Drill Hall" is an impressive building and one used for various Council and community roles, including the Lionheart Radio station.
Alnwick, Fenkle Street, Viscount Grey re-elected, 1900
A throng of people in Fenkle Street, upon the re-election of the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency MP, Edward Grey (Viscount Grey of Fallodon).
A decent politician, Grey held the seat for an impressive length of 31 years, from 1885 (when this new Berwick constituency was formed) until 1916.
Britain's Foreign Secretary in 1914, his main failing had been to clearly state to Germany that action against Belgium would definitely lead to war. If he had been more thorough in pushing this point, is it just possible that the past may have been slightly different ?
Grey famously stated that, "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time".
In 1900, Fenkle Street was still a major shopping and trading street in Alnwick town.
Note the archway and the adjoining building to the left of this photo -- the old "Drill Hall", often mistakenly thought to date from the 1860s, this was actually built circa 1834.
Although commonly said to have been constructed by the Northumberland & Durham District banking Company, it may indeed have included facilities for a subscription library, possibly provided by local philanthropists.
The provision of a library of this sort would have been popular in this street, with printers such as Graham, Smith, Davison and Hunter Blair all being at one time or another within a stone's throw of this site.
Note that the balconies used above the shop have been removed, but even today the new stonework put in place is obvious.
The old "Drill Hall" is an impressive building and one used for various Council and community roles, including the Lionheart Radio station.