Trivia Investigation Team

[bobins]

Vladivostock, eh ? Which brings forth the question - where's the most 'off the beaten track' destination the FCF faithful have ventured to ?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Trivia Tangent No 2 This really leads onto the main course of my personal trivia link.
In its early stages did cover a bit of far-flung locations, which caught my eye.

I was perusing the front page of the brick site, and clicked on

New names - by month

The highlighted one jumped out
North-West Durham and well known to me.

Yes and this started Stage 1 of a New Trivia Trail which led surprisingly to the Bishop of Durham (1920-1939) Herbert Hensley Henson and his detailed diary accounts of visits to Calf Hall, in the charmingly named village of Muggleswick, high in the Durham Dales.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Interlude,

Just now...and it purposely wasn't me...having spotted the upcoming landmark at 11110, the Trivia Investigation Team has just welcomed its 11111th view of the thread. Thanks to the posters and the viewers!

11111 views

Neil

[CitroJim]

Vladivostock, eh ? Which brings forth the question - where's the most 'off the beaten track' destination the FCF faithful have ventured to ?

For me, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia

That was back in the late 90s... It was still quite 'Soviet' in those days, Mongolia being the unofficial 16th member of the USSR...

I expect much has changed since then...

Just outside the city there was the most stunningly beautiful scenery... Totally untouched by tourism or exploitation of any sort and pristine... I hope it's not changed.

[NewcastleFalcon]

For me, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia

This is the Trivia Investigation thread Jim, is there more to tell Doesn't sound like an all-inclusive package holiday.
I think the thread can bear some more detail...

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

For me it was the north bank at Highbury stadium, a complete intellectual wilderness!!

[bobins]

Vladivostock, eh ? Which brings forth the question - where's the most 'off the beaten track' destination the FCF faithful have ventured to ?

For me, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia

I think Jim holds the winning hand with that one at the moment

I once visited an old secret Soviet underground submarine base somewhere in the Crimea. I don't think they want any visitors there these days I've been to many deep underground sites in the UK and Europe that aren't on the average tourist route as well

[myglaren]

Probably Kristiansand in Norway, from Käringön, Sweden.

We cheated and went by boat, only about forty minutes.

Käringön, is a tiny island, perhaps a mile long by half a mile wide and a population of a couple of hundred.

[bobins]

I've just had a look at Käringön on Googl'erf. I'm guessing you didn't go there for the nightlife ? Go the the ar5e end of nowhere, then take the ferry to the end of the water
I once stayed on an obscure Swedish island somewhere that had its own brewery - it's the only beer I've drunk where its ABV was given as a range between 2 values

[myglaren]

Girlfriends parents had a summer house there.
Was very nice and I'm not one for nightlife anyway.

[NewcastleFalcon]

This little island works its way into the the next element of the personal trivia trail, leaving what is probably a literal dead end to that particular tangent.

The Bricks Ritson,Burnhope

Attached info The Ritson family owned Burnhope Colliery from the 1880s to the 1930s. The founder of the business who bought the colliery from Fletcher & Sowerby was Utrick Alexander Ritson. Photos by Chris Tilney.

Utrick Alexander Ritson (1843- Nov 1932) was a local mine owner, and was High Sheriff of Durham in 1899, and he and his family lived at Calf Hall, Muggleswick, Consett, Co. Durham. One of his sons also called Utrick Alexander Ritson (1874-June 1932) ended up literally on Norfolk Island South Pacific, with a headstone to confirm it.

Lych gate, Muggleswick

© Copyright Robert Graham and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

This Lych gate is at the south end of the churchyard of All Saints Church in Muggleswick was was constructed in 1933 from timbers salvaged from the HMS Powerful. It was built in memory of a local coal owner, Mr Utrick Ritson and his wife Annie, who had a country house nearby at Calf Hall.

HMS Powerful is a story in itself, I'll just leave a bit of it for the record here...
https://victoriaparkportsmouth.org.uk/m ... -powerful/

I'll leave the Bishop of Durham for another day...

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

So many trivia links to follow and shortly the Bishop of Durham will appear but an aside there are 3 reservoirs on the moorland which is known as Muggleswick Common, Waskerley, Smiddy Shaw and Hisehope.

I like a name and if you follow the link you will see a bit of the scenery in "Reservoir Jogs-Running around reservoirs in the North of England"

https://reservoirjogsuk.wordpress.com/2 ... eservoirs/

https://reservoirjogsuk.wordpress.com/2021/01/01/smiddy-shaw-and-hisehope-reservoirs/

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Its been a while since I set foot in Muggleswick, knowing what I know now it will hold more interest than it did.

Not sure if the old village hall will now still be standing used as a farm outbuilding, but in the corrugated iron with patina collection the photographer here did a decent job

The Old Village Hall. by DeviantSnappa, on Flickr

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This personal trivia trail pausing as it has in Muggleswick, has also produced an interesting little personal gem, not found before, the rediscovery of "The Sneep", and an account of the fishing for wild trout there, delving into much more in terms of local history, the hand dug lead and silver mines, and the odd names of the surrounding places like Wallish Walls, The Sneep ( Snape) , Muggleswick and Crooked Oak.

A nice find and plonked here for the record, part 2 is very fishing heavy, but part one is more of local history interest.

The Sneep: In Pursuit of Wild Trout (Part 1)

http://www.derwentangling.co.uk/about/sneep/part1/

Ian Colborne Derwent Angling Association
http://www.derwentangling.co.uk/about/sneep/part1/

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

In an area rich in names, is the "Silvertongue" Lead and silver mine marked on the map of the Sneep, right on our Ulrick Alexander Ritter's (remember him from the brick) Country House doorstep, although not one in his ownership.

On perusing Flickr I find there is a 45 photo Album entitled Muggleswick-Silvertongues Lead Mine from Paul Rodrigues who does appear to enjoy delving into such places and has further albums from many other such sites in the Durham Dales and beyond.

Silvertongues album link here
https://flic.kr/s/aHskQxS3Fi

Neil