Newbiggin Web Site News

Dedication of the New Window at Woodhorn Church Creativity, light and art were the themes of the dedication service which drew over a hundred people to St. Mary's Church, Woodhorn on Sunday 13th April. The Venerable Dr. Peter Robinson in one of his first official duties as the new Archdeacon of Lindisfarne dedicated the window and highlighted how appropriate it was that this redundant church is now in use as a creative space by local artists. Many of the large congregation had past associations with St. Mary's, including one who was married there in 1952 and a number who were either baptised or had seen their children baptised there. Thanks were given by Wansbeck's Civic Head, Councillor Alex Wallace to the Reverend Judith Grieve who led the service, Wansbeck's Ashington Colliery Band who provided the music, KEAP Creative who opened their studios for the event and Barry Mead, Wansbeck's Heritage Officer, who organised the day and provided refreshments. The window itself, designed and made by Iona Art Glass is wonderful and literally lights up the church. If you missed the service but would like to visit, please do. KEAP Creative open the church and their studios to the public every Sunday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm and would love to see you there.

The Coble Inn displays the first piece of public art produced by a resident of Newbiggin. A ceramic tile panel replaced the old Coble sign overlooking the promenade on 4th April. It contains a series of symbolic images representing easily recognisable features of Newbiggin. A coble is prominent overlooked by a puffin which stands on the Point rocks with a lifebelt to hand. St. Bartholomew’s Church is also prominently represented with the Coble Inn itself and Bertorelli’s Cafe Riviera sign, which has, sadly, now disappeared. The lifeboat station is featured together with simple images representing the Couple, the horseshoe steps and the old breakwater. The whole panel is held together with subtle colours which reflect the outlook of Newbiggin. The work is by ceramicist Peter Seddon who lives and works in Newbiggin and who hopes to see more panels like this appear elsewhere in Newbiggin. Click here for a selection of pictures of the installation.

A new coffee shop opened at 66 Front Street on Good Friday. Dinky's specialises in Ringtons tea and coffees, organic and local produce, freshly made sandwiches, soft drinks and scones. The proprietor is Gill Woolley who can be reached on 07931843730.

The barbers 2 has opened at 86 Front Street. Edwina Phillipson is providing hairdressing for men and women seven days a week with no appointment necessary.

A NEW IMAGE FOR NEWBIGGIN As you are probably aware there has been an ongoing process of consultation regarding the production of a new image to promote Newbiggin. Three images were produced by Welbeck Design who won the contract. After further consultations and a vote the final image has now been produced. What do you think?

PAINTATHON Claire Cooper and Patricia Lane spent Saturday 26th January in St. Bartholomew's Church Hall on Front Street painting in aid of charity work with International China Concern.

BOXING DAY SPLASH Brave souls in fancy dress turn out for the traditional Boxing Day dip in the sea in aid of charity!

Thursday 6th December Staff and customers of the Coble Inn presented the Freeman Hospital with a cheque for £1000 which had been raised on August Bank Holiday Monday.

August 26th - St. Bartholomew's Medieval Fayre - see pictures here

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY - What a day!! It has been a long time since so many holidaymakers have been seen in Newbiggin. The unprecedented publicity that has accompanied the bay replenishment scheme has no doubt led to so many people wanting to see the new beach and the works going on to enhance the promenade. The “Couple” sculpture has also been an added attraction. The traffic in Front Street was unbelievable and there was nowhere left to park. St. Bartholomew’s Church was holding it’s Flower Festival which attracted large numbers of visitors to Church Point and although the annual Pageant had been held the day before (Sunday) there were still stalls and activities going on during the bank holiday. The Coble Inn launched it’s Charity Day and people in fancy dress were to be seen throughout the day collecting for the cancer unit at the Freeman Hospital. As part of this event a “live” Couple were to be seen up and down the promenade throughout the day staring out to sea and encouraging holidaymakers to contribute to the charity. If you were observant you might also have seen Salvador Dali, a Punk Artist, a Pierrot, Bobby Charlton, a Hula Hula Girl and a Belly Dancer . All these participants collected a commendable amount of money for the hospital. For more details of the Coble Inn’s events which included the fancy dress competition, a charity auction and a cream cracker eating challenge, click here.   It was announced that the BBC’s One Show would be coming live from Newbiggin Beach at about 6pm and hordes of visitors were to be found around the broadcaster’s vans and equipment during the late afternoon. A barbecue had been set up on the beach and a musical duet (Peter Tickell, a finalist in Radio 2's "Young Folk Awards" of 2001, and a full-time Kathryn Tickell Band member, and Julian Sutton, a well-known face on the Tyneside traditional music scene) played traditional Northumbrian instruments. The atmosphere was electric. At about 6pm the BBC held a rehearsal before going live, when there were interviews with Mabel Allen, a resident of Newbiggin for many years, Barry Lowther, representing the Council and the commissioning of all the new goings-ons, Jason Thompson, a local photographer and keen supporter of the community, and some unknown holidaymakers from down south who expressed an intention to return! Lots of children and some grown ups as well were all shown enjoying the new beach. Although the broadcast was only about four minutes long it painted a positive picture of the new Newbiggin and pointed to a challenging future. Next weekend on Sunday September 2nd from 10am until 5pm in the Sports and Community Centre there will be a Summer Spectacular which has been organised by the Newbiggin Arts Forum and funded by Alcan. It is free and everybody is welcome. Read more...

Woodhorn Church (St. Mary's) is now open to the public between 2pm and 4pm on Sundays.

KEAP Creative, a local group of seven artists who originally met at Newbiggin Arts Forum, have recently taken a lease on the church and are now using it as studio space. Members of the public are welcome to visit during the Sunday opening times. For more information click here.

St. Bartholomews' holds its final Summer Concert

Soul Doubt, a ten piece R & B Band gave a very loud concert in the church on Sunday 9th September. It included pieces by Sam & Dave, Otis Reading, Booker T and the MGs, Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Al Green and Ray Charles. and was very well received. Arrangements for next season's Summer Concerts are well in hand. So far lined up are the Blyth Music and Theatre Company Singers, Heavenly Harps, Werca's Folk, the New Tyneside Orchestra, a selection of local talented young musicians (previous winners of the Wansbeck Music Festival) and North Wind. Watch this space for developments!

Newbiggin's iconic stone saved from the sand

22/05/07 (Samantha Start)

A historic boulder which has lay on Newbiggin Beach for hundreds of years could be saved from the rising sand levels.

The Hunkleton Stone rested on the beach close to the former Middle Shelter and was a favourite gathering spot for youngsters to clamber on or dive off when the tide was in. It was also an iconic symbol of Newbiggin's rich seaside heritage and even featured on a cartoon postcard for the village.

How it got there is subject to many and varied opinions including being deposited by a glacier during the ice age to a boulder emanating from Newbiggin Colliery and founded down to the coal seams.

However one thing is sure that over the last 20 years the boulder has increasingly shunned the attention of the visitor as its home sunk deeper into the bay.

Local residents Richard Martin and his father Tim highlighted the plight of the stone and began to monitor it over the last ten years to ensure it was not lost.

It became apparent before the current £10m Newbiggin Bay project to recharge the beach with 500,000 tonnes of new sand; build a new breakwater in the bay to and improve the promenade, that the stone's days were numbered and it would be buried forever.

However, Barry Lowther, manager of the LIFE Partnership in Newbiggin which is helping to regenerate the area, says that work got underway to ensure the opportunity was taken before the commencement of beach recharge operations to recover the stone until its longer term future could be determined.

"Members of Newbiggin Community Area Partnership took on the plight of the stone and requested that consideration be given to it being recovered and repositioned in its former location above the new beach," says Mr Lowther.

"It's of significant historical interest to the community and everyone wanted to make sure that the importance of the stone was recognised."

With a critical one off low water predicted Westminster Dredging, the Newbiggin Bay contractor together with Wansbeck Council and Atkins Consultants prepared for the rescue mission.On Friday Westminster deployed one of its giant excavators to expose the stone but almost as soon as the work began the tide shifted and began to flood the excavation.

With a second excavator deployed and with their skilful operation, the stone was lifted clear of its home to a new temporary location further along the beach.

Richard Martin, Chair of the Newbiggin by the Sea Heritage Partnership, says: "The Hunkleton Stone is very  much a feature of Newbiggin by the Sea's rich seaside heritage which is being championed by our partnership with the eventual goal of a new visitor centre for the community.

"The stone is noted on maps going back to the 1800s as well as picture postcards depicting a day at the seaside.

"Thanks must go to all who made this happen, especially Westminster Dredging in diverting their machines forthe stone raising as well as the valuable support from Newbiggin Community Area Partnership, Wansbeck Council and Atkins Consultants as without their co-operation the opportunity to safeguard the stone could not have come to fruition."

A community website is to run a feature on the stone and encourage visitors to the site at www.newbigginbay.co.uk to send in their memories of the Incredible Hunkleton as well as any pictures they may have. In addition, full details relating to the Newbiggin Bay project can be found at www.newbigginreborn.co.uk

Caption: Richard and Tim Martin are pictured standing on the Hunkleton Stone.
For Further Information Contact:
Samantha Start, Press Office, Wansbeck Council, Ashington
Tel: 01670 532352
Email: s.start@wansbeck.gov.uk

See also http://www.wansbeck.gov.uk/index.cfm?page=viewnews.cfm&id=398

Heritage Centre Open its doors for a journey back in time

With the summer months approaching volunteers at Newbiggin’s Heritage Centre will be extending a warm welcome to visitors every afternoon between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. The centre hosts a variety of artefacts and information about the rich history of Newbiggin by the Sea as a major east coast port hundreds of years ago as well as its fishing community, lifeboat, shipwreck and mining stories. The film ‘Fisherfolk of Northumbria’ will also be running, a film which captures a day in the life of our fishing community during the early 1940’s.

Also on display is information about the exciting project going on to regenerate Newbiggin Bay as well as information about the village heritage trail. Entry is free but we always welcome any donation for the centre which relies entirely on voluntary contributions to cover its running costs.

The centre is located on the north end of the promenade at Church Point Newbiggin by the Sea and ample free parking is available there. If you would like further information or wish to check on opening times the please telephone 0191 2192553.

New Web Site to provide a visual history of the Bay Project

The exciting and important project to revive Newbiggin Bay, including the beach recharge, breakwater construction, promenade enhancements and public artworks, has a new online resource at www.newbigginbay.co.uk. This community web site, set up voluntarilyby Sound Ideas, seeks to give a visual documentary of the project, with contributions of photographs, video and written material from those who live and work in the village.

Jason Thompson, whose web development company Sound Ideas has created the web site, aims to show the story of the changing face of the village through the pictures and words already pouring in about the project. The project's official web site gives important information about the technical aspects of the project, and can be seen at www.newbigginreborn.co.uk. NewbigginBay.co.uk is intended to be a complementary resource, giving a more visual and personal view of this pivotal year in the history of Newbiggin.

If you would like to contribute something about the project, or submit your thoughts, pictures or video clips, please get in touch with Jason by email at editor@newbigginbay.co

webmaster@newbigginbythesea.co.uk