Shotley Bridge swordmakers

Peter Hudson · 2nd October 2023, 11:43 PM

Hi Kieth ... Before you started to unpack the details of this work Forum had nothing in its archives about this subject. The Swordmakers of Shotley Bridge turns out to be a cornerstone and key to the development of English Swords. Long may it continue to amaze and impress readers and followers of this fine work.

Its time we got together again for lunch at the Crown and Crossed Swords...

Regards, Peter Hudson.

Peter Hudson · 3rd October 2023, 05:45 PM

German Sword-Smiths in Shotley Bridge By Keith Fisher

To refresh readers on Keiths amazing book on this important Swordmaker

please see https://shotleybridgevillagetrust.co...hotley-bridge/

This is a free illustration of this key sword maker at your fingertips...

Regards, Peter Hudson.

Peter Hudson · 4th November 2023, 01:34 PM

Keith, As you know the lintel above 44 WOOD STREET vanished in the late 50s with the demolition of all the industrial /swordmakers houses. My question is that the inscription above the door mentioned a date of 1591 and fortunately you have that in your book. Was this an important date? or is it a Psalm. i.e. the 91st Psalm? 15.91

Regards Peter Hudson.

Peter Hudson · 4th November 2023, 01:44 PM

Yesterday we spoke about other buildings near The Crown and Crossed Swords.

As you know this was two buildings notably The Crown and Crossed Swords originally called The Swords and the next door Commercial Hotel.

There were a few other some quite substantial dwellings between the car park and the narrower road (in those earlier days) which were overlooking the Bridge Inn ..These were quite substantial houses and would have given the feeling of a centre village format more like a village square. I have a couple of pictures to illustrate that but the system isnt playing... so I will try a web reference... .

urbanspaceman · 4th November 2023, 01:47 PM

Hi Peter. The only foto we have of the lintel is very poor and the 6 looks like a 5.
It was 1691 when the building was dedicated.
There was another lintel recorded prior to it being lost and that includes a quote from Psalms:

DEUTSCHLAND IST UNEVER VATTERLANDS
SOLINGEN IST DIE STADT VERLASSEN
HERR BEHUT DEINEN AUSGANG
UND EINGANG

GERMANY IS OUR FATHERLAND
SOLINGEN IS THE TOWN FORSAKEN
LORD PROTECT YOUR ENTRY
AND EXIT

"The last line is taken from Psalm 121, verse 8:"
"The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
from this time forth and even for evermore."

Peter Hudson · 4th November 2023, 02:35 PM

Ah yes I see it on page77 of your book... Got that... The date of first Cutlers Hall dedicated by Adam Oley in Wood Street.. Thanks...

I cannot upload the pictures but you have it also outlined relating to the variety of names applied to The Crown and Crossed Swords and the next door Commercial Inn at page 78 of your book. At some point it became Commercial Hotel....Those buildings near the carpark are all disappeared now and the shops in the village centre have changed hands several times... I agree that the Wilsons shop was a hardware shop..and you know my views on the real reason that I reckon the Germans chose the Shotley Bridge location and unrelated to any of the previous theories. If they could have fitted a moat and searchlights around it Im sure they would have done so..

Peter Hudson · 4th November 2023, 03:19 PM

Commercial Hotel.

Please see https://shotleybridgevillagetrust.co...-carousel-4439

Other detail on this site are in my view incorrect as the new sign above the door was fitted at about 8am as I was standing outside waiting for the works bus to go to the new reservoir...in 1964 ..summer holiday job. That sign comprised a fairly lumpy and horrible crossed sword arrangement which is still there! Next door was the Crossed Swords... given the name The Crown and Crossed Swords.... at some stage. Opposite was The Kings Head on the Durham side of the Derwent which used to be called The Bridge End...

Peter Hudson

Peter Hudson · 6th November 2023, 08:34 PM

Name: ©ShotleyOneComposite.jpg
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From a museum in Hawick in the Scottish Borders which will be an absolute must to visit when it opens in the new year. The Curator is Mr Brian Moffat an expert in all things Border Reivers...and a member of this Forum. Illustrated here are Swords of Shotley Bridge thus indicating probable strong links as Jacobite swords entering the Culloden sphere pre 1746.

Regards,
Peter Hudson.

urbanspaceman · 4th November 2023, 01:51 PM

That is a very welcome issue.
I look forward to seeing those fotos.

2nd October 2023, 11:43 PM	#1
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	This is such an important thread.... Hi Kieth ... Before you started to unpack the details of this work Forum had nothing in its archives about this subject. The Swordmakers of Shotley Bridge turns out to be a cornerstone and key to the development of English Swords. Long may it continue to amaze and impress readers and followers of this fine work. Its time we got together again for lunch at the Crown and Crossed Swords... Regards, Peter Hudson.

3rd October 2023, 05:45 PM	#2
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	German Sword-Smiths in Shotley Bridge By Keith Fisher To refresh readers on Keiths amazing book on this important Swordmaker please see https://shotleybridgevillagetrust.co...hotley-bridge/ This is a free illustration of this key sword maker at your fingertips... Regards, Peter Hudson. Last edited by Peter Hudson; 3rd October 2023 at 05:49 PM. Reason: aethbgh

4th November 2023, 01:34 PM	#3
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	The stone lintel above number 44 Wood Street. Keith, As you know the lintel above 44 WOOD STREET vanished in the late 50s with the demolition of all the industrial /swordmakers houses. My question is that the inscription above the door mentioned a date of 1591 and fortunately you have that in your book. Was this an important date? or is it a Psalm. i.e. the 91st Psalm? 15.91 Regards Peter Hudson.

4th November 2023, 01:44 PM	#4
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	Other building now vanished near The Crown and Crossed Swords. Yesterday we spoke about other buildings near The Crown and Crossed Swords. As you know this was two buildings notably The Crown and Crossed Swords originally called The Swords and the next door Commercial Hotel. There were a few other some quite substantial dwellings between the car park and the narrower road (in those earlier days) which were overlooking the Bridge Inn ..These were quite substantial houses and would have given the feeling of a centre village format more like a village square. I have a couple of pictures to illustrate that but the system isnt playing... so I will try a web reference... .

4th November 2023, 01:47 PM	#5
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 605	Lintel date Hi Peter. The only foto we have of the lintel is very poor and the 6 looks like a 5. It was 1691 when the building was dedicated. There was another lintel recorded prior to it being lost and that includes a quote from Psalms: DEUTSCHLAND IST UNEVER VATTERLANDS SOLINGEN IST DIE STADT VERLASSEN HERR BEHUT DEINEN AUSGANG UND EINGANG GERMANY IS OUR FATHERLAND SOLINGEN IS THE TOWN FORSAKEN LORD PROTECT YOUR ENTRY AND EXIT "The last line is taken from Psalm 121, verse 8:" "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore."

4th November 2023, 02:35 PM	#6
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	1691 Ah yes I see it on page77 of your book... Got that... The date of first Cutlers Hall dedicated by Adam Oley in Wood Street.. Thanks... I cannot upload the pictures but you have it also outlined relating to the variety of names applied to The Crown and Crossed Swords and the next door Commercial Inn at page 78 of your book. At some point it became Commercial Hotel....Those buildings near the carpark are all disappeared now and the shops in the village centre have changed hands several times... I agree that the Wilsons shop was a hardware shop..and you know my views on the real reason that I reckon the Germans chose the Shotley Bridge location and unrelated to any of the previous theories. If they could have fitted a moat and searchlights around it Im sure they would have done so..

4th November 2023, 03:19 PM	#7
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	Commercial Hotel. Please see https://shotleybridgevillagetrust.co...-carousel-4439 Other detail on this site are in my view incorrect as the new sign above the door was fitted at about 8am as I was standing outside waiting for the works bus to go to the new reservoir...in 1964 ..summer holiday job. That sign comprised a fairly lumpy and horrible crossed sword arrangement which is still there! Next door was the Crossed Swords... given the name The Crown and Crossed Swords.... at some stage. Opposite was The Kings Head on the Durham side of the Derwent which used to be called The Bridge End... Peter Hudson

6th November 2023, 08:34 PM	#8
Peter Hudson Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 315	New Museum opening soon.... From a museum in Hawick in the Scottish Borders which will be an absolute must to visit when it opens in the new year. The Curator is Mr Brian Moffat an expert in all things Border Reivers...and a member of this Forum. Illustrated here are Swords of Shotley Bridge thus indicating probable strong links as Jacobite swords entering the Culloden sphere pre 1746. Regards, Peter Hudson. Last edited by Peter Hudson; 6th November 2023 at 08:47 PM.

4th November 2023, 01:51 PM	#9
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 605	pictures That is a very welcome issue. I look forward to seeing those fotos.