Gateshead Post

August 24, 1964

Clarence R. Walton

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A Gateshead pioneer led settlers in Africa
OLD GATESHEAD No. 828

HE LEFT DECKHAMS'S HALL AT THE AGE OF SIXTY
Mr. A.B. Walmsley, lately of the County Club, Durham City, has returned to his
home in South Africa. In a letter he writes: "The first large scale British settlement in Cape Province was made in 1820 and the leader of the settlers was a certain Miles Bowker, form Gateshead.

He had farmed at a place called Deckhams Hall, presumably until 1820, and must have been born about the year 1765. I wonder if any trace of this Deckhams Hall, or any records relating to the Bowker family remain?"

Deckham or Dackham's Hall, first come into the picture in 1614, the year Thomas Dackham died. Welford, the historian, in his "History of Newcastle and Gateshead," reveals that old Thomas's grand-daughter, Elizabeth, inherited the property.

She was married to Henry Mitford and both were living at Dackham Hall. Thomas Dackham's brother Henry, and his nephew William, also his cousin John Dackham, all benefited from the will. The Mitfords, however, long reigned at Dackham Hall which became known by many as Mitford's house.

Surtees, the historian, in his "History of Durham," wrote "Deckham's Hall lies to the East of the great road, near Gateshead too-bar. . . The front of the house is in Heworth Chapelry, the back part and the estate in Gateshead.

An old farm

There are many who will remember the old building known as Deckham Hall Farm which stood a little to the east of the curve of Carr Hill Road at Wakefield Terrace.

Miles Bowker was born at Dackham's Hall in 1759. In Hilton's Directory of Newcastle and Gateshead for 1795 appears the entry: "Thomas Bowker, merchant, Deckhams's Hall."

Mr. T. S. Cardy, Chief Librarian, adds to this information a record from the Durham Marriage Bonds which reveals Anna Maria Mitford was married to Miles Bowker May 10, 1800. It would appear then the Bowkers had acquired the Mitford estate, but had strong ties with the old family.

At what year George Wooler purchased Deckham Hall is not recorded. In the year 1817, however, he sold the entire estate to William James for £7 100. so we can conclude that the untied house of Mitford and Bowker had left their noble residence before the pioneer made his trek to South Africa.

Led a party

Miles Bowker who as Mr. Walmsely says, farmed the land at Dackham's Hall, was a remarkable man. He was over 60 when he left for South Africa leading a party of settlers and he achieved much in the land of his adoption.

The Bowkers left England in the "Weymouth" and made their home at Tharfield, in the Albany district of Cape Colony. This part of South Africa had been originally occupied by the Dutch. It was captured by the British in 1795, restored to Holland in 1802 and again taken by the British in 1806.

The colony presented great opportunities and Miles Bowker in 1820 led a band of settlers, no doubt many from Gateshead, into this land of promise.

The family played a leading part in the development of Cape Colony and were during the passing years officers of volunteers and police and were Justices of the Peace.

Writes Mr. Walmsley: "On the outbreak of the Kaffir War in 1834 all the old family silver was tied up in a tablecloth and buried in the valley at the back of the farm, while the family went into laarger in Bathurst. When the war ended, and the family returned to Tharfield, they were unable to find the buried silver, and successive generations have dug for it without success."

Merion sheep

Miles Bowker was a man of great enterprise who was one of the first to attempt the farming of Merion sheep on the eastern frontier and had wool woven into blankets. Merions sheep, incidentally, are a Spanish breed which produce fine white wool.

Miles Bowker was amongst the first to work for the development of the Kowie as a harbour. In 1839 he died when in his 81st year.

Mr. Walmsley tells me: "A bronze bust of Bowker is to form part of a new monument to the 1820 Settlers at present completing."

William James left Deckham Hall to live a Beaufront Castle and then for many years at Otterburn Towers. Alderman Benjamin Biggar, Mayor of Gateshead 1861 and 1862 lived for sometime at Deckham Hall.

"Joey Jones"

In his first year of his mayoralty "Joey Jones" won the Northumberland Plate and Geordie Ridley, the Gateshead Entertainer and composer of local lyrics wrote:

"Aw;m gan te sing te ye a san.
If ye'll but list to me,
Aw divvent intent to keep ye lang,
An; that ye'll plainly see;
It's all aboot young Joey Jones,
He wun the Northunberland Plate,
He was was bred at Decham Hall,
Just up throogh the gate.
For he jogs alang, he canter'd alang,
He lick'd then all se fine;
He wis bred at Gyetshead,
He's the pride o' Coaly tyne."

Joey Jones the hero of the "big race" at 10 to 1 was owned by a Mr. Stewart, but whether this sporting gentleman lived in the Hall is not generally know. It is clear, however, that he used the extensive stables for breeding and training horses.

Lost importance

In Kelly's Directory for 1886 an entry reveals there was a Deckham Hall Colliery owned by Hopper, Hughes and Co., but no mention is made of any occupant of the Hall.

In Whellan's Directory, 1895, William Penman, cowkeeper, is described as of Deckhams Hall. It would appear the once stately Elizabethan mansion more than 300 years old had lost its importance and usefulness.

At the turn of the century Thomas Harris, coal merchant occupied part of the Hall, and John Bately farmed the land around. The same Mr. Bately was living in Deckham Hall Farm in the 1930's when he moved to Allendale. The decayed building was then demolished to make way for Council houses.

Deckham Hall is remembered by the older generation of the district as the "Haunted House," because of its air of gloom and the strange echoes to be heard on windy nights.

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Last updated 1 October 2007