The full title of the book is: "Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events which have occurred in Northumberland and Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Berwick upon Tweed from the Earliest Period to the Present Time; With Biographical Notices of Deceased Persons of Talent, Eccentricity and Longevity"

Compiled by John Sykes, this is the full set of four volumes published between 1866 and 1875, and covers the period from the earliest records to 1875.

Accidents and crimes, floods, fires and all manner of fascinating historical events are recorded, along with many biographical pieces about local folk.

An Archive CD Books CD to the new Series 3 Standard, with enhanced navigation and fully searchable.

The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.

In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties, except for the London volumes.

An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places.

A compendium set comprising all 15 volumes. Each individual book includes between two and four counties, with the exception of London which is in its own three volume set but is included in the compendium.

This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.

It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.

Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.

Published in 1863 this is a wonderful description of the notable places in the city and it's industries, institutions and famous people.

By Joseph Parker Minister of the City Temple, London.

Published 1896.

"My business is mainly with a few Tyneside peasants..I know well many of the poor and middle classes and can speak with knowledge of their habits"

Joeseph Parker preached in all the villages in South Northumberland to struggling farmers, colliers and peasants. He values his congregation, "From a literary point of view they were uneducated but from the point of view of experience their minds were penetrating and appreciative."

In this book he describes the characters of The Oxleys of Horsefield, Nathan Oxley, Miss Black, John Morra, Jonas and his Church, Richy Hymers and Mary, Jimmy, Ralph Culver and Arthur Boyce, frequently using their own words. It's a great insight into the lives and characters of the Tyne before 1896. Parker describes the churches, homes and habits of these Tyne folk in a lively and engaging way.

First paragraph from the chapter on Nathan Oxeley;

" Nathan Oxley and his forerunners had farmed the great duke's land for quite a hundred years. Nathan was a quaint old man when I knew him, and so very silent that one's breathing made an objectionable noise when he was the only other member of the company. But Nathan talked with his eyes.

There was one day a week Nathan called the Sabb'day and that day he marked in many ways, most notably by never shaving upon it and never wearing a topcoat or putting up an umbrella within the rising and setting of it's sun. It was useless to reason with Nathan's habit, he got them from Nathan senior."