Jacki Holmes

Spring 2023 Newsletter – Jesmond ‘Dean’ after Armstrong and The Banqueting Hall organ

May 20, 2023

In this issue with have an article from our Patron John Grundy on the Garden of Jesmond Dene as well a look at a newspaper advert from 1907 for the rent of Jesmond Dene house. John Telfer also writes his third and concluding article regarding the hydraulic organ at The Banqueting Hall.

The Banqueting Hall and it's hydraulic organ - Part 3

“This is the third and concluding article about the water-powered organ which once entertained Sir William Armstrong’s guests in his banqueting hall. In part 1 I described some of the events, both charitable and social, at which it was played, and the second article described how the organ was powered using water from a specially constructed reservoir at Paddy Freemans. This time we will look at the organ itself and see what is known about its fate.”

Continue reading this article and more this issue of our Newsletter:

What's included in this issue:

A Garden Called Jesmond Dene by John Grundy
Annual General Meeting
Banqueting Hall Organ - Part 3 by John Telfer
Jesmond Dean after Armstrong by John North
FOJD Events for the Queens Jubilee Year
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Volunteer Rangers Update By Dave Poste

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Repairs to Nature Area dipping platform

You may be aware that some nine years ago a new pond was dug in Jesmond Dene Nature Area, across the river from Pets Corner. The new pond was provided with a dipping platform to allow parties of children to dip for pond creatures. The supporting framework of the platform was made from recycled plastic, which has the advantage of not rotting, but is expensive compared to wood. The decking for the platform was made from wooden planks that we happened to have available at the time.