Rekindled relations

07/10/2004

A piece of silver has been discovered bringing 150 years of history to life.

This week in 1854 Gateshead and Newcastle were engulfed by the ferocious flames of the Great Fire of Gateshead. 

A donation of an engraved rose bowl to the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society marks this tragic, historic event and is also a token to the efforts of the then Town Clerk of Gateshead and the Director of the water company for coping with the fire.

The inscription on the bowl reads:

“Because Gateshead, an unlucky town, being about to perish in flames and being saved by the waters of Newcastle, this votive bowl was given as a gift to the fellows of this Society by George Johnson Kenmir, Town Clerk of the said town and Richard Lambert, Director of the saving Whittle Dene Water Company, 7 December 1954.”

George Kenmir and Richard Lambert are both past presidents of the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society.

Whittle Dene Water Company was the first commercial project of William George Armstrong – the famous North East industrialist who started off his career as a solicitor.  He was articled to and subsequently partner with Armorer Donkin, past president of the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society and the founding father of Dees Thompson side of Dickinson Dees.

Whittle Dene Water Company was established in 1845 becoming part of the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company in 1863 which became known as North East Water in 1992.  Finally in 1996 this became Northumbrian Water.

Today, Northumbrian Water’s strong link with the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society is through its conveyancing arm.  Property professionals throughout the North East depend on Northumbrian Water Property Solutions as the region's sole provider of the new Con29DW Drainage and Water report – an essential part of the conveyancing process.

For further information contact Cara Hall, Communications Adviser, on 0191 301 6720.