Glanton Heritage Group

GLANTON HERITAGE GROUP

Glanton Heritage Group was set up to record, catalogue, research and preserve the heritage of the village and parish.
However, the main objective is to enjoy what we do!!!
Several projects that are proposed are:-

Crime and Punishment in the mid 1800's
House Histories
Occupations of Householders/census analysis 1841-1911
Drove Roads and Stagecoach routes
Recording of history from the older residents
The Shops and Business in Glanton
The World Bird Research Centre
Jockeys at Shawdon

If anyone has information on any of the above subjects or if you would like to join the GHG please contact
Sue Rogers on 01665 578885

Singin’ Hinnies is an absorbing account of the trials and tribulations of the Robertson family from 1859
to the mid-1960s and their life in the north Northumbrian village of Glanton.

This is a story of social history, the development of modern medicine and wild, pioneering adventure. It
gives fascinating insight into the minutiae of life of a country doctor, his wife and their nine surviving
children as they grew up and made their ways in the world.

‘Singin’ hinnies’ are Northumbrian girdle cakes. As ‘hinny’ is also a term of endearment for
Northumbrian children, the author felt the title seemed appropriate to the story of this happy family.

Written in 1975 by Joyce Robertson, the last surviving member of the family, the faded hand-typed
manuscript lay amongst boxes of family correspondence until three years ago when it fell into the hands
of the Glanton Heritage Group. The group was formed in 2010 by a small band of villagers who were
passionate about retaining the iconic red telephone box which BT wanted to remove following
decommissioning. The Parish Council were persuaded to adopt the box for the sum of £1 and, following
extensive renovation, the box now stands very proudly on the junction of West Turnpike and Front
Street.

Whilst the renovation was being carried out, attention turned to other heritage features of this historic
Northumberland village and the Glanton Heritage Group was set up to protect, restore and enhance the
heritage of the village and parish along with researching and archiving its history.

The group spent three years digitising Joyce Robertson’s manuscript; secured funding, digitised
hundreds of family photographs from glass plate negatives, designed, fact checked, proofed and
ultimately published Singin’ Hinnies.

Doctor Richard Lomas, former lecturer in History at the University of Durham described Singin’
Hinnies as “a skilfully and warmly engaging account of a family… I feel sure that those who read this
book will find that the lives of the members of this family will resonate with their experience and
ancestral tales of their own… What shines through is the dedication of William and Elizabeth Robertson
to their respective callings: his to the care of the sick; hers to the welfare of her family”

Mike Mason, chairman of Glanton Heritage Group said “this has been a monumental task met by a small
‘kitchen table’ community group who have dedicated their spare time to seeing this project through to
completion. The Group appreciate the assistance given by Bailiffgate Museum and Heritage Lottery
Fund in the preparation of this book. We know Joyce Robertson would be thrilled that her book has at
last been published and we hope that it will now be enjoyed by everyone who reads it”.

All proceeds of the book will go towards the group’s aims.

Produced by Glanton Heritage Group in association with Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick
2013
ISBN 978-0-9926836-0-3 180 pages £10 + £3.50 p&p


For further information about Glanton Heritage Group and to purchase Singin’ Hinnies,
please email info@glantonheritagegroup.org.uk.

The Glanton Heritage Group is also committed to preserving local architectural features - in fact it was born from the small group who adopted and restored the Red Telephone Box which would otherwise have been removed by BT when it ceased to be operational.  We are actively seeking funding to restore the old cast iron finger posts, some of which still remain on the road junctions around the village but in a very sad state.  We hope that one day, either through funding or the creativity of the group, we will restore these beautiful features to their former glory.

WILD BIRD RESEARCH CENTRE
John Lang recently came across an interesting newspaper article from November 1951 about work done at the World Bird Centre in Glanton, alias 'Greystones' or 'Hatkin House'. Click here to read the article.

LIFE AND CRIMES OF GLANTON IN THE MID 19th CENTURY
by Mike Mason
Click here to read