Catalogue of Spennymoor Settlement Papers

Reference code: GB-0033-SPE
Title: Spennymoor Settlement Papers
Dates of creation: 1919-1972
Extent: 1.5 metres
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: Spennymoor Settlement William G. ("Bill") Farrell (1895-1971)
Language: English

The Spennymoor Settlement

The Spennymoor Settlement was founded by the Farrells in 1931 to provide a community centre in Spennymoor, a small industrial town in the depressed South West Durham Coalfield. It was an initiative directed by the British Association of Residential Settlements and supported financially by the Pilgrim Trust. The Settlement formally opened on 1 April 1931 at 36-38 King Street in Spennymoor. Its declared objectives were “[t]o encourage tolerant neighbourliness and voluntary social services and give its members opportunities for increasing their knowledge, widening their interests, and cultivating their creative powers in a friendly atmosphere”. It fostered amateur drama, art, literary and musical activities, provided a children's play centre, a citizen's advice bureau and poor man's lawyer service, and a range of other recreational, educational and welfare activities, and housed a branch of the county library. The Settlement won particular renown for the quality of its drama and art. In 1938-1939 it built its Everyman Theatre-Art Gallery, designed by Charles Elgey, and which opened on 29 March 1939. Among the painters and writers the Settlement encouraged were Norman Cornish, Herbert Dees, Tom McGuinness, and Sid Chaplin. Bill Farrell retired in 1954, when the Settlement ceased to have a resident warden; Betty Farrell resumed her teaching career in October 1948 in Co. Durham, then transferring to Huntingdonshire, retiring finally in 1962. Upon the natural withdrawal of funding by the Pilgrim Trust in April 1947, County Council support was then secured, necessitating a new constitution for the Settlement. However, when this funding was also withdrawn in March 1954 the Settlement became a voluntarily funded organisation. It continues today as the Spennymoor Settlement Community Association, with an active Theatre Group still using the (refurbished) Everyman's Theatre.

The papers are largely concerned with the period 1930-1954 and were collected by the Settlement's first (and only) resident warden, William (“Bill”) G. Farrell (1895-1971) (WGF), his wife Elizabeth (“Betty”) Ceridwen (née Jones) (ECJ/ECF), unofficial co-warden and voluntary librarian, and Jack Maddison (JM), sub-warden (1933-1947). The collection contains annual reports and syllabuses of activities, administrative and financial records, correspondence, poems and essays written by Settlement members, cuttings, photographs, etc. Also included is some material relating to other Settlements, particularly the Durham House Settlement (1933-1948), and more generally to the British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.) that Farrell chaired for a time in the 1940s. Correspondence from former members includes letters from several who in the 1930s became involved with schemes of the Land Settlement Association to resettle unemployed industrial workers on the land, in Leicestershire and East Suffolk. The Farrells' personal papers give some information on Bill Farrell's amateur and professional theatrical career prior to his appointment to Spennymoor, and on cultural life in Co. Durham more generally, and on their involvement in retirement with cultural activities based at Ormesby Hall, Teesside, under the patronage of Mrs Ruth Pennyman.

Accession details

Presented by Mrs Elizabeth Farrell, 1986.

Conditions of access

Open for consultation, with the exception of the following files to which access is restricted under terms of the UK Data Protection Act 1998: SPE 3/E/3; SPE 3/F/2-41.

Copyright and copying

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material

Arrangement

1. Spennymoor Settlement

A. Administration:

1-41 Reports;

42-44 Prospectuses and syllabuses;

45 Constitution;

46-53 Correspondence;

54-82 B.A.R.S.;

83 Pilgrim Trust.

B. Finance:

1-293 Correspondence with institutions;

294-339 Correspondence with private donors;

240 Publications.

C. Settlement activities:

1 General;

2 Art;

3 Theatre and dramatic writing;

4 Education and literacy;

5 Broadcasts and publications;

6 Welfare.

D. Miscellaneous correspondence with Settlement members:

1-91 Members;

92-103 Former Scouts;

104-117 Former members;

118-126 Supporters.

E. Special occasions:

1 Visit of HRH The Prince of Wales, 1936;

2 Everyman Theatre, 1939;

3 New constitution, 1948;

4 21st Anniversary, 1951;

5 Departure of warden, 1954.

2. Papers concerning other Settlements in and outside Co. Durham

A. Joint Settlements' Council.

B. Durham House.

C. Harkness House, Lanarkshire.

D. Manchester University.

E. Settlement House, Middlesbrough.

3. Other welfare activities of the Farrells

A. Durham Council of Social Service.

B. Community Service Council for Durham County: Women's Committee.

C. Shildon & District Mothers' [Birth Control] Clinic.

D. Emergency Information Office / Citizens' Advice Bureau.

E. Bishop Auckland and District Disablement Advisory Committee: Elderly and the disabled.

F. Solders', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (S.S. & A.F.A).

4. Personal papers, chiefly of WGF unless otherwise stated

A. Demobilization, 1919.

B. Theatrical career to 1931.

C. Employment applications.

D. Emergency Information Officer.

E. Freelance journalism.

F. Theatrical and literary activities.

G. Newspaper cuttings.

H. Elizabeth (“Betty”) Farrell.

I. General correspondence.

J. Photographs.

Processing

Some arrangement of the collection occurred in the 1990s, and reference numbers were indicated up to I.D.(i), now 1/D. This arrangement has broadly remained unaltered, although some items from particular series have been relocated in more appropriate series, and a final ‘Miscellaneous’ series has been merged into the main body of the collection. A cross-reference key has been provided to aid researchers following up any old citations using the original numbering. Researchers are requested to adopt the final numbering in all citations.

Related material - here

Keith Armstrong Collection.
Local Collection.

Related material - elsewhere

Durham County Record Office D/DRCC 52, 149: Correspondence, 1935-1967. D/DRCC: 146-148: financial records. D/DRCC 141-145: Durham House and Spennymoor Settlements Joint Council minutes, accounts and correspondence, 1933-1948.
Private Collections Diaries of William G. Farrell, 1940-1954.
Spennymoor Settlement Members' Association Minute Books.

Bibliography

The Spennymoor Settlement. 21st birthday commemorative magazine (Durham, 1951).
Abley, Bob, Spennymoor remembered, Book 2 (ARB Publications, 2000).
Armstrong, Keith, ed., Homespun: the story of Spennymoor and its famous Settlement told by local people (North Shields, 1992).
Cornish, Norman, A slice of life (University Gallery Publications, 2005).
Farrell, W.G., The first seven years at the Spennymoor Settlement: a historical sketch and an appeal (Spennymoor, 1938).
Freeman, M., “No finer school than a settlement” in History of education, Volume 31, p245-262 (2002).
Harrison, J. F. C., Learning and living, 1790-1960; a study in the history of the English adult education movement, (Routledge and Paul, 1961).
Johnson, Christian, Strength in community : an introduction to the history and impact of the International Settlement Movement (IFS, 1995).
Mason, William, A study of one aspect of adult education: the residential settlement (Dissertation, 1954).
McManners, Robert, and Wales, Gillian, Tom McGuinness: the art of an underground miner (Gemini Productions, 1997).
McManners, Robert, and Wales, Gillian, Shafts of light (Gemini Productions, 2002).
McManners, Robert, and Wales, Gillian, Way to the better. The Spennymoor Settlement (c. 2008).
Robertson, Wendy, Where hope lives (Headline, 2001).

Catalogue

Spennymoor Settlement
Reference: SPE 1
Dates of creation: 1931-1972
Extent: 5 boxes
Papers directly produced by or concerning Spennymoor Settlement, its administration, finances, activities, correspondence, and special occasions.

Administration
Reference: SPE 1/A
Dates of creation: April 1931-January 1954
Extent: 15 envelopes (1 box)
Administrative reports, prospectuses and syllabuses, constitution, correspondence, photographs, and journalism relating to Spennymoor Settlement, British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.) and The Pilgrim Trust.

Reports
Reference: SPE 1/A/1
Dates of creation: April 1931
Extent: 14p
‘Spennymoor Investigation’. Typescript first report of the warden and plan of action in setting up of the Settlement, with background information on the area and its inhabitants, industry, employment, social and religious bodies. Inscribed on front cover: “Sent to London 28/4/31”.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/2 [May x June 1931]
Warden's supplementary report: proposals for premises, classes and helpers; summary of initial goals of the Settlement. Manuscript; dated from internal evidence. For addenda see: SPE 1/A/3-4.
8p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/3 [after May x June 1931]
Addendum 1 to the Spennymoor Supplementary Report (SPE 1/A/2): Education Authority. Information on schools, youth unemployment and theatre and cinema facilities in Spennymoor. Manuscript.
4p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/4 [after May x June 1931]
Addendum 2 to the Spennymoor Supplementary Report (SPE 1/A/2): Premises. Report on various premises for the Settlement under consideration.
4p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/5 7 June 1931
Manuscript rough first draft of warden's second report, “altered again in Final slightly”. Report on initial contacts with local people and possible premises.
11p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/6 29 June 1931
Manuscript copy [draft] of warden's third report. Contacts established with local organisations; establishment of drama group the Spennymoor Settlement Players; question of premises unsolved.
11p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/7 17 July 1931
Manuscript draft report of warden.
8p; 5p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/7/A-C 17 July 1931
Specification and estimates of alteration work, from:

G. Byers, Joiner, Builder, Undertaker, Certified Embalmer, 5 Thomas Street, Spennymoor

William T. Birchall, Decorative Painter, 6 Flora Street, Spennymoor

Spennymoor & Tudhoe Gas Company, 32 Thomas Street

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/8 July-August 1931
Manuscript draft warden's report, after visit of Committee members, J. J. Mallon and Barbara Murray, to inspect possible premises; with appendix re tenancy of 36 King Street.
20p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/9 1 October 1931
Estimates, September-October [1931], for alterations of decoration of 36 King Street for Spennymoor Settlement premises; with notes on the educational and theatrical work being undertaken by William Farrell.
10p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/10 [Autumn 1931]
Scheme of work for alterations, additions, decorations etc. to be carried out at 36-38 King Street, [Spennymoor]. Manuscript.
11p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/11 11 December 1931
Manuscript draft warden's report, with statement of account, from 31 March 1931: groups formed in Spennymoor; help provided to external organizations.
8p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/12 2 January 1932
Manuscript draft warden's “small” report on existing and proposed groups in the Settlement.
3p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/13 15 February 1932
Manuscript draft warden's report on classes and groups, and costs of furnishing the Settlement; includes William Farrell's objections to the formation of a Finance Committee.
15p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/14 27 April 1932
Manuscript draft warden's report, with financial report: progress of groups and classes.
20p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/15 16 June 1932
Manuscript draft warden's report, with detailed summary of income and expenditure: progress of classes; proposals on extra premises; work undertaken by WGF and ECF outside the Settlement; formation of Settlement Advisory Committee.
18p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/16 11 November 1932
Typescript warden's report on changes in the Settlement's constitution, and the groups' progress.
5p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/17 6 July 1932
‘The Spennymoor Settlement. A Survey and a Forecast ... 1931/32/33.’ First annual report, 1931-1932, by WGF, warden. Typescript, with some manuscript annotations.
7f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/18 21 May 1933
Second annual report, 1932-1933, by [WGF], warden; with copy covering letter, dated same day, from [WGF] to Barbara Murray. Typescript, with manuscript corrections and annotations.
14f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/19 8 April 1934
Third annual report, 1933-1934, by WGF, warden; copy covering letter from [WGF] to Barbara Murray pasted in (SPE 1/A/19/1r). Addressed to the Pilgrim Trust and B.A.R.S., and categorised “Private and Confidential”. Typescript, with manuscript corrections.
9f; 1f paste-in

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/20 [Spring] 1935
Fourth annual report, 1934-1935. Addressed to B.A.R.S. (Coalfields Committee) and the Pilgrim Trust, and categorised “Private and Confidential”. Typescript.
13f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/21 1 May 1936
Fifth annual report, 1935-1936, in the form of notes for a verbal report to B.A.R.S. (Coalfields Committee) meeting, London, 1 May 1936; with annual accounts, and three budget estimates. Typescript, with manuscript corrections and annotations.
13f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 2/A/13 5 August 1936
Report prepared for the [B.A.R.S.] Coalfields' [Committee] Special Meeting, 5 August 1936, re theatre hall and new administration. (Annotated, “This report was NOT read”.) Manuscript draft.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/22 24 May 1937
Sixth annual report, 1936-1937, by [WGF], warden, presented verbally to the annual meeting of the newly formed Joint Settlements' Council at Durham House Settlement, 24 May 1937. Typescript.
5f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/23 [Spring] 1938
Seventh annual report, 1937-1938. Typescript.
7f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/24 June 1939
Eighth annual report, 1938-1939, by WGF, warden; with cover line drawing of two working men in caps by TH [Tisa Hess]. Typescript, with 2 enclosures. Typescript.
12f; 2f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/24/A 24 August [1939]
Acknowledgement of receipt of report from Sir Wyndham Deedes, The National Council of Social Service.
1f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/24/B 25 August 1939
Acknowledgement of receipt of report from J. J. Mallon, warden, Toynbee Hall, London.
1f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/25 August 1940
Ninth annual report, 1939-1940, by WGF, warden; with handbill Programme of Settlement activities for the 1940-1941 session, pasted facing page 4 (SPE 1/A/25/3v). Typescript.
6f; 1f paste-in; 9f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/25/A 2 October 1940
Covering letter from the warden, with postscript recommendation of a Home Service B.B.C. broadcast by Howard Marshall entitled ‘Appeal for Settlements’, 6 October 1940, 20:45. Typescript.
1f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/25/B-I 5-24 October 1940
Seven letters acknowledging receipt of annual report from the following, with one carbon copy reply to the last correspondent:

B. Reverend Dr Edward G. Pace, Director of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Durham, Hatfield College;

C. J. J. Mallon, warden, Toynbee Hall, London;

D. Sir Wyndham Deedes, The Ministry of Information (London Region);

E. A. E. Morgan, Regional Information Officer, Ministry of Information, [(Northern Region)];

F. Jim [B.] Twemlow, Director, The Community Service Council for Durham County Ltd;

G. B. G. [?Stoud], The National Council of Social Service;

H-I. J. J. Lawson M.P., [Deputy Regional Commissioner for the Northern Region], Civil Defence, Newcastle.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/26 1941
Tenth annual report, and balance sheet, 1940-1941, by WGF, [warden]. Typescript.
5f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/27 1942
Eleventh annual report, and balance sheet, 1941-1942, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts include assets and liabilities, audited by J. M. Place, Barclays Bank, June 1942. Typescript.
10f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/28 1943
Twelfth annual report, and balance sheet, 1942-1943, by WGF [warden]. Accounts audited by R. M. Pearson, 16 June 1943. Typescript.
9f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/29 1944
Thirteenth annual report, and balance sheet, 1943-1944, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by R. M. Pearson, 31 May 1944. Typescript.
11f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/30 1945
Fourteenth annual report, and balance sheet, 1944-1945, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by R. M. Pearson, 7 July 1945. Typescript, with manuscript corrections and alterations.
10f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/31 May 1946
Fifteenth annual report, and balance sheet, 1945-1946, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by J. M. Place, 29 May 1946. Typescript, with manuscript additions and annotations.
17f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 2/A/26 January 1947
Interim report prepared for the National Council of Social Service and others, at 31 December 1947.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/32 April 1947
Sixteenth annual report, and balance sheet, 1946-1947, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by J. M. Place, auditor. Typescript, with manuscript corrections.
9f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/33 1948
Seventeenth annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1947-1948, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by J. M. Place, auditor, June 1948. Typescript.
11f; 2f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/33/A-B 8 and 9 October 1949
Two letters acknowledging receipt of annual report, from:

A. Professor Brian Stanley, Director, Institute of Education, Durham University;

B. Hester Alington, The Deanery, Durham.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/34 1949
Eighteenth annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1948-1949, by WGF [warden]. Accounts audited by Thomas Adams, auditor, June 1949. Typescript, with manuscript corrections.
12f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/35 1950
Nineteenth annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1949-1950, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by Thomas Adams, auditor, June 1950. Typescript, with manuscript corrections and additions.
11f; 3f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/35/A-C 31 August 1950
Three carbon copy covering letters, summarising the Settlement's improved financial position, addressed to the following persons:

A. Dr Thomas Jones, St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent;

B. G. E. Haynes, General Secretary, National Council of Social Service, London;

C. Sam Watson, Bede's Rest, Durham City.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/36 June-July 1951
Twentieth annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1950-1951, by WGF, [warden]. Accounts audited by Thomas Adams, auditor, 17 July 1951. Typescript, with manuscript corrections and additions.
11f; 6f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/36/A-B 25-26 October 1951
Two carbon copy covering letters, addressed to the following persons, introducing the Settlement to the former, and summarising the current financial position and Winter programme to the latter:

A. Charles F. Gray M.P. (Durham), House of Commons;

B. County Councillor E. F. Peart, 22 Thornlaw, Thornley, Durham.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/36/C-F 29 October-8 November 1951
Four letters, acknowledging receipt of annual report, from:

C. Donald Mather, Regional Director, Arts Council of Great Britain, Newcastle upon Tyne;

D. The Secretary, Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, Dunfermline, Fife;

E. George [E. Haynes], [General Secretary], National Council of Social Service, London;

F. H. Wheatcroft, Deputy Director, Community Service Council for Durham County, Durham City.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/37 July 1952
Twenty-first annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1951-1952, by WGF, [warden]. Typescript, with manuscript annotations.
13f; 5f inserts

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/37/A-D 20-22 April 1953
Five letters, acknowledging receipt of annual report, from:

A. Donald Mather, Regional Director, Arts Council of Great Britain, York;

B. J. J. Mallon, warden, Toynbee Hall, London;

C. Jim B. Twemlow, Director, The Community Service Council for Durham County Ltd;

D. A. A. Denholm, Director of Education, County Council of Durham;

E. George [E.] Haynes, Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations, London.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/40 (reverse) 7 July 1952
Circular notice of Spennymoor Settlement 1952 Annual General Meeting and agenda, from Betty Wendel, Hon. Secretary.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/38 July 1953
Twenty-second annual report, with accounts and balance sheet, 1952-1953, by WGF [warden]. Typescript.
15f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/39 July 1949
Mailing list “for annual reports etc.”, compiled in July 1949, and much amended subsequently. Manuscript, on reverse of typescript N.C.S.S. publication, unidentified index, and [?Arts Council] June 1949 part [?national] programme of exhibitions.
4f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/40 1952-1953
Mailing list for [annual] reports. Manuscript, on reverse of typescript circular notice of Spennymoor Settlement 1952 Annual General Meeting and agenda, from Betty Wendel, Hon. Secretary.
1f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/41 20 January 1954
Letter from Jean Marindin, Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations, London, to WGF requesting latest annual report in relation to a study, ‘The influences affecting young people’, being undertaken by King George's Jubilee Trust.
1f

Prospectuses and syllabuses
Reference: SPE 1/A/42
Dates of creation: 1934
Extent: 8p
Printed prospectus, listing personnel, with syllabus of groups and classes, Winter session 1934-1935.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/43 1935
Printed prospectus, listing personnel, with syllabus of groups and classes, Winter session 1936-1937; with manuscript corrections.
8p

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

SPE 1/A/44 1937
Printed prospectus, listing personnel, with syllabus of groups and classes, Winter session 1937-1938.
2f

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

Constitution
Reference: SPE 1/A/45
Dates of creation: [1930s]
Extent: 3f
Settlement Members' Association constitution. Typescript.

Index terms
Spennymoor Settlement, creator
Spennymoor (England) -- History
Social settlements -- England -- Spennymoor

Correspondence: staff and visitors
Reference: SPE 1/A/46-53
Dates of creation: 21 April 1933-2 January 1937
Extent: 8f
Miscellaneous administrative correspondence concerning staff and visitors.

SPE 1/A/46 21 April 1933
Circular from National Council of Social Service, London, to WGF, arranging a [national] programme of visits by a travelling adviser in craft work newly appointed by the Rural Industries Bureau, Mr A. Romney Greencraft teacher.
1f

SPE 1/A/47 7 August 1935
Mary M. Smith, secretary of John Newsom, General Secretary, Community Service Council for Durham County, to JM, arranging a visit of three members of the Imperial Policy Group to the Settlement on 15 August.
(A manuscript subscription, referring to these visitors, notes: “Rank Tories - pro Fascists”.)
1f

SPE 1/A/48 26 September 1935
J. L. Etty, 28 East St Helens, Abingdon, Berkshire, to WGF, recommending J. E. Brown, a former Ruskin College student and miner, for Settlement work, and asking after JM.
1f

SPE 1/A/49 8 January 1936
Yeaman Dodds, 61 Fern Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, [Organiser in Music], Community Service Council for Durham County, to WGF, proposing a revival of the Bartonian Male Voice Choir at the Settlement. Subscribed with manuscript note of reply declining, with plan instead to form a Spennymoor Settlement Male Voice Choir.
1f

SPE 1/A/50-52 6-9 July 1936
Three letters arranging a short residence at the Settlement (with Vickerstaffs) for Mr A. E. Rae, a L.S.E. student, in August 1936, and sketching visits to Land Settlements, Poultry and Allotment Schemes, Housing, educational facilities: “most of all he ought to be thoroughly well grounded in our philosophy of Qualitative work as opposed to Quantitive”:

50. Edith Eckhard, Senior Tutor, Social Science Department, London School of Economics and Political Science, to Miss Mary Cooke, 57 Queen's Road, Finsbury Park, London;

51. Jack, 20 Queens Road, Finsbury Park, London to Bill [WGF], enclosing SPE 1/A/50;

52. [WGF] to Jack.

SPE 1/A/53 2 January 1937
Yeaman Dodds, 61 Fern Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, Organiser in Music, [Community Service Council for Durham County], offering, at the Council Director's request, free services of Mr J. T. Littlewood, music master at Scarborough College, for a lecture recital; subscribed with schedule of existing bookings within the county, including at the Durham [House] Settlement.
1f

British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.)
Reference: SPE 1/A/54-82
Dates of creation: 1930s-15 December 1943
Extent: 62f; 3 prints
Reports, correspondence, photographs, cuttings, ephemera and published articles relating to B.A.R.S. and the Settlement Movement.

Reports
Reference: SPE 1/A/54
Dates of creation: [1938]
Extent: 16p
Report of B.A.R.S., 1935-1938. Illustrated.

SPE 1/A/55 [1940]
Report of the B.A.R.S., with annual accounts, 1939-1940.
8p

SPE 1/A/56 [1930s]
Fragment of a [B.A.R.S.] report, with sections on Pettit Farm, Elvington and Spennymoor Settlements.
1f

Correspondence
Reference: SPE 1/A/57-73
Dates of creation: 22 March 1934-15 December 1943
Extent: 22f

J. J. Mallon, warden, Toynbee Hall, London; Vice-President of the British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.); Honorary Secretary of the School Age Council
Reference: SPE 1/A/57-70
Dates of creation: 26 September 1934-15 December 1943
Extent: 19f
Manuscript and typescript correspondence (some carbon copy) with James Joseph Mallon on the following subjects (and dates): (57) Mallon to WGF, cooling attitude to the Settlements of Tom Jones Chairman of the Pilgrim Trust, enlargement of Spennymoor Settlement carpenters shop, papers read by a miner and his wife (26/09/[1934]); (58) Mallon to WGF, Social Service Review, Settlements links to Pilgrim Trust, urges more local concentration of effort (01/10/1934); (61-62) Mallon canvases local opinion in Special Areas on an increase in the school leaving age (i.e. over 14), urged in reply by WGF to allow County Council to lead rather than the Commissioner for Durham and relaying detailed summary of the views of a representative group of local men with emphasis on wage rates and 14+ educational syllabus (12, 15/03/1935); (66) Farrell to Mallon, Settlements involvement in the Artists' International Association's national exhibition programme, and recommending Tisa Hess (Countess Elisabeth von der Schulenburg, later Sister Paula), then with Highgate address (17/04/1938); (67-69) reaction to a seeming change in Toynbee Hall's drama policy, vis-à-vis opinions of Vanstone, with WGF's regret at current disunity and implied lack of direction within B.A.R.S. (24-27/07/1943); (70) Farrells offer their strong support for [appeal for funds to establish a Children's Theatre at Toynbee Hall], citing article in the Observer by Ivor Brown (see SPE 1/A/78), “here surely is an idea which will contribute a great deal to that better order about which there is so much talk and very little action at this moment. ... Let us hope it will not be just one more stone paving that road to all those other ‘lost off’ good intentions which have led us to this war”.

Barbara Murray, Honorary Secretary of the British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.) and Coalfields Settlements Committee
Reference: SPE 1/A/71-73
Dates of creation: 22 March 1934-1935
Extent: 3f
Typescript letters from Barbara Murray to WGF on the following subjects (and dates): (71) plans to start new Settlements in Durham and Cumberland (22/03/1934); (72) Eric Barber disappointment, advises against Taming of the Shrew (12/04/1935); (73) praises Spennymoor dramatic and craft work, premises insurance, requests unemployment statistics for Social Service Review ([1935]).

Photographs, cuttings and ephemera
Reference: SPE 1/A/74
Dates of creation: [1930s]
Extent: 1 printPhotographic paper

Group photograph of WGF, J. J. Mallon, JM and five others.

SPE 1/A/75 [1930s]
Portrait photograph of J. J. Mallon, (head and shoulders).
Photographic paper 1 print
Size: 14 x 9 cm

SPE 1/A/76 1938
Group photograph of some of the attendees of the B.A.R.S. 1938 Edinburgh conference, with manuscript endorsement by WGF, “[n]ote the very retiring Sir Wyndham [Deedes] & Jimmy Mallon”.
Photographic paper 1 print
Size: 21 x 16 cm
Copyright Edinburgh Picture News.

SPE 1/A/77 18 February 1938
Printed invitation from Viscountess Astor to members of B.A.R.S., addressed in manuscript to the Farrells, to attend a reception, speeches by Sir Wyndham Deedes and J. J. Mallon, and a discussion, chaired by Astor, at home (4 St James' Square, London).
1f

SPE 1/A/78 12 December 1940
‘Theatre and life’, by Ivor Brown. Newspaper cutting, Observer: notes appeal for funds for Children's Theatre at Toynbee Hall, cautions differentiating between the very young and the semi-adult, opining Shakespeare should be barred to those aged under 13. See also SPE 1/A/70.
1f

Published articles
Reference: SPE 1/A/79-82
Dates of creation: February 1939-[1941]
Extent: 13f
Articles on the Settlement Movement and its policies, by E. M. Batten, Organising Secretary, B.A.R.S.

SPE 1/A/79 February 1939
‘Students and University Settlements’, by Miss E. M. Batten, Organising Secretary, B.A.R.S. Reprinted from the New University, February 1939.
1f

SPE 1/A/80 3 March 1939
‘Settlement work’, by E. M. Batten, Organising Secretary, B.A.R.S. Reprinted from Women's Employment, 3 March 1939.
2f

SPE 1/A/81 Autumn 1939
‘The British Association of Residential Settlements. An Educational Policy.’
8p

SPE 1/A/82 [1940 x 1941]
Settlements in the Blitz, by Miss E. M. Batten, Organising Secretary, B.A.R.S. Reprinted with permission of the Union of Girls' Schools for Social Service.
2f

Pilgrim Trust
Reference: SPE 1/A/83
Dates of creation: [1932]
Extent: 1 volume (66p); 1f
The Pilgrim Trust, second annual report, 1932. (A) With compliments slip (insert). Illustrated with photographs and maps, including a Durham quilt. Manuscript annotations to sections on Spennymoor, Bensham Grove (Gateshead), Rock House (Seaham Harbour), and Forest of Dean Settlements, the latter due to the appointment as tutor of Mr Dowdell, a former Durham miner and Oxford graduate.

Finance
Reference: SPE 1/B
Dates of creation: 1933-1962
Extent: 14 envelopes (1 box)
Correspondence concerning financial matters with institutional supporters and private donors; and fundraising publications. For Settlement accounts, see annual reports (SPE 1/A/1-38).

Correspondence etc. with institutional supporters
Reference: SPE 1/B/1-293
Dates of creation: 1933-1962
Extent: 9 envelopes
Correspondence etc. concerning financial matters with institutional supporters: B.A.R.S., Durham County Council Education Department, Ministry of Education, Newby Trust Ltd, Pilgrim Trust, Durham Miners' Association, Dean & Chapter Lodge, Smart & Brown (Engineers) Ltd, National Coal Board: Manpower and Welfare Department, Arts Council.

British Association of Residential Settlements (B.A.R.S.)
Reference: SPE 1/B/1-2
Dates of creation: October 1934
Extent: 2f
Letters from Barbara Murray, Honorary Secretary, Coalfields Settlements Committee (B.A.R.S.), to WGF, warden, concerning a grant for “giving food to those who are really in need”, and requesting an ambitious application.

SPE 1/B/3-6 17 January-24 April 1940
Correspondence (some carbon copy) between WGF, warden, and E. M. [Mollie] Batten, Organising Secretary: B.A.R.S. Grants Committee and application process, and detailing the Settlement's current grants provision (Special Areas Commissioners' Grants, Pilgrim Trust) and activity; financial history and current status of the Settlement, activities sustained only due to forbearance of bank; impossibility of raising money in County Durham prohibits conditional grants; local unemployment still at 25%, new war-related activities, 800 people per week affected by Settlement's activities, with list of Settlement activity groups and numbers of attendees (19 February 1940); £60 granted by Grants Committee to defray capital expenditure on the hall.
6f

SPE 1/B/7-13 15 May 1941-27 September 1943
Circular and correspondence (some carbon copy) between WGF, warden, E.M. Batten (B.A.R.S.), and the Charity Organisation Society: £14,000 financial assistance from the U.S. organisation British War Relief Society (B.W.R.S.) to British Settlements, grant application requirements; other business competing for WGF's attention, Convalescent Homes for Children and Mothers, Professional Settlement Workers' Association, Cambridge conference, production of Hedda Gabler; inventory of stage equipment still required; clothing donated to local refugees by B.W.R.S.; £103 6s granted by B.W.R.S. (21 July 1941), chiefly from affiliate Young America wants to Help; renewed application in 1943 to the Settlements Group of the B.W.R.S.
10f

SPE 1/B/14-18 12-25 March 1952
Correspondence (some carbon copy) between WGF, warden, and J. J. Mallon, warden of Toynbee Hall: imminent cessation of Youth and Social Service Sub-Committee (Durham County Education Committee) grant of £500-600 or roughly half the Settlement's income; hopes for the future development of Further Education provision by the County; arranging visits to London to solicit funding advice from Mallon, Lord Kilmaine, Pilgrim Trust, and other friends at the Coal Board, the Arts Council, and the Ministry [of Education].
5f

Durham County Council Education Department
Reference: SPE 1/B/19-120
Dates of creation: 12 November 1945-28 January 1954
Extent: 119f
Correspondence (some carbon copy) of Reverend Dr Edward G. Pace, Chairman of Joint Settlements' Council and the Spennymoor Settlement, C. F. Meikle, Chairman of Spennymoor Settlement, WGF, warden, Miss B. Wendel, Honorary Secretary of the Executive Committee, with T. B. Tilley then A. A. Denholm, Directors, and G. H. Metcalfe, Assistant Director of Durham County Council Education Department concerning grant aid, in the context of the cessation of Pilgrim Trust and [National] Assistance Board grants (from 1947), and with manuscript notes and Settlement financial statements; including correspondence from other interested parties, D. H. Lawton, [H.M. Inspector], Ministry of Education, T. R. Sherwood, County Youth and Social Service Organiser.

SPE 1/B/121 [January 1946]
Newspaper cutting: ‘Durham County Education. £10,000 Social Training Grants Recommended.’ Proposed conditions for grants to local associations providing social services.
Date drawn from text on reverse.
1f

SPE 1/B/122 3 June 1947
Durham County Council Education Department printed report of a meeting of the Youth and Social Service Sub-Committee: includes, as item 4.2.c, Spennymoor Settlement grant application; and appointment of WGF as Vice-Chairman of the sub-committee.
4p

SPE 1/B/123 4 November 1947
Durham County Council Education Department printed report of a meeting of the Youth and Social Service Sub-Committee: includes, as item 3, Spennymoor Settlement deferred grant application.
8p

Ministry of Education
Reference: SPE 1/B/124-141
Dates of creation: 25 October 1945-8 May 1948
Extent: 22f
Personal correspondence (some carbon copy), WGF, warden, with Ian O. MacLuckie of the Ministry of Education (and latterly the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce), lobbying for increased local or central funding for the Settlement (deploying Lawton, H.M. Inspector), and, anticipating its inhibited prospects, with plans for WGF's recruitment elsewhere; with manuscript notes of [December 1947] meetings in London with Mary Glasgow, Secretary-General at the Arts Council, MacLuckie and Alderson at the Ministry of Education.

SPE 1/B/142-158 15 April 1948-25 March 1952
Personal and official correspondence (some carbon copy), WGF, warden, with J. A. Alderson, Secretary, Ministry of Education, applying for direct grant funding, 1948-1949, in the context of repeated deferments of annual grants by Durham County Education Committee (Youth and Social Service Sub-Committee); and, latterly, forwarding the Settlement's annual reports, and with news of cessation of local grant funding from 1 April 1952.
17f

SPE 1/B/159-162 4 January 1951-8 January 1952
Correspondence (most carbon copy), WGF, warden, with Miss L. N. D. La Touche, Ministry of Education, Newcastle upon Tyne, requesting aid from Further Education Department; and enclosing annual report, programme for Return to Tyassi by Ben Levy, commemorative magazine, 1951/2 syllabus, and a circular to Settlement members (none present).
4f

SPE 1/B/163 14 March 1952
Copy letter from WGF, warden, to the Clerk, Spennymoor Urban District Council, requesting increased support following cessation of County Education Committee funding, “[w]ithout that there can now be little doubt but that the Settlement is doomed, and an admittedly unique organisation ... which has, amongst other things, given and can continue to give assistance, pleasure, instruction, and hope to many people, both young and elderly”.
1f

Newby Trust Ltd
Reference: SPE 1/B/164-192
Dates of creation: 9 May 1938-11 July 1945
Extent: 31f
Correspondence (some carbon copy), WGF, warden, with the Newby Trust Ltd and its representatives, concerning grants to the Settlement (1938, 1940-1944), including towards the construction of a new hall (opened 29 March 1939). Correspondents: Buckley, Hall, Devin & Co.; Alastair Smith, T. J. Smith & Nephew; H. N. Smith, Director; K. Slack, Secretary.

Pilgrim Trust
Reference: SPE 1/B/193-264
Dates of creation: 25 July 1938-17 September 1962
Extent: 74f
Correspondence (some carbon copy), WGF, warden, with the Pilgrim Trust and its representatives, chiefly concerning grants and other financial matters; with reaction to new constitution (220: 14/08/1948; see also SPE 1/E/3). Correspondents: Dr Thomas Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. John F. A. Browne, Lord Kilmaine, successive Secretaries; Mary Caillard, Assistant Secretary. The correspondence continues after the Farrells left Spennymoor, and up until their move to Ormesby Hall, near Middlesbrough.

SPE 1/B/265-271 4 July 1941-20 August 1951
Correspondence (some carbon copy), WGF, warden, with the Pilgrim Trust and its representatives, relating to personal grants to the Farrells for holidays, made from the Social Workers' Holiday Fund; also with reaction to Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts [from 1945 the Arts Council] supported visit by the touring Old Vic (268: 03/08/1941). Correspondents: Dr Thomas Jones, Lord Kilmaine, successive Secretaries; M. Auriols Cope, Accountant.
7f

SPE 1/B/272-277 1933-4 August 1951
Newspaper cuttings: concerning the work of the Pilgrim Trust, principally its support of the arts, and Settlements.
6f

Durham Miners' Association
Reference: SPE 1/B/278
Dates of creation: 22 July 1949
Extent: 1f
Letter from Sam Watson, General Secretary, to WGF, notifying him of the Association's policy against making grants.

Dean & Chapter Lodge, Durham Miners' Association
Reference: SPE 1/B/279-283
Dates of creation: 15 December 1944-18 January 1945
Extent: 5f
Correspondence (with carbon copies) between WGF, warden, and William Todd, Mr Vickerstaff, successive Corresponding Secretaries, concerning a presentation made by WGF to the Lodge committee on 27 December, expressing support and making a small donation; and with tribute to Todd following his sudden death.

Smart & Brown (Engineers) Ltd
Reference: SPE 1/B/284-290
Dates of creation: 9 October 1946-19 August 1947
Extent: 7f
Correspondence between WGF, warden, and A. Herczeg, Works Director, referring to a recent concert by Herczeg's staff; publicising the Settlement's Winter session; Intimate Opera (Arts Council); New York Dramatic Workshop; and rough accounts and Arts Council correspondence re plans for a programme of visiting dramatic and musical groups at Spennymoor hall [Everyman Theatre] to be part-funded by Herczeg and other unidentified patrons - with Herczeg's apologies having failed to find sufficient local financial support.
On the reverse of SPE 1/B/287 is a typescript page from the script of a dramatisation of Mary Webb's Precious Bane (1924).

National Coal Board: Manpower and Welfare Department
Reference: SPE 1/B/291-292
Dates of creation: 24 March-2 April 1952
Extent: 2f
Correspondence between WGF, warden, and Duncan N. Smith, Education Branch, concerning financial predicament of the Settlement and arranging a London appointment to press for aid.

Arts Council
Reference: SPE 1/B/293
Dates of creation: 22 March 1952
Extent: 1f
Letter from unidentified contact at 4 St James's Square, London [i.e. the Arts Council], arranging London stay.

Correspondence etc. with private donors
Reference: SPE 1/B/294-339
Dates of creation: 1934-1953
Extent: 4 envelopes
Donor records, with correspondence etc.

Mailing lists
Reference: SPE 1/B/294-295
Dates of creation: 1934-1937
Extent: 2f
Lists of donors to the Settlement, with addresses, sums donated, and purpose of the donation. Manuscript, on Settlement stationary.

SPE 1/B/296-299 [late 1934]
In response to an article in the Morning Post: lists of donors to the Settlement, with addresses, sums donated, and purpose of the donation. Manuscript, on Settlement stationary.
[Dated from correspondence.]
4f

SPE 1/B/300-302 1936
Alphabetical list of donors, with addresses, receiving invitations to an art exhibition. Typescript.
3f

E. M. Vincent
Reference: SPE 1/B/303-312
Dates of creation: 25 April 1936-28 December 1944
Extent: 18f
Correspondence (some carbon copy) with Miss E. M. Vincent of Hookwood House, Horley, Surrey, a donor to the Settlement hall [Everyman Theatre] and, principally, the Settlement Scout Troop, (and herself a former Scout Association Secretary), detailing scouting activities, and local news.

Various correspondents: financial donations
Reference: SPE 1/B/313-327
Dates of creation: 16 October 1934-1 November 1940
Extent: 19f
Correspondence (some carbon copy) concerning donations, and with personal and Settlement news, with the following correspondents: Helen B., Chucks Cottage, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey; Harriet Baker, Elemore Hall; E. M. Batten, warden, The Birmingham Settlement, and F. Jones and A. Benton, President and Secretary respectively of its Mothers' Club; E. Combe, 6 South Eaton Place, S.W.1; Hilda M. Jevons, 33 Blakesley Avenue, Ealing; Alice Lade, Little Heronden, Tenterden, Kent; Marjorie Lee, 16 St Nicholas Drive, Whitesmocks, Durham; Mary Paver-Crow, Ornhams Hall, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire; Edith Stocks, 17 Third Avenue, Hove, Sussex; Clara Tillard, Beechfield, Bath; ECF to Emlyn Williams (playwright).

Various correspondents: donations of goods
Reference: SPE 1/B/328-339
Dates of creation: 19 March 1935-13 January 1953
Extent: 13f
Correspondence (some carbon copy) concerning donations of goods (specified), and with personal and Settlement news, between WGF, ECF and the following correspondents: Margaret O. E. Hockin, County Secretary, and K. R. Hewetson, Division Commissioner, The Girl Guides Association, Bedfordshire (Christmas stockings; with list of children aged 2-14 attending Settlement Play-Centre, Clubs etc., broken down by age groups); Helen Clark, Ivy Cottage, Rye Harbour, Sussex (costume); Lady Ludlow and her business manager Charles Bush per pro William Clifford Donkins, 1 London Wall Buildings, and Thomas Jones, Secretary, Pilgrim Trust (G.E.C. wireless); Kate Hill, The Old House, Hunthay, Axminster, Devon (clothes); Soviet Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (V.O.K.S.) per pro Eleanor Fox, Librarian, Humanities Library, Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R., and also Stella Jackson, Society for Cultural Relations between the Peoples of the British Commonwealth and the U.S.S.R. (books; with request list of titles for Settlement and a short account of its past Russian dramatic productions).

SPE 1/B/328/2 [December 1935]
‘Christmas Stocking Trail through Bedfordshire.’ Printed handbill issued by Elizabeth Hockin, County Secretary, [The Girl Guides Association, Bedfordshire], publicising an appeal for stockings to be sent to London Settlement.
1f

Publications
Reference: SPE 1/B/340
Dates of creation: June 1938
Extent: 5f
The first seven years at the Spennymoor Settlement: a historical sketch and an appeal. Printed appeal brochure produced by the Joint Settlements' Council, on behalf of the Spennymoor Settlement, for the extension of the work and premises of the Settlement.

Settlement Activities
Reference: SPE 1/C
Dates of creation: 1933-1970
Extent: 1 volume; 26 envelopes (2 boxes)
Material concerning general, artistic, theatrical, educational, and welfare activities at the Settlement; and including some broadcasts and publications promoting the Settlement's work.

General
Reference: SPE 1/C/1
Dates of creation: 1933-1946
Extent: 1 volume guard book (containing 96 photographic prints; 15f loose inserts)Paper; photographic paper

Scrapbook and photo album, compiled by the Farrells, arranged chronologically, and containing Settlement syllabuses, newspaper cuttings and photographs concerning the activities of the Settlement and its members; also includes two papers by Settlement members on the subject of unemployment published in 1934, with related press cuttings. “Press” on spine. Newspaper cuttings listed below without publication details lack attribution.

1. “Aims and objects of the Spennymoor Settlement”, 20 December 1935. Typescript carbon copy. See also SPE 1/C/1/1-2 (loose at p.2).

2. “Aims and objects of the Spennymoor Settlement” Typescript.

1933

3. Newspaper cuttings: (A) Photograph of R. Dees, an artist at the Settlement, [?1933]; (B) Photograph of Cobbling class at work, [?1933].

4. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor's own art show’, Northern Echo, 26 March 1933; (B) Report of Spennymoor art exhibition, Manchester Guardian, 24 June 1933; (C) ‘Artistry among workless’, [June 1933]; (D) ‘Workless miners hold first “annual academy”’, Herald, 24 June 1933.

5. (A-G) Photographs (85 x 58 mm) of Settlement members on [?Primary] school premises, [1933] (7 prints).

1933-1934

6. (A-D) Photographs (85 x 58 mm): Settlement members camping, [1933] (4 prints); (E) Settlement programme of educational and social activities for the session 1933-1934, commencing 9 October 1933 (printed leaflet).

7. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Defying despair. Tragedy and pride of Spennymoor’, Morning Post, 25 January 1934; (B) ‘On the road. II. Northern England. Unemployed thought and talk’, by William Teeling, The Times, 2 February 1933 (continues on next page).

8. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘The Prince's plea for youth’, Observer, 3 March 1934; (B) ‘Northern Sidelights. Exhibition of miners' paintings and drawings’, News Chronicle, [March 1934]; (C) ‘The miners' academy. Exhibition at Spennymoor. Settlement sketching club’, Northern Echo, 24 September 1934 (continues on next page).

9. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘North Country Art Notes. Mr. Roger Fry's place as a critic’, by J. B. Harrison, Northern Echo, 24 September 1934; (B) ‘Spennymoor Players' venture. Difficult play for first appearance’, The Cradle Song by Gregorio Martínez Sierra, Northern Echo, 12 October [1934].

10. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Amateurs' skill. Annual art exhibition at Spennymoor Settlement’, North East Daily Gazette, 21 September 1934; (B) duplicate of 9B; (C) ‘First effort by Players. Good acting by Settlement group at Spennymoor’, North East Daily Gazette, 13 October 1934; (D) ‘Spennymoor Players' debut. Difficult Spanish comedy’, Northern Echo, 13 October 1934; (E) ‘Page Bank help scheme. Benefactor's tribute to work of local men. Their ideas’, by D. C. Musters, North East Daily Gazette, 20 December 1934 (continues on next page).

1934-1935

11. (A) Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1934-1935, commencing 1 October (printed handbill); (B) ‘What it means to be out of work. Unemployed miner's address at Durham. Children who play games of make-believe Means Tests. Housewife tells of her trials’, Northern Echo, 24 September 1934 (continues on next page); (C) ‘W.E.A. students' party’, North East Daily Gazette, 17 December 1934; (D) Newspaper cutting: ‘Help for Durham areas. £1,000 a day raised by High Sheriff's appeal’, North East Daily Gazette, 20 December 1934.

12. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Is the miner shy? ... Pessimistic outlook’, Durham County Advertiser, 28 September 1934; (B) ‘Durham miners shy to co-operate! Difficulties facing the Settlement Movement. National conference at Hatfield College’, Durham County Advertiser, 28 September 1934 (continues on next page).

13. Newspaper cutting: ‘Is the Durham miner shy? “An inferiority complex due to low wages”’, Northern Echo, 22 September 1934 (continues on next page).

14. Newspaper cutting: ‘Durham miners not shy. View of Mr. John Herriotts’, [Northern Echo], [after 22 September 1934].

15-17. Unemployment: by an unemployed miner's wife. A paper read by Mrs. E. Vickerstaff at the B.A.R.S. Conference at Durham, 22 September 1934. Typescript.

18-22. Unemployment from the point of view of the unemployed. A paper read by Mr H. Vickerstaff, an unemployed miner, at the B.A.R.S. Conference at Durham, 22 September 1934. Typescript. Published in Social Service Review, November 1934.

23. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Tendency to drift. Effect of unemployment on man with family. Opinions at a Durham conference’, Newcastle Journal, [after 22 September 1934]; (B) ‘Is the Durham miner shy?’, letter to the editor by George H. Brooksbank, Northern Echo, [after 22 September 1934]; (C) duplicate copy of 12A; (D) ‘The children of the unemployed’, [after 22 September 1934].

24. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Durham miner's wife no longer regarded as home drudge. Men's views changed. More freedom for social life. Dole problem. “Destroying workers' fellowship.”’, Newcastle Chronicle, 24 September 1934; (B) duplicate copy of 11B (continues on next page).

25. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor artists. Settlement work that will interest the Prince. Critics' praise’, [North East Daily] Gazette, [1934]; (B) ‘Unemployment as viewed by unemployed. Means Test described as “Big Bad Wolf”. Durham addresses’, Durham County Advertiser, 28 September 1934 (continues on next page); (C) ‘Dr Dalton's broadcast. Possible reference to paper by Spennymoor man’, North East Daily Gazette, 22 October 1934.

26. Newspaper cutting: ‘Tale of the town that was. Haltwhistle. In the derelict areas’, Morning Post, 1934 (continues on next page).

27. Newspaper cutting: ‘Distress in Durham. Men workless for seven years. Spennymoor Centre. Where despair is kept at bay’, Morning Post, 6 December 1934.

28. Newspaper cutting: ‘A journey through the derelict areas. Tragedy of Tees-side. ... Even the clock has stopped. Jobs that never come’, Morning Post, 3 December 1934.

29. Newspaper cutting: (A) ‘The Prince's visit. ... Other branches of Service’, North East Daily Gazette, 22 October 1934; (B) ‘A journey through the derelict areas. Desolation and hopelessness on the Tyne’, Morning Post, 4 December 1934.

30. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Through the “black belt” of Durham. Once an important “workshop”. Winter outlook in villages. “Parisian romance” and reality’, Morning Post, 7 December 1934; (B) ‘Enthusiastic scenes when royal visitor enters Spennymoor ’, [December 1934]; (C) Photograph of WGF greeting Edward Prince of Wales on his arrival at the Spennymoor Settlement, [December 1934]; (D-E) ‘“Windsor lad”. Spennymoor statue raises royal smile’, Northern Mail, 7 December 1934; (F) Anecdotal report of the Prince of Wales' visit, Daily Mirror, 7 December 1934.

31. Newspaper cuttings: (A) Photograph of the Prince of Wales' arrival at Spennymoor, Newcastle Journal, 7 December 1934; (B) Photograph of the Prince of Wales being escorted to the workshop centre at the Spennymoor Settlement, with WGF, warden, [December 1934]; (C) ‘Ovation for the Prince at Spennymoor’, [December 1934].

32. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘The Prince's visit to Durham County. As little ceremony as possible. A glimpse right behind the scenes’, with photograph of Escomb pit heap converted into a playing field (continues on next page); (B) Photograph of ‘[a] woodworker finishing a table of an ecclesiastical type’, Northern Echo, [December 1934].

33. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor. “That's like an Epstein model.” An image on modern lines’, Northern Echo, 7 December 1934; (B) Photograph of two Settlement members hanging a painting for an exhibition prior to the Prince of Wales' visit; (C) Photograph of the Prince of Wales accompanied by [James Gordon] the Bishop of Jarrow, leaving the Spennymoor Settlement, Daily Sketch, [December 1934].

34-35. Newspaper cutting: ‘The Prince starts the new Durham County’, by James R. Spencer, with illustration of the Prince of Wales leaving Stanley Social Service Centre after he had laid the foundation stone of a new building, Sunday Sun, 9 December 1934.

36. Newspaper cuttings: (A) Photograph of the Prince of Wales arriving at Spennymoor during his tour, Evening Chronicle, 6 December 1934; (B) Photograph of the crowd at Spennymoor when the Prince arrived, Northern Mail, 7 December 1934; (C) ‘Warm ovation at Spennymoor. Royal congratulation to model maker’, Evening Chronicle, 6 December 1934 (continues on next page).

37. Newspaper cuttings: (A) Report of Prince of Wales' visit, Newcastle Journal, 7 December 1934; (B) Photograph of the Prince of Wales accompanied by [James Gordon] the Bishop of Jarrow, leaving the Spennymoor Settlement, Northern Mail, 7 December 1934; (C) Photograph of the crowd welcoming the Prince of Wales at Spennymoor, [December 1934].

38. (A) Photograph (85 x 60 mm): the Prince of Wales entering the Spennymoor Settlement (1 print); (B) Photograph (139 x 88 mm): a group of 31 civilian men, including Tommy [?Raett], posed outside Hut 3, [Ministry of Labour Instructional Centre], Brandon, Norfolk, [after 1931] (1 print); (C) Newspaper cutting: Photograph of the Prince of Wales, WGF and an unidentified woman [at Spennymoor Settlement], Northern Mail, [December 1934].

39. Newspaper cutting: ‘The Commissioners and the depressed areas. Small holdings in Durham. Occupational Centres & Educational Settlements’, Manchester Guardian, 3 December 1934.

40. (A) Newspaper cutting: ‘A depressed area. After the report. Commissioner's problem. The scope in Durham’, [1934]; (B-C) Photographs (88 x 58 mm): front and rear exteriors of Spennymoor Settlement, [1930s] (2 prints).

41. Photographs (90 x 60 mm), 1934: (A-B) Spennymoor Settlement art exhibition, showing some artworks, none in detail (2 prints); (C-G) Seaton Crew Camp, showing families summer camping and at the beach (5 prints).

42. Photographs (90 x 60 mm), 1934: (A-F) ‘Day in Teesdale looking for camp site’, showing four men on the River Tees (6 prints); (G-H) Page Bank, [old railway] bridge, housing and colliery, with group of five young girls (2 prints).

43. Photographs (90 x 60 mm), 1934: (A-E) Page Bank, [old railway] bridge, housing and colliery, with group of five young girls, and two men standing beside car (LV 1783) near hut [Page Bank Social Service Centre] (5 prints); (F-I) Camp at Cantley Snout, Teesdale, showing groups of up to seven adults (4 prints).

44-45. Photographs (90 x 60 mm), 1934: (A-K; A-C) Camp at Cantley Snout, Teesdale (14 prints).

46. Photograph (203 x 228 mm): (A) Woodworker finishing a table of an ecclesiastical type, Northern Echo, [1934].

47. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Helping distressed areas. Our readers thanked’, letter to the Editor from WGF, Morning Post, 16 February 1935; (B) ‘Spennymoor's little theatre. Extensions at the Settlement’, Durham County Advertiser, 29 March 1935; (C) ‘Workless to have own theatre and stage an Irish play. Transforming a carpenters' shop’, Daily Express, 29 March 1935; (D) ‘Little theatre for Spennymoor. Extensions at the Settlement. Larger carpentry shops’, Northern Echo, March 1935; (E) ‘Spennymoor Settlement’, reporting alterations and additions, Durham County Advertiser, 12 April 1935.

48. Newspaper cutting: ‘Voluntary work schemes. Spennymoor has many ideas but no money. Special Areas Commissioner in sympathy’, Durham County Advertiser, 12 April 1935.

49. Newspaper cutting: ‘Jarrow's Bede anniversary’, Sunday Sun, 21 April 1935.

50. Newspaper cuttings, concerning award of the Mary Macarthur Scholarship to Mary Cooke of Leasingthorne: (A) ‘A scholarship’, Durham County Advertiser, 28 June 1935; (B) ‘A girl of real grit. How she triumphed over handicaps. Story with a romantic background’, Daily Mail, 29 June 1935; (C) ‘Leasingthorne girl wins £400 bursary to take course of economic study in London. Former domestic’, [1935].

1935-1936

51. Printed handbills, [1935]: (A) Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1935-1936, commencing 7 October; (B) Notice of new Settlement workshops and clubroom, inviting attendance of working and unemployed persons to practice and learn crafts; (C) Notice inviting enrolment of the public in Settlement classes and activities for Winter 1935-36 session.

52. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor Settlement plans. Efforts for community theatre’, Northern Echo, 25 September 1935; (B) ‘Little theatres’, North East Daily Gazette, 26 September 1935; (C) ‘Social activity in Spennymoor. Winter session at Settlement’, Durham County Advertiser, 27 September 1935; (D) ‘Spennymoor Settlement. ... Vested in public’, Durham County Advertiser, 27 September 1935; (E) ‘“The Playboy” staged’, North East Daily Gazette, 13 November 1935; (F) ‘Spennymoor Settlement Players' second production’, [1935]; (G) ‘Spennymoor Settlement Community Players. Clever performance of Synge comedy’, Northern Echo, 16 November 1935.

53. Newspaper cuttings, concerning the Players' production of Synge's The Playboy of the Western World: (A) ‘Towards a Spennymoor little theatre’, Northern Echo, 16 November 1935; (B) ‘Great play acting. Spennymoor sees “The Playboy” staged. Irish drama. Settlement group performance’, North East Daily Gazette, 18 November 1935; (C) ‘Synge play at Spennymoor. Community Players' success. The Playboy of the Western World’, Durham County Advertiser, 22 November 1935; (D) ‘Irish comedy’, Durham County Advertiser, 22 November 1935.

54. Newspaper cuttings, concerning the Settlement's annual art and crafts show: (A) ‘Art's value in rooms. Decorative lead by Spennymoor Settlement. Pre-view. Annual art and craft show’, North East Daily Gazette, 27 November 1935; (B) ‘Culture at Spennymoor’, [North East Daily Gazette], 28 November 1935; (C) ‘Display of art. Fine exhibition at Spennymoor. Local artists’, Durham County Advertiser, 5 December 1935; (D) ‘Workmen artists of Spennymoor’, Sunday Sun, 22 March 1936.

55. Settlement programme of weekly classes and activities, Spring term 1936. Typescript.

56. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Durham House Settlement. Remarkable record of activities’, Durham County Advertiser, 14 February 1936; (B) ‘A red letter season for amateurs. Striking progress in the north-east. New Shaw play at Newcastle’, by Alan Kennaugh, Northern Echo, 31 March 1936; (C) ‘People with jobs must get to know workless. Sir Wyndham Deedes on “the Only Way”. Address to Durham social workers’, Northern Echo, 1 April 1936.

57. (A) Newspaper cutting: Photograph of Edward VIII as Prince of Wales with WGF on his visit to the Spennymoor Settlement on 6 December 1934, Auckland Chronicle, 23 January 1936; (B) Newspaper cutting: ‘Page Bank's new Centre. “Starting point for many activities.” Social Service’, Durham County Advertiser, 14 February 1936; (C-E) Photographs (87 x 60 mm), February 1936: Opening of the Page Bank Social Service Centre, including Arthur (“John”), William R. H. Gray mayor of Durham City, John Newsome County Organiser for the National Council of Social Service, and Groser (3 prints).

58. “Spennymoor[']s real problem” (comment by WGF): (A) Newspaper cutting: ‘Spennymoor dog racing. To-day's card’, Northern Echo, 6 May 1936, overwritten by WGF, “The Real Problem”; (B-D) Photographs (86 x 62 mm), [1936]: Spennymoor fairground rides and Caravan City, 1936 (3 prints); (E-H) Newspaper cuttings concerning the Housing and Nursery School exhibition at Spennymoor Settlement, exhibits loaned by W.E.A., “Under Forty Club” Housing Centre and the Nursery School Association of Great Britain: (E) Durham County Advertiser, 30 April 1936; (F) ‘Spennymoor to see plans of up-to-date schemes’, Northern Echo, 1 May 1936; (G) North East Daily Gazette, 1 May 1936; (H) ‘Value of nursery schools’, Northern Echo, 6 May 1936.

59. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor's “alarming” housing report. Half of the town not satisfactory. 352 overcrowded: 1,640 should be scheduled’, 29 May 1936; (B) ‘Spennymoor's first council houses opened in the pouring rain. Coun. Crane's appeal to tenants. “Keep them in good order”’, [June 1936]; (C) ‘Spennymoor finances. Reduction in rate arrears & County debt wiped out. House rents’, [1936]; (D) ‘Civic Sunday. Impressive celebration at Spennymoor’, Durham County Advertiser, 9 July 1936.

60-63. The Spennymoor Settlement Adult School. Report on budgets of unemployed. [Settlement Social Service Group]. Typescript. See also SPE 1/C/1/3-9.

64. Newspaper cutting, “Spennymoor Adult School report used in Parliament” (comment by WGF): ‘M.P.s told of Spennymoor family's 37s. 6d. a week budget. 3s per head for food means hungry days. Dr. Dalton on deep tragedy of the Means Test. Choice between work and maintenance urged’, Northern Echo, 22 July 1936.

65. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Unemployed budgets. Findings of Adult School group at Spennymoor. Woman's worry’, North East Daily Gazette, 1 July 1936; (B) ‘Mental strain on workless families. U.A.B. scale gives no margin for happiness’, Durham Advertiser, 2 July 1936.

66. Newspaper cuttings: (B) ‘Durham education. Three years' programme. Raising of school-leaving age. Proposed Mining Institutes’, Durham County Advertiser, 6 July 1936; (B) ‘Means Test in Commons. Family budget at Spennymoor. 3/- per head for food. Socialists and new regulations’, Auckland Chronicle, 23 July 1936.

67. (A) Photograph (85 x 58 mm): group of 13 adults and children, the Folk Dancing class at Brancepeth Festival, July 1936 (1 print) [identified in Way to the better, page 84, as (L to R), back row: -, Mrs Knaggs, Annie Rutherford, Beattie Rutter, Hannah Marley, Esther Pollock, Janet Brickley; front row, -, Mary Robinson, Margaret Spence, Joan Cornish (née Robinson), Mary Grainger (née Pollock)]; (B) Newspaper cutting: ‘County's vast programmes’, Auckland Chronicle, 6 August 1936; (C) Newspaper cutting: ‘Spennymoor Adult School address’, Auckland Chronicle, 17 September 1936; (D) Report of an unidentified group's visit to the Settlement and the performance of Everyman play, [One and All] Supplement, August 1936.

68. The Spennymoor Settlement Members' Association Constitution Typescript (2pp).

1936-1937

69. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Mental, physical and spiritual fare for 2/- a year. Great chance for Spennymoor people. The Settlement goes from strength to strength. Scheme for those with unwanted leisure time’, [Settlement Social Service Group] Auckland Gazette, 19 September 1936; (B) Report of a visit to the Settlement and of a performance of Everyman play, St Andrew's [Tudhoe] Grange Parish Magazine, August 1936.

70. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Pitman's Academy. Spennymoor Settlement art. A splendid display. Visitors from near and far’, North East Daily Gazette, 3 December 1936; (B-D) Photographs of paintings and furniture exhibits at the Pitman's Academy exhibition at the Settlement, [North East Daily Gazette], [3 December 1936].

71. Newspaper cutting: ‘The Pitmen's Academy’, 2 photographs showing graphic art and wood crafts, Northern Echo, 5 December 1936.

72. (A) Newspaper cutting: ‘Some impressions of Russia. Spennymoor Settlement address’, reporting a lecture given by JM, sub-warden, on his Summer visit to U.S.S.R., and responding to critical comments on the country made by Capt. V. A. Cazlet M.P. in the Auckland Chronicle, [1936]; (B-E) Photographs (62 x 86 mm), 1936: ‘“Mina” and some of the children going into the “Play Centre” one Saturday morning’; Two Settlement Poultry Scheme men, Dick Vickerstaff and another, beside a poultry hut in a wired enclosure (4 prints).

73. Newspaper cuttings, Christmas 1936: (A) ‘Children's party at Settlement’, [1936]; (B) 2 photographs of groups of children attending the Settlement Play Centre (34 individuals in largest group), [1936].

74. Newspaper cuttings: (A) 2 photographs of the Spennymoor Settlement Players' production of the Coventry Nativity Play [Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors], (I) ‘The Adoration’, featuring F. Farren, M. Hull, ECF, and Mrs Johnson; (ii) perhaps the full Company; performed at St Andrew's Church, Tudhoe Grange on 22 December 1936, [December 1936]; (B) ‘500-year-old nativity play. Spennymoor Settlement Players' church production’, [Auckland Chronicle], 15 x 22 December 1936; (C) ‘Nativity play. Impressive scenes at Spennymoor’, Auckland Chronicle, 24 December 1936.

75-76. Photographs (62 x 88 mm): Settlement Boy Scouts Troop attending Northern Counties Jamboree, Raby Castle, also featuring Robert Baden-Powell and Raby Castle, 1-9 August 1936; the visit was funded by Miss Vincent (9 + 5 prints).

77. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Amateurs' help for charity overdone. Hindrance to serious enterprise. Hamlet at Newcastle without usual cuts’, by Alan Kennaugh, 1 March 1937; (B-C) with commentary by WGF, “[t]hese cuttings indicate a ‘line of thought’ which in itself is an integral part of Durham's problem”: ‘Capt. Dickie criticised by Mr. Batey. Alleged statement on Child Allowances. M.P. says he voted for increase. Tow Law meeting’, annotated by WGF, 1 March 1937; ‘Inimitable “Joe”’ [Batey, M.P. for Spennymoor], Auckland Chronicle, 25 March 1937.

78. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Who's who in Spennymoor elections’, Durham County Advertiser, 11 March 1937; (B) ‘Council election surprise at Spennymoor’, [March 1937].

79. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Durham County Council. No dictation from outside sources. Chairman's fiat. County conference to be called’, Auckland Chronicle, 18 March 1937; (B) ‘Durham County “fight”. Boss Lawther v. Panjandrum Smith. Mr William McKeag on the dictatorship issue’, 18 March, 1937; (C) ‘County Council and “Dictation”. Mr Lawther replies to Ald. W. N. Smith’, March 1937; (D) ‘Spennymoor Council. Moderate “voices in the wilderness”’, [Spring, 1937]; (D) 'Trainees for camp at Spennymoor', [Spring, 1937].

80. Newspaper cuttings: (A) 'Women - past, present and future', report of a lecture delivered by ECF to the Settlement Adult School, March 1937; (B) ‘Townswomen's Guild Drama Festival. Middlesbrough and Darlington do well’, Northern Echo, with illustration on facing page of the principals at the festival, Hon. Margaret Bruce Chaloner, WGF (adjudicator), Mrs R. Farrage, Mrs T. Bird, Mrs John Spark, Miss McKowan, Mrs P. M. Newrick, 21 April 1937; (C) ‘Another drama festival. Darlington successes at Middlesbrough event’, [April 1937].

81. ‘Spennymoor good-bye’, concerning the emigration of Richard Vickerstaff and his wife Eva from Spennymoor to a 5-acre Land Settlement Association Scheme near Ipswich, inscribed in the hand of WGF, “[a]nother early Settlement family's ‘good-bye’”, North East Daily Gazette, 1 July 1937.

82. Photographs (62 x 86 mm; 90 x 140 mm): (A-G) Scout camp at Binchester Crag, 25 June 1937 (7 prints).

83. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor Settlement Scouts. Camp among mountains in Borrowdale’, Scout Troop annual camp, August 1937; (B) ‘Address to Spennymoor Settlement Adult School’, concerning a lecture to the Settlement made by Miss M. Martin of Durham City on the value of nursery schools, 12 September 1937.

1937-1938

84. Newspaper cutting: Obituary of Professor J. L. Stocks, with portrait illustration, [after 13 June 1937].

85. Newspaper cuttings: (A) 'Professor Stocks as Philosopher', appreciation of Professor J. L. Stocks' life, [after 13 June 1937]; (B) Report concerning the award of a scholarship to Mr Thomas Vickerstaff to attend Fircroft College, Bournville, Auckland Chronicle, 23 September 1937; for correspondence from Vickerstaff, see SPE 1/C/4/26-32; (C) ‘To study problems of rural life. Spennymoor student's scholarship’, report concerning the award of a scholarship to Thomas Pinch to attend Avoncroft College, Worcestershire, Northern Echo, 6 October 1937; for correspondence from Pinch, see SPE 1/C/4/15-25.

86. Newspaper cuttings: (A-B) 2 photographs of preparations for the Spennymoor Exhibition, featuring JM, sub-warden, and WGF, warden, North East Daily Gazette, 9 December 1937; (C) ‘Fifth “Pitman's Academy”. Amateur art at Spennymoor. Crafts display’, with note by WGF recording the depressing effect of poor weather on public attendance at the show, [December 1937].

87. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor miner artist’, [Winter 1937/8]; (B) Short report of the first table tennis match (club), February 1938.

88. Newspaper cutting: photograph of WGF starting the Shrove Tuesday game at Sedgefield, 2 March 1938.

89. Newspaper cuttings, 1938 Leisure Time Survey, [Settlement Social Service Group]: (A-B) ‘Leisure Hours’ and ‘Use of Leisure. A Comprehensive Inquiry’, Manchester Guardian, 7 March 1938; (C) ‘The Spennymoor census’, Northern Echo, 8 March 1938; (D) ‘Spennymoor under the microscope’, News Chronicle, 8 March 1938; (E) ‘What folk do in “their own time”’, One and All, May 1938.

90. Newspaper cuttings, 1938 Leisure Time Survey: (A) ‘North experiment. How do folk use their leisure?’, Northern Mail, 4 March 1938; (B-C) ‘Our social life. How do you amuse yourself? Survey of hobbies of Spennymoor folk. Questionnaire. Important piece of research work’, and ‘Leisure Survey’, North East Daily Gazette, 4 March 1938; (D) ‘2,000 questions about Spennymoor people's leisure. From art to picking winners and courting’, Northern Echo, 5 March 1938. (E) ‘Asked how spare time is spent’, Reynolds News, 6 March 1938.

91. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Tudhoe shop girl going to college’, report of the award of a £10 grant by Durham County Education Committee to Mary E. Benson of Tudhoe to attend Hillcroft College, Surbiton, North East Daily Gazette, 30 May 1938); for a letter from Benson at the College, see SPE 1/C/4/10; for essays by Benson, one anticipating attendance at the College, see SPE 1/C/4/36-41; (B) ‘Durham Girls' Club dancing competition final’, Northern Echo, 7 April 1938; (C) ‘Spennymoor Settlement Adult School’, report of a lecture by Miss D. A. Martin, “National Fitness”, 26 May 1938; (D-E) Reports of the award of a £135 Miners' Foundress scholarship to Thomas Vickerstaff to attend Ruskin College for 1 year: ‘Former Ferryhill coal hewer's success’, Northern Echo, 21 June 1938; ‘Scholarship to Ruskin College’, Northern Echo, [June 1938]; for correspondence from Vickerstaff, see SPE 1/C/4/26-32.

92. Photographs (139 x 90 mm), Whitsuntide Scout Camp at Binchester, 1938 (2 prints): (A) The Rover Crew, 6 boys: ‘Vick’, ‘Joe’, ‘Pip’, ‘Chips’, ‘Chappie’, ‘Slim’; (B) The Troop (part of), 15 boys with 1 troop leader.

93. Newspaper cuttings, “Sidelights on the Settlement's Problem” (WGF comment): (A) ‘If Spennymoor got a dog stadium’, letter to the Editor from County Councillor George Crane, Northern Echo, 12 July 1938; (B) ‘Opponents of dog track for Spennymoor’, letter to the Editor from “Sinjun”, Northern Echo, 14 July 1938; (C) ‘Reply to opponents of a Spennymoor dog track’, letter to the Editor from County Councillor George Crane, Northern Echo, 15 July 1938; (D) ‘Spennymoor dog track: vital point ignored’, letter to the Editor from “Sinjun”, Northern Echo, 18 July 1938; (E) ‘Poverty’, report of House of Commons debate on Unemployment Assistance Board (U.A.B.) report, Manchester Guardian, 19 July 1938.

94. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Headmaster who lets scholars smoke. Durham criticism of teaching system’, report of a lecture delivered by A. S. Neill, headmaster of Somerhill at Leiston, Suffolk, at Bede College, Durham, with manuscript comment by WGF, “Neil was with us this day. Durham Ed[ucation] Comm[ittee] didn't think much of Neil. I gather this was reciprocated”, 7 July 1938; (B) ‘A closed city’, report of the Durham Miners' Gala, Newcastle Journal, 23 July 1938; (C) ‘Planning rehousing to help men to get jobs. Spennymoor Urban Council to take a census’, with comment by WGF that Auckland U.D.C. is likely to endorse the proposal to abolish black spots, “especially with reference to Witton Park”, Northern Echo, 3 August 1938; (D) ‘Glaring admissions’, report of an A.R.P. lecture by Major Vernon, with comment by WGF on the apathy of the Labour Party and parochialism of the English Social Democrats, and with parallel to pre-HItlerian Germany, Tribune, 21 October 1938.

95. Newspaper cuttings, concerning Theatre Hall appeal, July 1938: (A) ‘Appeal for £262. Move to extend Settlement at Spennymoor. Work Cramped’, North East Daily Gazette, 19 July 1938; (B) £12,050 for People's Theatre plan, News Chronicle, 21 July 1938; (C) ‘New rooms for Spennymoor Settlement. £1,250 grant: £262 must be raised this year’, Northern Echo, 24 July 1938; (D) ‘“Tolerant Neighbourliness”’, Newcastle Journal, 25 July 1938; (E) ‘A People's Theatre for Spennymoor’, [July 1938].

1938-1939

96. Newspaper Cuttings: (A) ‘Spennymoor Settlement's bid for £1,250 grant. The work of Spennymoor Settlement’, Northern Echo, 23 August 1938; (B) ‘Offer of grant for town theatre - at Spennymoor. Pioneer building may be ready by Christmas’, Northern Echo, 8 November 1938; (C) ‘Pit village has it's own centre for culture’, Reynolds News, 13 November 1938.

97. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘The Spennymoor Settlement. A wide range of activities’, by Ernest Hardy, Auckland Chronicle, 29 September 1938; (B) ‘State may take control. Future of Youths' Organisations. Fears expressed at Middlesbrough’, with comment by WGF, “Significant!!!!!! !???! English Fascism Awakes!”, Northern Echo, 18 October 1938.

98. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Honours for Durham painters. Pictures in Laing Art Gallery. Efforts of local amateurs’, Auckland Chronicle, 2 January 1939; (B) ‘Miner-artist's studio in cottage. Spennymoor man's “hanging” hopes’, Northern Echo, 21 January 1939; (C) Photograph of Robert J. Heslop in his cottage working on a painting of the Dean and Chapter Colliery pit head at Ferryhill, where he worked as a miner, Northern Echo, 24 January 1939.

99. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Part of writers in political struggle’, report of a lecture on “The Writer and Society” given to the Settlement's Adult School by D. H. Curry of Ferryhill, Newcastle Journal, 21 March 1939; (B) ‘Influence of amateur dama. County Association inaugurated. District societies represented at Durham’, Northern Echo, 20 May 1939; (C) ‘New Special Area Commissioner’, report of appointment of Dr A. E. Morgan as Commissioner for Durham and Tyneside District, Daily Telegraph, 20 May 1939; (D) ‘The Man in the Street's exhibition’, report of the opening by a passing workman of an exhibition of surrealist [?] sculpture and art at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, organised by the Artists' International Association, and including wood carving by Tisa Hess (Countess Elisabeth von der Schulenburg, later Sister Paula), [1939].

100. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘People's Theatre for Spennymoor. To produce plays by working-class people’, Northern Echo, 24 March 1939; (B) ‘Miners to stage play’, concerning Everyman morality play, Reynolds News, 26 March 1939; (C) ‘New People's Theatre at Spennymoor. Sir George Gillett praises social work’, with photograph of Gillett and his wife, and Dr E. G. Pace, Northern Echo, 30 March 1939; (D) ‘Miners' day of drama and art’, 30 March 1939; (E) Notice of the death of Sir George Gillett, Manchester Guardian, 11 August 1939.

101. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Theatre for Spennymoor Settlement’, North East Gazette, 30 March 1939; (B) ‘Miners' theatre. Sir G. Gillett at the first night’, Manchester Guardian, 30 March 1939; (C) ‘Spennymoor people's theatre’, Auckland Chronicle, 30 March 1939; (D) ‘Spennymoor people's theatre opened’, Newcastle Journal, 30 March 1939; (E) ‘Miners in play’, Durham Herald, 30 March 1939; (F) ‘Spennymoor Social Settlement. Commissioner for Special Areas opens theatre’, Yorkshire Post, 30 March 1939.

102. Newspaper cuttings: (A) Photograph of members of the cast of Spennymoor Settlement's production of Everyman, [April 1939]; (B) Photograph of the opening of the Settlement Theatre Hall, featuring Sir George Gillett Commissioner for Special Areas, Lady Gillett, WGF, ECF, JM, Dr E. G. Pace Hatfield College, 30 April 1939.

103. (A) Newspaper cutting: Photograph of Sir George Gillett speaking at the opening of Spennymoor Theatre Hall, Northern Echo, 30 March 1939; (B) Newspaper cutting: photograph of Betty Roantree presenting a bouquet to Lady Gillett at the same opening, North East Gazette, 30 March 1939; (C) Newspaper cutting: ‘More unemployment in Spennymoor. Mr. Batey questions Minister on Government aid’, reporting 2,864 persons unemployed at Spennymoor, an increase of 384 since 1938, July 1939; (D) Photograph (60 x 85 mm), Easter Camp, Binchester, 1939 (1 print).

1939-1940

104. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1939-1940, commencing 2 October (printed leaflet).

105. (A) Newspaper cutting: ‘Miner paints sister Ella, 12’, concerning the first oil painting by Norman S. Cornish of Bishop's Close Street, Spennymoor, hung in the Northern Counties exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery, Daily Express, 5 March 1940; (B) Revised Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1939-40, with invitation for participation extended to evacuees and servicemen and women in uniform, certain activities cancelled in pencil (printed handbill).

106. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘The play must go on. Amateur dama in wartime’, letter to the Editor from WGF, Northern Echo, 9 March 1940; (B) Report of exhibition [“Art by the People”] at Conway Hall [sic], a painting by Herbert Dees, “Washing”, drawing particular praise, New Statesman, 16 March 1940; (C) Report by Ian Gordon of exhibition “Art by the People” at Connaught Hall, Torrington Square, organised by the Institute of Adult Education, in the wake of “Art for the People” exhibition at Leytonstone, Observer, 17 March 1940.

107. Programme for the Spennymoor Settlement Boy Scouts' “Troop Night”, St George's Day, 1940, at the Settlement's Everyman Theatre. Typescript.

108. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Can art be saved in Durham?’, Durham County Advertiser, 29 March 1940; (B) ‘The theatre in Durham County. County Association's dramatic gesture. Amateur dramatic festivals’, the first of a fortnightly series of articles on the Arts in County Durham by WGF, 29 March 1940.

109. Newspaper cuttings: (A) ‘Government armaments factory to be constructed at Spennymoor’, [April 1940]; (B) ‘Juvenile crime’, [April 1940]; (C) ‘Play festival at Spennymoor. Sixth organised by County Drama Association’, held [for the first time] at the Everyman Theatre, Spennymoor, Northern Echo, 1 May 1940; (D) Letter to the Editor concerning the Settlement's production of Gregorio Martínez Sierra's The Lover, translated by J. G. Underhill, Auckland Chronicle, 9 May 1940.

110. (A) Programme for a performance of Ladies in waiting by Cyril Campion, produced by the Settlement's Everyman's Theatre Company, [May 1940]. Typescript; (B) Newspaper cutting: ‘Everyman's theatre’, review of Ladies in waiting, and urging the construction of a similar theatre in Durham City, Auckland Chronicle, 23 May 1940; (C) Newspaper cutting: ‘“Ladies-in-Waiting” at Spennymoor. Drama at Everyman's theatre’, ... Chronicle, [23 May 1940]; (D-E) Photographs (85 x 62 mm): stage design, and a production still featuring an unidentified female actor (2 prints).

111. (A) Programme for a performance of Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, produced by the Settlement's Everyman's Theatre Company, [May 1940]. Typescript; (B) Newspaper cutting: ‘Spennymoor Settlement Players. Successful performance of Ibsen's “Rosmersholm”’, Northern Echo, 1 June 1940; (C) Newspaper cutting: ‘Tribute to Spennymoor Players’, Letter to [the Editor] from “Prompter”, [June 1940]; (D) ‘Ibsen play at Spennymoor. An artistic triumph’, [June 1940]; (E-F) Photographs (88 x 60 mm): Rosmersholm stage design (2 prints).

1940-1941

112. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1940-1941, commencing 30 September (printed handbill).

113. (A-C) Photographs (112 x 78 mm): Whitsuntide [Scout] Camp, 1941 (3 prints).

1941-1942

114. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1941-1942, commencing 6 October (printed handbill).

1942-1943

115. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1942-1943, commencing 5 October (printed handbill).

1943-1944

116. ‘The Fifth War Winter - 1943-1944, for which no Syllabus was printed’.

117. Newsletter (loose), issued 6 June 1944, publicising three One-Act plays to be produced by the Everyman Theatre Company 15-17 June 1944: Sword of the Spirit by Randall Swingler; A pound on demand by Sean O'Casey; Gabriel by Ruth Pennyman in collaboration with WGF. Typescript.

1944-1945

119. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services (loose), Winter Session, 1944-1945, commencing 2 October (printed handbill).

120. Newsletter (loose), issued [?27] October 1944, publicising: a new W.E.A class on “Modern social and industrial problems”, led by Magnus Pearson; a concert produced by the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (C.E.M.A., latterly the Arts Council); an exhibition of work by members of the Sketching Club; a proposal to form a Settlement film club; a fundraising fair. Typescript.

1945-1946

122. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1945-1946, commencing 1 October (printed handbill; loose).

1946-1947

123. Newsletter (loose), issued 8 September 1945, publicising: Elementary French and German classes, led by Miss Dora Scott, Language Tutor at Alderman Wraith Secondary School; W.E.A. class on “Modern problems”; Male Voice Choir; C.E.M.A. home furnishings exhibition, “Planning Personally”; C.E.M.A. concert; call for new members of the Everyman's Theatre Company.

124. Settlement programme of weekly activities and services, Winter Session, 1946-1947 (printed handbill; loose).

SPE 1/C/1/1 (loose at p.2) 20 December 1935
“Aims and objects of the Spennymoor Settlement”. Typescript top copy.
1f

SPE 1/C/1/2 (loose at p.2) [1930s]
Spennymoor Arts Society: manuscript report of objectives, scope, membership, activities, audiences and economics.
1f

SPE 1/C/1/3-6 (loose at p.60) 1935
“A Spennymoor ‘Dole’ family's weekly budget and menu”, [Settlement Social Service Group]: two itemised weekly budgets for one [?employed] family (£3 4s 6½d) and one unemployed family (£1 7s ½d, for a husband, wife and 2 children, on £1 10s unemployment pay); and one weekly menu.
4f

SPE 1/C/1/7 (loose at p.60) 9 July 1935
Newspaper cutting: ‘A shop for articles made by unemployed. Opened at Durham by Lord Barnard. Progress of northern industries workrooms’, Northern Echo.
1f

SPE 1/C/1/8 (loose at p.60) October 1935
Newspaper cutting, General Press Cutting Association for H[ugh] Dalton: ‘Religion and unemployment.-The burden of plenty.-Black clouds in our lives.-A tramp's sketches’, En Passant (column) by The “Idler”, Stockport Express. Hugh Dalton's contribution to The burden of plenty (1935) on the subject of unemployment is cited in a highlighted paragraph.
1f

SPE 1/C/1/9 (loose at p.60) October 1936
Magazine cutting: ‘Unemployment - a human problem’, by Ernest Shipp, One and All.
1f

Art
Reference: SPE 1/C/2
Dates of creation: 1935-1970
Extent: 62f; 14 prints; 1 pamphlet (6 envelopes)Paper; photographic paper

Material relating to graphic artistic activities at the Settlement.

SPE 1/C/2/1-12 1936-1949
Newspaper cuttings and ephemera relating to exhibitions of art at the Settlement, sometimes termed the “Pitman's Academy”, and of exhibitions in Newcastle upon Tyne and elsewhere in which Settlement members' artwork was exhibited (with years of exhibition). Settlement artists include: Herbert Bewick Dees (1936, 1941-1942, 1946, 1949); Robert John Heslop (1936, 1941-1942, 1944, 1946, 1949); Arthur Hawkins (1936); Norman Cornish (1936, 1941-1942, 1944, 1946, 1949); Jack G. Green (1936, 1941-1942, 1944, 1946); M. Mackenzie (1942, 1944); Phyllis Davies (1942); Miss Davis [?Davies] (1944); Victor Harding (1942); WGF (1944, 1946, 1949); Jean Inglis (1946); T. McGuinness (1949); J. Roach (1949); A. Bulman (1949); T. Anderson (1949).
Artists whose work was exhibited by C.E.M.A. at Spennymoor in 1943 include: Duncan Grant, Paul Nash, Stanley Spencer, Jack Yeats, Eric Gill, Dunlop, John Tunard, Carol Weight, Matthew Smith, Kenneth Brown.
Paper 12f

SPE 1/C/2/8 May 1943
Handbill for Art for the People C.E.M.A. exhibition at the Everyman Theatre, Spennymoor Settlement.
1f

SPE 1/C/2/13-17 1963-1970
Newspaper cuttings relating to individual artist members of Spennymoor Settlement and their exhibitions:

13-14. Tom McGuinness, City Hotel, Durham, 1963;

15. Tom McGuinness, Municipal Art Gallery, Middlesbrough, 1964;

16. ‘Artist dies at Spennymoor’, reporting death of Herbert Bewick Dees, Daily Despatch, 3 May 1965.

17. R. J. (Bob) Heslop, Everyman Theatre, Spennymoor Settlement, 1970.

Paper 5f

Joseph Thain
Reference: SPE 1/C/2/18-21
Dates of creation: 1 October-9 December 1935
Extent: 6fPaper

Letters to WGF from Joseph ( “Jos” ) Thain of 30 Byron Court, Harrow, a former visiting (teaching) artist to the Settlement, concerning the loan of his paintings for the Spennymoor Settlement exhibition, and also discussing a loan/purchase plan for his works, and suggesting a Settlement £4 p.a. subsidy to support such a “circulating” scheme.
[Jos Thain, originally from South Shields, had trained under Klee and Kandinsky at the Staatliches Bauhaus in Germany.]

Norman Cornish
Reference: SPE 1/C/2/22-43
Dates of creation: 1959-1966
Extent: 25fPaper

Correspondence, May-July 1960, and newspaper cuttings, April 1959-January 1966 (SPE 1/C/2/25-43), concerning Norman Cornish and exhibitions of his artwork at The Stone Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne (1959, 1960, 1964, 1966).

SPE 1/C/2/22-23 May 1960
Letter, dated 25 May, from Norman Cornish of 33 Bishops Close Street, Spennymoor, to WGF and ECF concerning success of The Stone Gallery exhibition; and reporting the continuation of the Sketching Club at Spennymoor and attendance of Herbert Dees, Robert J. Heslop and Jack Roach; with flyer for The Stone Gallery Cornish exhibition, 21 May-18 June 1960.
3f

SPE 1/C/2/24 11 July 1960
Letter from Ronald Marshall of The Stone Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, to WGF of Blacksmiths Lane, Abbotsley, Huntingdonshire, reporting on the success of the Norman Cornish exhibition.
3f

Photographic reproductions
Reference: SPE 1/C/2/44-56
Dates of creation: 1936-1949
Extent: 14 printsPhotographic paper

Photographs of work produced and exhibited by members of the Spennymoor Settlement Sketching Club, including works by: Norman Cornish (portrait of Sid Chaplin), Herbert B. Dees ( ‘Spennymoor Gossips’ ), Robert J. Heslop, Tom McGuinness; with one group photograph of Tom Alderson, WGF, Bob Heslop, and Bert Dees (seated at his easel).

Lecture
Reference: SPE 1/C/2/57
Dates of creation: 26 May 1945
Extent: 15f
‘Marxism and art’. A lecture given by [?WGF] in the News Theatre lecture room, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne on 26 May 1945 for the Newcastle branch of the Marxist Commemoration Society.

Miners' Gala
Reference: SPE 1/C/2/58-74
Dates of creation: 18 July-27 September 1953
Extent: 1 pamphlet; 15f; 7 printsPaper

Miners' Gala programme, newspaper cuttings (SPE 1/C/2/59-62), photographs, and correspondence (SPE 1/C/2/63-67) with Norman Walsh, a miner at Horden Colliery, and with Kenneth Syers of Barnard Castle, relating to a the 1953 Miners' Gala and a controversial article on art in the North East written by Sam Watson, General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association and published in the 1953 Gala programme. The newspaper cuttings include open letters from Watson and WGF.

SPE 1/C/2/58 18 July 1953
Durham Miners' Association souvenir programme to the 70th annual Gala. Signed by WGF on the front cover, and with his pencilled annotations to the opening section of Sam Watson's introduction in which Watson discusses the lack of any successful artistic representation of the Gala.
1 volume (38p)

SPE 1/C/2/68-74 18 July 1953
Photographs of the Durham Miners' Gala, including Whitworth Lodge boarding a bus to Durham from outside the Settlement, and a distant view of Clement Attlee speaking on the platform.
7 prints

Theatre and dramatic writing
Reference: SPE 1/C/3
Dates of creation: 1934-1969
Extent: 81f; 74 prints; 2 negatives (13 envelopes)
Material relating to theatrical (and a few musical) productions at the Settlement, performed by both Settlement members and visiting companies; and to new dramatic writing.
Fragments of dramatic scripts by the following playwrights are in some instances also found (usually re-used) elsewhere in this collection: Mary Webb, Christopher Ede, and Ruth Pennyman.

Spennymoor theatrical productions
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/1-22
Dates of creation: 1934-1951
Extent: 39f (1 envelope)
Programmes, posters, circulars and newspaper cuttings concerning productions by the Spennymoor Settlement Community Players, from [April 1939] re-named Everyman's Theatre Company.

SPE 1/C/3/1 12 October 1934
Programme for a production of The Cradle Song by Gregorio Martínez Sierra. Typescript.
6f

SPE 1/C/3/2 15-16 November 1935
Programme for a production of The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge (typescript); with handbill (21 x 27 cm) and accompanying circular (SPE 1/C/3/2A-B) pasted in.
[Synge's work was performed in St Andrew's Mission Hall, Tudhoe Grange, near Spennymoor town centre.]
5f; 2f

SPE 1/C/3/3 June 1941
Programme for a production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen; annotated with pencilled graphic designs. Typescript.
1f

SPE 1/C/3/4-8 January-June 1942
Programmes, poster and circular concerning a production of Distant Point by Aleksandr Afinogenov, performed 26-31 January 1942, and repeated on weekends in June of that year. Two copies of January programme (SPE 1/C/3/4-5), one annotated with additional cast members' names (typescript); one copy of June Festival of Art programme with catalogue of Sketching Club 8th annual exhibition (SPE 1/C/3/8). Poster (SPE 1/C/3/6; 39 x 51 cm [outsize]), for January run, annotated with one additional contact name and address, for Settlement temporary membership applicants; and with pencil scenery designs on reverse. Circular (SPE 1/C/3/7) promotes repeat weekend performances during June 1942, and the Sketching Club's 8th annual exhibition (in the theatre).
[For production photographs with similiar scenery designs sketched on the reverses, and so perhaps illustrating this production of this work, see SPE 4/B/4/8-35.]
4f; 8p

SPE 1/C/3/9 29 March 1942
Programme for a production of the morality play Everyman. Typescript.
1f

SPE 1/C/3/10-11 15-17 June 1944
Programme and poster for a production of “Three one act plays of to-day”: Gabriel by Ruth Pennyman and WGF; A pound on demand by Sean O'Casey; and Sword of the Spirit by Randall Swingler.
An invitation is extended, in the programme, to boys aged 13-18 to apply to A. Hadwin to join a [new] Junior Company.
4p; 1f
Size: 21 cm; 51 x 76 cm [outsize]

SPE 1/C/3/12 11-16 June [1945]
Programme for a production of They Came to a City by J. B. Priestley.
4p

SPE 1/C/3/13 14-16 November 1946
Programme for October-December 1946 Festival of Art: production of The New Gossoon by George Shiels; with a catalogue of the Sketching Club's 14th annual exhibition.
4p

SPE 1/C/3/14-22 15 January 1942-20 April 1951
Newspaper cuttings reviewing productions of the following works (with year of production): Distant Point, Alexander Afinogenyev (1942); They Came to a City, J. B. Priestley, production still (1945); The New Gossoon, George Shiels (1946); The Caretakers, George Shiels (1949); Easter, August Strindberg (1951); The Long Mirror, J. B. Priestley (1951).
9f

Coventry Nativity Play
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/23-30
Dates of creation: 1935-1936
Extent: 8f (1 envelope)

Correspondence and newspaper cuttings relating to a production of the Coventry Nativity Play [ Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors], performed at St Andrew's Church, Tudhoe Grange in December 1936.

SPE 1/C/3/23-28 1935-1936
Correspondence between WGF and Evelyn ... of 18 Sunnyside, Princes Park, [Liverpool], concerning the loan of costumes for the Coventry Nativity Play. Manuscript and typescript.
6f

SPE 1/C/3/29-30 December 1936
Newspaper cutting reviewing, with illustrations, the production of the Coventry Nativity Play, Auckland Chronicle, 24 December 1936.
2f

Photographs
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/31-95
Dates of creation: 1935-1969
Extent: 63 prints; 2 negatives (8 envelopes)Photographic paper; negative film

Production stills relating to productions of the Spennymoor Settlement Community Players and its successor The Everyman's Theatre Company.

SPE 1/C/3/31-40 1935
Production stills from a production of Laurence Housman's [ The Comments of Juniper: six plays from the life and legend of St Francis of Assisi], [?performed at] Durham. Stamped on reverse: [copyright] George Fillingham, Durham.
10 prints
Size: 16 x 12 cm

SPE 1/C/3/41-46 [1925 x 1941]
Production stills from a production of The Pleasure Garden by Beatrice Mayor, [?performed at] Durham. Stamped on reverse, and impressed on face: [copyright] Chisholm, Coxhoe.
6 prints
Size: 14 x 9 cm

SPE 4/B/4/1-35
Including photographs of an unidentified production, possibly Distant Point in 1942.

SPE 1/C/3/47 [1945]
Production still of the set of J. B. Priestley's They Came to a City, [designed by Mitchell McKenzie], with WGF centre stage. Stamped on reverse: [copyright] Alfred G. Wood (Studios) Ltd, Gosforth; A738A.
1 print
Size: 21 x 16 cm

SPE 1/C/3/48-63 November 1946
Production stills from Everyman's Theatre Company's production of George Shiels' The New Gossoon, November 1946.
Photographic paper 16 prints
Size: 21 x 16 cm

SPE 1/C/3/64-84 [May] 1950
Production stills from Everyman's Theatre Company's production of Ben Levy's The Devil Passes.
Photographic paper; negative film 19 prints; 2 negatives
Size: 14 x 9 cm; 22 x 17 cm; 9 x 6 cm (prints); 10 x 6 cm (negatives)

SPE 1/C/3/85-91 June 1964
Production stills from Everyman's Theatre Company's production of Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall's Billy Liar. M. Lamb, producer. Stamped on reverse: [copyright] B. Dobson, Spennymoor.
Photographic paper 7 prints
Size: 14 x 9 cm

SPE 1/C/3/92 [November 1969]
George Roantree as Rainbow the Porter in The Happiest Days of Your Life by John Dighton; with personal message from the subject on the reverse.
1 print
Size: 9 x 14 cm

SPE 1/C/3/93-95 1930s x 1960s
Unidentified minimalist production, [?perhaps Everyman, designed by Robert Heslop, 1939].
3 prints
Size: 9 x 7 cm

Visiting touring productions
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/96-115
Dates of creation: 1939-1947
Extent: 11 prints; 10f (2 envelopes)
Material relating to visiting theatrical productions and concerts performed at the Settlement, organised by C.E.M.A. (Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, from 1945 the Arts Council).

SPE 1/C/3/96-107 1939
Production stills from a Durham County Drama Association production of The Lover by Gregorio Martínez Sierra, performed by Margaret Marshall and Lilian Barker and WGF at the Settlement as part of the Sixth Play Festival. Produced by WGF.
[Note: date drawn from endorsements by WGF; but newspaper cuttings referring to a Settlement production of this play were published in May 1940, and Way to the Better by McManners and Wales lists this work in rehearsal in March 1940.]
11 prints; 1 envelope
Size: 17 x 12 cm

SPE 1/C/3/108-111 17 March 1942; 23 October 1945
Correspondence, C.E.M.A. with WGF, concerning visiting artists, including: publicity notes on three members of the Apollo Society, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, and Natasha Litvin, due to perform a programme of poetry and music at the Settlement in November 1945; a ‘General Note to Organisers’ on staging; and a blank pro-forma Arts Council balance sheet [for each touring performance venue]. Typescript.
5f

SPE 1/C/3/112-114 1940-1947
Newspaper cuttings:

112. ‘Win the Winter. Boredom must be fought. Possible plans from Government. Music and art’, citing dramatic productions at the Settlement, unidentified publication, 1940.

113. ‘Shakespeare tours the Durham coalfields’, Merchant of Venice with Ernest Milton and Sonia Dresdel of the Old Vic Company, unidentified publication, April 1941.

114. ‘Highbrow miners’, reviewing the success of a 4-year series of poetry and music recitals around the country, Ashcroft cites Spennymoor audience as the best educated and responsive, Durham Herald, 24 February 1947.

SPE 1/C/3/115 6-7 April [1941]
Poster for a production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice performed by the Old Vic Company, directed by Tyrone Guthrie, with Sonia Dresdel and Ernest Milton, at The Everyman's Theatre, 6-7 April [1941], including a school matinée performance.
1f
Size: 51 x 76 cm [outsize]

New dramatic writing
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/116-130
Dates of creation: 1936-1946
Extent: 19f
Correspondence with local dramatists and poets seeking critical appreciations of and outlets for their work, with some manuscripts of original work.

116-117. Katharine, Settlement House, 132 Newport Road, Middlesbrough, 5-20 February 1936: invective against Durham University, and failure of a planned production of Ernst Toller's Masses and Men; Universities' Labour Federation summer camp; Ruth Pennyman play “about a mining village like Boosbeck” to be produced in The Little Theatre, the [Middlesbrough] Settlement and perhaps at Spennymoor Settlement as well.

118-122. Ruth Pennyman, Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, September 1936: production of a play of hers in Middlesbrough, with WGF's support.

123. Clifford Leech, 66 Leithcote Gardens, London, 3 July 1940: reaction to a play entitled The Equation by an unidentified young female writer; with manuscript draft response [?in the hand of ECF].

124-126. Aida L. Richardson, Innisfree, Cornmeer Road, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, 20 July-3 August 1940: plans for a meeting of Durham playwrights.

127-128. Joyce Hannah, 8 Ravensworth Terrace, Durham City, April 1946: submission of a drama in manuscript by [John Angus (see below)]; WGF's critical criteria, with draft response.

129-130. John Angus, Trelawn, Lowes Barn, Durham, 2-4 July 1946: thanking WGF for his “devastating” critique; with WGF's comments on the collaboration usually required between playwrights and actors in order to produce effective writing/performance.

Artwork
Reference: SPE 1/C/3/131-135
Dates of creation: [1939]
Extent: 5f
Original pen and ink artwork Spennymoor Settlement design depicting the new Everyman Theatre, by Mitchell McKenzie, with reduced prints. Wood-blocks of the design were once in the possession of D/C Press and Snowballs, local printers.

Education and literacy
Reference: SPE 1/C/4
Dates of creation: 1934-1945
Extent: 3 envelopesPaper

Material relating to the Settlement's education and literacy activities, including correspondence and literary work of Settlement members while undertaking formal further education, and also sociological research undertaken and disseminated by members.
Two manuscript children's stories by Settlement member Poppy Wilson are also filed at SPE 1/D/110.

Eighteen Plus Club
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/1-9
Dates of creation: 1941-1943
Extent: 9f (1 envelope)Paper

Open letter (typescript), and newspaper cuttings relating to the Spennymoor Settlement Eighteen Plus Club, Phyllis K. Davis, Honorary Secretary. The club used to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday evenings in the Settlement Library.
[The club was part of a National Federation initiated by the Carnegie UK Trust in 1941. A further statement of the Spennymoor Club's aims and outlook can be found quoted in a speech made by James Murray M.P. for Spennymoor in a House of Commons debate on the Beveridge Report (HC Deb 17 February 1943 vol 386 c1895).]
Cuttings:

2-3. ‘First eighteen plus conference’, Victor [?Hardaller], Times Educational Supplement, 21 March 1942; ‘Eighteen plus’, unidentified publication, [March 1942].

4-5. ‘“Young comrades in arms” . Pictures at the Spennymoor Settlement’, Auckland Chronicle, December 1942; ‘Anglo Soviet friendship. Spennymoor's eighteen-plus club’, unidentified publication, [December 1942].

6. ‘Spennymoor Youth Club for Beveridge’, Evening Gazette, 18 February 1943.

7-9. ‘Youths Clubs’; ‘Between ourselves’; ‘Spennymoor youth group Conference report’, unidentified publications, from April 1943.

Members' correspondence
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/10-35
Dates of creation: 1936-1945
Extent: 52f; 2 prints (1 envelope)Paper; photographic paper

Correspondence with members and former members of the Settlement, concerning classes, and further studies at other formal educational institutions.

Mary E. Benson
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/10
Dates of creation: [1938]
Extent: 2f
Letter from Mary [E. Benson] of Hillcroft College, Surbiton to ECF, describing the course of studies and student community at the College.
[Benson was awarded a £10 grant by Durham County Education Committee to attend Hillcroft College. Newspaper report, see SPE 1/C/1/91. Essays by Benson, one anticipating attendance at the College, see SPE 1/C/4/36-41.]

Sid Chaplin
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/11-14
Dates of creation: 18 September 1938; 18 January 1939
Extent: 6f
Correspondence, WGF with Sid Chaplin of Fircroft College: WGF's critical first response to a manuscript copy (not present) of a short unnamed dramatic work by Chaplin; Chaplin's account of college life and his fellow students. Newspaper cuttings: ‘Miners story’, Newcastle Chronicle, 4 November 1949; ‘From the North. From miner to author’, Radio Times, 6 March 1959.

Thomas Edward Pinch
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/15-25
Dates of creation: 15 May 1936-18 May 1938
Extent: 31f; 2 prints
Letters from Thomas Edward Pinch of 27 Morrison Street, Stockton and, from October 1937, of Avoncroft College, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire to JM and WGF, concerning his studies, chiefly agricultural and horticultural, and his social and sporting activities at Avoncroft College.
[Pinch was awarded a scholarship to attend Avoncroft College: for a newspaper report, see SPE 1/C/1/85.]

SPE 1/C/4/21A [1937]
View of east side of Avoncroft College, from the garden.
Photographic paper 1 print

SPE 1/C/4/25 18 May 1938
Picture postcard: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. Stamped on reverse: [copyright] Walter Scott, Bradford.
Photographic paper 1 print

Vickerstaff family
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/26-32
Dates of creation: 19 October 1937-22 January 1940
Extent: 10f
Correspondence, T. Vickerstaff of 4 Stephen Street, Ferryhill (SPE 1/C/4/26), and (chiefly) from his son Tom Vickerstaff of Fircroft College, Bournville, and, from 1940, of No. 3 Squadron, No. 7 Recruits Centre, c/o Mrs Pilling, 52 Clarendon Road, Morecambe, with WGF and JM: studies progress; social and sporting activities; Ruskin scholarship application and interview.
[Tom Vickerstaff was awarded a grant to attend Fircroft College; in 1938 Vickerstaff was awarded a £135 Miners' Foundress scholarship to attend Ruskin College: for newspaper reports, see SPE 1/C/1/85, 91.]

Miscellaneous
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/33-35
Dates of creation: 6 February 1938-30 October 1945
Extent: 3f
Correspondence with Settlement members concerning classes and rehearsals:

33. M. Smare of Ferryhill, German language classes, 6 February 1937;

34. F. Farrer of Spennymoor, rehearsals for Juno [and the Paycock] and Everyman, 24 February 1938;

35. WGF to H. Stephenson of Spennymoor, orchestra rehearsals under Mr Geldard, 30 October 1945.

Creative and sociological writing
Reference: SPE 1/C/4/36-53
Dates of creation: 1934-1942
Extent: 43f (1 envelope)Paper

Essays and poems written principally by members of the Settlement, as class course work, creative writing, and as evidence presented to public conferences; with submissions by two non-members to WGF for his critique.

SPE 1/C/4/36-41 21 June-12 July 1934
Essays by [Mary E. Benson], written as class course work, [?for classes led by Miss Hopkins and M. Vickerstaff]:

36. ‘The Anarchist’, Joseph Conrad, an appreciation.

37. ‘King Solomon’, creative writing exercise.

38. ‘Mr Humans’, creative writing exercise.

39. [The case for] ‘Extended Education’ [to 16 years of age].

40. ‘The Hounds and the Horn’, creative writing exercise.

41. ‘Hillcroft’, anticipating attendance at Hillcroft College, [May 1938]. (For newspaper report, see SPE 1/C/1/91; for correspondence, see SPE 1/C/4/10.)

23f

SPE 1/C/4/42 22 September 1934
Unemployment: by an unemployed miner's wife. A paper read by Mrs. E. Vickerstaff at the B.A.R.S. Conference at Durham, 22 September 1934 (typescript).
[For a companion essay presented by H. Vickerstaff at the same conference entitled Unemployment from the point of view of the unemployed, see SPE 1/C/1/18-22.]
3f

SPE 1/C/4/43 1935
“A moonbeam to my window sill”, poem by Anne Hodgson. Manuscript.
2f

SPE 1/C/4/44 [1940]
Newspaper cutting: A Durham Song, poem by Elsie Robinson of Westerton, “There's songs aboot the country / An' songs o' Lundon toon”. Unidentified publication.
1f

SPE 1/C/4/45 [1930s x 1940s]
‘Coal mining and the future’, anonymous essay, [written by a miner, perhaps Sid Chaplin].
2f

SPE 1/C/4/46-50 25 March 1940-12 January 1941
Letters from Elsie Robinson of 8 Westerton Village, Bishop Auckland, and Y.W.C.A., Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, submitting dramatic and poetic writings for WGF's critical appreciation, with typescript copies of four poems, ‘Take care of yourself’, ‘Hilltop’ ( “twice ... broadcast” ), ‘The Rape of France’, ‘Frustration’.
8f

SPE 1/C/4/51-53 2 March 1942
Correspondence between T[om] Worswick of University College, Durham, WGF, and J. L. Longland, Education Department, Hertfordshire County Council: encloses Mistral [University College] magazine (not present), inviting submissions of new writing; with appreciative response from WGF and Longland.
4f

Broadcasts and publications
Reference: SPE 1/C/5
Dates of creation: 1933-1946
Extent: 45f (1 envelope)Paper

Broadcasts and published journalism about the Spennymoor Settlement and its activities, with related correspondence.

SPE 1/C/5/1 September 1933
‘Drama in Occupation Centres’, by [WGF], The News Sheet of the National Council of Social Service, Inc., No. 3.
1f
Size: 57 x 45 cm [outsize]

SPE 1/C/5/2-11 [1941-1946]
Articles by [WGF] reviewing dramatic productions and musical recitals at Spennymoor Settlement. Typescripts.

2. Margerie Few's piano recital. 8 November [1941].

3. A ‘Mercury Theatre’ , London, Company at Spennymoor. E. Martin Browne in The Old Man of the Mountains. 20 May [1941].

4. Distant Point. A Soviet play at the Everyman's Theatre. 15 January 1942.

5. ‘Festival of Art’. A Soviet play and the Eighth picture exhibition of ‘The Pitman's Academy’. The Spennymoor Settlement's June contributions. 28 May 1942.

6. C.E.M.A. concerts. [1943]

7. Appointment of WGF as chairman of B.A.R.S. [1943]

8. ‘Everyman Theatre’ Company's production. An important play for today. [They Came to a City]. 21 [March] 1945.

9. A programme of poetry and music. Peggy Ashcroft and The Apollo Society. 13 November [1945]. (2 copies)

10. Autumn Festival of Art. Play productions, Picture Exhibition, and Films. November 1946.

11. The New Gossoon. Everyman Theatre, Spennymoor Settlement. Immediate Revival. After 16 November 1946.

20f

SPE 1/C/5/12 [30 March 1942]
‘Art for everyone’, by WGF. Typescript script, edited by WGF in pencil and green ink. B.B.C. Pacific Service broadcast.
5f

SPE 1/C/5/13-16 1942-1945
Newspaper cuttings:

13. ‘Spennymoor broadcast’, WGF broadcast, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 30 March 1942 (see SPE 1/C/5/12);

14. ‘“Beer and whippet miners are of the past”. Durham County men's broadcast on their life and work’, with illustration featuring Robert John Heslop, Northern Echo, 23 January 1943;

15. These Durham miners were “on the air”. Billy Welcome interviews Durham miners. “Toughest war workers in Britain”, with illustration featuring Robert John Heslop, unidentified publication, January 1943;

16. ‘“A sociable friendly community”. Spennymoor miner describes the Settlemett’ [sic], George Roantree [B.B.C.] broadcast, Auckland Chronicle, 5 July 1945.

SPE 1/C/5/17-19 March 1946
Review by [WGF] of Christ Crucified, by Margaret Cropper: the first production of the Fellowship of Religion and Drama of Durham County (typescript); with programme notes; and Auckland Chronicle cutting, March 1946.
1f; 2f; 1f

SPE 1/C/5/20-26 1 June 1944-9 July 1945
Correspondence relating to journalism and broadcasts.
11f

SPE 1/C/5/20-22 2-19 June 1944
Correspondence between Edmund Booth of the Miners' Journal and WGF, commissioning an article on ‘Drama in the Coal-Field’, to be part of a series ‘Culture and the Worker’, 2-19 June 1944.
3f

SPE 1/C/5/23-25 4 April-7 May 1945
Correspondence between George Stevens of the National Council of Social Service and WGF, concerning a broadcast to be made by Stevens entitled ‘The arts and social groups’, (B.B.C. Australia, c. 11 April 1945; published in the Listener); WGF responding with a detailed history of the foundation and development of the Settlement Sketching Club and the Everyman's Theatre Company; and with notice of an impending broadcast by WGF (B.B.C. Newcastle).
1f; 5f; 1f

SPE 1/C/5/26 9 July 1945
[WGF] to J. Rushforth, Editor, Auckland Chronicle, offering thanks for positive coverage of George Roantree's broadcast.
1f

Welfare
Reference: SPE 1/C/6
Dates of creation: 1934-1965
Extent: 83f; 20p; 13 printsPaper; photographic paper

Correspondence, newspaper cuttings, photographs and ephemera relating to the Land Settlement Association, and employment conditions, Child Play Centre and general welfare activities in the Spennymoor district and in County Durham.

Land Settlement Association
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/1-24
Dates of creation: 28 June 1935-12 April 1939
Extent: 60f (1 envelope)
Correspondence, newspaper cuttings and ephemera relating to former Settlement members and acquaintances re-settled on Land Settlement Association units, reporting progress, difficulties and concerns.

SPE 1/C/6/1-5 4 November [1937]-10 December [1938]
Letters from Eva Young of No. 8 and (from 24 May 1938) No. 12 Holding, Church Farm Estate [Land Settlement], Elmesthorpe, Leicestershire, to ECF and to JM: news of the Elmesthorpe Settlement development; market garden produce (tomatoes, chrysanthemums, cauliflowers) and pigs; social activities; possible transfer of Dick and Eva Vickerstaff to Elmesthorpe (from Newbourne, Suffolk), and of JM; relative financial obligations of [settlers] and tenants, with concerns over debt.
11f

SPE 1/C/6/6-13 4 March 1937-22 January 1939
Letters from Eva Vickerstaff and Dick Vickerstaff of Lot 11, Ipswich Road, Newbourne [Land Settlement], Suffolk, to the Farrells and the Maddisons: financial and health difficulties; social conditions at Newbourne; news of friends and relations on other Land Settlements; reaction to Means Test rejection; poor local education provision; pig and chicken farming, glasshouse (60' x 25'; lettuce, tomatoes), 2 acres under cultivation (potatoes, brussels sprouts, broccoli, spring cabbage, beans); Harry Vickerstaff featuring in a L.S.A. film; relations with local indigenous population, the Women's Institute and the local rector; formation of an Adult School and a Sisterhood church group, the former described by the local rector as a “political debating society for communists and atheists”; school strike demanding transport provision; L.S.A work “far better than pits or the Dole”.
35f

SPE 1/C/6/14 12 May 1938
Letter from [JM] to A. W. Menzies-Kitchin, The School of Agriculture, Cambridge University: offers thanks for copy of Land Settlement 1935 report; this report and recent visits to Land Settlements in Colchester, Ipswich and Fen Drayton have brought to JM's attention attendant sociological difficulties and economic uncertainties; requests more current information.
1f

SPE 1/C/6/15-18 February 1939
Correspondence, Harry, a former Spennymoor Settlement member, of 6 Tile Barn Lane, Lawford, Essex, to WGF; and WGF, (enclosing, non-extant, letter from Mrs Watson, [Foxash] settler, forwarded to WGF by Harry), to A. C. Richmond, Vice-Chairman, L.S.A.: formation of a committee of Harry with other settlers, reporting to Sir William Cecil Dampier's Committee of Inquiry into land settlement, and also soliciting aid of Ellen Wilkinson [M.P.] and Lady Denham; social activities at Foxash Land Settlement (Lawford), discussion group at Captain Carrington's home, Country Dance Group, Foxash Players [drama group]; uncertainty of self-employed settlers' status re health and unemployment insurance, and voluntary contributions; WGF, citing Mrs Watson's non-extant letter, urging resolution of their and others' difficulties; Richmond sympathetic but wary, “I have now had such a very considerable experience of the extreme sensitiveness of so many of our settlers and of their capacity for magnifying grievances out of all proportion to the facts”, and upon investigation, dismissive.
6f

SPE 1/C/6/19-20 [1938]-12 April 1939
Letters from John L. Blighe of The Hut, Keynor Estate, Sidlesham [Land Settlement], Chichester, Sussex, and latterly of 26 Bridle Path, Elmesthorpe, N / Earl Shilton, Leicester, to JM and his wife Mary Maddison: transfer application process; development of the Sidlesham Settlement, pioneers still required; contempt for Chamberlain [Government]; prospective formation of local Labour Group at Sidlesham; children's school attendance restricted by distance [?and poor weather]; preference for Elmesthorpe semi-intensive system of hen farming over [Sidlesham's] battery system; farms hens, pigs, greenhouse, fruit trees, berries; health concerns of Blighe and Bella his wife; anticipates children's reluctance to follow the farming life.
2f

SPE 1/C/6/21-23 28 June 1935-1 March 1939
Newspaper cuttings:

21. ‘To a farm work camp. Spennymoor men's send-off. The first batch from Durham’, with illustration of 18 Spennymoor men upon their departure for an “employment camp” at Dowsey near Bourne, Lincolnshire, Durham County Advertiser, 28 June 1935.

22. ‘Workless make the land pay. 5-acre settlers triumph over difficulties’, by L.F. Easterbrook, News Chronicle, 1 March 1939.

23. ‘Settling the unemployed’, unidentified publication, [March 1939].

SPE 1/C/6/24 [1930s]
Business card of W. H. Johnson, Estate Manager, The Land Settlement Association Ltd, Broadlaw Farm, Ponteland, Northumberland.
1f

Unemployment
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/25-42
Dates of creation: 1934-1965
Extent: 20p; 13f; 10 prints (1 envelope)
Printed items, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to pre- and post-war de-industrialisation of the region and consequent unemployment and deprived social conditions; war-time full employment bucking the trend.

SPE 1/C/6/25-25A July 1934
‘Places without a future. The burden of Durham.’ Reprint, The Times, 20-22 March 1934, citing on page 2 the reply of Sir Henry Betterton, Minister of Labour, to the House of Commons debate on the derelict areas, 22 March 1934; with (bound-in typescript) letter, dated 12 July 1934, to the Editor of The Times challenging the assertions of its Special Correspondent, written by twelve W.E.A. students of Coundon: H. Easby; W. Easby; R. Gibbs; J. Hopkinson; Mrs Harrison; R. H. Harrison (Secretary); G. W. Kell; Mrs Richmond; W. Scorer; E. Smith; Mrs Smith; Mrs Walton.
20p; 4f

SPE 1/C/6/26-30 9 August 1936; 17 December 1945-19 February 1946
Correspondence between WGF and Mr E. Wright Bakke and Mrs Mary D. Bakke of Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.: 1934 first contact; August 1936 visit to Durham, requesting ideas on “the work needed in future on behalf of unemployed men and their families”; 1945 foundation of Labor and Management Centre at Yale University, with brief statement of aims; statement of the Settlement's precarious funding provision; two newspaper cuttings, reporting Bakke's 1948 appointment to Coal Board of Inquiry by President Truman.
7f, 1 envelope

SPE 1/C/6/31-32 21 August 1941; 19 November 1965
Newspaper cuttings, concerning (un)employment:

31. ‘No unemployed at Spennymoor. Report to Guardians Committee’, unidentified publication, 21 August 1941;

32. ‘D (for Doom) Day for 150 pits. ... “Dismay and anxiety among our men” ... Knell of disaster but the industry soldiers on .. .The man with 48 pits on his mind’, Northern Echo, 19 November 1965.

SPE 1/C/6/33-42 1936
Photographs of Spennymoor and its “Caravan Town”, (some numbered), endorsed with typescript and manuscript notes:

33. (1) Condemned houses, August 1936.

34. (3) “Sleepy Hollow”, Caravan Town, Spennymoor, 1936.

35. (4) George Street (built 1858), August 1936.

36-37. (6-7) Caravan Town, 1936.

38. (11) George Shiels [?Shields] and JM, sub-warden, standing beside Shields' caravan in Caravan Town: Shiel[d]s “an unemployed member of Spennymoor Settlement forced to live alone in Caravan Town to prevent hardship in his own family - living ‘out’ he draws ‘dole’ - living at home he doesn't! - Caravan in excellent order & condition - Trouble is he is beginning to like it! ”

39. (6) Spennymoor Public Park, August 1936.

40. (13) Escomb Amenity Scheme. The Pavilion. August 1936.

41. (15) Escomb Church. August 1936.

42. (16) Caravan Town, August 1936.

Photographic paper 10 prints

Correspondence
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/43-55
Dates of creation: [November] 1937-17 December 1941
Extent: 19f
Correspondence concerning the Settlement's welfare activities.

General
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/43-48
Dates of creation: [November] 1937-4 October 1941
Extent: 6f
Letters from various correspondents thanking the Farrells and Settlement Groups for gifts, and personal support: Mrs Maddison of 52 Kirkdale Avenue, Hen Lane, Coventry; John of 7 James Street, Spennymoor; Stanley Rutherford P/S.B.A., M.X. 85728, C. 4. Division 1, R.N. Camp, Stamshaw, Portsmouth; Mrs Ellen Olloman, 25 Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor; J. Rutter of [Spennymoor]; Anonymous recipient of a Christmas gift.

Evacuees
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/49-52
Dates of creation: 20 October [1939 x 1941]-17 December 1941
Extent: 6f
Letters from the following parents of children evacuated from Gateshead to the Spennymoor area, to the Spennymoor Billeting Officer, requesting provision of boots and clothes to the children; and with a letter from Gertrude Craven to the Farrells offering thanks for sheltering their daughter, Muriel Craven [a Miss Craven led a Nursery Group active in the Settlement in the 1940s]:

49. William Allen Edwards, 54 York Street, Gateshead;

50. Mrs Edith Dove, 9 Saltwell Place, Gateshead;

51. Mrs Shaw, c/o Mr Pentland, 22 Claremont Place, Gateshead;

52. Gertrude Craven, Ivy Dene, West Park Street, Dewsbury.

[For correspondence concerning a proposed scheme to ease social friction between locals and evacuees, see SPE 3/B/1-7.]

SPE 1/C/6/53-55 1 July-28 August 1940
Correspondence between WGF and E. M. (Mollie) Batten, Secretary, B.A.R.S.: inadequacy of Army Welfare Officers and their programme of activities, leading to new uniformed unemployed problem; resistance of Army officers to allow men to join local civilian educational and other activities; enclosing newspaper cuttings (listed below); agreeing B.A.R.S. might meet a call for a new authority to direct a new military welfare programme; news of a reforming committee's ill-fated report on the topic, and prime-ministerial concern for the effect of the coming winter on both the Army and civilian population.
Newspaper cuttings:

53/3A. ‘Conditions in the Island Fortress ... The troops in the villages ... National thinking required’, Manchester Guardian, 27 June 1940;

53/3B. “Not even a compulsory censorship could dodge the plain problems of a county besieged. Here are some of them.”, Reynolds [News] , 30 June 1940;

53/3C. ‘Welfare work for the troops. Difficult new conditions’, Manchester Guardian, 1 July 1940;

53/3D. ‘The soldier's Sunday. No means of recreation’, letter to the Editor from George Hall, 34 Victoria Road, Manchester, Manchester Guardian, 1 July 1940;

53/4A. ‘At the ready’, Manchester Guardian, 16 July 1940;

53/4B. ‘Troops' welfare. Military authorities' responsibility’, letter to the Editor from Frederick Hindle, Astley Bank, Darwen, Manchester Guardian, 19 July 1940.

Photographs: Children's Play Centre; Evacuees
Reference: SPE 1/C/6/56-64
Dates of creation: [1936]-[1941]
Extent: 9 printsPhotographic paper

Photographs of children attending the Settlement's Play Centre, and of Gateshead Second World War evacuees.

SPE 1/C/6/56-61 [1936]
Photographs of children, attendees of the Settlement Play Centre: groups at the [1936] Christmas party with gifted stockings, posed before a Christmas tree; reading [gifted] books; four older children standing outside the Everyman Theatre.
6 prints

SPE 1/C/6/62-64 [1939 x 1941]
Photographs of files of children evacuated from Gateshead arriving at Spennymoor.
3 prints

Miscellaneous correspondence with Settlement members and supporters
Reference: SPE 1/D
Dates of creation: 1932-1963
Extent: 8 envelopes
Miscellaneous correspondence with Settlement members and supporters.

Richard (Dick) Baker
Reference: SPE 1/D/1-5
Dates of creation: 17 February-29 October 1938
Extent: 20f (1 envelope)
Letters to WGF from Richard (Dick) Baker, former sub-warden at Durham House Settlement, and latterly employed in the Buildings Branch of the G.P.O.'s Postmaster-Surveyor Department.

Christopher Ede
Reference: SPE 1/D/6-27
Dates of creation: 1934-1963
Extent: 52f; 1 print (1 envelope)
Correspondence between the Farrells and Christopher Ede, writer and producer, writing from 78 Brook Green, W6 (1936); Latymer House, Upper Mall, London (1938); Kilcot, Newent, Gloucestershire (1942-1945); King's Theatre, Edinburgh (11 November 1945); 30 The Terrace, SW13 (1945-1957); R.M.S. Aquitania, en-route for Canada (23 December 1946); 1 Pembridge Mews, W11 (1963); includes a copy letter from WGF to Tyrone Guthrie introducing Ede, and a typescript copy of the script of Ede's The Barrier (13f).

SPE 1/D/7A-C 1937
New Year's greeting for 1937 from Joy and Christopher Ede, mounted on card, to which are also pasted a Telegraph newspaper cutting review and a production still of a dramatisation of Elgar's The Kingdom produced by Ede at the Northern Polytechnic with the Alexandra Choral and Orchestral Society, [1937].
1f, including 1 print

SPE 1/D/9 18 March 1938
Copy letter from WGF to Tyrone Guthrie, theatrical director, introducing Christopher Ede.
2f

SPE 1/D/13-13A 8 May 1944
Letter from Christopher Ede of Kilcot, Newent, Gloucestershire, to WGF: reports on progress of rehearsals of The Sword; encloses typescript copy of Ede's The Barrier (13f) for WGF's critique; commenced radio play about the “Russian gorilla [recte guerrilla] children”.
1f; 13f

SPE 1/D/27-27A 7 May 1963
Letter from Christopher Ede of 1 Pembridge Mews, W11, to the Farrells: news of current work, [son et lumière shows at] Pembroke [Castle] and Carrickfergus; attends World Orchid Conference, Singapore; death of wife Christina Joyance (Joy) Boughton, Professor [of Oboe], her library to be donated to St Paul's Girls' School, and enclosing printed handbill programme (SPE 1/D/27A; 1f) of a concert in her memory performed at the Royal College of Music, 26 April 1963, performers including the Sylvan Trio, and with an address delivered by Herbert Howells.
1f; 1f

Arthur Jones, a.k.a. John
Reference: SPE 1/D/28-41
Dates of creation: 13 June-16 July 1946; 15 August 1954
Extent: 16f
Correspondence and related papers between WGF and Arthur Jones of Beechcroft, 125 Southampton Road, Ringwood (1946) and 16 Broadshard Lane, Ringwood, Hampshire (1954): purchase and transportation of furniture out of Gilesgate Drill Hall to Jones in Hampshire; marketing and sale of Settlement art and crafts works in the South of England through the agency of Jones and partner; Jones' other business ventures, wool manufactures, textile importation, bookmaking.

Tisa Hess (Countess Elisabeth von der Schulenburg, later Sister Paula)
Reference: SPE 1/D/42-47
Dates of creation: [1945]; 14 May [1946]
Extent: 14f; 1 pamphlet
Letters from Tisa Hess (1903-2001) to ECF, including artwork (1f), newspaper cutting and exhibition programme: spiritual impact of the war; preparation and consequences of the failed July 1944 plot against Hitler; political and economic conditions in East and West Germany unfavourable to democracy; her distrust and alienation from propertied classes; decries persistent inviolability of national-socialists; desire to return to County Durham; inhabiting a caravan on the property of Wendula Coste [at Glinde, near Hamburg].

SPE 1/D/43 [1946]
Lithograph of a crouching man, wearing a flat cap.
Paper 1f

SPE 1/D/46 14 October 1971
Newspaper cutting: ‘Schwester Paula: Tuschezeichnungen mit Text zum Thema Bergbau in Arbeit. Schon als junge Künstlerin erlebte sie den Pütt - Ausstellung vorgesehen’ [Sister Paula: ink drawings with text on the subject of mine work. When still a young artist she experienced the Pit - Exhibition], Dorstener Volkszeitung - Dorstener Zeitung - Dorstener Anzeiger, with illustration of Hess posing with several cast metal sculptures and reliefs.
1f

SPE 1/D/47 16 September 1972
Füreinander. [For each other.] Programme for an exhibition of Sister Paula's drawings and sculptures at Kreissparkasse Dorsten, Stadt Dorsten; illustrated with three drawings.
8p

Ann [Hodgson, later Hess]
Reference: SPE 1/D/48-53
Dates of creation: 7 January 1940-[1952]
Extent: 56f
Letters from Ann Hodgson, later Ann Hess, of 83 Lamper Road, Hanwell, London ([c.1944]), then 1D Glazbury Road, London (1947), a member of the Settlement.

Jack Maddison
Reference: SPE 1/D/54-77
Dates of creation: 13 January 1942-3 February 1945
Extent: 66f (1 envelope)
Letters from JM, former sub-warden of the Settlement, of 11th A.A. Driver Training Regiment, Kimnel Park, Rhyl, Flintshire (1942); 6th P.T.C., Prestatyn (1942); Station Sick Quarters, R.A.F., Church Green, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire (1943); I.C. Depot, Nr Rotherham, Yorkshire (1943); F.S. Wing, Smedley's Hydro, Matlock (1943); Wrotham Camp, Sevenoaks, Kent (1943); Military Hospital, Barming Heath, Maidstone, Kent (1943); Bletchley (1944); 1 S.I.C., Int. Corps, B.L.A. [in Europe] (December 1944-February 1945): colourful critical appreciations of army personnel, training, and education; intellectual pursuits; Settlement news and post-war plans, and in national political context; personal and friends'/members' news.

George Shields
Reference: SPE 1/D/78-80
Dates of creation: [1936]-[1941]
Extent: 6f
Correspondence from and about George Shields, serving with the Republicans in Spain (1937), and conscripted into the R.A.F. (1941).

SPE 1/D/78 [1936 x 1938]
Letter signed Rot Front [Red Front], in the hand of George Shields: acknowledges receipt of cigarettes, and greets the Settlement Spanish Aid Committee, the Left Book Club Circle, and various Settlement (former) members; visit [to front] by an unnamed M.P., ‘he gave us a very interesting speech’.
1f

SPE 1/D/79 18 April 1937
Letter from George Shields, [?Madrid] to WGF and ECF: deplores passivity of leadership of (international) Labour movement, praising successes of English United Front Campaign, the Durham Miners' Association, and the work of Spennymoor Settlement [?Spanish Aid Committee]; Madrid ‘quiet [sic] safe now’, with expectation for an end to the war; a defeat of fascism in Spain perhaps staving off a world war, “and if we go forward, with determination, will put an end to wars for good”; reports rumours of Clifford Lawther badly wounded [in fact killed in the Battle of Jarama, 6-27 February 1937]. Manuscript.
1f

SPE 1/D/80 [1941]
Letter from George Shields, 48 Squad, 13th Flight, C Squadron, 317 Wing, 20 R.C., Filey, Yorkshire: anticipates effect of conscription upon Settlement dramatic productions; drawing comparison to Spain, denigrates British army training methods and servicemen's ideological disengagement and passivity, ‘fighting the same enemy, and no enthusiasm among them to fight, not because they can't or won't fight, there is something wrong some where’; observes a weakening in the government's resistance to progressive national forces, engaged as it is in national defence, and expects imminent changes in the Government.

SPE 1/D/81-85 7-24 July 1938
Statesman magazine cutting with correspondence between WGF and Raymond Postgate, Editor of Fact, and Stephen Spender, relating to the use by Spender of the ‘Diary of a machine gunner in Spain’ by George Shields in the compilation of a history of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.
The typescript of Shield's diary was sent by WGF to Spender on 24 July 1938, with a request for its later return: the whereabouts of the typescript and the [manuscript] original are no longer known.
6f

Alice Taylor
Reference: SPE 1/D/86-87
Dates of creation: 10 October-12 December 1954
Extent: 2f
Letters from Alice Taylor of Viewfield, Tininver Street, Dufftown, Banffshire, to WGF: seeks WGF's support in her application to transfer from her school to a French, German or Austrian one; with critical responses to several plays, The Heart is Highland by Robert Kemp, The Flouers o Edinburgh by Robert McLellan, Gog and Magog by James Bridie.

Hilary Urwick
Reference: SPE 1/D/88-91
Dates of creation: 21 December [1938]-4 July 1939
Extent: 13f
Letters from Hilary Urwick of G.P.O. Newcastle upon Tyne, and of 31 Eldon Place, to WGF: serial donations of books, with opinions; hypothesises on the varying reception and realisation of Communism across different cultures; eschews manipulative press and international confrontations; upper-middle class governments and lower-middle class trades unionists deprecated, in favour of intelligent individuals (exemplifying Herbert Morrison, Ellen Wilkinson, Harold Nicholson, Anthony Eden); fraught, curtailed friendship with JM and his wife; opinion of prospective Nazi-Soviet [Non-aggression] Pact; financial aid for Blighe; sketched development of class war and rise of aspirant socialist administrator “caste”.

Former members of the Settlement Scout Troop
Reference: SPE 1/D/92-103
Dates of creation: 23 April 1938-4 August 1941
Extent: 15f; 1 print (1 envelope)Paper' photographic paper

Correspondence between current and former members of the Settlement Scout Troop and WGF and the Troop Scoutmaster JM (“Skipper”); with group photograph of five [?former scouts]:

92-93. Robert, T.S. Indefatigable, Rock Ferry, Cheshire (1938);

94-95. Norman Stephenson, 17 Mulberry Road, Stoke Heath, Coventry, working as office boy at Cheylesmore Sheet Metal Co. Ltd, with encouraging reply from WGF (1938);

96-98. AC/2 J ( “Neppy” ) Hood, 72 Squad, L Flight, No. 2 R.A.F. Receiving Centre, Cardington, Bedfordshire (1939-[1940]);

99-100. Eric [?Gallagher], c/o Mrs Austin, 33 Swiss Avenue, Chelmsford;

101-102. Sergeant W. ( “Pip” ) Temperley, 6 Platoon, ‘B’ Company, 2nd D.L.I., Bridlington, with (incomplete) response from [JM] (1940);

103. Allon G. McCandless, 21 Marmion Terrace, Monkseaton (1941).

SPE 1/D/100 [1939 x 1946]
Signed group photograph of four soldiers in uniform, one of them, E. Gallagher, probably Eric [Gallagher], a former member of the Settlement Scout Troop: W. R. Taylor, Matthew [?Neil], John D. V. Hindi, H. R. Wilkinson, E. Gallagher.
1 print, with 1f paper jacket

Former Settlement members
Reference: SPE 1/D/104-117 (1 envelope)
Dates of creation: 1934-1939
Extent: 32f
Correspondence from former Settlement members, many of whom having left Spennymoor for work elsewhere:

104. M. Outhwaite, staying with Mrs Tomlinson, Home Farm, Swanbourne, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire (undated);

105-106. Ernest Appleby, c/o Mrs Jesson, 67 Wandsworth Road, Small Heath, Birmingham (1934), and c/o Mrs Shillam, High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire [1930s];

107. Robert Jones, c/o Mrs Parker, Thatch Colt, Waltons Lane, Bosham, Sussex [1930s];

108. Reuben Morgan, 5 Front Street, North Shields (1934);

109-110. Poppy Wilson, Worsall Hall, Yarm-on-Tees (1936), enclosing two original children's stories in manuscript for ECF's critique, ‘Joan's Dancing Feet, or Happy Valley’ (SPE 1/D/110A); ‘Three Pickles’ (SPE 1/D/110B);

111. Florrie [?1937];

112-114. Mrs Rose Spence, Pontefract, Harrogate and the Manchester Settlement (1938);

115. Mrs V. Welsh, 99 Gale Lane, Acomb, Yorkshire (1938);

116. Trude Sczely [?], 8 Cambridge Terrace, Gateshead (1939);

117. George Hodgson, ‘A’ Section, 31st R.M. Light Battery, Byres Camp, Pollok, Glasgow [1939 x 1946].

Supporters of the Settlement
Reference: SPE 1/D/118-126
Dates of creation: 7 June 1932-31 July 1948
Extent: 11f (1 envelope)
Letters from supporters of the Settlement:

118. Lettice Jowitt, Rock House Educational Settlement, Seaham Harbour (1932);

119. [Norman] Pentland, 52 Parliament Street, Westminster (1934);

120. H. C. Escreet, Women's University Settlement, 44 Nelson Square, Blackfriars Road, SE1, praising performance of Cradle Song (1934), subscribed with note by WGF to “visit in London”;

121. H. C. Baker, Elemore Hall, Sherburn Hill (1935);

122. Hester Alington, The Deanery, Durham (1935);

123. Eric, 4 Bootham Terrace (1938);

124-125. Kenneth M. Carey, The Vicarage, Spennymoor, accepting position on Council and Executive Committee, and bemoaning disempowering failure by various Christian socialist bodies / individuals in the Spennymoor area to coordinate activity toward concrete goals (1939-1940);

126. [Albert Dowdell], 32 North Street, Spennymoor (1948);

Special occasions
Reference: SPE 1/E
Dates of creation: December 1934-July 1951
Extent: 42 prints; 12 negatives; 65f; 2 pamphlets
Material relating to special occasions in the history of the Settlement: the visit of HRH The Prince of Wales, 1934; the construction and opening of the Everyman Theatre, 1939; the adoption of a new constitution, 1948; the Settlement's 21st anniversary celebrations, 1951; the departure of the Settlement's (only) resident warden, 1954.

Visit of HRH The Prince of Wales
Reference: SPE 1/E/1/1-12
Dates of creation: December 1934
Extent: 10 prints; 1f (1 envelope)Paper; photographic paper

Photographs of the visit by Edward Prince of Wales to Spennymoor Settlement, 6 December 1934: art exhibition; the Prince of Wales, accompanied by WGF and JM, and another; watching crowds. Copyrights: Northen Echo, Newcastle Chronicle Ltd, Durham County Advertiser; with scrap of notepaper and envelope with accounts of photograph reproduction orders requested by members of the Settlement.

Opening of the Everyman Theatre
Reference: SPE 1/E/2/1-49
Dates of creation: March 1939
Extent: 9f; 30 prints; 12 negativesPaper; photographic paper and film

Photographs of the construction of the Everyman Theatre; with programme, telegrams, ephemera, photographs and negatives relating to the opening of the theatre, an exhibition of drawings, paintings and craft work, and a performance by the Settlement Community Players of Everyman, on 29 March 1939.

SPE 1/E/2/1-17 1938-1939
Photographs of the construction of the Everyman Theatre, and with WGF, JM and [?ECF] posed outside its doors, upon completion.
17 prints; 1 envelope
Size: 6 x 9 cm; 14 x 9 cm; 22 x 17 cm

SPE 1/E/2/18 March 1939
Guest lists for those attending: (a) exhibition and a performance of Everyman (100); (b) exhibition only (12).
2f

SPE 1/E/2/19 29 March 1939
Programme of proceedings at the official opening of the Everyman Theatre, and of the 6th annual exhibition of paintings and craft work by the Sketching Club and Craft Groups, on 29 March 1939; with (WGF's copy of) programme for the Settlement Community Players' production of Everyman, annotated in pencil by WGF with speech notes. Typescript.
3f

SPE 1/E/2/20 29 March 1939
Printed invitation to the opening of the Everyman Theatre, and the 6th annual exhibition of drawings, paintings and craft work; endorsed in pencil, “Pountney, 97 Osborne Road, N/C.2”.
1f

SPE 1/E/2/21-23 29 March 1939
Telegrams of congratulation upon the opening of the Everyman Theatre, from: Fritz [?Hess], Highgate, London; Janette, London; Dick and Eva [Vickerstaff], Newbourne, Suffolk.
3f

SPE 1/E/2/24-35 29 March 1939
Photographs of the opening of the Everyman Theatre by Sir George Gillett, Commissioner for Special Areas.
Photographic paper 12 prints

SPE 1/E/2/36-49 29 March 1939
Photograph and negatives of the Settlement Community Players cast, in costume, of Everyman, posed in the theatre, and, individually, outside.
Photographic paper and film 1 print; 12 negatives; 1 envelope

New Constitution
Reference: SPE 1/E/3/1-2
Dates of creation: 11 October 1948
Extent: 1f; 4f
‘The Spennymoor Settlement. A new regime. A house of fuller life plans for the future’ (typescript); with covering letter to [F.] Rushford, Editor of the Durham Advertiser, 11 October 1948. See also SPE 1/B/220.
[This new constitution became necessary upon the Settlement's securing of public funds through the County Council.]

21st Anniversary
Reference: SPE 1/E/4/1-31
Dates of creation: February-June 1951
Extent: 50f; 2 pamphletsPaper

Commemorative magazine, correspondence and newspaper cuttings upon the 21st anniversary of the foundation of the Settlement.

SPE 1/E/4/1-16 27 February-20 June 1951
Correspondence between WGF and the following, upon the 21st anniversary of the Settlement, arranging attendance and soliciting short literary pieces for inclusion in a commemorative magazine: Dr Thomas Jones, Brynhir, Penglais, Aberystwyth; Donald Mather, Regional Director, The Arts Council of Great Britain, Bessy Surtees House, Sandhill, Newcastle upon Tyne; Dr J. J. Mallon, Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London; John G. Murray, an industrial draughtsman working in Manchester, who attended the Settlement, particularly its dramatic activities, between 1940-1945; Edward Pace, 71 Saddler Street, Durham.
17f

SPE 1/E/4/17-18 1951
The Spennymoor Settlement 21st Birthday Commemorative Magazine 1951 (2 copies).
1 pamphlet (32p), with 1f insert (2 copies)

SPE 1/E/4/19-31 10 May-14 June 1951
Newspaper cuttings:

19. Notice of B.B.C. radio broadcast appeal by WGF (20:30, Sunday 3 June 1951: Week's Good Cause series), and of an anniversary week at the Settlement (3-9 June 1951), Northern Despatch, 10 May 1951;

20. ‘Workers' university coming of age. Spennymoor plans a festive week’, Northern Despatch, 26 May 1951;

21. ‘Warden's appeal broadcast. Spennymoor Settlement's “coming of age”’, unidentified local publication, [4 June 1951];

22. ‘“The challenge of the age.” Broadcast appeal for Spennymoor Settlement’, Northern Despatch, 4 June 1951;

23. ‘Broadcast appeal for Spennymoor Settlement’, Northern Echo, 4 June 1951;

24. ‘Spennymoor “birthday”. Settlement ready for their 21st’, Northern Despatch, 5 June 1951;

25-26. ‘Spennymoor Settlement reunion’, photograph of C. F. Meikle, Dr J. J. Mallon, ECF, WGF, Canon E. G. Pace; ‘Birthday reunion at Spennymoor Settlement’, Northern Echo, 11 June 1951;

27-29. ‘Miner artist describes his work’, illustration of Norman Cornish with one of his paintings, talking to Donald Mather, Northern Regional Director, The Arts Council; group photograph of three of the five Settlement trustees (Mallon, Meikle, WGF), with JM sub-warden, Mrs C.F. Meikle, D. E. Mather and Miss L. Farrell; ‘A 21st, and “Pitman's Academy”’, Northern Gazette, 11 June 1951;

30. ‘Settlement work. Dr. J. J. Mallon at Spennymoor’, Northern Despatch, 11 June 1951;

31. ‘Exhibition of artists' work. Warden of Toynbee Hall at Spennymoor’, Auckland Chronicle, 14 June 1951.

31f

Departure of Resident Warden
Reference: SPE 1/E/5/1-2
Dates of creation: 18 February 1954
Extent: 2 prints
Photograph (2 copies) of WGF writing at his desk [in the Settlement], in the final months of his tenure as warden of the Settlement. Copyright Northern Despatch.

Papers concerning other settlements in and outside Co. Durham
Reference: SPE 2
Dates of creation: [1932]-1947
Extent: 98f; 10 prints (5 envelopes)
Papers concerning other Settlements in and outside of County Durham.

Joint Settlements' Council
Reference: SPE 2/A/1-27
Dates of creation: 1936-1947
Extent: 40f (1 envelope)
Papers and correspondence with WGF and JM in relation to the Joint Settlements' Council: formation of the Joint Settlements' Council to co-ordinate the work of the Spennymoor, Durham House and (briefly) Rock House (Seaham Harbour) Settlements (SPE 2/A/1-5); the financial administration of Pilgrim Trust (salary) grants through an Education Committee of the Community Service Council for County Durham, with objections of WGF (SPE 2/A/6-13); the eventual supersession of the B.A.R.S. Coalfields Committee by this Education Committee as Spennymoor Settlement's governing body (SPE 2/A/14-15); the alteration of the employment Agreements of WGF, warden, and JM, sub-warden by the Joint Council of the Durham House and Spennymoor Settlements (SPE 2/A/16-20); Council's response to County Youth and Social Service Organiser's 1947 report (SPE 2/A/21); Spennymoor Settlement's independent membership of the Standing Conference of Voluntary Adult Organisations (SPE 2/A/22-25); December 1946 interim report on Spennymoor Settlement prepared for the National Council of Social Service (SPE 2/A/26); Joint Council 20 June 1947 AGM agenda, preliminary notes and minutes (SPE 2/A/27).

SPE 2/A/5 29 March-after 29 April 1936
Minutes of meeting held at Durham House Settlement on 29 April 1936 to consider on behalf of the three Settlements the proposal to form a Joint Settlements' Council, and the draft Constitution submitted on 15 March 1936; with copies of the original draft Joint Settlements' Council Constitution (29 March 1936), and two subsequent revisions (29 April 1936 and [1936]), the latter as amended by Durham House Executive Committee. Typescripts.
(For the amended Constitution of Durham House Settlement, annotated to reflect a revised role as the Joint Settlements' Council, see SPE 2/B/17.)
5f

SPE 2/A/21 25 November 1947
Comments of the Joint Settlements' Council on the report of the County Youth and Social Service Organiser on the Spennymoor Settlement. Comments grouped under the following headings [reflecting those of the original report]: the Settlement and its setting; premises and equipment; staff; membership; activities; management; general impressions and suggestions; income and expenditure; general; future of Spennymoor. Typescript.
7f

SPE 2/A/26 January 1947
Interim report on Spennymoor Settlement, by WGF, prepared for the National Council of Social Service and others at 31 December 1946. Typescript, with pencil annotations.
3f

SPE 2/A/27 20 June 1947
Joint Council AGM agenda (typescript), with WGF (manuscript) preliminary notes and minutes, including text of a speech made by WGF upon a presentation to the chairman Dr Edward Pace to mark his retirement from Durham University.
(The minutes are written on the reverse of typescript pages of a heavily annotated script for (parts of) Act 3 of The Burning Bush by Ruth Pennyman; the Pace presentation address is written on the reverse of typescript pages from a [Community Service Council for County Durham] [1938] report.)
25f

Durham House Settlement, Durham City
Reference: SPE 2/B/1-26
Dates of creation: [1932]-1936
Extent: 41f (1 envelope)
Papers, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and newsletter relating to Durham House Settlement, first established at 3 Queen Street (now Owengate), Durham City, under the wardenship of Eric Barber, B.A., succeeded by Eric G. Mawson. WGF acted initially as Honorary Secretary to the Settlement's Council, and also led its drama group for a period.

SPE 2/B/1-21 [1932]-1936
Papers and correspondence between B.A.R.S., WGF, and Dr Edward Pace, and newspaper cuttings, relating to the foundation, funding and administration of the Durham House Settlement: includes minutes, agenda and meeting papers of Durham House Settlement Council (and its precursors), 20 March, 15 May, 19 May, 24 July 1933, 29 January 1934, and before 1 May 1934, with drafts of Constitution.
Newspaper cuttings:

18. ‘Settlement for Durham. £200 grant and £900 promised. Linking centres of adult education’, Northern Echo, 25 July 1933;

19. ‘A woman's view. Settlement worker. Useful service in Durham. Production of stage plays’, annotated in pencil by WGF, Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette, 25 July 1933;

20. ‘New educational venture at Durham. College Lecturers to help ideal scheme’, Sunday Sun, 3 September 1933;

21. ‘Durham City Settlement. Grants from Pilgrim Trust. Career of new warden’, Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette, [1933].

31f

SPE 2/B/22 2 June 1935
Letter from Lily B. Heslop, Honorary Secretary, Durham House Settlement, to WGF, expressing thanks for substituting during [Eric] Barber's illness, leading his class for ‘Appreciation of Drama’ at the Settlement.
1f

SPE 2/B/23-25 15 March 1938-16 May 1939
Letters to WGF from William Norman Illingworth, Headmaster of The Senior School, Durham, and member of the Joint Settlements' Council [and Durham House Settlement Executive Committee], particularly regarding the Durham House drama group.
8f

SPE 2/B/26 20 January 1939
Durham House Settlement Friends' circular, issued by the warden, Eric G. Mawson.
1f

Harkness House Settlement, Lanarkshire
Reference: SPE 2/C/1-5
Dates of creation: 3 November 1934-21 September 1936
Extent: 7f (1 envelope)
Correspondence between WGF, Katharine C. Dewar, warden of Harkness House, and Barbara Murray, Coalfields Settlement Committee [Honorary Secretary, B.A.R.S.], chiefly relating to the closure of the Harkness House Settlement: papers include Harkness House (printed) 1935-36 Winter timetable (SPE 2/C/2A).

Manchester University Settlement
Reference: SPE 2/D/1-3
Dates of creation: [?1930s]
Extent: 3 prints (1 envelope)
Production stills of a production of The Lady with a Lamp by [St Clair Bayfield], performed by members of the Manchester University Settlement.

Settlement House, Middlesbrough
Reference: SPE 2/E/1-15
Dates of creation: 1932-[1945]
Extent: 7f; 7 prints (1 envelope)
Ephemera, newspaper cuttings, photographs and correspondence relating to performances of the following plays by the Middlesbrough Settlement Players, produced by WGF:

1-2. George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, December 1932.

3-9. Gregorio Martínez Sierra's The Kingdom of God, January 1934: illustrated newspaper cuttings and correspondence from the Theatre Manager and Ida Ryan of 39 Essex Street, Middlesbrough.

10-15. Sutton Vane's Outward Bound, [May/June 1945].

Other welfare activities of the Farrells
Reference: SPE 3
Dates of creation: 1933-1954
Extent: 2 envelopes; 1 box
Material relating to the Farrells' welfare activities in connection with the following organisations: Durham Council of Social Service; the Women's Committee of the Community Service Council for Durham County; Shildon & District Mothers' [Birth Control] Clinic; H.M. forces servicemen and S.S.A.F.A.; and the Bishop Auckland and District Disablement Advisory Committee, on matters specifically relating to the employment of the elderly and disabled.

Durham Council of Social Service
Reference: SPE 3/A/1-10, 59
Dates of creation: 16 January 1933-1938
Extent: 10f; 1 pamphlet
Correspondence, papers, and pamphlet concerning the Farrells' work for the Durham Council of Social Service.
[Although little documented in this collection, WGF helped found a number of Social Service Centres around the County Durham Coalfield: see also SPE 4/C/4-21.]

SPE 3/A/1-6 16 January 1933-21 September 1935
Correspondence between WGF, the Tyneside Council of Social Service, the National Council of Social Service and Wrekenton and District Unemployed Welfare Committee, concerning the work of the latter and (chiefly) the Tyneside C.S.S.'s assertion that the Wrekenton Welfare Centre lay exclusively within its ambit; WGF having been seconded as an Advisor to Durham C.S.S. to promote occupational and educational centres for the unemployed in County Durham (excluding areas covered by the Tyneside C.S.S.).
6f

SPE 3/A/7 20 January 1933
Letter from the Assistant Secretary, Unemployment Committee, National Council of Social Service, enclosing extract from the T.U.C.'s Industrial Review (SPE 3/A/7A) concerning the active presence of Trades Councils on local Social Service Councils.
2f

SPE 3/A/8 17 November 1937
Memorandum on recruitment and training of social workers, sent to Miss Harford, Lady Margaret Hall Settlement, London, as chairman of B.A.R.S., 1937-1938, compiled at Spennymoor, by WGF. Typescript.
5f

SPE 3/A/9 [1938]
Training for social work (voluntary and professional). Pamphlet published by the Department of Social Science and Administration, L.S.E., Session 1938-1939.
20p

Fields House, Etherley
Reference: SPE 3/A/10-11
Dates of creation: 16 December 1938-20 February 1939
Extent: 3f
Minutes of a meeting of the Fields House Sub-Committee, held at Hallgarth House, 16 December 1939; with draft letter from ECF to Mrs Samuel offering her employment at Fields House during its use as a two-month mothers and babies holiday home (4 groups, each for 2 weeks).

Community Service Council for Durham County: Women's Committee
Reference: SPE 3/B/1-7
Dates of creation: 22 January-16 October 1940
Extent: 15f
Correspondence between Lady Else Gainford of Headlam Hall, Gainford, Chairman, and ECF, stemming from their work on the Women's Committee, coordinating the work of Women's Clubs, with expression of interest and invitation from John Longland, Director of Durham C.S.C., to WGF to join the Council: Village War Appeals Committee and financing the provision of wool to women's groups from the D.L.I. depot; New Brancepeth Nursery School; Holidays for Centre women; easing social friction with Evacuees by promoting mutual understanding, proposing one-day school treating the topics of housing in town areas, and child welfare; [?Mothers'] Clinic at Shildon; strain of billeting.

Shildon & District Mothers' [Birth Control] Clinic
Reference: SPE 3/C/1
Dates of creation: 23 February 1940
Extent: 2f
Letter from M. Maly, Honorary Secretary of the Shildon and District Branch of the National Birth Control Association to ECF, concerning promotion and funding of the Clinic's work.

Emergency Information Office / Citizens' Advice Bureau
Reference: SPE 3/D/1
Dates of creation: 14 August 1941
Extent: 1f
Letter from C. F. Meikle, District Controller, Air Raid Precautions Department, Spennymoor Urban District Council, to WGF, providing information and forms to aid servicemen applying for replacements for lost Pensions and Allowance Books, and promising information about the establishment of a local Information and Administrative Centre.

Bishop Auckland and District Disablement Advisory Committee: Elderly and the disabled
Reference: SPE 3/E/1-41
Dates of creation: June 1950-3 May 1954
Extent: 63f; 2 pamphlets
Bishop Auckland and District Disablement Advisory Committee minutes, meetings papers (including local statistical reports), correspondence and newspaper cutting, relating to the provision of employment facilities for older and disabled men. Papers include detailed letters and papers submitted by WGF, as well as memoranda and Gazettes (February 1952; October 1953) issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service and the National Council of Social Service. WGF was a member of the Non-Industrial Section of this committee, and a member of an ad hoc Sub-Committee formed to draw up a memorandum to be submitted to the Piercy Committee of Inquiry on the rehabilitation, training, and resettlement of disabled persons.
Access to SPE 3/E/3 is restricted under terms of the UK Data Protection Act 1998.

SPE 3/E/16 27 January 1953
Letter from WGF to [A. G.] Byde, Secretary to the Bishop Auckland and District Disablement Advisory Committee, expanding on WGF's proposals for increasing employment of older and disabled persons in the district by modifying restrictive clauses on state benefits, thereby regularising ‘socially necessary’ casual work or “fiddling”, and suggesting: (a) survey of this group's spending habits in order to establish a reference subsistence standard; (b) increase in benefits earnings allowances; (c) the creation of a register of part-time elderly workers at Employment Exchanges; (d) maintenance of an efficient state benefits system adaptive to the employment habits of this group under shifting economic conditions.
3f

SPE 3/E/34 August x October 1953
Memorandum by WGF, submitted to the ad hoc Sub-Committee of the Bishop Auckland and District D.A.C., formed to draft a submission to the Piercy Committee of Inquiry, presenting demographic and unemployment statistics for the elderly in Great Britain and the Bishop Auckland District, and advocating consideration of local alternative and more active (re-)employment schemes.
2f

SPE 3/E/35 18 September 1953
‘Pigs’. Memorandum by F. G. Kny-Jones, submitted as SPE 3/A/53, presenting a scheme for the employment of elderly disabled persons, rearing pigs on marginal or derelict land at Cockfield Fell.
2f

SPE 3/E/38-39 26 October 1953
Memorandum submitted by the Bishop Auckland and District D.A.C. to the Piercy Committee of Inquiry on the rehabilitation, training, and resettlement of disabled persons. Two copies, the second annotated in pencil by WGF.
1f; 2f

Solders', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (S.S. & A.F.A)
Reference: SPE 3/F
Dates of creation: 1941-1946
Extent: 1 envelope; 1 box
Servicemen welfare case files processed by WGF in his capacity as Honorary Secretary of the Spennymoor S.S.A.F.A.. In a few instances agencies other than the armed services - local authorities and Citizens' Advice Bureaux - apply to WGF in this connection to take action on a certain case.
Access to case files is restricted under terms of the UK Data Protection Act 1998.

SPE 3/F/1 [1940s]
‘Marriage guidance. Some notes for the consideration of Citizens' Advice Bureaux workers.’ Typescript pamphlet.
9f (1 envelope)

SPE 3/F/2-41 1941-1946
Case files (uncatalogued).
1 file (1 box)
Access to SPE 3/F/2-41 is restricted under terms of the UK Data Protection Act 1998.

Farrells' personal papers
Reference: SPE 4
Dates of creation: 1919-1971
Extent: 2 boxes
Personal papers, chiefly of WGF unless otherwise stated, and papers concerning the Farrells' community, theatrical, literary and artistic activities outside of the Settlement.

Demobilization
Reference: SPE 4/A/1-3
Dates of creation: 9 April-29 September 1919
Extent: 5f
Demobilization and pension papers of Corporal WGF, Battalion Messing Clerk, Labour Corps, Western Command Labour Corps.

Theatrical career to 1931
Reference: SPE 4/B
Dates of creation: February 1926-February 1931
Extent: 2 volumesPaper; photographic paper and film; textile cord and beads

Correspondence, photographs and ephemera relating to the theatrical career of WGF at the Liverpool Playgoers' Club, and at Cambridge Festival Theatre.

SPE 4/B/1 February 1926-June 1931
The Liverpool Playgoers' Club. Album containing photographs of successive premises and theatrical production sets, with some newspaper cuttings. The club was based first in the basement of Brown's Building, 4 Water Street (May 1926-October 1927) (SPE 4/B/1/1), and latterly at the Old Bluecoat School, School Lane (from November 1927) (SPE 4/B/1/3-4). WGF acted as Honorary Secretary of the club from 1926, succeeded on his departure in 1928 by Alfred Weare.
Productions illustrated:

2. Miles Dixon by Gilbert Cannan. Cast: Elsie Edwards, WGF, A. Weare. British Drama League Festival, North Western Area winner, 1926-1927.

5. The Song of the Seal by Fiona McLeod. March 1928. Set designer: Walter Shore.

6. The Dover Road by A. A. Milne. April 1928.

6. No Smoking (No fumaradores) by Jacinto Benavente. 24 May 1928. Set designer: A. Weare.

7. The Lover by Gregorio Martínez Sierra. 14 June 1929. Set designer: A. Weare.

8. Naked (Vestire Gli Ignudi) by Luigi Pirandello. 28 June 1928. Set designer: WGF.

9. The Constant Lover by [W. Somerset] Maugham [recte St. John E. C. Hankin]. October 1928. Set designer: Margaret Lamble.

10A-B. The Race with the Shadow [by Wilhelm von Scholz]. Cast: Barbara Bottle, Rita Applebaum.

10. The Man with the Red Hair by Hugh Walpole. Set designer: David Webster, 1928.

10v. The Thrice Promised Bride [by Cheng-chin Hsiung]. 20 April 1930. Set designer: McRobert. British Drama League Festival, 1930.

11. Words and Swords by J. R. Cairns. 1928. Set designer: A. Weare.

11[-12]. Midsummer Eve by Gordon Bottomley. 1928.

12-13. [Spaces left for productions of The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill, The Thrice Promised Bride [by Cheng-chin Hsiung], and Medea [?by Euripedes].]

13v-14. Chu the Sinner [by Julius Berstl], translated by Mrs Applebaum. 11 June 1931. Set designer: A. Weare.

Other items:

11v. Newspaper cutting: obituary of A. E. Powell, amateur actor, [d. ca 1930].

The album contains Liverpool material dating from after WGF's move to Cambridge Festival Theatre, and may therefore be the work of another member of the Club, passing into WGF's hands later. A blank page is provided for a production of The Hairy Ape, a play which was (?also) produced at Cambridge in November 1928: some material may therefore relate to other Companies' productions.
24f (2 loose): 27 prints (1 loose); 4 newspaper cuttings (2 loose)
Size: 30 x 21 cm

SPE 4/B/1/1A 4 October 1928
Valedictory poem for WGF by C. W. F., Liverpool Playgoers' Club.
1f

SPE 4/B/1/1B-C 25 September 1928
Letter from A. J. Wearden, Hotel Herman, Place de Meuse, Dinant to WGF: Wearden a representative of [London] Polytechnic; wishes WGF luck for his career.
1f; 1 envelope

SPE 4/B/2 February 1928-October 1932
Album containing photographs, newspaper cuttings (4 loose), copies of notices, and ephemera from the time of WGF's departure from the Liverpool Playgoers' Club [February, 1928] through his years performing at the Cambridge Festival Theatre, the A.D.C. Theatre, Cambridge, with the Ben Greet Players, and on a tour of a detective play The Man at Six presented by Jack Cartwright.
Productions illustrated:

1A. Hoppla, We're Alive! (Hoppla, wir leben!) by Ernst Toller. Cambridge Festival Theatre, February 1928.

1B. The Shrew by John Galsworthy. Cambridge Festival Theatre, October 1928.

1C. The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill. Cambridge Festival Theatre, November 1928.

1D. As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Cambridge Festival Theatre, November 1928.

1E. The Pleasure Garden by Beatrice Mayer. Cambridge Festival Theatre, January 1929.

2v. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Cambridge Festival Theatre, February 1929.

4v. The Storm by Alexander N. Ostrovsky. Everyman Theatre Guild, after 3 December 1929.

7A-E, 8.Henry IV part 2 and Henry V by William Shakespeare. Ben Greet Players production in the Deanery gardens at Canterbury, with prints and negative of some players (including WGF) in costume, June 1930.

28f (4f loose); 9 prints (loose); 1 negative (loose); 3 pamphlets (loose)
Size: 29 x 20 cm

SPE 4/B/2/1F 4-9 November 1929
Programme for a performance of Life's a Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, translated by Frank Birch and J. B. Trend, and produced by Frank Birch at the A.D.C. Theatre, [Cambridge], 4-9 November 1929.
WGF played the part of ‘Clotaldo’. The programme is inscribed on the cover in pencil, “Betty” [Jones, later Farrell].
2f

SPE 4/B/2/5A 2 December 1929
Programme for an Everyman Theatre Guild performance of The Storm by Alexander N. Ostrovsky, produced by Malcolm Morley at the Everyman Theatre, Hampstead.
WGF played the part of Ivan.
10f

SPE 4/B/2/9A 18 x 23 August 1930
Programme for a performance of The Man at Six by Jack Celestin and Jack de Leon, touring production by Leslie Henson presented by Jack Cartwright at the Grand Theatre, Leeds.
WGF played the part of George Woolmer.
4f

SPE 4/B/2/9B 4 July 1931
Newspaper cutting: ‘Experimental theatres. How the new stagecraft fares in England, with an account of her most progressive Playhouses and Dramatic Societies’, by Lawrence Mason, Music and Drama Editor, The Globe, 4 July 1931.
2f

SPE 4/B/3 [1926-1931]
Business card (magazine cutting mounted on card) of WGF of 82 Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, London, with portrait, with offer to “Play or Produce”.
1f

SPE 4/B/4/1-35 [1926-1931]
Photographs relating to theatrical activity of WGF, including: fitting costumes, [club room] and backstage at the Liverpool Playgoers' Club [1926 x 1928] (SPE 4/B/4/1-4); studio portraits of WGF [1928 x 1931] (SPE 4/B/4/5-7); and 28 prints of unidentified production sets in unidentified theatres (SPE 4/B/4/8-35), some with sketches of scenery designs on the reverse.
[Those photographs with sketches on the reverse may document Spennymoor Settlement Everyman Players' 1942 production of Distant Point, or another production around this date: a poster for Distant Point (SPE 1/C/3/6) has similar sketches on its reverse.]
35 prints

Employment applications of William G. Farrell
Reference: SPE 4/C
Dates of creation: 1926-[1955]
Extent: 1 envelope
Applications for and offers of employment made by and to WGF, including curricula vitae of both WGF and ECF.

Performance credits
Reference: SPE 4/C/1
Dates of creation: 1926-[1930s]
Extent: 2f
List of plays performed or produced by WGF whilst a member of the following companies and theatres, detailing parts and production and other staff roles, and with extracts from press notices: Everyman Theatre, Hampstead, Anmer Hall's Company; Festival Theatre, Cambridge, Companies of Frank Birch and Lydia Lopokova, and of Ben Greet. Typescript, updated with manuscript additions.

Spennymoor Settlement
Reference: SPE 4/C/2-3
Dates of creation: February 1931
Extent: 19f
Curricula vitae with references (two copies), and personal statement, prepared in application to B.A.R.S. for the post of warden of Spennymoor Settlement; includes curriculum vitae of Elizabeth Ceridwen Jones (later Farrell). Typescript.

National Council of Social Service: County Durham Advisory Officer
Reference: SPE 4/C/4-21
Dates of creation: 1932-1933
Extent: 22f
Personal correspondence between WGF, B.A.R.S. and the N.C.S.S. concerning WGF's appointment as Advisory Officer to the N.C.S.S. in connection with its work with the unemployed in County Durham. WGF's secondment from B.A.R.S. continued until October 1933.

SPE 4/C/10 5 January 1933
Minutes of a meeting of the National Council of Social Service, on the subject of unemployment, attended by representatives of the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Boy Scouts Association, Rotary International, British Legion, Educational Settlements Association, Toc H. [Talbot House], B.A.R.S., National Association of Boys Clubs, Boys Brigade, National Council of Girls' Clubs.
1f

B.B.C.
Reference: SPE 4/C/22-24
Dates of creation: November 1936
Extent: 5f
Curriculum vitae with covering letter for a B.B.C. Staff Reserve post; with acknowledgement and negative response.

Manager, Garrison Theatre, Liverpool
Reference: SPE 4/C/25-27
Dates of creation: April-July 1941
Extent: 4f
Correspondence between WGF and F. S. Milligan, Army Welfare Officer, Liverpool, concerning an offer - declined - to manage the Garrison Theatre (formerly the David Lewis Theatre and Club) at Liverpool.

Resident Warden, International Youth Centre, London
Reference: SPE 4/C/28-34
Dates of creation: March-May 1943
Extent: 7f
Correspondence between WGF, John L. Longland [County Education Officer] of Dorset County Council Education Committee, Jean Grantham Hall of Eighteen Plus, and Betty Shields-Collins of the I.Y. Council in Great Britain, concerning the recommendation of and (ultimately abandoned) application by WGF for the post of resident warden at an International Youth Centre [opened July 1943].

County Drama Organiser [for Oxfordshire]
Reference: SPE 4/C/35
Dates of creation: 22 July 1954
Extent: 1f
Letter from [?Mary Glasgow], The Arts Council of Great Britain, enclosing a circular advertising a post of County Drama Organiser [for Oxfordshire] (not present).

Curricula vitae
Reference: SPE 4/C/36-38
Dates of creation: [1955]
Extent: 9f
Curricula vitae of WGF, with list of (updated) referees.

References
Reference: SPE 4/C/39-52
Dates of creation: 1928-1954
Extent: 27f
Letters of reference, with typescript excerpts, from the following:

39. J. N. Sharrach, Liverpool Managing Director, Elder Dempster and Co., Ltd, 1928;

40. G. E. Warder, Lucilla Amateur Dramatic Society, 1928;

41. Terence Grey, 7 Queens Gate, London, 1930;

42. P. Julian Maddock, Civil & Consulting Engineer, 30 Lord Street, Liverpool (in connection with the Liverpool Playgoers' Club), 1931;

43. Robert W. Jones, Head Master, Broad Green Road School, Liverpool (in connection with Field Sports and mountaineering), 1931;

44. J. L. Hodgkinson, sub-warden, Toynbee Hall, 20 Commercial Street, London, 1931;

45. E. Chetter, Incorporated Accountant, Henderson and Eastwood, 26 North John Street, Liverpool, 1931;

46. Professor Brian Stanley, King's College, University of Durham, 1946;

47. John L. Longland, County Education Officer, Dorset County Council Education Committee, 1946;

48. Rev. Dr Edward Pace, Hatfield College, Durham, 1946;

49. E. Martin Browne, Director, The British Drama League, 1948;

50. John Gittins, Principal, Aycliffe School, Darlington, 1954;

51. Deputy Secretary, The Arts Council of Great Britain, 1954;

52. J. B. Twemlow, Director, The Community Service Council for Durham County, 1954.

Emergency Information Officer
Reference: SPE 4/D/1-5
Dates of creation: June-August 1945
Extent: 6f
Letters from the Regional Information Officer and his Deputy, Ministry of Information, concerning the Civil Defence Medal, to which WGF's service as an Emergency Information Officer was of insufficient duration to allow him to qualify.

Freelance journalism by William G. Farrell
Reference: SPE 4/E
Dates of creation: 1933-1966
Extent: 81f; 1 volume
Drafts and texts of articles by WGF produced for local publications.

SPE 4/E/1 1944
‘Is Kepier plant essential? Mr. W. G. Farrell's important suggestion. What about S.W. Durham Coal?’, Auckland Chronicle, 3 August 1944 (galley proof: 2 copies). [2f]
2f

SPE 4/E/2-22 [1940]-1941
Articles by [WGF] promoting the activities of the Durham County Drama Association and reporting on theatrical activities and events in the county, published in the [ Durham County Advertiser]. Typescripts with manuscript corrections.

2. ‘County Association's dramatic war-time gesture. Amateur drama festivals.’ The first of the series. [4f]

3. ‘One-act play festivals. “What are you doing it for?”’ [3f]

4. ‘The festivals. The craftsman and his tools.’ [4f]

5. ‘The last of the festivals. Coming events.’ [3f]

6. ‘Festival finances. Summer time activities and play readings.’ [3f]

7. ‘Art by the people. Painting, sculpture, and the theatre. An important travelling exhibition in Durham County towns. Drama Association's meeting.’ [4f]

8. ‘Annual general meeting. Youth Section.’ [2f]

9. ‘A Youth Branch, & a Children's Theatre. The new barnstormers. Durham poets and dramatists can meet each other.’ [4f]

10. ‘Visit of the Canterbury “Pilgrim Players”. Youth Branch festival. A County Music Committee.’ [2f]

11. ‘The visit of “The Pilgrim Players”. The Church's lead to social and political bodies. A hint to the Ministry of Information.’ 6 October 1940. [4f]

12. ‘Reflections on “The Pilgrims' Tour”. Coming events.’ 18 October 1940. [4f]

13. ‘Producers' & Stage Managers' conference. C.E.M.A. concert party tour.’ 7 November 1940 [2f]

14. ‘The problem of the missing male. C.E.M.A. concert tours.’ 21 November 1940. [3f]

15. ‘Variety entertainments in war time. Learning how to do it.’ 6 February 1941. [2f]

16. ‘“The renaissance of art and learning.” A great social force. Suggested Summer conference. 1941 festival prospects.’ 20 February 1941. [3f]

17. ‘The “Old Vic” Company in Durham. Shakespearean stars for the mining villages. The Youth Branch's first play festival.’ 6 March 1941. [3f]

18. ‘The festivals. The “Old Vic” tour. A real National Theatre.’ 28 March 1941. [4f]

19. ‘The second annual festival. One act plays in Durham County.’ 25 April 1941. [2f]

20. ‘The Pilgrim Players. Return visit. Spennymoor production of “Hedda Gabler”’. 16 May 1941. [1f]

21. ‘Exhibition of scene and costume design. Annual general meeting.’ 13 June 1941. [1f]

22. ‘“The Pilgrim Players”. Return visit to the County.’ 30 June 1941. [2f]

60f

SPE 4/E/23-38 29 June 1964-10 October 1969
Literary reviews by WGF published in the Northern Despatch, containing drafts, typescripts, newspaper cuttings, and related correspondence.

23. ‘A weekly play’; ‘Man of the theatre’, North-East Association for the Arts grant in support of Darlington Civic Theatre, and appointment of Secretary-Manager, 29 June and 30 July 1964; ‘New theatre secretary takes over’, unidentified publication, [August 1964].

24. ‘Rodin the innovator’. Review of Rodin, with notes by Somerville Story (Phaidon Press), 5 June 1964.

25. ‘The watcher and the watched’. Review of Rembrandt and his world by Christopher Wood (Thomas and Hudson), 7 July 1964.

26. ‘Brecht: a giant of the theatre’. Review of Brecht on theatre (Methuen), 7 August 1964.

27. ‘For people with the urge to draw’. Review of Creative pencil drawing, by Paul Hogarth (Studio Vista), 20 November 1964.

28. ‘The lost Birdsall talent’. Review of Timothy by Timothy Birdsall (Michael Joseph), 4 December 1964.

29. ‘Pianist with a taste for life’. Review of Benno Moiseiwitsch by Maurice Moiseiwitsch (Muller), 26 February 1965.

30. ‘Colossus of the art world’. Review of Life with Picasso, by Francoise Gilot and Carlton Lake (Nelson), 12 March 1965.

31. ‘Patron of the Arts - or luxury trade customer?’. Review of In Various Directions. Sir Tyrone Guthrie Talks (Michael Joseph), 25 March 1966.

32. ‘School for actors. The Method in action’. Review of Strasberg at the Actors' Studio, edited by Robert H. Hethman (Cape), 27 May 1966.

33. ‘Salvador Dali's Diary of a Genius’. Review (Hutchinson), 12 August 1966.

34. ‘Eccentric and erotic’. Review of The Life of Eric Gill by Robert Speaight (Methuen), 9 September 1966.

35. ‘Improvisation and actors’. Review of Improvisation by John Hodgson and Ernest Richards (Methuen), 14 October 1966.

36. ‘The System - an actor's A.B.C.’. Review of The Stanislavsky System by Sonia Moore (Gollancz), [1966].

37. ‘A theatre in himself’. Review of Seasons of Discontent by Robert Brustein (Cape), 11 November 1966.

18f; 1 volume

SPE 4/E/38 [May 1966-1969]
Notebook containing drafts of articles commissioned by the Northern Despatch, on folia:

1. The Method in action; A school for actors.

3v. The Little Goya.

5. Playing my part. Memoirs of an operatic singer.

5v. The actor's A.B.C.

7. Dali's Diary of a Genius.

8v. The Life of Eric Gill.

10. Theatrical improvisation. Stanislavsky simplified.

11. Seasons of Discontent.

13. List of review copies offered for re-sale by WGF to the Foyle's in 1966, with original purchase prices.

15. The Son of a Servant.

16. Theatre Bookshelf.

17. The failure that triumphed.

19. The Empty Space Theatre tour.

20. Black & White. A portrait of Aubrey Beardsley.

21. The uncanny Scot.

21v. A poor-rich theatre.

1 volume (57f); 1f (loose)

SPE 4/E/38/22A (reverse) 10 October 1969
Programme for a concert performed by the Phoenix Piano Trio at Ormesby Hall, and presented by the Ormesby Hall Arts Club.
1f

Theatrical and literary activities
Reference: SPE 4/F
Dates of creation: 1931-1964
Extent: 3 envelopes
Correspondence, ephemera, newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to WGF's freelance literary and theatrical activities in the North East.

Theatrical productions
Reference: SPE 4/F/1
Dates of creation: Spring 1933
Extent: 1f
Programme for a performance by Spennymoor Class Teachers' Dramatic Society of The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, produced by WGF.

SPE 4/F/2-9 7-9 December 1931
Handbill, programme and newspaper cuttings relating to a performance by “The Players” of The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, produced by WGF.
8f

Correspondence
Reference: SPE 4/F/10-58
Dates of creation: [1934]-1964
Extent: 1 envelope
Correspondence containing critical reviews, appreciations and requests concerning dramatic productions.

10. Barbara Nixon, Left Theatre, 139 Marylebone Road, London, 17 February [1934]: acquaintance from Anmer Hall's Company at the Festival [Theatre, Cambridge], and seeking benefit of WGF's Durham experiences. [3f]

11. C. W. Chetwynd, Dunelm School, 38 South Street, Durham, 24 May 1935: invitation to produce a play with the Durham Colleges Amateur Dramatic Society. [2f]

12-14. WGF to Tyrone Guthrie, Westminster Theatre, London, 1 October 1935-26 January 1938: Group Theatre productions of T. S. Eliot's Sweeney Agonistes and Auden's [The Dance of Death]. [5f]

15. WGF to Noel Iliff, Grafton Theatre, London, 22 October 1935: upon his new appointment. [1f]

16. Helen, Quarry Heads, Durham, 21 February 1936: thanks for WGF's views on her performance in an unidentified production. [1f]

17. J. M. Almont, “Bunnygarth”, North End, Durham, 16 June 1936: review of a local production of Rutland Boughton's The Immortal Hour. [3f]

18-19. A. Nicoloff and Kathleen Edwards, Unemployed Drama Groups, 17 July 1936 and [?1936]: Chekhov Theatre Studio; Summer Touring Group in Durham, 27 July-2 August 1936; Winter residence at [Rock House Settlement] Theatre, Seaham Harbour; [2f]

20-21. WGF to Charlie Chaplin, Charles Chaplin Film Corporation, 1416 North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, California, 13-29 October 1936: recommending Hillil Bernstein's Choose a Bright Morning for adaptation into a Chaplin production, with extracted list of most Chaplinesque scenes. [6f]

22. W. Nattress, 22 Byron Street, Easington Colliery, 3 November 1936: drama group of Church of the Ascension, production of Brian J. Burton's adaptation of Mrs Henry Wood's East Lynn, asking for loan of costumes. [2f]

23. W. Todd, 47 Dean Road, Ferryhill, 13 November 1937: Soviet film shown at the Welfare Hall, fund raising [by International Brigade] Dependants' Aid [Committee]. [5f]

24-26. N. Richenberg, Hon. Secretary, Sunderland Jewish Dramatic Society, Communal Hall, Ryhope Road, Sunderland, 19 May-20 June 1938: suggesting WGF lecture to the Society. [3f]

27-41. Correspondence, conference paper, printed leaflets and a photograph relating to Ormesby Hall, and to Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop and its touring groups, [1946]-1963. WGF was appointed to an Advisory Committee in April 1946. [19f; 1 print]

42-50.Theatre Royal Galleryites Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, arranging an (aborted) lecture by WGF on ‘The purpose of the Theatre’; copies of the Club's Newsletter no. 14 (February 1946) and a copy of Globe, the Club's journal, Winter [1945/6], No. 2, vol. 1, annotated by WGF in preparation for his talk, January-March 1946. [8f; 1 pamphlet (12p)]

51-53. WGF to David Webster, Royal Opera House, April-May 1946: upon his new appointment; appreciation of [Frederick Ashton's] ballet Symphonic Variations, and its designs by Sophie Fedorovitch, and of ‘The Dante’ [?Dante Sonata]. [4f]

54-56. Correspondence, Spennymoor Urban District Council, with WGF, considering demountable extension of the stage in the Town Hall, and the provision of space for exhibiting art, 3 June 1949-30 June 1952. [3f]

57-58. WGF to [?the Managing Director of the New Shakespeare Company, David Conville], critically praising a production of Twelfth Night, and offering advice on the Company's new venture, undated letter; with programme for a performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night produced at the Darlington Civic Theatre, 8-13 June 1964. [5f]

SPE 4/F/10/2 [1934]
Left Theatre promotional leaflet, listing the members of a Committee and inviting new members.
2f

SPE 4/F/27 7 April [1946]
Report of a conference at Ormesby Hall (with attendees listed) to consider the best use of the old wing of the Hall as a centre for the arts for the northern area. Typescript.
1f

SPE 4/F/32 13-27 July [1946]
Leaflet advertising a Theatre Workshop Summer School at Ormesby Hall.
2f

SPE 4/F/33-35 6-11 January 1947
Leaflet (2 copies) and handbill advertising a series of plays produced by the Theatre Workshop Ltd, presented by Teesside Guild of Arts in association with the Arts Council. Plays: Operation Olive Branch (an adaptation of Aristophanes' Lysistrata) by Ewan MacColl, Molière's The Flying Doctor (Le Médecin volant), and MacColl's Johnny Noble.
1f (2 copies); 1f

Brancepeth Stuart Fayre and Masque
Reference: SPE 4/F/59-77
Dates of creation: 11-13 June 1936
Extent: 1 pamphlet; 9 prints; 9f
Official handbook, signature sheet of [performers], photographs and newspaper cuttings of a three-day historical fair and masque, When Charles II was King, by Madge Beaumont, re-enacted and performed at Brancepeth Castle.
WGF arranged the cast in each of the five episodes, and played the part of Charles II opposite Sybil Lady Eden as Queen Catherine.

Newspaper cuttings
Reference: SPE 4/F/78-128
Dates of creation: 1941-1964
Extent: 72f
Correspondence, newspaper cuttings, WGF architectural interior theatre design sketches, and Exploratory Committee papers relating to a public debate and subsequent enquiry concerning the creation of a theatre in Durham City.

Newspaper cuttings: general
Reference: SPE 4/G
Dates of creation: 1939-[1971]
Extent: 1 volume; 34f
Newspaper cuttings.

SPE 4/G/1/1-55 October 1939-June 1969
Poetry, literary and drama reviews, social commentaries. Notebook containing newspaper cuttings, pasted in (SPE 4/G/1/1-10) and loose (SPE 4/G/1/27-55), and one manuscript poem (SPE 4/G/1/10v).
1 volume (26f); 28f (loose)

SPE 4/G/2/1-3 November 1945-February 1946
Scheme for a North Regional Orchestra.
3f

SPE 4/G/3/1-3 [1968]-December 1969; [1971]
Biographical pieces:

1. ‘Ex-Settlement man retires from teaching post’, retirement of JM from Hedworth Lane Junior Mixed School, Boldon Colliery, [1968].

2. ‘Bill Farrell - North's talent scout for arts’, Northern Echo, [December 1969].

3. ‘“Settlement” warden Bill Farrell dies’, appreciations by Sid Chaplin and Arnold Hadwin, [1971].

Elizabeth (“Betty”) Farrell
Reference: SPE 4/H/1-25
Dates of creation: February 1933-September 1962
Extent: 29f
Correspondence and papers concerning:

1-2. Formation of a [Spennymoor] District Nursing Association (1933);

3-6. North-East Women's Parliament and ECF's appointment as Vice-Chairman (1942-1944);

7-25. Teacher's Pension entitlements (1955-1962).

[ECF formally returned to a teaching career in October 1948, and ultimately served as headmistress of Abbotsley School, Huntingdonshire.]

General correspondence
Reference: SPE 4/I/1-8
Dates of creation: April 1935-January 1941
Extent: 16f
Personal correspondence between WGF, ECF and the following correspondents:

1. A. C. Snaith, Brynmore, 14 Egremont Drive, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, upon an illness, 1 April 1935;

2. Hilda K. Derry, Holmside, Western Hill, Durham City, upon her engagement, 13 May 1936;

3. Professor J. L. Stocks, 22 Wilbraham Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, upon his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University, 8 August 1936;

4. [L.] Shoeten Sack, 17 Belvedere Grove, Wimbledon, London, upon his appointment as Secretary of the National Council of Social Service, 14 March 1937;

5-6. Miss Cooper Hodgson, 33 South Street, Durham City, with copy reply, arranging appointment, 23 March-2 April 1937;

7. Jim, Cedwyn, Weston Avenue, Oswestry, with news of family, friends and evacuees, 14 November 1939;

8. Gertrude Usher, 28 Princes Street, Liverpool, with news of Liverpool Playgoers' Club activities and bomb damage, 14 January 1941.

Photographs
Reference: SPE 4/J/1-15
Dates of creation: [1920s]-1951
Extent: 15 prints
Personal photographs.

SPE 4/J/1-8 2 March 1938
Photographs of the Shrove Tuesday Game at Sedgefield in the year WGF initiated the game. See also SPE 1/C/1/88.
8 prints

SPE 4/J/9-13 [1920s]-1951
Portrait photographs of the following persons:

Unidentified lady in silk and lace, beside a bookshelf, [?19th century]. [Perhaps a production still.]

Unidentified suited man, [?1920s].

Alan, R.N.V.R. Lieutenant, Malta, September 1942.

Peggy Zhenia, W.A.A.F., Christmas 1942.

David Owen, 18 months, with [?his parents], January 1951.

5 prints

SPE 4/J/14 [1930s]
Photograph of Left Book Club stall at a [?1930s] Durham Miners' Gala.
1 print

SPE 4/J/15 [1930s]
Photograph of an unidentified woman and young boy playing tennis on one of a number of public grass courts in an unidentified industrial town [?Spennymoor].
1 print

	The Spennymoor Settlement
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