Philip Sanderson, a resident of Heddon on the Wall, gave us a wide ranging illustrated talk this evening about the varied and busy life of his grandfather.
William Ward Sanderson (1874-1963) was born at Dale House Farm near Whitby. He became interested in agricultural engineering and the pioneering use of steam engines for ploughing and threshing. After studying at Wye College, he had various jobs servicing and selling farm implements throughout the country and, for three years, in South Africa.
William Ward Sanderson (1874-1963) was born at Dale House Farm near Whitby. He became interested in agricultural engineering and the pioneering use of steam engines for ploughing and threshing. After studying at Wye College, he had various jobs servicing and selling farm implements throughout the country and, for three years, in South Africa.
William Ward Sanderson on steam engine converted for agricultural use. Photo courtesy P Sanderson.
In the early 1900s, running an engineering company set up with brother Robert on England's south coast, he became involved with the aftermath of the huge Folkestone Warren landslide. This occurred on 19th December 1915 and blocked the the South Eastern and Chatham Railway line, burying Warren Halt station. Fortunately, the railway watchman and soldiers with red lamps were able to stop the 6.10pm Ashford to Dover service as it emerged from the Martello Tunnel at the west end. The line remained closed until 1919 and the event largely hushed up during the First World War.
The cliffs of Folkestone Warren (Ian Yarham, 2011)
© Copyright Ian Yarham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
The sequence of events reported in the local newspapers can be found here. At 6.30 pm the Weston family, owners of a large timber framed house on the Eagles Nest estate at Capel-le-Ferne noticed cracks in their ceiling. They abandoned the house which slid down the cliff, although remaining upright and reportedly with pictures still hanging vertically on its walls.
William Sanderson was involved, as an engineer, along with a local builder, with recovery of the building using a steam powered aerial ropeway. It was brought to the cliff top and subsequently rebuilt 25 miles inland at Little Chart where is now named 'The Sanctuary'.
In 1927, William moved back to the north-east working for the Northern Agricultural Supply Company in Newcastle. He rented East Town Farm in Heddon on the Wall which was owned at the time by James Hedley of Bays Leap Farm. The family lived in the farmhouse and farmed successfully on the fields here, milking cows in a parlour (now part of Tulip's yard), cutting hay on the site of the Roman Wall and running a local shop selling cigarettes and confectionery. William Sanderson served for many years on the Parish Council, including a stint as Chairman.
There was some discussion at the end of Philip's talk about growing up in Heddon village and the operation of the Home Guard during the Second World War.
William Ward Sanderson, agricultural engineer and pioneer, died on 13th May 1963 at Ponteland, to where he had retired when East Town farm was sold for the building of Vallum Estate in the 1950s.
In 1927, William moved back to the north-east working for the Northern Agricultural Supply Company in Newcastle. He rented East Town Farm in Heddon on the Wall which was owned at the time by James Hedley of Bays Leap Farm. The family lived in the farmhouse and farmed successfully on the fields here, milking cows in a parlour (now part of Tulip's yard), cutting hay on the site of the Roman Wall and running a local shop selling cigarettes and confectionery. William Sanderson served for many years on the Parish Council, including a stint as Chairman.
There was some discussion at the end of Philip's talk about growing up in Heddon village and the operation of the Home Guard during the Second World War.
William Ward Sanderson, agricultural engineer and pioneer, died on 13th May 1963 at Ponteland, to where he had retired when East Town farm was sold for the building of Vallum Estate in the 1950s.
Philip is currently raising money to support Bright Red, a local charity established to help improve the lives and treatment of people with blood cancer.
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