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Notices and information for upcoming activities are at the top, followed by News of Recent and forthcoming events and activities. There is also a Previous Events page.

Kiplin Hall Visit Wednesday 1^st July 2026

First of all, where has the year gone? Time does have a habit of sneaking up, doesn’t it?

As a gardens group we are fond of a bit of history, and Kiplin has it in buckets! It has had only four families as owners since 1616. The Calverts from 1616 until 1722. The Crowes from 1722 to 1818. The Carpenters from 1818, (because Sarah Crowe married John Delaval Carpenter) until 1957, and Bridget Talbot from 1957 to 1971. When she died the Kiplin Trust took over and they run it now. Whew!

Our guide was amazingly knowledgeable and we overran our allotted hour and a half slot on the house tour.

George Calvert built the house as a hunting lodge in the 1620’s, but as Secretary of State to James I, never lived in it, so there is little evidence of Calvert ownership. Calvert founded the colony of Maryland in 1632 and there are still close links with the US State of Maryland. Because the hall was never a residential property there is no evidence that any gardens were laid down.

The Crowes were responsible, in the next phase, for making the Hall into a comfortable Georgian home.  They came to own the house because Charlotte Lee, granddaughter of Charles II by his mistress Barbara Villiers had married George Calvert’s great grandson. On his death in 1715, she married Christopher Crowe and he bought Kiplin Hall in 1722 from her son, his stepson. As a British Consul in Livorno, Italy, from 1705 and 1725, he was responsible for starting the fine collection of furniture and art in the hall. He acquired a beautiful set of pietra dura panels. Hard stone marble and other hard stone mosaic scenes which were then inlaid into a fine Chinese Chippendale cabinet as seen in the Drawing Room. The paintings and other artifacts throughout the house are stunning. One of the paintings is by the foremost female artist of the time, Angelica Kaufman.

Christopher Crowe the younger was a noted farmer and agriculturalists, growing cabbages for cattle fodder that, according to a publication of 1765, ‘average per cabbage 20 lb., some of the 42lb’. He must have been busy building the garden as in 1770 there is a seed order for his walled garden and glasshouses which included Italian celery, purple broccoli, sweet peas and larkspur. The present day walled garden is a delight, with neat rows of vegetables and fruit bushes interspersed with marigolds  as complimentary planting. The dahlias were gorgeous and there was a beautiful stand of sweet peas. Mr Crowe would be delighted they still flowered here. There was one volunteer picking raspberries, loganberries and tayberries. He assured us he would pay for them but we think he probably deserved a treat. We also sampled as many as we could. Delicious. Although we didn’t fancy the wineberries which looked like little, red, hairy gooseberries! Espaliers along the walls included old cherries and apricot trees and new peach trees which are only just being tied in. The produce is used in the café, which is lovely, and is for sale from a barrow with an honesty - box which is a converted milk churn.

Once again it is because of a woman that the Hall came into the possession of the Carpenters. In 1817, Sarah Crowe married John Delaval Carpenter, 4^th Earl of Tyrconnel, and inherited Kiplin from her father. They enjoyed a comfortable typical late-Victorian country lifestyle, ‘huntin, shootin and fishin’, on weekend house parties. This was the most productive period in filling the house with beautiful artworks and furniture, still in the rooms today. Lady Tyrconnel was a prolific artist whose beautiful work is on display in the Waterford Room.

This was also the period of great improvements in the landscape which today has magnificent trees and parkland with woodland walks. Lady Tyrconnel also developed her garden and there is still evidence of its existence on the left-hand side of the path to the house where the laburnum walk is being developed. Early photographs show a low yew hedge in 1900. The now overgrown yew hedges at the front of the house are being re clipped into what looks like peacocks.

During the 20^th century, as so often happened, the gardens and grounds were neglected. Sarah carpenter had inherited the estate from her father in 1904 but there was little income for maintenance and she sold off land, house contents and buildings, reducing the estate from 5,000 to 120 acres. Sarah’s cousin, Bridget Talbot, an incredible woman and a force of nature, eventually bought the Hall for £5000 in 1937 and spent the next 40 years fighting to save Kiplin from being lost. In 1958 she was about to give orders for the hall to be demolished when she was knocked down and sent to a nursing home with a broken leg (or two as the guide told us), so the phone call was never made. In 1968 she created a Trust preserving the hall ‘for the nation as a place of beauty and historical and architectural interest’. The decision to sacrifice part of the park to allow for gravel extraction, the sale of which raised much needed funds, has resulted in the lake which can be seen from the house. It is a great asset and has a mile-long path around it which is a joy to walk on the hot day we were there.  The Canada and Pink footed geese were pretty to look at but their presence made the paths a bit hazardous!

This piece of wood which is part of the block on which Charles the First was beheaded. A few of us spotted something that made the hair on the back of our necks stand on end. See if you can see it, too.

 Because of the work of the Trust, the gardens are still developing and it is the sort of place that is well worth visiting at different times of the year.

I loved the Arts and Crafts artifacts throughout the house, especially the work of Beatrice Carpenter. An apt name as her designs for woodwork and marquetry are superb. I shall certainly be revisiting. Annie

Family History Group visit to 'Redhills' in Durham City.

Thursday 26th February 2026

Redhills Durham Miners Hall and Offices is an Edwardian Baroque – styled building, now a Grade II listed building, built in 1915 to equal the grand houses of the mine owners, built  to be the HQ of the Durham Miners’ Association. At the peak of coal production in Durham County in 1913, it looked after the interests of 250,000 pitmen and 400 pits.

BROTHERHOOD-SOLIDARITY-JUSTICE-COMMUNITY ENDEAVOUR-BELONGING

Words, values, principles that defined and guided the formation of Durham Miners Association (DMA) members in the past and will support the building of a new future for Durham mining communities.

An excellent tour with Brian our guide.

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More photos and information on the Family History Group Page

Family History Group Page

Digital Photography Group

Image of the Year 2025 Winner

Ian Wardlaw

For more images of our winning images click on the following link to our Digital Photography Group page.

January 2026 Monthly Meeting

Thanks to John for talking about Family History – 40 Generations ago his relative was William the Conqueror who lived in this (see attached) castle, I think he said.

Thanks also to all your ancestors who didn’t die young, found a hetero with whom to copulate and have a baby – I feel like we all owe Velda, Helena, Katrine, Ursula, Xena, Jasmine and Tara a debt. And un-named a man/men.

Thanks to Laraine for doing the Coping and the Duffying, thanks to Ann for doing the Invictus thing (not too different from Kevin Barry’s recipe for life – do your feckin bit while you can) thanks to Margaret for hammering Hamnet, thanks to Sharon for telling some bad jokes as well as they can be told and thanks to Edith – who is now to be nicknamed Rocky. Thanks to Hilary for reminding me how Newcastle United Broke My Heart (and that of Michael Chaplin) and for Leading us in a remembrance of the lead miners... Peter

Also thank you to Ian for the impromptu photographic show and judging competition...looking forward to seeing the official judge's results!

Christmas Event: "Mad hatters - Fun of the Fair"

Monday 8th December at North Biddick Club

Great activities...Skittles, knockout pudding football, the jam jar challenge and the photo booth. A fabulous turn out of hats and the book swap was very successful. The raffle was very thrilling and the buffet was very filling!

Thanks to everyone who organised the raffle, games, activites, music and the buffet too. And a big thank to Marilyn for donating and making up the hamper for the raffle.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone...

Review comments:

I would like to thank everyone involved in making this party a huge success. It was a blast...Canada Ann

News and Recent Events

Newby Hall Trip September 2025

Twenty members of the Gardens Group spent an excellent day at Newby Hall on the 3^rd of September, despite unpromising weather. We were welcomed very cordially by the Head of the Group Visits Team, then given maps and directions to the splendid coffee shop cum restaurant. By the time we’d refreshed ourselves from the journey, the rain had cleared and we joined the two guides who showed us around the magnificent house that has been featured in a couple of TV programmes recently. It is certainly one of the most impressive houses the group has visited. The web site hardly does it justice.

The gardens were still looking good despite the September weather and there were plenty of other points of interest to keep us entertained: The Dolls House Museum, The Teddy Bear Exhibition and dozens of sculptures scattered all over the estate – some for sale if you had a few thousand pounds to spare.

Altogether, a great day out amongst friendly faces. John

For more reviews and photos please the Gardens Group page...

Our August Monthly presentation 2025: Scams - 'Resilience Against Fraud' by Andy Hampson and his colleague Megan from the Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (ROCU) North East Area.

This was very informative talk and was tailored to Wessington u3a which highlighted the background to fraud and scams, and how to project ourselves from possible scam attacks. The advice included the 'the four doors' the areas where sammers can attack - by post, in person or doorstep, via telephone, and through the internet. The talk also encouraged members to report fraud and scams to the police as well as your provider/internet company where the attack happened.

Andy has provided us with some documents and valuable information from his organisation which covers the advice given during his presentation. Please have a look...

Strength & Balance Class - 15th July 2025

It was a really good turnout for Tuesday’s pop-up strength and balance class with the lovely Emma. Everyone enjoyed it and fun was had by all. Emma showed us some very useful exercises which we can all practice at home and reap the benefits from. Sue F.

Gardens Group Visit Wednesday 7th May 2025

Whalton Manor Private gardens near Morpeth

The ‘manor’ or grounds of this magnificent house and gardens have been on record since the 15th Century. The present house and gardens are the result of substantial alterations by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll in 1908. The lovely Head Gardener, Barbara, gave us a potted history of Whalton and led us on an introductory tour before going off to continue her never ending work. She is assisted by two volunteers who come in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She also sets up the teas and coffees. Read more and see all the photos on the Gardens Page...

Gardens Page

Keep on Dancing - 31st March 2025

An energetic and musical time was had by all today at our "Daytime Disco" and it was great to see so many friends from our Network u3as.

Unfortunately Linda Willis was unable to attend but thanks for organising the event and also to Brenda and linda Wilson for stepping into the breach!

Racing Pigeon Post - March 2025

Thanks to everyone who made a pigeon/bird for our March monthly meeting...’pigeon racing was a top sport of the working classes 1850s to 1900s and of interest to Washington people as part of a local heritage project' We have attempted to replicate the action in the allotment following the March monthly meeting. Particular mention must go to Sue F. who mobilized the origami troops last week into a production line to rival Nissan! Thanks Sue…and I wonder who made the French hen…C’est magnifique et merci! Margaret.

A further note of thanks must go to Gill G, for her knitted homing pigeons in glorious technicolour…thanks Gill  and to Paul for his gannet.

The other side of the sport was a different kind of competition 'PIGEON FANCYING' - pigeons flaunting their good looks and ruffling feathers…

Here are the first entries in this class…there are six more waiting to be decorated…any volunteers? thanks go to Catherine, the best next door neighbour anyone could wish for…thanks Catherine x, Margaret