WEDNESDAY 8 July 2026

BEWICK SOCIETY VISIT TO CHERRYBURN

An Informal Picnic with Professor Kristin Bluemel

Join us at Cherryburn for an informal afternoon with Professor Kristin Bluemel. This is an opportunity to meet with her and chat after the lecture Enchanted Wood: Engraving a Place for Women Artists in Rural Britain she will be giving at the Lit & Phil the previous evening (see p.4 for details of her talk)

Cherryburn will be open and if the weather is fine we will be walking to Ovingham Church after a picnic in the garden.  Please bring a packed lunch.

The walk to Ovingham: the distance is 1.5 miles and should take no more than 45 minutes to walk. Sturdy shoes are needed as some paths are uneven. Do check weather forecast, sun block or waterproofs may be required.

Date and time:Wednesday 8 July August 2026. Meet at Cherryburn between 12-2pm for the picnic. The walk will commence at 2pm.

Venue: Cherryburn, Station Road, Mickley Square, near Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7DD. Please bring your own refreshments, picnic.

Booking: Please Email bewick.society@ncl.ac.uk to let us know you are coming.

SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 2026

THOMAS BEWICK’S BIRTHDAY AT CHERRYBURN

A Walk with naturalist Steven Rutherford

 Steven is the Honorary Chairman of the British Naturalists’ Association and during his last visit to Cherryburn a number of exciting animal and plant species caught his eye. He has kindly agreed to visit again and lead us on ‘a naturalist’s eye view’ afternoon walk around the property.

  Date and time: Saturday 8 August 2026. The time of Steve’s walk and the birthday celebrations to be confirmed nearer the time.

Venue: Cherryburn, Station Road, Mickley Square, near Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7DD. Please bring your own refreshments, picnic.

Booking: Please Email bewick.society@ncl.ac.uk to let us know you are coming.

‘more than a perfunctory recognition’

After the success of our introduction last year to the City Library’s Pease Bequest, the Bewick Society and Local Studies Librarians have organised two further study sessions.

With the addition of new material, our members will once again have the opportunity to explore the large collection of Bewick’s works and associated materials amassed by John William Pease (1836-1901)

Date and time:  Thursday 21 May and Saturday 10 September. 1-3pm

Venue: Newcastle City Library

Admission: Free.

Booking: Please email Bewick.Society@ncl.ac.uk to reserve your place.

THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2026 

A TOUR OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

With Anthony Atkinson

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne is the largest independent library outside of London. Founded in 1793, it became an important hub of learning and enlightenment in the north of England and with free entry for all this is definitely one of the most inspiring places to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Anthony will not only cover the history of the Lit & Phil but introduce us to some of its fascinating connections with Thomas Bewick, who was elected a member in 1799. 

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Date and time: Thursday 8 October 2026 at 2pm.

Venue: Meet at reception, The Lit & Phil, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE

Booking: Please email bewick.society@ncl.ac.uk to let us know you are coming.

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2026

BEWICK SOCIETY VISIT TO GATESHEAD ARCHIVE AT GATESHEAD CENTRAL LIBRARY

Gateshead Archive at Gateshead Central Library is a fabulous facility where over 400 years of local and family history comes to life. There are thousands of research resources, including historic books, maps, newspapers from the 1700’s to present day, photographs from the past 150 years, and digital resources about Gateshead and its surrounding areas to explore,

It has a small but interesting collection of rare Bewick volumes as well as holdings of the manuscript Northumbrian pipe music of Robert Elliott Bewick (1788-1849), son of Thomas Bewick. Selections of his tunes were taken from the five books bound as ‘Bewick’s pipe tunes’held in the Gateshead Archive.

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Date and time: Wednesday 14 August 2026. Meet at Gateshead Central Library at 1pm.

Venue: Gateshead Central Library Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LN

Booking: Please Email bewick.society@ncl.ac.uk to let us know you are coming.

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2026

BEWICK SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Tradition of Piping in North Shields. A Talk by Richard Heard

The AGM will be held in the Loftus Room at the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne. After the business of the meeting we will hear from local piper and historian, Richard Heard, on the tradition of piping in North Shields

Thomas Bewick and his family often enjoyed a sojourn at Willy Dean’s Cottage in Tynemouth and as his son Robert was an accomplished musician on the Northumbrian pipes can we speculate that the choice of Bewick’s holiday venue was related to the family’s interest in the gatherings of pipers in North Shields and Tynemouth?  Drawing on reliable contemporary evidence and upon recent research, Richard believes that it is possible to associate a number of significant pipers with North Shields and Tynemouth.

Date and time: Thursday 15 October 2026. 6-8pm.

Venue: Loftus Room, The Lit & Phil, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE