This is a photographic portrait of Richard Welford
Richard Welford: Historian of Gosforth and Newcastle
Richard Welford (1837–1919) was a journalist, local historian, author and businessman who played a part in the civic life of Gosforth and Newcastle upon Tyne. He is particularly remembered for A History of the Parish of Gosforth, published in 1879.
At Discovering Heritage, our research into the history of North East properties sometimes leads us beyond the buildings themselves and into the lives of the people who lived in them. Richard Welford is one such example.
Historical records trace his homes in Newcastle, Gateshead and Gosforth, including The Grove and Thornfield Villa, a property on Gosforth High Street that has since been demolished. His story also extends to his historical publications, public service and family connections beyond the area.
This article brings together our research into Richard Welford’s life and homes, with additional information contributed by the Alston Moor Historical Society. It shows how researching an individual can reveal connections between historic buildings, local communities and the wider history of the North East.along with additional information from
Editorial note: Welford’s history of Gosforth is valuable not only as a record of the parish in the nineteenth century, but also as a historical source in its own right. Local histories written at the time can preserve details of people, places and events that might otherwise be difficult to trace. They can also provide useful starting points for further archival research.
The first and most comprehensive history of Gosforth was published in 1879, namely “A History of The Parish of Gosforth” by Richard Welford. The author was born in Holloway, London, in 1837. His first employment was as a reporter on a local newspaper, the Bucks Advertiser. In 1854 he moved to the north-east of England to take up a position as a reporter on the Newcastle Chronicle. Richard’s first home was in St. Mary’s Place, Newcastle, then Ellison Terrace, Gateshead.
Welford’s writing also offers a fascinating glimpse of how Gosforth looked in earlier times. In [Historical Aspects of Gosforth], we explore his descriptions of the area and compare them with historic maps.
The Grove Gosforth
When Richard took up his appointment with the Newcastle Chronicle it was a weekly publication but by 1858 it was published daily and Richard was appointed sub editor at the age of 22. In 1861 Richard gave up regular journalistic work and between 1861-1864 became a literary freelancer working out of an office in Pilgrim Street. In 1861 Richard and his wife Minnie were living in George Street in the Westgate area of Newcastle. In 1871 records show the couple and their family had moved to The Grove, Gosforth, by which time Richard was secretary to a shipping company.
Gosforth High Street
By 1881 the family had moved to Thornfield Villa, a property on Gosforth High Street that has since been demolished but was adjacent to the property now occupied by the Ahad restaurant. Richard appears to have continued to live in this property until his death on 20 June 1919.
This is the second time we have come across this particular ghost property in our research of Gosforth High Street. Twenty years earlier in 1861 Mark Frater was residing in the same house. Mr Fraters’ story was rather tragic and makes interesting reading. We covered it in our blog post Murder, Mayhem and Gosforth. Richard Welford himself commented as follows in his book A History of the Parish of Gosforth.
” Mr Frater was assassinated on the 1st of October, 1861, and Gosforth lost a promising and enterprising resident.”
What is a ghost property?
A ghost property is a building that appears in historical records but no longer exists, or whose original location or identity has become difficult to establish. These properties can be particularly interesting in local history research, as tracing them helps us understand how familiar streets have changed over time.
Richard Welford Archaeologist, Historian and Biographer
Richard Welford was an archaeologist, historian and biographer. His publications include the following
History of The Parish of Gosforth (1879)
Men of Mark Twixt Tyne and Tweed – three volumes of biographies of eminent men (1895)
Newcastle and Gateshead In the 14th, 15th &16th centuries (1884)
St Nicholas Church and Its Monuments (1880)
Richard Welford Businessman
Richard was also a businessman rising to the position of Managing Director of The Tyne Steam Shipping Company. He was also a director of the Free Trade Wharf Company and heavily involved in civic affairs in Gosforth. He served as a magistrate and sat on South Gosforth Local Board, later Gosforth Urban District Council, becoming its chairman in 1878.
Following the story beyond Gosforth
Historical research can take unexpected directions. In this case, correspondence with the Alston Moor Historical Society helped extend the story beyond Gosforth, revealing further family and property connections. It is a good example of how local historians and historical societies can help connect individual discoveries with a wider regional history.
The Alston Connection
We had some correspondence with the Alston Moor Historical Society who were able to add more information to the story of Richard Welford. It seems Richard’s son in law John Tweddle can be traced to Alston House (renamed Hillcrest). During the later years of his life Richard purchased Hillcrest after John Tweddle was arrested for fraud.
“I come across Richard Welford J.P. now and again, I must track him down. He had a business partner and they had shares in Alston House, then called the Hillcrest – they might have been the ones to change the name, in fact. His partner went bankrupt.
The connection with Alston House/Hillcrest is that it was his son-in-law who went bankrupt and then was arrested by the police in Alston in 1911 for fraud, that led Mr. Welford to bail him out by buying the Hillcrest. The son-in-law was John Tweddle, ironmonger, of Newcastle, .. – thanks to Alastair Robertson for this addition.
“John must have prospered, as in 1903, he’s described as an iron merchant of Alston and Gosforth, Newcastle. And somewhere along the line, he became heavily involved in politics.” More on the story of John Tweddle can be read with this link https://crimesofthecenturies.com/index.php/2018/12/03/john-tweddle/
What Richard Welford’s story tells us about house history
Richard Welford’s story shows how a property’s history can lead to much wider discoveries. Census records, historical publications, local government records and information shared by local history societies can help reconstruct the lives of former residents and reveal how neighbourhoods have changed.
Even when a building no longer exists, its place in the historical record can help us understand the development of a street and the people who once called it home.
At Discovering Heritage, we use historical records and evidence from archives, libraries and other recognised collections to investigate the stories behind properties. We distinguish what the evidence establishes from what remains uncertain.
If Richard Welford’s story has sparked your interest in the history of buildings and their former residents, read our guide to [how to research the history of your house].
Curious about the people who lived in your own home? Explore our [bespoke house history collections] to discover how historical records can reveal the story of a property.