History of lost town published
THE history of a small town that was demolished, leaving little more than ridges in the landscape, will be published next week.

Sword wielded by Viking returns to rightful home
A SWORD once wielded by a Viking warrior is returning to the area where it was found.

Supporters celebrate funding for viaduct
PLANS to re-open a Durham railway viaduct, disused for 40 years, have been hailed as giving a big boost to walkers and cyclists.

Marking 40 years since end of steam
NEXT year marks the 40th anniversary of the end of British Rail's mainline steam services - and it is going to be celebrated in style.

Artist's statue bid for football's first black professional player
AN ARTIST is campaigning for a statue of the world's first black professional footballer to be erected outside one of the region's football clubs.

Watercolour masterpiece sells at auction in London
A WATERCOLOUR masterpiece that was "lost" for nearly 120 years sold at auction last night for almost £3m.

Cravat chosen as museum's spotlight item
A LACE cravat is under the spotlight at one of the region's museums this month.

Dream job for expert with a love of history
AN archaeologist whose lifelong love of the subject started on a school trip more than 40 years ago says he has found the perfect job.

Latest history book popular with readers
A LOCAL historian's latest book proved popular with readers when it was launched at the weekend. .

History event tribute to hardworking volunteer
A VILLAGE hall's local history day proved to be a fitting tribute to a volunteer who lost her fight against cancer.

Whale journal find reveals Arctic voyage
A RARE whaling journal dating from the 1700s has been discovered by a local historian sorting through her attic, sparking excitement among experts.

The bravery of an 'exemplary soldier'
JIM Murray was only 19 when his platoon was led into a minefield. And he was the only man to walk away uninjured.

Anglo-Saxon gold jewellery is uncovered at burial site
THE history of a small town that was demolished, leaving little more than ridges in the landscape, will be published next week.

Take a stroll into aviation history
A LEAFLET celebrating a NorthEast town's aviation history and inviting people to take a selfguided walk around its landmarks has been launched.

History of lost town published
THE history of a small town that was demolished, leaving little more than ridges in the landscape, will be published next week.

Heroic flying ace dies in road accident
A HEROIC pilot who survived scores of dangerous flying missions during the Second World War has died in a road accident.

Search for survivors of wartime mill camp
AN effort has been launched to trace survivors of hundreds of troops secretly sent to a North-East town after their rescue from Dunkirk in 1940.

Hall gets new lease of life with £800,000 renovation project
A HISTORIC town hall is being given a new lease of life in an extensive facelift, with plans to encourage more people to use the building.

Body of Bronze Age child revealed
THE high tides and winds have uncovered a burial mystery for archaeologists.

Duty done as hero dad named on memorial
A MAN saw his father's name belatedly added to a town war memorial only a few days before Remembrance Sunday.

Forgotten soldier finally to be honoured - 90 years on
A NORTH-EAST man who was killed in action during the First World War will be remembered at a service this weekend thanks to a local history group.

Merchant captain who sank a submarine
A GALLANTRY medal won by the first English merchant ship captain to destroy a German submarine during the First World War is to be sold by his family after 92 years.

Plans for 'virtual reality' of Captain Cook approved
PLANS to build an interactive visitor centre on the site where Captain Cook's Endeavour is believed to have been built have taken a major step forward.

Return of the golden boy
TUTANKHAMUN received a royal welcome yesterday as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended one of the most eagerlyanticipated exhibitions of the year.

I only found out at school assembly my father was dead
A WOMAN of 95 whose father was killed during the First World War has recalled her painful memories for a television documentary to be screened on Remembrance Day.

I left behind a wife and beautiful home
A SOLDIER will recall online how he cleaned tanks on Beachy Head ahead of a mysterious inspection.

Mill made famous on TV show prepares to open to the public
AN 18th Century mill that made it to the finals of the BBC's Restoration television series will open to the public for the first time at Easter.

I thought I would die a prisoner
A PARACHUTE Regiment wireless operator who was shot as he dropped into Holland will tell his story on The Northern Echo website today.

108 years old - and still turning heads
A COUNTY Durham old girl has proved her worth - despite being more than 100 years old.

King Tut sees his public again - after 3,000 years
THE mummified body of ancient Egypt's most famous ruler, Tutankhamun, was put on public display for the first time yesterday - 3,000 years after the boy pharaoh was laid to rest in the Valley of the Kings.

Veteran of the D-Day landings tells his story
A SOLDIER who survived enemy fire on a Normandy beach on DDay will tell his story online today.

Laurel's former school will be saved from demolition
THE former school of actor Stan Laurel has been saved following a campaign to preserve the fireravaged building.

Antique player makes a mint
A RARE 19th Century disc player, which featured on the BBC's Flog It! programme, has been sold for almost twice its estimated value.

Church known as The Pres prepares to mark 150 years
A CHURCH will celebrate its 150th anniversary at the weekend.

Wartime pilot's survival kit lands at museum
A RARE Second World War survival kit for pilots flying over Nazi-held territories has been given to a museum.

Marching back, children of 1902
THE oldest remaining film of a city is to be dusted off and given a public showing, to raise money for a statue of St Cuthbert.

93 years catches up with pump station
A DRIVE belt which has been in use at a water pumping station has finally snapped after nearly 100 years of service.

'Let's build replica of ship with bricks'
THE owner of Swan Hunter's shipyard wants to rebuild one of the world's most famous liners - with bricks.

The harshest lesson
A Government-backed initiative aims to send every school to see the horrors of the death camp at Auschwitz, in Poland. The Northern Echo's Jim Entwistle joined the region's students on their harrowing journey.

Ruined castle gets funding for repairs
A RUINED castle in the region has won financial backing towards building repairs because of its proximity to quarrying.

Crimean heroes are stars of exhibition
MEMORIES of courage above and beyond the call of duty have been rekindled in the build up to a military milestone.

£6,000 boost for annual feast first held in 16th Century a
THE opening event of a town's annual festival has received a £6,000 boost as preparations get under way.

Museum prepares star exhibit for a 12-month tour of Japan
A DELICATE operation to prepare a one-armed mummy for a 12-month journey to the other side of the world was yesterday in its final stages.

'Boys, step forward for honour'
A NORTH-EAST MP has called for the Bevin Boys to come forward and claim their veterans' badges.

Death of dialect expert
LEADING authority on Durham dialect and occasional contributor to these cowping columns, Dr Bill Griffiths has died at his humble home in Seaham Harbour. It transpires he was a southerner all along.

Former soldier's emotional return in tribute to his wife
Former Durham Light Infantry soldier Bob Rogers has made an emotional return to the North-East after the death of the wife he met through an incredible twist of fate.

From life of seclusion in cave to patron saint of Yorkshire?
HE lived an austere life of secluded devotion, spurned the attention of kings and lived for decades in a spartan riverside cave.

Campaign to name new bridge after Brass
CALLS have been made for a new river crossing to bear the name of a town's forgotten son.

Still a high-roller at 105
ONE of the region's oldest women celebrated her 105th birthday in style yesterday with a surprise drive-out in a Rolls Royce.

On track to give 'railway mansion' new lease of life
A COUNTRY estate, which once belonged to one of the pioneers of the North-East railway heritage, is to be given a new lease of life.

'Proded, poked and measured'
A thousand North-East families were recruited into one of the world's largest research projects 60 years ago.

Chance to buy 'royal-link' home
A GEORGIAN mansion rumoured to have been visited by the playboy prince who became King Edward VII is for sale with a guide price of £850,000.

Delving into the lives of county's famous
THE fifth book in a series which tells the life stories of famous people from County Durham has been published.

The Railway King back his in rightful place
A FAMOUS painting of NorthEast railway entrepreneur George Hudson has returned to its rightful home.

Minster secures £10m for restoration work
A PROJECT to secure the future of the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world received a £10m windfall yesterday.

Museum delighted after securing rare bravery medal
RARE medal awarded to a soldier who leapt into a fire to save his comrade has been bought by his regiment at auction.

Search is over for regiment's historic rifle
A RIFLE of the type used in the Boer War has been given to a museum to help complete its weapons collection.

'Brideshead' tomb one of nation's at-risk buildings
THE plight of a decaying tomb has been highlighted in a list of the nation's most at-risk buildings.

Major Viking treasure trove unearthed in North Yorkshire
THE most important collection of Viking treasure found in 150 years has been discovered in North Yorkshire.

Carriage linked to Victorian comedy character
A CARRIAGE believed to have belonged to the creator of Victorian comedy foxhunting character John Jorrocks will be sold at auction.

Book reveals early history of Black Cats
A NOSTALGIC review of significant Sunderland football fixtures in the club's first 60 years has gone into print.

Churchill dropped from new national curriculum
WINSTON CHURCHILL has been cut from a list of key historical figures recommended for teaching under a secondary school curriculum published yesterday.

Taking pride in mining heritage
A PHOTOGRAPHER and an artist are holding an exhibition inspired by County Durham's mining heritage.

Marking 300 years of classes
MEMORIES of a historic school, which began in rooms above a Market Place pub, are being sought for a booklet celebrating its 300 years.

Priory's gardening secrets to be revealed
EXPERTS are unearthing secrets of a past gardeners' world - to help present-day understanding.

Relic reflects modern skills, medieval methods
A PIECE of medieval stained glass has been made anew thanks to the skills of modernday craftspeople.

Unearthing history at 'prehistoric Glastonbury' in Durham City
STONE Age Britons from across the North-East flocked to a prehistoric "Glastonbury festival" marked by mysterious rituals, as a major archaeological discovery in Durham City suggests.

Brute force needed to move an engine
ONE of the world's first railway engines was relocated by museum workers at the weekend in a carefully-planned manoeuvre.

Unearthing 'henge' of the North-East
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered what could be the henge of the North-East in Durham City.

Student in search of shipyard memories
FORMER shipyard workers are being asked to share their memories for a research project.

First edition copy of Dracula unearthed in attic rummage
A RARE first edition of a classic horror story that sparked countless films and built a legend around a seaside town has been unearthed.

Ypres hero is laid to rest after 93 years
A BRITISH soldier was laid to rest in Belgium yesterday - more than 90 years after he was killed in action.

Spitfire veterans look back on 90 years of squadron
AN RAF squadron which first saw active service in Iraq during the First World War yesterday celebrated its 90th anniversary by looking at its past.

Antique photographs restored on computer for exhibition
RARELY-SEEN antique photos taken in the region by a 19th Century photographer will go on show next week.

Tooth solves mystery of mummy's identity
THE mummy of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's most famous female pharaohs, has been positively identified - the most dramatic such find since the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922.

40 years of 'hole in the wall'
THE "hole in the wall" celebrates its 40th anniversary today, having firmly established itself on the high streets of Britain.

Mining museum to reopen
A MINING museum reopens to the public this summer with a series of events on selected weekends.

Family pays tribute to hero pilot 60 years after his death
The remains of a Second World War spitfire ace have been buried in Italy more than 60 years after he died.

Museum offers visitors potted history
AN unusual Roman face pot has come under the spotlight at a North-East museum. The pot is the object of the month for June at the Bowes Museum, in Barnarsd Castle, County Durham.

Ex-detective on 22-year-old trail of stolen medal
A DETECTIVE has come out of retirement to solve one last case in a bid to find a police bravery medal stolen more than 20 years ago.

Work begins to demolish church with fibreglass pineapple roof
WORK has begun to pull down a distinctive Bowburn church.

£535,200 for Cromwell painting - warts and all
WHAT is thought to be the definitive "warts and all" portrait of Oliver Cromwell became one of the most expensive paintings of its type ever sold at auction yesterday.

Tea wagon takes the strain for centenary
A VINTAGE horse-drawn wagon has been turning heads in the region. The wagon is touring the North-East to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ringtons Tea.

Campaign launched to save Georgian barn
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to have an old tithe barn declared a listed building. Bernard Borman, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, has asked English Heritage to list the building, which he believes is Georgian.

Home after a Cook's Tour
A SERIES of historic drawings made during the last voyage of Captain James Cook have finally been returned to the great explorer's home port.

Saint's window restored to all its 15th Century glory
ONE of the most important areas of medieval stained glass in the world has been restored to its former glory after ten years of painstaking work.

My enemy at war my friend for life
A former German prisoner of war and his British guard, who forged a friendship in the aftermath of the Second World War, enjoyed an emotional reunion yesterday - more than 60 years after they last saw each other. Gavin Engelbrecht was there to record the moment

Wall-to-wall examination by delegation from China
EXPERTS working to shore up the crumbling Great Wall of China have turned to the NorthEast for some advice.

Piecing together history of gladiators
TWO Roman gladiators have been reunited after almost 2,000 years.

Stolen book returned from US
A RARE first edition book has been returned to the North-East from the US, five years after it was stolen.

A chance to sample life as a Victorian
VISITORS to a library can try their hand at the back-breaking work of Victorian washerwomen at an event to mark Local and Community History Month.

Weekend to sample life of Benedictines
A CATHEDRAL'S deep roots in the Benedictine tradition are to be reflected in a weekend of study and worship.

Were your ancestors Viking invaders?
AN exhibition which opens later this month will give visitors the chance to find out if they have Viking ancestors.

Fate of Stan Laurel school uncertain
THE future of comedian Stan Laurel's former school remains in the balance. The Grade II-listed Laurel Building, which was part of the old King James I Grammar School, in Bishop Auckland, was badly damaged in an arson attack in March.

From horse's mouth - show on course to harness racing history
HORSERACING fans are under starter's orders for a tribute to the sport at a show that has opened in the region.

Rise of the Empire
Stars of the silver screen, comedians and pop stars have all performed at one of the region's theatres. Marjorie McIntyre reports on the launch of a book marking its centenary

How the Royal Navy steamed in to save slaves
A SET of rare photographs showing African slaves being freed by the Royal Navy have gone on show for the first time as part of an exhibition marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Experts finally lift the lid on coffin mystery
MEDIEVAL social-climbers were the key to a coffin lid mystery that has baffled archaeologists for 30 years.

Looking back at the supporting role that has lasted a century
TThe brassiere celebrates 100 years of uplifting history this year - and The Northern Echo looks at some defining moments

War parachute returned to family after 60-year search history
A NORTH-EAST man has helped the nephew of a Canadian airman recover his uncle's parachute more than 60 years after he was shot down.

Century of memories in book of photographs
SNAPSHOTS of people and places from the last century of a historic market town have been brought together in a new book.

How lice were the trench enemy
THE lice-ridden soldiers of the First World War trenches will come under the spotlight at a museum talk next month.

Filmmakers bring murders of 1683 to screen
Young filmmakers areproducing a 30-minute moviebased on the notorious Brass Farm murders of 1683.

Fire book reveals the history of brigade
A new book has been written about the history of the Durham and Darlington fire service.

The famous ox that gave its name to many a pub
A book has been written to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of The Durham Ox - an animal so famous that it spawned its own range of blue and white china.

Youngest hero who perished at the Somme
Medals and letters of a teenage soldier have been donated to a war museum

Wee gesture brings netty famed in painting to life
AN iconic painting depicting a cheeky young boy peeing on a man's leg in a North-East toilet has been recreated - with help from the artist's grandson.

42 years on, steam dream is realised as train reaches town
It may have taken 42 years, but a train finally arrived in Whitby from Pickering yesterday. Brian Redhead went along for the ride.

Painting of St George featured in spotlight fliers
A 17TH Century image of England’s patron saint will come under the spotlight at a museum this month.

Spitfire dedication pays tribute to decades of fliers
Local historian Louise Wilkinson explains why a Spitfire has arrived on a roundabout in Thornaby where it is exciting much comment

Stan Laurel’s school may rise from the ashes
HOPES were raised yesterday of saving comic legend Stan Laurel’s old school, which was ravaged by fire last week.

A lorra lorries – Shildon has a new museum
SHILDON has a new museum, not the much acclaimed arm of the National Railway Museum but – barely 300 yards away – a real transport of delight, nonetheless.

Town’s favourite son returns to pride of place
THE first time his likeness, larger than life and made of bronze, was hoisted aloft, it was 1875.

Two teenagers arrested over fire at Laurel school
TWO teenagers have been arrested by police investigating an arson attack at comedy legend Stan Laurel’s old school.

Arson suspected for fire at comic legend’s school
A BLAZE yesterday lunchtimethreatened the future of comic Stan Laurel’s former school.

Tribute paid at last to town’s lost children
THOUSANDS of children buried in unmarked graves are to be finally remembered – many up to 100 years after being unceremoniously dumped in mass graves.

Lifeboat heroes who saved 456 from storm
THE centenary this week of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s biggest rescue will be marked in a ceremony at Britain’s most southerly point today.

Get Carter house to be demolished
THE family of the late owners of a house that featured in gangster film Get Carter say they are pleased they have won permission to demolish it.

Spitfire recalls town’s place in flying
A FULL-SIZE replica of a Second World War plane was yesterday lowered into place as a monument to a North-East town’s aviation heritage. Crowds gathered to watch as a huge crane lifted the replica Spitfire into place on a roundabout in Thornaby, near Stockton.

Heritage site ‘buffer zones’ welcomed
AN MP has welcomed Government plans to increase protection for World Heritage Sites from inappropriate development. Durham City’s cathedral and castle are among the sites that the Government says it wants to safeguard.

First-hand account of the Somme bloodbath
A VIVID personal account of Battle of the Somme sold for more than £7,000 yesterday – ten times its guide price.

World Heritage Sites to get buffer zone’ protection
NEW laws to prevent ugly development near World Heritage Sites such as Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall will be unveiled this week.

Old English tradition returns after 1,000 years
One of the region’s cities is to play a key role in the reintroduction of a tradition that can trace its origins back to the Middle Ages.

Nobleman’s legacy is secured for the future
The Land Registry has helped Lord Crewe’s Charity with the registration of large swathes of land and property it owns across the North-East, including an entire village.

Rare picture depicts a hazardous journey
A RARE painting of Captain Cook’s Second Voyage will go on show in the region today, with the backing of naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

Computer skills bring coal mining heritage into focus
A LOCAL historian who was left unable to read his notes after developing an eye condition has been able to learn new computer skills – and has produced a fascinating DVD of the history of coal mining in the region.

Local treasures go on display in Commons
ARCHAEOLOGICAL and cultural treasures from across the north are being transported to London for an exhibition.

Antony and Cleopatra? More like Wayne and Waynetta
THE romance of Antony and Cleopatra was immortalised in film by the dashing Richard Burton and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. But far from the handsome general and his beautiful queen Hollywood would have us believe, the real couple were quite unattractive, North-East experts have discovered.

Making history: Your compact Northern Echo
THE Northern Echo is to undergo the biggest change in its 137-year history. It has been decided that the paper will be produced in a handier "compact" size from Monday February 26.

Son's language quest to trace his lost family
At the height of the Second World War, Janis Urgurs fled Russian-occupied Latvia to start a new life in the UK. His Stockton-born son, Terry, has retraced his steps from Eastern Europe in a bid to find the surviving members of his lost Latvian family. But, after five fruitless trips, he is searching for a Latvian speaker to teach him the language. Neil Macfarlane reports

Touring play paints portrait of a lady
A PLAY documenting the life of an 18th Century woman will come to Barnard Castle in February.

Society wants your memories of school facing demolition
OLD boys and girls of a former primary school in a colliery community are invited to help researchers compile a history of the establishment. The Victorian Society has urged former pupils to help them gather memories of the old Easington Colliery County Junior School, in County Durham.

Historian revives war memories
AN account of life for soldiers who were taken prisoner during the Second World War kept a sell-out audience enthralled at the weekend.

Museum uncovers history of Bowes vase
THE history of an engraved vase will be uncovered next month at one of the region's museums. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, love is in the air at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Fundraising relaunch for airman statue in Canadian town
AN appeal to honour a Second World War hero with a statue in his home town has been relaunched. Fundraisers in Canada have restarted their appeal to raise 100,000 Canadian dollars (£42,550) to erect a statue of pilot Andrew Mynarski.

Anger as MP says Gospels should remain in the South
A CONSERVATIVE MP has triggered a furious row by insisting the Lindisfarne Gospels must stay in London - because the North-East is too far away.

Fossil finds bring ancient lion roaring back to life
A TREASURE trove of fossils has been unearthed from caves in Australia, providing a glimpse of the kind of animals that roamed the outback before the arrival of humans - including a marsupial lion.

Museum reveals proposed look
IMAGES of how a historic railway centre and museum could look after its £1.7m transformation have been revealed.

Look back on 140 years of policing
ARCHIVE material has gone on show charting the development of a North-East police force during its 140-year history.

Lottery grant to help group develop history of a street
A PROJECT developing a town's archive has won praise from Lottery fund organisers, who awarded it £16,000. The changing face of Chester-le-Street's main thoroughfare, Front Street, over the past 100-plus years, is being researched for posterity by local history enthusiasts.

History of slavery put in the spotlight
THE impact of slavery on ordinary people - and how the region played an active part in its abolition - is the theme of a new exhibition in March.

Go-ahead to extract gravel near Stonehenge of North
CAMPAIGNERS were yesterday putting a brave face on their defeat in a long-running battle against quarrying near the site of an ancient monument - known as the Stonehenge of the North.

Heritage plaque tribute to local-born Victorian artist
A MAJOR exhibition of more than 100 paintings, prints and drawings by the great Victorian artist William Powell Frith is coming to the region later this year. And to coincide with the display, a new heritage plaque was officially unveiled yesterday - Frith's birthday - at his birthplace.

Historians keep an eye out for descendants of Harold
THE search is on for the heir to the English throne. Experts have launched a worldwide quest to track down descendants of those who might have been king - had William the Conqueror not won the Battle of Hastings.

The fight for Get Carter house quality
A HOUSE that made an appearance in the cult gangster movie Get Carter should be saved from demolition because it has become a tourist attraction, it was claimed last night.

Search for memories of Victorian school quality
FORMER pupils at a nowderelict County Durham school are being asked to help compile its history. Built in 1911, Easington Colliery County Junior School, in the former mining community's Seaside Lane, closed in 1998.

Shining example of 1940s long-life lightbulb quality
A PENSIONER was amazed when an antique lightbulb she used to replace a blown light worked perfectly. Margaret Walsh's light is still burning brightly after more than half a century packed up in a box.

Canadian researchers take tips from Aycliffe Angels
CANADIAN researchers investigating the war efforts of the region's women say their findings could help modern workers. The academics are carrying out a study on the Aycliffe Angels, a name given to workers at munitions works, Royal Ordnance Factory 59.

Football hero dies aged 89
FORMER football star Johnny Spuhler has died in hospital after a short illness. The centre forward and winger graced Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park during the late Forties and early Fifties, and was the oldest-surviving Boro player aged 89.

'Dress the head of any beast' as they did in 1678
MARINATED conger eel, hare mince pies and neats tongue pie are not the kind of recipes you would expect in your average celebrity chef bestseller. But then these dishes, unearthed in a dusty old cook book by TV auctioneer Charles Hanson, are 330 years old.

Scientist going head-to-head with a 19th Century medic
ONE of the region's best known scientists and one of its least-known medical heroes are going head-tohead in a bid to identify the greatest medical breakthrough.

Famous son is ignored by town
A TOWN'S first citizen is calling for its most famous forgotten son to be commemorated. The saying as "bold as brass" owes its place in the English language to the actions of Stockton's reallife Dick Whittington, Brass Crosby.

On the track of railway artefacts
HISTORIANS have launched an appeal for artefacts from an old railway station.

Project to make ruined church a focal point
ONE of Stockton's bestknown landmarks is to benefit from a £250,000 revamp. Work will be carried out on Holy Trinity Church to improve the structure and develop landscaping around the building.

Former MP Lord Lambton dies at Italian home, aged 84
A DISGRACED former defence minister forced to resign after a three-in-a-bed sex scandal, has died. Lord Lambton, whose family seat was at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, died on Saturday at his villa in Italy.

Searching for clues about Second World War agent
A HISTORIAN is trying to find information on a Second World War agent who helped the French Resistance.

The tremors that rocked Britain
HUNDREDS of residents in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland reported an earthquake yesterday. Here is a list of some recent tremors in Britain.

Forgotten trust gives church a headstart for fundraising
A TRUST fund which contained only £1,500 has rocketed in value to £43,000 after a church forgot about it for 60 years.

On trail of town's history next month
A STORY trail depicting a town's history is to be completed next month. Work is under way at Hartlepool's Headland to erect 18 information panels, topped off with a cast-iron monkey design, echoing the town's legend.

The last veteran of two world wars dies at 106
THE last remaining Briton to see active service in both the First and Second World Wars has died aged 106.

Chapter of naval history ends with Victory veteran's death
THE last surviving crew member of HMS Victory from its time afloat has died aged 103.

Town history brought to life Here
OLD Darlington was brought back to life yesterday by The Northern Echo's deputy editor, Chris Lloyd, as he gave two talks based on his newly reprinted book, Memories of Darlington 3.

Victims of quest for coal remembered in village
A MEMORIAL to honour those who died in the quest for coal was unveiled at the weekend.

Members of guild celebrate 650 years
CELEBRATIONS have begun to mark the 650th anniversary of the founding of a medieval guild in York.

Author tells tale of scandal and suicide bid
THE author of a newly-reprinted book will be giving two free talks tomorrow about the history of Darlington.

Author to sign book on DLI soldiers
A NEW account of life for North-East soldiers taken prisoner during the Second World War is launched at the weekend.

Railway celebrates national award
A HERITAGE railway that is back on track following a cash crisis received a national award yesterday.

Scenes of the North Pennines and history of the area
A GEOLOGIST who spends much of his spare time taking photographs in Teesdale and other parts of the North Pennines has turned his hobby into a business by becoming a publisher and producing a large paperback book of his work.

Auction price goes through the roof
A 100-YEAR-OLD doll's house has sold at auction for more than £700.

Vicar unravels mystery as only church burial revealed
A HEADSTONE is to be dedicated after detective work by a vicar solved the 50year mystery of a missing grave.

Plans to reopen rail line could benefit car company
CAR company Nissan could benefit from moves to reopen the mothballed Leamside railway line.

Hopes raised that rail line will re-open
CAMPAIGNERS last night claimed victory in the fight to save a mothballed North-East rail route from the threat of development, raising hopes it could be re-opened. Network Rail announced it would join a new study to reinstate the 21-mile Leamside line, which links Ferryhill, in County Durham, with Pelaw, near Gateshead.

New book shows scenes of the past
THE changing face of a corner of County Durham is illustrated in a book to be launched this week. Local author and former miner Ron Hindhaugh has written Stanley and District: Then and Now, which is to be launched at Annfield Plain Library on Friday, December 8.

Britain's secret plan to divert Nile from Egypt
BRITAIN drew up secret plans to cut off the flow of the River Nile to Egypt in an attempt to force President Gamal Abdel Nasser to give up the Suez Canal, according to official files made public today.

Face to Face with 3,000 year old mummy
THE face of an Egyptian mummy was unveiled for the first time in more than 3,000 years yesterday.

St Cuthbert is the highlight of lavish cathedral publication
A DEFINITIVE guide to a much-loved North-East cathedral is available from today. The lavishly-illustrated portrait of Durham Cathedral outlines the story behind its development as a shrine to St Cuthbert, as well as offering a detailed history of the Norman-built World Heritage site.

Bus for Museum
IT may not fly - but the latest acquisition at the Yorkshire Air Museum still has a long and honourable RAF history. The 1947 Commer Commando crew bus was used at bases across the region - and is now one of the last remaining examples of what was once an everyday workhorse.

Village to unveil memorial to tragic pitmen
A VILLAGE is preparing to unveil a memorial to the miners who died in its pit. A service will take place next month in Bowburn, near Durham City, at which the memorial will be unveiled outside the village's community centre.

Memories project to get Lotto funding
A PROJECT to record the memories of villagers is one of a number of schemes to receive Lottery funding, it was announced yesterday. Brancepeth Archives and History Group is one of 19 projects in County Durham to receive funding from the Awards For All programme.

Telling the tale of the DLI's prisoners of war
"I ARRIVED at Feethams, Darlington bus station, and joined the back of the queue for Ferryhill, " recalled Fred Welsh. "A policeman asked if I was on leave. I replied that I was a returning Prisoner of War.

Bishop blesses avenue of trees commemorating pit disaster
AN avenue of 83 trees planted in the region, one for each man to lose his life in a pit disaster 55 years ago, was found to be four short. A recent survey of the trees revealed that four of the commemorative specimens had been lost over the years.

Historic department store likely to close in new year
A CO-OP department store that has been in a town's Front Street since 1869 is expected to close early next year, with the loss of 34 jobs, unless a buyer can be found soon.

Film archive provides a glimpse of a life gone by
A sepia-coloured insight into life captured more than 100 years ago are to be given a public screening. JILL NEILL reports

Steam Secrets revealed through tapestries display
A HISTORY and arts project highlighting 25 of the NorthEast's busiest old railway stations culminated in the opening of an exhibition yesterday.

History book will support hospice that cared for writer's wife
A WELL-KNOWN local historian is to donate the proceeds from his latest book about the Derwent valley to the hospice which cared for his beloved wife in her final days.

Robson clan check roots
A HUNDRED Robsons are expected to descend on Newcastle's Centre for Life this weekend after a call for volunteers to donate their DNA. The volunteer Robsons - all male - will be invited to give a DNA sample using a mouth swab.

On track to create railway workshop
A CONSERVATION project that will resurrect a railway wagon works more than 20 years after its closure is steaming ahead. Plans to create a conservation workshop at Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon, in County Durham, will revive traditional skills on the verge of being lost.

In search of shipyard tales
A MUSEUM service is seeking former Swan Hunter workers to help create a permanent record of the shipyard.

Museums take to the road
MUSEUM collections will be taking to the road with a new service aiming to take history into the heart of local communities.

History up for sale
THE home of a dales author and historian for 63 of her 100 years is for sale with a £425,000 price tag.

Puzzle is solved over history of moors milepost
THE mystery surrounding an old milepost on the North York Moors has been solved. The Northern Echo recently featured the milepost after it was reinstated at Hawkser, near Whitby, following its restoration.

Museum stays with modern centre plan despite criticism
THE museum dedicated to North-East industrial history is pressing ahead with a modern £6m-plus visitor centre despite strong criticism from its founder.

Proud moment for relatives of soldiers executed for cowardice
The Remembrance Day parade at London's Cenotaph was a proud occasion for Shot at Dawn campaigners, who have won pardons for more than 300 servicemen executed for alleged cowardice.

First World War marker brought in from the cold
A FIRST World War marker cross brought back from the Somme more than 80 years ago is to be restored by parishioners.

Bronze Age gift to the gods ruled to be buried treasure
A FACTORY worker has described his joy at discovering two Bronze Age axe heads buried about 3,000 years ago - possibly as a gift to the gods.

Risk to Gospels 'was exaggerated'
A GOVERNMENT minister has accused the British Library of misleading him over its refusal to display the Lindisfarne Gospels in the region.

A bum deal for Rokeby
SHE lies naked on a silk grey sheet, her beautiful bum, her slender waist, her blemishfree white skin catching the eye. She is Venus, the Roman goddess of love, the personification of beauty, the lady of Teesdale.

Memorial to men who died in village pit
A VILLAGE celebrating its centenary is building a memorial to the men who died at its pit. Relatives of accident victims at Bowburn Colliery, County Durham, are urged to get in touch to ensure the list of names is as complete as possible.

Chapter of mining history to end with pit pony Sparky
ONCE they were the backbone of the coal industry. Often spending months underground, they hauled carts filled with the precious fuel to the surface and pulled timber props needed to keep the mines safe. The last pit ponies retired in 1994, bringing to an end a partnership between man and beast that stretched back three centuries.

End of an era for the volunteers' drill hall
THE home of the Darlington Volunteers - whose story has been told in recent weeks in Echo Memories - has been reduced to rubble.

History group looks forward
A POPULAR history group in Hartlepool is spreading its wings after gaining a muchneeded grant. The Headland Local History Group has been given £20,000 by the Government's Local Heritage Initiative (LHI).

As landmarks go it takes some topping
A BOOK is published today paying homage to one of the region's most famous landmarks. Roseberry Topping, by the Great Ayton Community Archaeology Project, in North Yorkshire, is a 206-page tome charting the geology, landscape, history and heritage of the mountain from prehistoric times to the present day.

Mystery behind 'earthquake' bomb's Tallboy name is solved
In the middle of the South Durham coalfield, West Cornforth was one of the first mining communities to lose its colliery.

Bishop's stroll launches town heritage trails
INFORMATION boards which will help bring a town's history to life were launched by the Bishop of Durham yesterday. The Right Reverend Tom Wright led schoolchildren, who helped plan the project, on the Bishop's Stroll, one of eight new town trails in and around Bishop Auckland.

Moving out of coal's shadow
In the middle of the South Durham coalfield, West Cornforth was one of the first mining communities to lose its colliery.

Poignant day marks pit disaster
JUST after 11.30pm on October 15 1906, residents in the pit village of Wingate heard an ominous rumbling. No one had to be told that there had been an explosion in the mineworkings and in the still darkness, men, women and children silently made their way to the pithead to seek news of the 200 men underground.

Historic timepieces have their day in the sun
THE restoration of historic sundials in one of the region's market towns is complete. The timepieces were returned to their rightful place at Guisborough Market Cross yesterday following the completion of the project.

£50,000 heritage grant will help locals preserve history
THOUSANDS of pounds will be injected into a Teesside community to help preserve its history. Residents of Newtown, in Stockton, have been awarded £50,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help create a community archive.

Holocaust remembered
MEMORIES of more than 50,000 Holocaust survivors are being made available to British children through an interactive video project first devised by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg.

Cathedral shows the pilgrims' way
DURHAM Cathedral has launched a 64-page guide for people who visit it as part of a spiritual pilgrimage.

Veterans of wartime convoys honoured at last
VETERANS of the wartime Arctic convoys were presented with awards to mark their bravery yesterday - more than 60 years after their vital contribution to the Second World War.

Heritage status 'will bring tourism boost'
THE region is about to secure its third World Heritage Site after the announcement that the UK had nominated the twin Anglo Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow for the status.

Design for £6m museum site in doubt
PLANS to create an ultramodern visitor centre at a Victorian museum were surrounded in uncertainty last night.

Town prepares to celebrate tradition dating to 1100s
A TOWN is gearing up for the start of a celebration that dates back almost 1,000 years. Houghton Feast began in the 1100s, held to mark Michaelmas. An ox roast was added to the event by Rector Bernard Gilpin in the 16th Century, but the feast died out after the Second World War.

Military history is set to draw the crowds
A NORTH-EAST town is hoping a site dedicated to its wartime heritage will become a visitor attraction.

Maps reveal secrets of market town's history
SIX historic maps of a market town have been unearthed.

Renewed fight for gospel's return
The legacy of an artist monk living in Northumbria in the early Eighth Century is a precious testament to the tenacity of Christian belief during one of the most turbulent periods of British history. Now stored in the British Library, the gospels are making a rare appearance back in the region, renewing an old battle

Gospels must come home
They are a priceless part of our heritage, a source of great pride for the people of the region, and they should be seen and appreciated in their rightful historic context.

Young people join archaeologists digging into Iron Age history
YOUNGSTERS have been delving into the past to unearth evidence of Iron Age life during an archaeological dig in Redcar

New book looks at pictorial history of proud regiment
MORE than 1,000 photographs of Green Howards soldiers stretching across 150 years of history have been brought together in a new book.

Railway heritage trail still on track
VILLAGERS have generated a wealth of ideas for a proposed heritage trail along a former railway track in the region.

Work to start on museum upgrade
WORK is about to begin on the first improvements in a proposed raft of projects to transform visitor facilities at one of the region's best known museums.

Historic vessel trust has new chairman
A NEW chairman has been appointed to the HMS Trincomalee Trust.

Lasting reminder of a village's mining heritage
VISITORS to a community centre in a former mining village will be greeted by a reminder of its industrial heritage.

Ancient mystery is bone of contention
A CRAFTED bronze dog is puzzling archaeologists more than 600 years after it was created.

Funding for blind history project
AN innovative project has received a financial boost to help chart the history and experiences of people living without sight

From the Editor's Chair - Proud to be part of a great campaign
A s I sat on a far-off beach, my heart leapt as I read that the Government had posthumously pardoned more than 300 First World War soldiers who were shot for alleged cowardice.

Website promoting cathedral
ONE of the region's leading tourist attractions has launched a website.

Minster turns to Hollywood for funding
HUNDREDS turned out to enjoy some outdoor Hollywood entertainment - at one of the country's leading places of worship.

Historic site gunning for TV honours
SUPPORTERS of a Teesside landmark which is to appear in this week's episode of the BBC2 series Restoration Village have called for people to back it.

Work begins to restore park to its Victorian splendour
A SCHEME to restore a park to its Victorian splendour moved a significant step forward with the appointment of consultants to produce plans for its redevelopment.

Work begins to demolish drill hall
WORK is underway to demolish a former Army drill hall which was used as part of the old Darlington college campus.

Hospital history revealed
A HISTORIAN has produced a book on the history of a North Yorkshire hospital that dates from medieval times.

Heritage trail moving a step forward
PREPARATION of a heritage trail around a market town could take a step forward next week if councillors back plans for information boards.

Roman fort threatened by fire risk at vandalised hall
ENTHUSIASTS and residents fear that a former nursing home which has fallen into disrepair could threaten the future of the historic Binchester Roman Fort site.

Hidden rail documents to be opened up
THE National Railway Museum in York has been awarded £110,000 in the latest round of funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Jacobean almshouses invite public for weekend visit
A HOUSING complex dating back three centuries will open to the public this weekend.

Dry summer brings history to the surface
THE summer drought has revealed new features of the region's archaeological treasures.

Land sale proposed to fund preservation of Tudor hall
A TUDOR banqueting hall is at the centre of a planning row over land it does not even stand on.

Bringing history to life at rail museum
THE National Railway Museum has been awarded one of the region's largest grants in the recent round of arts funding from the Government.

After 90 years, the British soldiers who were shot at dawn are pardoned at last.
THE Government last night bowed to pressure to right a 90-year injustice by indicating it is to grant posthumous pardons to more than 300 soldiers shot for alleged cowardice during the First World War.

Railway works resurrected decades after closure blow
A RAILWAY wagon works is being resurrected in a conservation project more than 20 years after its closure.

Town Preparing For Wartime Memories Celebration
A TOWN centre will relive the 1940s when it celebrates the war years later this month.

Eyewitness is final piece in the dogfight jigsaw
AN EYEWITNESS has just turned up - 66 years later - to describe how he saw a German aircraft being shot down in the North-East during the Battle of Britain.

Fighters of a forgotten war earn right to wear medal
VETERANS of one of Britain's socalled forgotten wars are being encouraged to apply for their service medals.

Reviving the spirit of Stead
NEARLY a century after he died in the Titanic disaster, the spirit of one of the country's greatest campaigning journalists has been revived by The Northern Echo.

Honouring a sea warrior buried far from home
WAR historian Kevin Richardson has made a round trip of more than 800 miles to pay respects at the grave of a man from his village who died in a sea battle 90 years ago.

Battlefield crosses are reunited after 80 years
THREE wooden crosses placed on the bloody battlefields of The Somme in memory of North-East soldiers will be reunited for the first time in eight decades.

Museum Unveils Georgian Countryside Feature
AN award-winning museum's latest attraction provides visitors with an insight into life during the 1820s in the NorthEast.

Inventor's novel way to woo his first mate
A MUSEUM is to tell the story of a Victorian boat that plied the train tracks as part of an event celebrating the greener side of railways.

Flower queen and her attendants await their horse drawn carriage
FIVE schoolgirls have been selected to take centre stage at Sedgefield Medieval Fair next weekend.

Memories of a city at war
PEOPLE'S memories of a city at war proved a talking point when an exhibition of memories opened at the weekend.

Museum focus on tale of two sea captains
An exhibition charting the differing fortunes of two famous sea captains has opened in the region.

Battle goes on for the 'Stonehenge of North'
The battle over a 5,000-yearold monument labelled the Stonehenge of the North took a new turn last night after construction company Tarmac said it would contest a ruling preventing it extending a quarry.

Spotlight on music hall as part of museum's upgrade
A North-East open-air museum is looking to the future. Gavin Havery reports

Lessons of Belsen
A CONCENTRATION camp survivor yesterday gained the full attention of a young North-East audience, with a moving account of his experiences during the Holocaust.

Museum display marks Somme anniversary
SOLDIERS from The Green Howards who flew with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War are featured in a new exhibition.

Nerve gas settlement anger
VETERANS voiced their fury last night after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) settled with the family of a North-East soldier who died when he was deliberately exposed to a deadly nerve agent more than 50 years ago.

Experts focus on carvings that inspired Alice author
A TEAM of experts from across the country is visiting the region this week to study medieval carvings which helped inspire Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland.

Inquest verdict on death of soldier challenged in court
THE Ministry of Defence (MoD) will today challenge an inquest's ruling that a young North-East serviceman was unlawfully killed during a chemical weapon test more than 50 years ago.

Full steam ahead for boat restoration
RESTORATION work will start next week on a floating museum after a two-hour operation to move the ship to a dry dock.

Dinosaur footprint recovered
The footprint of a dinosaur that walked the earth 160 million years ago has been recovered from the region's coastline.

Veteran reflects on the past as he returns to wartime base
A WAR veteran has returned to an RAF base for only the second time since the end of the Second World War.

Gift to museum to stir memories of Gulf War
IN times of war, it is capable of hammering its way through 14ft of reinforced concrete and blowing everything around it to kingdom come.

Turner 'built' his castle in the air
Bowes Museum's new exhibition brings home a famous painting. But how true to life is it? Chris LLoyd reports

Cathedral hails the return of rare 13th Century bible
A MEDIEVAL bible, hand-written in the early 13th Century by a monk as an aid to prayer, has returned to its spiritual home.

Site helps families to trace the fallen
THE records of thousands of North-East soldiers who died in the First World War have been placed on a new searchable website, it has been revealed.

Dig reveals medieval street life
EXCAVATIONS have revealed rows of medieval homes in a North-East town.

Veterans turn back the years
FIVE million British men served their country during the First World War - now only 14 remain. Two of those men met yesterday to swap 215 years of stories.

Appeal to share railway memories
People in a North-East town with a rich railway heritage are being asked to share their own histories with visitors to the region's first national museum.

Children help to keep the miner's lamp burning
A project to preserve an east Durham community's rich mining history has been launched at a NorthEast school.

Bid to record memories of workers in glorious rail era
A project to record the memories of those who worked during the glory days of the railways in Darlington has been launched.

Victorian street getting 21st century revamp
A Victorian street which attracts thousands of visitors every year is undergoing a refurbishment.

Was this lonely fell the last resting place of a bomber?
An aviation expert is seeking answers to a 56-year-old mystery. David Roberts learns more about the Mosquito bomber that may have crashed in a remote Northern spot while searching for cosmic rays

Dog's 'VC' part of auction lot
AN ''animal Victoria Cross'' awarded to a dog for her bravery in the Second World War was part of a lot sold at auction to a private buyer for £25,300.

Honour for last man to raise Trafalgar signal
When teenage sailor Raymond Perrett raised the famous signal, England Expects, over HMS Victory in 1921, little did he know that the act give him a place in Naval history.

Festive specials attract 1,000 visitors
Hundreds of families have got into the festive spirit by taking a trip to see Santa Claus at Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

Mock hanging photograph causes stir in dales village
Mystery surrounds an old photograph showing hundreds of people witnessing a mock hanging outside a dales pub.

Auction reveals N-E village's link to tragic Russian royals
A rare memento of the extraordinary life of a Victorian nanny who served the royal families of Europe will go under the hammer next week.

Film telling story of hero, and campaign to remember him, is premiered
The story of a forgotten war hero whose courage was only recognised 60 years after his death was shown for the first time last night.

Forgotten Hero campaign enters a new phase
A DVD, charting the story of how the courage of a Second World War airman was finally recognised after a 60-year wait, will be launched in the region tonight.

Historic airfields in region are given protected status
Two historic airfields are among the latest buildings to achieve listed status.

Campaign grows for statue of hero airman in home city
A campaign to commemorate a Second World War hero in his home city has been backed by the daughter of the airman he died trying to save.

War relics plea for museum display
RELICS and photographs from the Second World War will be part of a touring exhibition of the Imperial War Museum.

Humbugs barred as museum stages at weekend of festive fun
THERE'S nothing humbug about the festive plans at the National Railway Museum - even though Ebenezer Scrooge is playing a central role.

'Region's heritage is in danger'
Historic farm buildings are at risk of decay, ancient parkland is shrinking and nearly £18m is needed for church repairs, according to a report.

Hopes rise for stricken railway
HOPES are rising that a stricken tourist railway could reopen next spring - as long as creditors owed £900,000 agree.