In the early 1970's a letter was found in a stone mineral water bottle concealed in a wall of Hackworth Lodge, during alterations to the property, which was written by Margaret Anna Young in 1858.

After Timothy Hackworth's death in 1850, Margaret's father, George B. Young purchased land which formed a part of the Soho Works and built a house for himself and his family. The bottle and its contents were concealed within the walls of the house during its construction.

As if this wasn't a remarkable find in itself, 20 years later, during renovations to a property at 35 Victoria Street (Blyford House), a second letter from Margaret was discovered in a glass bottle sealed in the walls of the house and deposited there in 1864. In addition other items were discovered, namely;

1. 2 pages of the "Auckland Chronicle" (of that time).

2. A note describing the fashions of the day.

3. A page from a book depicting ladies wearing crinoline dresses in different colours.

4. A newspaper cutting reporting some events during the confederate war in America and the price of provisions in that country.

5. A note written by William Young aged 13 years listing some prices of materials.

6. A school honours list published by Heighington Academy which included the names W. Young and W.S. Young.

7. A letter to George B. Young, posted in Durham on July 4, 1864, and bearing a "Penny Red" postage stamp.

8. A publication by the Georgian Natterers Society and the rules of the Society.

9. An advertisement from the successors to Mr Davies' Establishment-Mr. Robert Hedley Company of Auckland House, Bishop Auckland.

10. An invitation to an Annual Ball, to be held at the house of John Robson in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland on September 8th, 1861.

11. A farthing and a silver threepenny piece dated 1864 and 1861 respectively..

The bottle was approximately 3 inches in diameter and approximately 11 inches in height, and unfortunately was broken on discovery , the contents were however undamaged.

Margaret Anna Young was born in October 1841 at St.Helens, Auckland in County Durham to George Bruce Young, and his wife Anne who owned a drapery and grocery shop in West Auckland. She had an elder sister, Sarah born in 1835, and a younger sister born in 1846. Her two younger brothers William and Ralph were born in 1848 and 1851. Each of the children were born in West Auckland, with the exception of Sarah who was born in Newcastle. At the time of the 1851 census, they lived in 190 West Auckland Lane.

THE FIRST LETTER from Margaret Anna Young dated July 2nd, 1858.

"In the small peopled Village of New Shildon stands Hackworth Lodge two pretty little Cottages of one storey high, build in Gothic stile, Shildon is a small, but likely to be large and prosperous place; for large works and Engine Sheds are connected with the place under the able and most worthy William Bouch-a man greatly respected and esteemed by his workmen-(he is of middle stature, light complection and of, Gentlemanly Appearance). Mrs. Bouch, wife of the said William Bouch Esquire, if of an excentric caracter; is rather partiahal to Homage but not-withstanding these pecularites she is very good to the poor people-also very fond of Music and is very successfull in raising Conserts and promoting the temperance cause which is rather on the decline at present. 1858 is the 20th year of the Reign of Queen Victoria. In this year of our lord there has been maney Crises which has involved maney hundreds in Ruin, but Trades of all Kind is doing well at present, provisions are cheap (Flour is 1s. & 8d. per stone) that being the principal article of food. the wether is remarkably find and promises a plentiful Harvest, this is not such crops of Hey as was last year owing to the dry Wether. The view from Hackworth Lodge is remarkaby pleasant from its gothic Window we can see the village Church and Parsonage the church is but small but well attended and there is a large Sunday school connected withe the church which is well attended and the largest in the County of Durham (of which the writer of these incidents is the teacher of a class of 26). In the year of 1857 England France and Turkey were engaged in a successfull ware with Russia which was speedily terminated after the taking of sebastipool. In 1858 England was again Engaged in Ware with China which was short but severe: and also at War with India which was terminated after a short but bloody rebellion. There has been no Rabing diseases yet in the County of Durham in this year. Many have suffered from the most awful lightnings and thunder storms which have been very frequent here; in June there was such a storm of thunder lightning and hail as was not remembered by any one, large hail stones were found measuring 4 inches in diameter which did a great deal of damage to land and property in the Village of Heighton 3 miles from this place there was scarse a whole pane of glass left in it and feilds of beans were stripped of there flowers and leaves as if they had been cut purposely. Not much damage was done in this place; from the back of Hackworth Lodge you can get a view of Soho Cottages, the Residence of William Bouch Esquire. As who every find this may wish to know what were the fashion's of the day we will give a slight account. Bonnets are wore very small on the back of the head, most beautifully trimmed with lace flowers and fethers, capes wore very small dresses with flounces muslin silks while hoops are wore very large which look sometimes ridiculous. I am grandaughter of Robert Sewell and daughter to G.B. Young, Draper New Shildon Robert Sewell and G.B. Young being the only Mason labourer who build this place, my brother a young man just out of his apprenticeship did part of the wood work my little brother William carried lime and went errands so we built it all amoung ourselves. I though this might be a great curiosity to find some hundreds of years hence from this time. Must conclude by Margaret Anna Young. N. Sh."

The whereabouts of this first letter are unfortunately not known, however the transcript is correct and complete with spelling mistakes.

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