On this Day in 1804

Invasion confusion!

Feb. 1. - On the evening of this day, a considerable degree of bustle and confusion prevailed in Newcastle, on the subject of invasion. The military, both horse and foot, were all in motion, and the drums of the Staffordshire militia beat to arms. There were strong musters of the Armed Association and Volunteers, of the Gateshead Volunteers, Usworth Legion, and Derwent Rangers. An officer's guard was mounted at the head quarters of the Gateshead Volunteers during the night, in order to assemble the regiment as quickly as possible, should any further particulars transpire relative to the nature of the alarm. In short, such a display of zeal and ardour on behalf of the country was manifested by all descriptions of men as could not be surpassed. On the following morning, the same cause excited a considerable degree of alarm at Durham. Major Mowbray, (notwithstanding several of his corps, were at a few miles distance), despatched messengers, and had his whole corps in readiness to assemble at their post on the Place green, in less than two hours, fully equipped for the field. The North Durham corps commanded by Sir Carnaby Haggerston, were in Berwick all Wednesday (Feb. 1): on Thursday, the guards were all doubled, and the volunteers put upon garrison duty; orders were also issued by the mayor, that no person was to be seen on the ramparts after eight in the evening. Report amused the public during the whole of Wednesday, with a variety of vague and improbable rumours: But the most likely on Thursday, was, that the whole had originated in a mistake, of taking the burning of whins on Lammermuir hills for the lighting of the signals. To prevent a similar mistake, the corporation of Newcastle published the following notice :

"In order to prevent any Alarm in the Country, Notice is hereby given, that the undermentioned Signals, intended to be made use of in case of Invasion, but only in the Event of the General Officer, commanding his Majesty's Forces in this District, giving Orders for the Removal of the Inhabitants and Stock of this Town, will be made for the information of the Inhabitants, on Tuesday the 20th Day of March instant, between 12 and 1 o'Clock at Noon, and between 8 and 9 o'Clock in the Evening ; and that such Signals will be a Red Flag by Day, and a Light by Night, hoisted at the following Places; ( viz. ) - The Castle, St. Nicholas Church, All Saints Church, St. Andrew's Church, and the Tower at the Westgate, accompanied by Five Minute Guns, fired at each of the following Places: ( viz. ) - The Castle, All Saints Church, Newgate, and Westgate. THOMAS SMITH, mayor. -Newcastle, 16th March, 1804."

Agreeably to notice, the signals were tried at the above places, and they were sufficiently seen in every direction to answer the purpose for which they were intended.

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1804

Parish in Focus: Rochester with Byrness

The Civil Parish is the lowest tier of local government and many of the parishes in Northern England have boundaries and interesting histories relating to the ancient townships of long ago. Typically they have an enduring sense of place and community.

Rochester with Byrness Civil Parish is located in Upper Redesdale in Northumberland, bounded to the north by the England-Scotland Border. It is about 34 miles north-west of Newcastle. The River Rede flows south-easterly through the parish. The A68 road transects the parish, roughly following close to the course of the river; there is a stopping place on the A68 at Carter Bar on the border with Scotland. The south of the parish is in the Northumberland National Park; including Bremenium Roman Fort at High Rochester. Whitelee Moor National Nature Reserve is in the north-west of the parish. The largest settlements are the villages of Byrness and Rochester.

About the Parish	Rochester 1855 Directory
Historic Buildings and Monuments (77)	Catcleugh Reservoir

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