SIR Herbert Chermside took centre stage 100 years ago this month in what local newspapers called “an interesting ceremony” as he and Lady Chermside opened the North Cowton Institute, between Scorton and Great Smeaton.
Now known as the village hall, it was in an Army hut moved from Catterick camp and “excellently adapted for institute purposes”. We think the village halls in nearby East Cowton and Danby Wiske are also ex-Army huts from Catterick.
North Cowton village hall is a First World War Army hut from Catterick which was opened 100 years ago this week. PIcture: Google StreetView
The Darlington & Stockton Times said that in North Cowton the hut had been placed “on a commanding site given by Miss Ripley”.
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In the hall is a plaque dedicated to Miss Ripley’s brother, Gunner John Ripley, 38, who had been killed in 1917 in Belgium serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery. Miss Ripley, from a Cowton farming family, had chosen a personal inscription for his headstone: “He was a man of honour of noble and generous nature.”
Sir Herbert Chermside, when Governor of Queensland, who opened North Cowton village hall. Picture: Wikipedia
On the opening day, Sir Herbert, of Pepper Arden Hall, the nearby country mansion, said the great strength of Britain was its rural population. “Urban communities are constantly recruiting from the land-dwellers, and I fully appreciate the efforts of those who strive to promote in the countryside institutes, clubs and recreation grounds, with the hope and purpose of moderating the attractive power of city life,” he said.
Eton-educated Sir Herbert, blessed with a splendid moustache, narrowly avoided being executed in 1870 in Paris for allegedly helping the communards, went on an Arctic expedition before helping the Turks fight against Russia. He was put in charge of the new Egyptian army, fought in the Boer, rising to become a lieutenant-general and receive a knighthood. Then he became Governor of Queensland for a couple of years.
Along the way, he married Geraldine Webb, who had been born at Pepper Ardern. Although her family had sold the hall, she wished to return there – so Sir Herbert bought it for her.
Unfortunately, she died before they could move in.
So it was Sir Herbert’s second wife, Clemence, who was the Lady Chermside who cut the “institute birthday cake” on the opening day in North Cowton.
North Cowton village hall, in the middle, was an Army hut from Catterick garrison that was repurposed 100 years ago this month
Memories has reason to remember the hall the Chermsides opened because seven years ago we gave a talk to the village Women’s Institute there and were asked to judge the competition. As the ladies had been asked to make a paper aeroplane, we thought the best way to choose the winner was to launch each one from the old Army stage.
Unfortunately, the third plane we tried flew straight and true – right into the eye of a lady sitting in the front row.
We last saw her being helped out of the hall, her eye bloodshot and weeping, by her friends who said they were taking her to accident and emergency at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
We haven’t been invited back since.
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