If your browser does not have JavaScript enabled then you will just see this text message. You can enable JavaScript within the control panel of your browser, otherwise known as the preferences. Sorry.
On Sunday 1st August 2010, Dennis Telford and Henry Swaddle were delighted to welcome Janet and Annie Simpson to the village for a tour of the area frequented by their great, great, great maternal grandfather John Martin. Their brother Colin was unfortunately unable to be with them.
Janette was visiting from her home in South Africa. They were able to see at first hand the old and new St. Cuthbert's Churches at Tofts and in the village, the Martin's cottage at East Land Ends, Langley Castle, Shaftoe Trust School and the associated trail information panels.
The sisters in the photograph are at Toft's Old Church and they hold a print of their famous ancestor. This is in the Laing collection and was by John Martin's own son Charles. The likeness is uncanny. Both sisters also have the innate family gift as they are artists too.
They brought with them photographs of their family and a family tree tracing back their lineage to John, the 'most popular artist of his day'.
They had been able to visit the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle which houses the world's finest collection of works by John Martin. This added to their expectation in visiting the childhood haunts of their relative which so inspired many of his works.
They were delighted by the efforts they saw in the village by the 'Friends of Haydon Bridge' and the Development Trust in maintaining the Martin Heritage and inspiring a knowledge of his past especially with young people.
The 2011 exhibition of the biggest collation of Martin works ever at the Laing is also providing further impetus in the village to expand on this heritage. The sisters were looking forward to seeing and hearing the outcomes of this, again particularly within our schools.
Mildred Robson is a genealogist who works on the Martin's family tree but was unable to join the sisters on their rare visit. However, the material they provided has already been invaluable in allowing Mildred to locate missing family records and extend the tree accurately. You can view Martin genealogy and see his works at www.wojm.org.uk
These photographs show the sisters at the family cottage and at the new 'Bridge' library and VIP panel in Church Street.
Here are some of the Simpson/Campbell/Martin family photographs
These show their mother Jean Simpson, four of the Campbell children and Bethiah (or Berthiah or even Bettriah) Bridge who married another 'John' Martin in 1877.
It was a privilege to have been able to show these delightful ladies a glimpse into their past and something the village can be proud to have made possible.
You will be able to read much more about the visit in the Haydon News October issue.
HS.
Copyright © Haydon Development Trust
