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The North Pennine Moorland |
The rolling moors south of Hadrian's wall which blend into the
Northern Pennines on either side of the South Tyne Valley through Allendale and
Allenheads are an attractive site all year round.
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On the top of the moors one can see lonely chimneys standing
alone in the wind, these are the end of the flumes from the lead smelters in the
valley below in some cases two miles away. These flumes are constructed of brick and large enough for a man and cart to
walk through have been buried in earth and not always obvious to the eye.
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The flumes have a few useful reasons firstly to
extract to smoke from the fires from the valley while causing a draft to stoke
the smelters and secondly the silver in the fumes which would normally be lost
to the atmosphere, condensed on the walls and could later be removed.
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Allendale
Tar Barrel Celebration
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The Northumberland Village of Allendale celebrate the New Year with a unique
Pagan ceremony at mid night each year, with a colourful procession
through the town to the Baal fire.
A selected hereditary team of 45 barrel carriers known as Guisers dressed in
fancy dress carry flaming whiskey barrels through the streets to the town centre
where they are used to ignite a ceremonial bonfire, as everyone shouts
"Be Damned to He Who Throws Last"
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The barrels which can weigh 15 kg (30 lbs) filled with burning hot tar are
carried by the Guisers on their heads, the flames leaping up to the dark night
skies with sparks giving a spectacular sight.
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The Guisers some of whom have held their right to carry the flaming barrels
for more than half a century had the honour passed from their fathers and intend
to pass it on down through the family.
Without documentary evidence of the roots to the centuries old festival
local folklore gives theories of being Viking in origin with possible Paganism
roots in fire worship.
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Allenheads
Heritage Centre
Most of the
villages in the area have a connection to the days of lead mining with old mine
chimneys in the hills around Allenheads Heritage Mining Centre with portrays the
history of the local lead mines and its existence since the last mine closed in
1896.
Click here for
on November 5th 2002
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