May I take this opportunity to welcome you to the Autumn 2008 Newsletter. The changing season is apparent once again and the Dene, still lush after the summer rain, is showing the first signs of autumnal colour.

A sense of change pervades the air, not only seasonal change but also in connection with Seaton Delaval Hall and the future purpose of this historic house, which today hangs in the balance. To allay any fears concerning Holywell Dene and the sale of the Hall and surrounding estate, we must emphasise that the National Trust’s proposed acquisition does not include the Dene. Their interest in the land as part of the deal of purchase extends to field boundaries which are to the north of the Dene. A final decision on whether the National Trust will proceed with the purchase will be made at the turn of the year.

A second source of uncertainty concerns the Local Government changes which take place in April 2009. Blyth Valley Borough Council (BVBC) will disappear as will our close relationship with them which has developed since FoHD started. We have been told that almost certainly the Unitary Council will take over the 99 year lease of Holywell Dene between the Estate and BVBC but in these uncertain times anything is possible. What will the new Council’s attitude be towards voluntary groups like FoHD? If past experience with the existing County Council is anything to go by then the omens are not good. However rest assured that we will remain strongly focussed in our efforts to protect and support this area. The next six months will be interesting to see what develops

Alison Christer, Chairperson FoHD

Early morning – end of August 2008 One of the few fine days!                          

Northumbria in Bloom 2008

In July the Group gave a presentation, supported by a photographic display, to the judges of The Northumbria in Bloom competition which resulted in a Silver Award  in the “Durham Villages Trophy - Best Conservation Project” category for the Group’s continuing work in Holywell Dene.

This adds to the Group’s Gold Award in 2007

Membership Subscriptions for 2008/09

We hope that you will continue to support the work being carried out in Holywell Dene on your behalf, by renewing your annual membership.

There is no change to the annual subscription levels, being £5 for a family or £3 for an individual.

Please complete the attached slip with your name and address and return it, together with your remittance, to the Secretary, Bill Thompson.

Thank you

To everyone who has helped the Group in any way over the past six months, including each and every “Friend”, a very sincere thank you. Your time, effort and support has been much appreciated.

Major natural Events

In the past six months two unusual natural events have taken place in the Dene. The first was the footpath subsidence followed by the rain storm.

The first telephone call reporting the footpath subsidence at the east end of the path from Holywell Bridge was made on 4th August. It was made by the same person who, less than a fortnight before, had been strimming the vegetation at the spot. A deep hole had appeared taking away part of the path and revealing a large blue pipe connected with the Holywell Pumping Station.  

Northumbrian Water and the Coal Authority both became involved resulting in the latter drilling boreholes around the hole down to a depth of 60 metres. Coal seams were found but no workings and it was concluded by the end of August that old mine workings were not the cause. The hole was filled with stone and levelled but after the second natural event, unprecedented rainfall, the subsidence reappeared and so was filled again with stone and levelled. And that is where we are now with two questions still not answered, where has all the stone gone and when is the area, which is virtually a building site, going to be reinstated?       

The rainstorm started exactly a month after the subsidence, with the heavy rain continuing for three days. The Seaton Burn has flooded before but usually it has been a short lasting event, coinciding with a very high tide. This time, luckily, the height of the daily tides was average and the causes were simply the amount of rain that fell and the saturated ground it was falling on.

The Burn overflowed its banks from Seghill to the estuary and for two days it was almost impossible to walk for

any distance along the riverside paths. The noise of the rushing water was incredible.

Stone Bridge looking upstream

By measuring the height of the debris it was estimated that at its height the depth of the water in the Burn was around 2.5 metres.

From stone bridge looking downstream

Needless to say that weight of water flowing at great speed caused a great deal of damage. River banks were washed away leaving fences hanging in mid-air, bank-side trees were uprooted, logs and debris of every shape

and size were washed down and the full gamut of litter was left suspended on the river bank or in trees. The first count, after the water subsided, identified eleven trees or large bushes, from Seghill to Seaton Sluice, which had succumbed to the onslaught.

Tree blocking path while water still at high level

One final thought, it is amazing how quickly nature recovers: man made objects do not!

Work that has taken place in the Dene

The Spring 2008 Newsletter gave details of the pond the Group had created at the head of the estuary. This work has generated much praise and a commendation from Natural England and work has continued with Marsh Marigold planted around the drier edges as well as a mixture of wild flower seed on the bank.

It was expected that the pond would significantly decrease in size during the summer thereby enabling additional work to be carried out: needless to say that didn’t happen.

The footpaths adjacent to the pond regularly flooded prior to the work carried out by the Group in the spring to raise the level of the paths and insert drainage pipes to allow the excess water to spread to either side of the footpath. Materials were supplied by BVBC.

The summer months were taken up with non-stop vegetation cutting. The work started early but it was a thankless task because, as soon as a path was cut, the nettles and grass grew at an even faster rate. Many paths and hedges had to be cut a second, and in one case, a third time this year, something that has not appened in the past. The two Councils have done their bit and just about kept their allocated paths under control.

The rain in September changed the plans.

Gullies had to be unblocked throughout the Dene. Trees and bushes were cut back initially to allow pedestrian access followed by more severe work to make everything safe for all visitors. In this respect both Councils helped to a limited extent in doing work that was beyond the Group’s capability: NT near the stepping stones and BVBC in the Dale Top area.

 As the level of water dropped to Wellington boot height the volunteers started on the waterway, cutting back branches that were in the water, collecting litter from the Burn and started the major task of unblocking log jams.

Some have been cleared, others remain to be done. Hopefully Council assistance in the form of a tractor and winch may be forthcoming but don’t hold your breath!

Finally, the work undertaken by the Group is planned as a balance between construction and maintenance. This year there has certainly been a great deal of the latter but the Group has responded to numerous requests for extra simple bench seats by installing two more and to refurbishing two of the existing ones where the supports have disintegrated.

These benches, made from recycled timber, are the Group’s compromise between those requesting picnic tables and those saying no seats.

The working group normally meet on a Tuesday morning and, as can be seen, carry out a variety of jobs in a non-intensive way. If you would like to join them please contact Russell on 0191 2370975, or email rpannellj@aol.com

History - Old Engine & Coal Mining

Around 1600 Sir Ralph Delaval saw the possibility of mining coal on an industrial basis and started leasing out mining areas to wealthy businessmen at an annual rental of 14 shillings and 4 pence. These were around the Brier Dene Farm area and, as the coal was meant for export, a means of getting the coal to the harbour at Seaton Sluice had to be constructed. A main wagonway was built which went in a northerly direction crossing Hartley Lane, a little to the east of the current Old Hartley car park, and staying to the east of Holywell Dene until it reached the harbour.

Each mine had a branch wagonway linking it to the main one and it is interesting to see from records that “the rails and sleepers on the main wagonway were to be of oak but on the branches of birch, or ash, or any suitable wood equally serviceable”

It should be noted that in those early days a mine rarely operated for more than three years so branch wagonway were for ever being laid, taken up and laid to the next pit that opened.

Approximately 500 metres south/south west from the Old Hartley car park, on the line of the main wagonway, was Ticket House at which all wagons would stop to get their “coal ticket” before proceeding to the harbour. Ticket House must have been a substantial building because in1851 there were 5 families still living there, in all 19 people. However by 1861 it was unoccupied and, according to the old maps, was demolished soon after.

Until a few years ago, the route of the main wagonway was still a footpath right of way crossing cultivated fields and passing through the gardens of modern housing estates! Little is now left to see: a short stretch near Brier Dene Farm and the tunnel where the wagonway crossed the Brierdene Burn. The line of the main and branch wagonways and the pits can still be traced on the internet, via Google Earth.

Back in Holywell Dene, ascending the steep steps from the downstream of the two wooden footbridges, brings you to what was known as Old Engine

On the opposite side of Hartley Lane to Old Engine is a spoil heap which was once a mine called “Success” Standing on this small hill gives a good view of all the other heaps in the surrounding fields clearly illustrating how close the mines were to each other.

“Success” was unusual because it operated in excess of 20 years and this was due to the installation, in 1760, of a “new fire engine to draw coals” from the mine.

This new invention, which was greatly improved over the next 5 years, created plenty of interest with visitors coming from both this country and abroad, including the famous Scottish inventor James Watt.

“Success” finally closed in 1781 and on the OS 1896 map no trace of the engine building is shown. However the house remained and evidence of it can still be seen today.

In 1841, 60 years after the mine closed, there were still 6 families living in the house, in all 32 people. Most of the bread winners were miners but two were shown with an occupation of “House Carpenter” This we now know was a man who maintained the wagonway.

By 1861 miners had disappeared but there were still 19 people living in the house, 10 of whom had the surname “Potts” with the bread winners having an occupation of “Shoemaker” or “Shoemaker shop” So it appears a possibility that boots and shoes were made and sold in a shop at Old Engine.

By 1901 there were only two families left, the Potts still making shoes and Mr Thompson, occupation farmer, and his wife.

We know from word of mouth that around 1935 there were still 2 families in residence. This comes from the little girl who lived on Silver Hill and daily collected milk from Hartley West Farm and delivered it to Old Engine. The little girl is still alive and remembers the walk up the steep slope – no steps in those days