As those of you following our JAM excavations might know, we found lots of very interesting objects during the dig in Drewett’s Park last summer. They told us a lot about Jarrow’s social history and industrial heritage.
Because we would like to try to understand more about our artefacts, we are reaching out to you! Do you have any stories or information to share about these objects? Or do you know anything about Jarrow’s past and what used to be in the area around Drewett’s Park that might help us shed light on these objects? Do you have any family stories or memories?
If you have anything to share, fill in the form linked at the bottom of this page. If you are willing, we might feature what you share in a spotlight display or other promotion later in the year. This is your chance to share local knowledge and history.
Do you know anything about this bottle? Bottles like this were often sold at chemists. The bright colour helped indicate from a glance that this bottle contained something poisonous, and the ridges on some sides of the bottle would help blind people to know the bottle contained something hazardous.
We found many similar glass bottles. Was there a chemist near Drewett’s Park? Or maybe you know of a chemist who lived in Jarrow through your family history and have some stories you want to share. We would love to hear from you.
What about this baby feeding bottle? It seems similar to examples dating from the early 20th century and may have been made by S. Maw, Son and Sons in London. Bottles like this one were actually quite dangerous because they were difficult to fully clean and sterilise.
Do you have any stories, memories or insights to related to this object?
The JAM excavators also found lots of clay pipes, like these ones. They are very common archaeological finds because people used them a lot and they were relatively disposable. Do you remember anyone smoking clay pipes? Or do you have any memories or information you would like to share about these objects?
What about this plate? This plate is Ye Olde Foley Ware, made at the Foley Potteries in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. This brand of ceramics first began to be produced in around the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Do you have a memory or story associated with this object that you would like to share? Perhaps you have a memory of someone displaying plates like this one in their home.
Perhaps this ceramic bottle stopper looks familiar to you? It seems that Robert Reavley was a brewer and manufacturer of mineral water in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Do you know anything about Robert Reavley, his business or the drinks this bottle stopper came from that you would like to share?
These are slate pencils. We know that there was a schoolhouse in the area, and we even have similar finds in our collection from the schoolhouse nearby in the Victorian period.
If you have any stories, information or memories related to these objects please do fill out the form at the end of this post.
Do you know anything about this toothbrush? It says R.L.G. Burnett, M.P., Cardiff. But who is R.L.G Burnett and how did this toothbrush end up all the way in Jarrow?
If you have any insights we would love to hear them!
Do you recognise any of these bottles? We have a Flag Brand sauce bottle. This brand’s brown sauce was launched in 1904 and the ketchup product launched in 1930. We also have an Eiffel Tower lemonade bottle – this brand made various soft drinks. Finally, we have a Bob’s sauce bottle. This sauce could be used on various meats when cooking and was a popular brand in the early 20th century.
Did you or anyone you know ever try any of these products? Do you have any stories or memories to share?
Finally, we have this face from a doll. Do you have any memories or stories of a childhood doll you would like to share? Did you have a porcelain doll as a child? We’re eager to hear anything you have to share.
Thank you so much for your help with this callout. Please submit any information or stories you would like to share to the form below.
Please remember we might use anything you share in a spotlight display, blog post or similar with your permission.