Jim Rees (now Assistant Director for Developments at the Museum) and myself (now titled ‘Head of Transport & Industry’ in a recent round of changes) are regular users of e-bay as part of the day job (at night!).  For Jim it has proved an ideal source of period items required for numerous building projects at Beamish – the metal windows for the chip shop being just one example.  For me the items are as varied, with postcards and pictures being a favorite find – it has been remarkable how many pictures of Seaham No.18 have turned up this way.  There are ethical issues to consider for a curator in using online auctions such as this, but where provenance can be proven and source demonstrated, it is an invaluable and fascinating barometer on the sort of items that won’t appear in mainstream auction rooms or in salvage yards – ideal for a developing open air museum such as ours.

Whilst delving into the items online, using one of a number of regular search criteria, the image below turned up.  I thought it was of such interest that it was worth purchasing and so I present it here to a wider audience who might appreciate it!

So, what are we looking at?

The postcard itself, published by Elliott Bros Photographers, Hexham,, Ryton and Haltwhistle.  A pencil mark appears on the reverse with ‘Allendale’ clearly indicated.  The size of the postcard is 5 3/8 inch by 3 1/2 inches.  I have not yet found out much about this photographers but it would be an interesting avenue for research and the Kellys directory would no doubt be of use in this.

The location – I asked Jim what he thought and using the Allendale label, he was very quickly able to recall that there was a similar road location to the south.  I had wondered if this was a railway line (though a very unusual process of consolidation was taking place if it was!) – the telegraph poles, narrow formation and steep unguarded slope to the left being quite suggestive of this.  However, a few moments spent on google earth and Jim had a spot that looked very much like this one, with the background hills corresponding with the view.  It appears to be a location on the B6295, looking north, adjacent to the Methodist Chapel at Sinderhope.

The motorcycle – Being an X registration, this pointed to a Northumberland registered machine.  Here I turned to Ian Bean, stalwart of the Museum’s Friends organisation, who quickly identified the motorcyle as a Rover.  I delved into the reference books looking for a model or year.  Ian thought it to date from around 1914.  The closest examples that I found dated from 1913 and 1916 (so Ian was spot on!).  It is a single cylinder cycle, the tank will be grey/silver with the horizontal stripe in red.  It is almost certainly a 500cc example with Sturmey Archer hub gear.  Bosch magnetos, Brown and Barlow carburettor and Druid spring forks were also fitted.  The rider is well attired for riding in the hills of Northumberland, with his cap reversed (no crash helmet!) and heavy coat and gloves (?).  Compare this with the clothing worn by the roadmaking gang in the background!

The steam roller – well, we know it is Northumberland and we know Northumberland used Aveling & Porters – the Museum has one!  This 15 ton machine is on long term loan to Anthony Coulls and his family and has recently been returned to steam (and incidentally it is hoped that it will appear at the GNSF in April).  The engine in the postcard looks to be like an Aveling, and it is a large example.  Not being able to see a registration or headstock is a disadvantage.  Note what looks to be the water lifter hanging on the rear of the engine – rather longer than those many engines carry today.  Consultation with Anthony revealed his view that it is probably ‘Tyne’, one of Northumberland’s other 15 ton rollers. Not a bad answer given that the engine is not showing its most flattering side!

So, a simple purchase of an interesting photograph has provided a number of us with a very pleasant few minutes of study, discussion and hypothesising. It is also amazing at the knowledge that lies at the fingertips of people in this profession/hobby of ours!  Now, you know what we think based on a glance at this image, but we stand to be corrected – does anybody reading this have anything they can add to the discussion?!