Yes, it is a shame. The building appears to be quite sound: perhaps the owners of the house use it for storage; or there may be unseen structural problems. I may go and ask the next time I am in that direction - probably next August. Melvyn. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Temple" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 10:41 AM Subject: Re: [NMB] Marriage in Redesdale - resources searched at Woodhorn > Melvyn, > I'm surprised that the chapel has not been snapped up by some property > developer ! > Mike Temple. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Melvyn Hunter" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 6:13 PM > Subject: Re: [NMB] Marriage in Redesdale - resources searched at Woodhorn > > >> Dear Michael, >> >> During renovations, the chimney on the road end of the manse fell in >> through >> the roof. Since, the manse has been rebuilt and is an occupied house. The >> chapel (I last saw in August 2012) remains empty and (probably) unused. >> >> Melvyn. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Michael Temple" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 1:30 PM >> Subject: Re: [NMB] Marriage in Redesdale - resources searched at Woodhorn >> >> >>>I believe you are correct about Birdhopecraig chapel. >>> I seem to recall that the earlier (1672) one was at Sillsburnfoot, not >>> very >>> far from where the "new" stone chapel was built in 1826. >>> I haven't been in that area for a few years now, but I do recall the >>> chapel >>> is now closed and is possibly a private residence now ? >>> Mike Temple. >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Geoff Nicholson" <[email protected]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 2:02 PM >>> Subject: Re: [NMB] Marriage in Redesdale - resources searched at >>> Woodhorn >>> >>> >>>> >>>> Although BHC chapel was built in 1826 according to "British Listed >>>> Buildings" >>>> webpage, it seems as though marriages were performed pre-1837 at other >>>> rural >>>> locations. The Carterhead and Cocklaw could have been farms, private >>>> houses, >>>> field chapel meetings or anywhere non-Conformist people worshiped >>>> together >>>> at >>>> that time. >>>> >>>> Gen: >>>> >>>> In England and Wales there were NO marriages in nonconformist >>>> chapels >>>> before 1837. I know that sometimes pre-1837 marriages are indeed >>>> recorded >>>> in their registers but they were always ones of congregation members >>>> who >>>> had married elsewhere. The nonconformist church register was just a >>>> handy >>>> record of the fact that they were married and with details such as >>>> where, >>>> when etc. In particular I have seen Roman Catholic registers with >>>> numerous pre-1837 weddings recorded (eg Bishopwearmouth St Mary) but on >>>> investigation all turn out to have been in Ireland b efore the couple >>>> moved over to Sunderland! >>>> >>>> While I am not sure of the status of Cocklaw as a wedding venue, >>>> "The >>>> Carterhead" seems to have been a Border Marriage House, similar to >>>> those >>>> at Lamberton Toll, Gretna Green etc, and was presumably on the border >>>> at >>>> Carter Bar on what is now the A68 road. >>>> >>>> Incidentally, Birdhopecraig registers go back well before 1826. >>>> What >>>> happened then was a re-building of an existing chapel. It might be >>>> that >>>> its location was changed slightly, as I have a feeling I once heard it >>>> had >>>> begun some quarter to half a mile further up the road from where it is >>>> now. It was founded in 1672 and the earliest surviving register dates >>>> from 1728. >>>> >>>> Geoff Nicholson >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> .. >>>> Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any >>>> reply...... Thank you! >>>> >>>> The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at >>>> http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>>> the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> .. >>> Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any >>> reply...... Thank you! >>> >>> The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at >>> http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> >>> ----- >>> No virus found in this message. >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>> Version: 2013.0.2890 / Virus Database: 2637/6024 - Release Date: >>> 01/10/13 >>> Internal Virus Database is out of date. >>> >> >> .. >> Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any >> reply...... Thank you! >> >> The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at >> http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > .. > Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any > reply...... Thank you! > > The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at > http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.2890 / Virus Database: 2637/6024 - Release Date: 01/10/13 > Internal Virus Database is out of date. >

Melvyn, at closure, the inside of the church looked a bit "worn" but most of the woodwork, pews and gallery, was still in reasonable condition . It also looked like a solidly constructed building from the outside. I have a record of some of my ancestors contributing money to pay for the cost of the building in 1826. Mike Temple. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Melvyn Hunter" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 6:38 PM Subject: Re: [NMB] Marriage in Redesdale - resources searched at Woodhorn > Yes, it is a shame. The building appears to be quite sound: perhaps the > owners of the house use it for storage; or there may be unseen structural > problems. I may go and ask the next time I am in that direction - probably > next August. > > Melvyn. >

Many thanks to all who have made suggestions and looked for other possible sources of information - a lot for me to follow up. Melvyn.